Systems and methods for post-play gaming benefits

• US 8,814,669 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Tedesco, Daniel E., Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Robert C., Fincham, Magdalena M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOSHI, ANKIT B
• Application Number:
  US11/297,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20060073884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,183 Days
• Field of Search: 463/13, 463/20, 463/27, 463/29, 273/138.1
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

According to some embodiments, systems, methods, and/or articles of manufacture are associated with determining whether a first condition associated with a first player of a gaming device is satisfied, determining whether a second condition associated with a second player of the gaming device is satisfied, and awarding, in the case that both the first and second conditions are determined to be satisfied, a benefit to the first player.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming device, comprising:

(a) identifying, via a player tracking device in association with the gaming device, a player at the gaming device;

(b) determining, via a processor of the gaming device, whether the gaming device is receiving, in association with the identified player, any wagers placed on any plays of any wagering games at the gaming device;

(c) if the gaming device is receiving, in association with the identified player, any wagers placed on any plays of any wagering games and the player tracking device is tracking play of the identified player at the gaming device;

(i) determining, via the processor of the gaming device, whether a condition associated with the identified player of the gaming device is satisfied on the gaming device, and

(ii) repeating (b) to (c) until the processor of the gaming device determines that the gaming device is no longer receiving, in association with the identified player, any wagers placed on any plays of any wagering games at the gaming device and the player tracking device is not tracking any play of the identified player at the gaming device; and

(d) after the gaming device is no longer receiving, in association with the identified player, any wagers placed on any plays of any wagering games at the gaming device and after the player tracking device has stopped tracking any play of the identified player at the gaming device;

(i) determining, via the processor of the gaming device, whether a qualifying event has occurred in association with the gaming device no longer being played by the identified player;

(ii) in response to the condition being satisfied and the qualifying event having occurred, causing a benefit to be provided to the identified player; and

(iii) in response to at least one of;

the condition not being satisfied and the qualifying event having not occurred, not providing the benefit to the identified player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying the identified player of the provided benefit.

3. The method of claim 2, which includes at least one of:

(i) causing another gaming device to indicate the awarding of the benefit to the identified player;

(ii) causing a telephone associated with the identified player to indicate the awarding of the benefit to the identified player;

(iii) causing a pager associated with the identified player to indicate the awarding of the benefit to the identified player;

(iv) causing a PDA associated with the identified player to indicate the awarding of the benefit to the identified player; and

(v) causing a computer associated with the identified player to indicate the awarding of the benefit to the identified player.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering the identified player for the opportunity to receive the benefit if the gaming device is not receiving, in association with the identified player, any wagers placed on any plays of any wagering games.

5. The method of claim 4, which includes at least one of:

(i) causing the gaming device to enable the registration of the identified player;

(ii) causing another gaming device to enable the registration of the identified player;

(iii) causing a kiosk to enable the registration of the identified player;

(iv) causing a customer service desk to enable the registration of the identified player; and

(v) causing a website to enable the registration of the identified player.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises at least one of, a requirement that the identified player:

(i) play at the gaming device, wherein the gaming device is a designated gaming device of a plurality of different gaming devices;

(ii) play at the gaming device, wherein the gaming device is a gaming device of a designated manufacturer;

(iii) play a designated type of wagering game at the gaming device;

(iv) play at the gaming device and one or more other associated gaming devices;

(v) establish a balance of credits at the gaming device;

(vi) establish a balance of credits at the gaming device within a specified period of time;

(vii) purchase a designated number of outcomes of the gaming device;

(viii) purchase a designated number of outcomes of the gaming device within a designated period of time;

(ix) wager a certain amount at the gaming device;

(x) achieve a certain rate of play at the gaming device;

(xi) win a certain amount at the gaming device;

(xii) win a certain amount at the gaming device within a designated period of time;

(xiii) not win a certain amount at the gaming device;

(xiv) not win a certain amount at the gaming device within a designated period of time;

(xv) lose a certain amount at the gaming device;

(xvi) lose a certain amount at the gaming device within a designated period of time;

(xvii) obtain a certain outcome at the gaming device;

(xviii) obtain a certain outcome at the gaming device within a designated period of time;

(xix) not obtain a certain outcome at the gaming device;

(xx) not obtain a certain outcome at the gaming device within a designated period of time;

(xxi) use a player tracking card associated with the identified player;

(xxii) sign up for a player tracking card;

(xxiii) purchase a premium player tracking account;

(xxiv) earn a certain number of complimentary points;

(xxv) earn a certain number of complimentary points at the gaming device;

(xxvi) register at a hotel;

(xxvii) register at a casino;

(xxviii) complete a purchase;

(xxix) apply for a credit card; and

(xxx) play at the gaming device for a certain duration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises the identified player playing at the gaming device during at least one of:

(i) a designated time of day;

(ii) a designated day of the week;

(iii) a designated day of the month;

(iv) a designated day of the year;

(v) a designated week of the month;

(vi) a designated week of the year; and

(vii) a designated month of the year.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device comprises a first gaming device and the condition comprises at least one of, a requirement that the identified player:

(i) play at a second gaming device;

(ii) play at a second gaming device that is the same type of gaming device as the first gaming device;

(iii) play at a second gaming device that is specifically spatially related to the first gaming device;

(iv) play at a second gaming device that is at a certain location; and

(v) play at a second gaming device and achieve a certain value of a specific parameter associated with the second gaming device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device is in communication with a server to provide the play of the wagering game.

9. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) receiving, via a processor of the gaming machine, at least one wager from a player at the gaming device, the at least one wager being associated with a gaming session at the gaming device, the gaming session including at least one play of at least one wagering game;

(b) determining, via the processor of the gaming device, at least one outcome for the gaming session at the gaming device;

(c) displaying, via a display device of the gaming device, the at least one determined outcome;

(d) identifying, via a player tracking device in association the gaming device, the player associated with the gaming session at the gaming device;

(e) determining, via the processor of the gaming device, whether the identified player terminates the gaming session at the gaming device;

(f) if the identified player has not terminated the gaming session at the gaming device and the player tracking device is tracking play of the identified player at the gaming device;

(i) determining, via the processor of the gaming device, whether a condition has occurred at the gaming device, and

(ii) repeating (a) to (f) until the processor of the gaming device determines that the identified player has terminated the gaming session at the gaming device, the player tracking device determines that the identified player is no longer playing at the gaming device and the player tracking device is not tracking any play of the identified player at the gaming device; and

(g) after the identified player has terminated the gaming session at the gaming device, after the identified player is no longer playing at the gaming device and after the player tracking device has stopped tracking any play of the identified player at the gaming device;

(i) determining, via the processor of the gaming device, whether a designated event has occurred at the gaming device;

(ii) in response to the condition and the designated event having both occurred at the gaming device, causing a post-play benefit to be provided to the identified player; and

(iii) in response to at least one of;

the condition not being satisfied and the designated event having not occurred at the gaming device, not providing the post-play benefit to the identified player.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

registering the identified player for the post-play benefit.

11. The method of claim 9, which includes:

causing the post-play benefit to be provided to the identified player via another gaming device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the gaming device is in communication with a server to provide the play of the wagering game.