System, device and method for using time-sensitive tickets as player awards in gaming devices

• US 8,523,652 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US12/938,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20110045900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 463/17
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/903 Lottery ticket

Abstract

Gaming devices, gaming systems, and methods for awarding time-sensitive instruments in a gaming environment are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a gaming device includes a game display for presenting a game having one or more winning game outcomes. The gaming machine also includes one or more network interfaces that are in communication with an instrument database that includes data corresponding to values and terminations dates for the time-sensitive instruments. The gaming device also includes a game controller in communication with the game display and the network interfaces. The game controller awards one or more time-sensitive instruments in response to one or more game based event or non-game based event.

Claims

1. A system for providing a right to a time sensitive ticket to one or more players of one or more gaming devices configured to play a game, play of said one or more gaming devices resulting in one or more defined triggering events, said system comprising:

a host computer;

a data structure storing data corresponding to a set of time-sensitive tickets, said data associating to one or more tickets a value and a termination date after which said tickets become substantially valueless, said data structure accessible to said host computer;

a communication network providing communication between said gaming devices and said host computer;

apparatus for said gaming devices to accept wagers by players to play said gaming devices;

a display at said one or more gaming devices, at least one of said gaming devices and host computer configured to display to said players at said one or more displays an association between an event and one or more tickets where said prize corresponds to said associated value of one or more of said tickets; and

one or more of said gaming devices and host computer configured to award a right to said one or more tickets to a player upon an occurrence of a triggering event and to deplete said set of said tickets corresponding to said award.

2. The system of claim 1 comprising a ticket provider database storing data corresponding to time sensitive tickets and a communication link between said database and said data structure to update said data stored at said data structure.

3. The system of claim 1 comprising said data structure storing data corresponding to multiple sets of time-sensitive tickets of one or more of differing assigned values and termination dates.

4. The system of claim 1 comprising a device to issue a printed voucher, said one or more of said gaming devices and host computer configured to award a right to said one or more tickets to a player satisfying said event criteria as a printed voucher.

5. A method for a gaming venue to provide a right to a time sensitive instrument representing a good or service offered by one or more of the casino or a third party to one or more players of one or more gaming devices configured to play a game, play of said one or more gaming devices resulting in one or more defined triggering events, said method comprising:

enabling the storage of data at a data structure corresponding to a set of time-sensitive instruments, said data associating to one or more instruments a value and a termination date after which said instruments lose value and the updating said data at said data structure in response to one of said casino or said third party issuing rights to instruments from said set;

providing for communication between said gaming devices and said data structure;

displaying proximate said one or more gaming devices an association between a said triggering event and one or more instruments where said prize corresponds to said associated value of one or more of said instruments; and

awarding a right to said one or more instruments to a player satisfying said future event.