System gaming

• US 8,961,317 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2011
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M., Crowder, Robert W. Jr., Lockard, Dennis, Luciano, Robert A. Jr., Tallcott, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US13/297,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20120058818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• 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

Abstract

A method provides a player tracking system and system gaming apparatus for playing non-base games by funding the credit side of a gaming cycle. The system further includes at least one gaming device having a base game. The player tracking system and system gaming apparatus includes a player tracking user interface. The player tracking user interface provides a player with an opportunity to select and play a non-base game that may be promotional-funded or player-funded.

Claims

1. A method of applying player-associated value in a gaming system, wherein the gaming system includes at least one gaming machine having a primary device for playing a base game and a secondary device for playing bonus games, wherein the secondary device includes a display and a processor, the method comprising:

establishing, using a processor, one or more player-associated value accounts;

transferring, using a processor, player-associated value into one of the one or more accounts;

enabling, using a processor, a player to use the player-associated value stored in the account to activate at least one play segment of a bonus game displayed on the secondary device, wherein using the player-associated value decrements the player-associated value in the account;

determining distribution rules for allocating promotional funds into the one or more player-associated accounts, wherein the distribution rules enable a player to select from amongst choices for that player'"'"'s promotional funds allocation, wherein at least one of the accounts is not affiliated with a casino, wherein one of the accounts is on a first server and another of the accounts is on a second server;

enabling, using a processor, a player to choose which bonus game to play out of a plurality of bonus games after base game play begins, wherein each of the plurality of bonus games may be immediately initiated on demand, and wherein once the player chooses the bonus game to play on demand, the chosen bonus game is immediately presented to the player via the secondary device.

2. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the player associated value is used to activate game play.

3. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the secondary device is a personal computer that is connected to the system via the Internet.

4. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the secondary device is a cellular phone.

5. A method of applying player-associated value in a gaming system, wherein the gaming system includes at least one gaming machine having a primary device for playing a base game and a secondary device, wherein the secondary device includes a display and a processor for playing system games, the method comprising:

establishing, using a processor, a player-associated value account;

transferring, using a processor, promotional value into the account; and

enabling, using a processor, a player to use the value stored in the account to activate at least one play segment of a system game displayed on the secondary device, wherein using the value decrements the account;

determining distribution rules for allocating promotional funds into the one or more player-associated accounts, wherein the distribution rules enable a player to select from amongst choices for that player'"'"'s promotional funds allocation, wherein extra data is collected from the player to distribute to a non-affiliated account, wherein one of the accounts is on a first server and another of the accounts is on a second server;

enabling, using a processor, a player to choose which system game to play out of a plurality of system games after base game play begins, wherein each of the plurality of system games may be immediately initiated on demand, and wherein once the player chooses the system game to play on demand, the chosen system game is immediately presented to the player via the secondary device.

6. The gaming method of claim 5, wherein the promotional value comprises bonus points, casino marketing dollars, comp points, facility check-in points, club registration points, promo game credits, promotional coupons, points exchangeable for other value, or any combination thereof.

7. The gaming method of claim 5, wherein the play segment includes a play element, a full game, a portion of a game, and a time segment of a game.

8. The gaming method of claim 5, wherein the transferring of promotional value includes promotionally applied value, player-applied value, player-funded value, player activity-accrued value, third party promotional value, third party user-funded value, third party bank account value, promotional value responsive to player activity, or any combination thereof.

9. The gaming method of claim 5, wherein the secondary device is a personal computer that is connected to the system via the Internet.

10. The gaming method of claim 5, wherein the secondary device is a cellular phone.

11. A method of applying a player-associated value in a gaming system, wherein the gaming system includes at least one gaming machine having a primary device for playing a base game and a secondary device, wherein the secondary device includes a display and a processor for playing system games, the method comprising:

establishing, using a processor, a player-associated value account;

converting, using a processor, a first value type to a second value type;

transferring, using a processor, the second value type into the player-associated account as player associated value; and

enabling, using a processor, a player to use the player-associated value stored in the account to activate at least one play segment of a system game displayed on the secondary device, wherein using the player-associated value decrements the player-associated value in the account;

determining distribution rules for allocating promotional funds into the one or more player-associated accounts, wherein the distribution rules enable a player to select from amongst choices for that player'"'"'s promotional funds allocation, wherein extra data is collected from the player to distribute to a non-affiliated party, wherein one of the accounts is on a first server and another of the accounts is on a second server;

enabling, using a processor, a player to choose which system game to play out of a plurality of system games after base game play begins, wherein each of the plurality of system games may be immediately initiated on demand, and wherein once the player chooses the system game to play on demand, the chosen system game is immediately presented to the player via the secondary device.

12. The gaming method of claim 11, wherein the first type includes bonus points, promotional credits, comp points, check-in points, club registration points, promotional coupons, base game credits, or any combination thereof.

13. The gaming method of claim 11, wherein the play segment includes a play element, a full game, a portion of a game, and a time segment of a game.

14. The gaming method of claim 11, wherein the system game is player-fundable or promotional credit fundable.

15. The gaming method of claim 11, wherein the converting of a first value type to a second value type is performed automatically.

16. The gaming method of claim 11, wherein the converting of a first value type to a second value type is performed in response to player input.

17. The gaming method of claim 11, wherein the secondary device is a personal computer that is connected to the system via the Internet.

18. The gaming method of claim 11, wherein the secondary device is a cellular phone.