System and method for rewarding game players

• US 8,992,309 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games LLC (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Holdings Ltd (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: LaRocca, Paul, Kane, Steven N., Hardy, Dow, Herrmann, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US13/752,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20130210511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 463/12, 463/13, 463/17, 463/18, 463/20, 463/21, 463/25, 463 40- 42, 463/16
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A system and method are provided for rewarding players of games of chance, including, for example, a lottery-type game or a casino game. Individuals are provided the opportunity to earn extra rewards by forming teams or special groups of individuals; the team or special group must perform a particular task to obtain the extra reward. Such methods may help to maintain or increase the interest of a frequent lottery or game player, may provide a new or different incentive to attract new players, and may offer a means for a game operator to differentiate its player'"'"'s club or rewards program from those of other operators. These organizations may include bingo hall operators (such as churches, senior centers, and charitable organizations), lottery agencies (such as those of United States of America state governments, or multi-state agencies), and on-line and/or land-based casinos.

Claims

1. A gaming system having a rewards program associated with at least one game and comprising:

a storage element that stores information identifying at least two program members;

a team identifier that links a plurality of program members as members of a team;

the storage element configured to store information identifying a team goal that requires participation in a predetermined number of game sessions of the at least one game within a predetermined time period by the plurality of program members of the team;

a reward counter that stores rewards earned by any member of the team to accumulate a team reward based at least in part on the team goal, wherein the team reward is accomplishment oriented and awarded independent of and free from game play results; and

a reward mechanism to provide better odds for the team on the at least one game of which the game session is part based on the team size and when the team accomplishes the team goal.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the rewards program is operated by a game operator that is an organization offering the at least one game.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the at least one game includes one casino betting game.

4. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the at least one game includes at least one of poker, blackjack, keno, bingo, slots, or roulette.

5. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the at least one game includes a lottery.

6. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the organization is at least one of a lottery agency, a land-based casino, an on-line casino, or a bingo hall.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the team reward is time-dependent or time-constrained.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the team reward is not dependent upon winning of the at least one game by any of the program members.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one game includes multiple games and wherein the team reward is game-dependent.

10. A method of team gaming comprising acts of:

allowing, via a gaming system, for a plurality of players to join a rewards program;

identifying the plurality of players as members of a team;

linking, by the gaming system, at least one team goal to the plurality of player, wherein the team goal requires participation in a predetermined number of game sessions of at least one game within a predetermined time period;

storing, by use of a storage element of the gaming system, information identifying the team goal;

accumulating, by use of a reward counter of the gaming system, a team reward based on the plurality of players achieving the at least one team goal, wherein the team reward is accomplishment oriented and awarded independent of and free from game play results; and

gaining, by a reward mechanism, better odds on the game of which the game session is a part based on the team size and the team accomplishing the team goal.

11. The game system of claim 10, further comprising an individual reward counter that stores individual rewards earned for actions associated with the team.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, further comprising a reward adjustment counter that modifies the reward based on predefined characteristics.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising acts of:

allowing for at least one of the plurality of players to invite a second player to become a member of a team; and

allowing for the second player to accept an invitation to become a member of a team.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising an act of allowing for a player to join a preexisting team.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one game includes at least one of a game of chance, a game of skill, a casino betting game, or a lottery.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising an act of adjusting the team reward based on predefined characteristics.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising an act of providing an individual reward for actions associated with the team.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions that, as a result of being executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a method of team gaming, the method comprising acts of:

providing for a plurality of players to join a rewards program;

identifying the plurality of players as members of a team;

providing at least one team goal that is completed at an end of a game session of at least one game, wherein the team goal requires the plurality of players'"'"' participation in a predetermined number of the game sessions of the at least one game within a predetermined time period;

accumulating a team reward based on the plurality of players achieving the at least one team goal at the end of the game session of the at least one game, such that the team reward is accomplishment oriented and awarded independent of and free from game play results; and

gaining, by a reward mechanism, better odds on the game of which the game session is a part based on the team size and the team accomplishing the team goal.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises an act of providing an individual reward for actions associated with the team.