Method and apparatus for providing player incentives

• US 9,317,993 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Inventors: Hardy, Dow K., Herrmann, Mark E., Taylor, John E., Acres, John F., Kane, Steven N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Application Number:
  US14/138,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20140106866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• 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 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A system and method is provided for incentivizing players to visit a gambling location. In one aspect, a qualified person is invited to play an electronic game which has a plurality of outcomes, at least one of which is a winning outcome. In one embodiment, the qualified person may be required to redeem the outcome at the gambling location. In another embodiment, the person may be required to redeem the outcome at a redemption location. In another aspect, a method is provided for permitting a person to take one or more actions within a gambling location and in response inviting the person to play an electronic game separate from the games offered in a gambling environment at the gambling location, where the game has a plurality of outcomes, at least one of which is a winning outcome, and if the person obtains a winning outcome, requiring the person to redeem the at least one outcome at the gambling location. In one embodiment, the method includes the acts of qualifying a person. Qualification may require specific acts, for example, referring another person, and/or providing an invitation to play an electronic game to another person. Various systems and method assist in tracking and maintaining such referrals. Additionally group gaming in and amongst referrals and/or designated groups may be performed, and in some embodiment required for qualification and/or redemption. Further, another aspect relates to providing special incentives, for example for referral of a new player, for providing casino affiliation or membership information, among others.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing incentives to a player of a game conducted via a gaming system, the method comprising:

providing, via a gaming machine during a first visit to a physical gambling location, a first invitation to a player to play a first electronic game at a location other than the physical gambling location, the gaming machine comprising an input device configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;

after the inviting, enabling, via a game server, the player to play the first electronic game at the location;

requiring an award earned in the first electronic game to be redeemed during a second visit to the physical gambling location, the award being associated with additional game credits;

redeeming, by the gaming machine or another gaming machine, the additional game credits during the second visit to the physical gambling location, wherein redemption of the additional play credits during the second visit results in a second invitation being provided to the player to play a second, different electronic game away from the physical gambling location.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, after the inviting and before the enabling, requiring the player to return to the physical gambling location at a later time to activate the first invitation.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enabling comprises enabling the player to play at least one of the first or second electronic games at a website.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enabling includes enabling the player to play at least one of the first or second electronic games on a personal computer, a mobile phone, a music player, a personal digital assistant, or a home video game console.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the award is selected from a group consisting of cash, merchandise, points, free games, discounted games, non-cashable game credits, cashable game credits, coupons, gift certificates, an entry into another game, qualification for other games, an entry into one or more tournament, qualification for a tournament entry, and a multiplier of a yet unearned jackpot.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the inviting includes providing the player with an access code that allows the player to access at least one of the first or second electronic games away from the physical gambling location.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the inviting is in response to a qualification selected from a group consisting of an indication that the player provided a referral, an indication that the player attended an event, an indication that the player visited a physical location, an indication that the player engaged in certain activity at a website, an indication that the player visited a website during a specified time period, and an indication of the player'"'"'s perceived worth.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising identifying, by the gaming machine, the player at the physical gambling location.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the redeeming includes redeeming the award as game credits at the gaming machine.

10. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine located at a physical gambling location and primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, the gaming machine comprising an input device configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;

at least one controller configured to perform one or more operations, comprising;

providing, during a first visit to the physical gambling location via the gaming machine, a first invitation to a player to play a first electronic game at a location different than the physical gambling location;

after the inviting, enabling the player to play the first electronic game at the location;

requiring an award earned in the first electronic game to be redeemed during a second visit to the physical gambling location, the award being associated with additional game credits;

redeeming, by the gaming machine or another gaming machine, the additional game credits during the second visit to the physical gambling location, wherein the redemption of the additional play credits during the second visit results in a second invitation being provided to the player to play a second, different electronic game away from the physical gambling location.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, further comprising, after the inviting and before the enabling, requiring the player to return to the physical gambling location at a later time to activate the first invitation.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the enabling comprises enabling the player to play at least one of the first or second electronic games at a website.

13. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the enabling includes enabling the player to play at least one of the first or second electronic games on a personal computer, a mobile phone, a music player, a personal digital assistant, or a home video game console.

14. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the award is selected from a group consisting of cash, merchandise, points, free games, discounted games, non-cashable game credits, cashable game credits, coupons, gift certificates, an entry into another game, qualification for other games, an entry into one or more tournament, qualification for a tournament entry, and a multiplier of a yet unearned jackpot.

15. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the inviting includes providing the player with an access code that allows the player to access at least one of the first or second electronic games away from the physical gambling location.

16. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the inviting is in response to a qualification selected from a group consisting of an indication that the player provided a referral, an indication that the player attended an event, an indication that the player visited a physical location, an indication that the player engaged in certain activity at a website, an indication that the player visited a website during a specified time period, and an indication of the player'"'"'s perceived worth.

17. The gaming system of claim 10, further comprising identifying the player at the physical gambling location.

18. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the redeeming includes redeeming the award as game credits at the gaming machine.

19. An apparatus comprising:

at least one gaming machine operatively coupled to a game server, the gaming machine located at a physical gambling location, the gaming machine primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, the gaming machine comprising an input device configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance and one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

provide a player, during a first visit to a physical gambling location via the gaming machine, a first invitation to play a first electronic game at a location different than the physical gambling location;

after the invite, enable the player to play the first electronic game at the location;

require an award earned in the first electronic game to be redeemed during a second visit to the physical gambling location, the award being associated with additional game credits;

redeem, via the gaming machine or another gaming machine, the additional game credits earned in the first electronic game during the second visit to the physical gambling location, wherein redemption of the additional play credits during the second visit results in a second invitation being provided to the player to play a second, different electronic game away from the physical gambling location.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to after the providing and before the enabling, require the player to return to the physical gambling location at a later time to activate the first invitation.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to enable the player to play at least one of the first or second electronic games at a website.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to enable the player to play at least one of the first or second electronic games on a personal computer, a mobile phone, a music player, a personal digital assistant, or a home video game console.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the award is selected from a group consisting of cash, merchandise, points, free games, discounted games, non-cashable game credits, cashable game credits, coupons, gift certificates, an entry into another game, qualification for other games, an entry into one or more tournament, qualification for a tournament entry, and a multiplier of a yet unearned jackpot.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to provide the player with an access code that allows the player to access the electronic game at a location different than the physical gambling location.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to invite the player at the physical gambling location to play the first electronic game at the location different than the physical gambling location in response to a qualification selected from a group consisting of an indication that the player provided a referral, an indication that the player attended an event, an indication that the player visited a physical location, an indication that the player engaged in certain activity at a website, an indication that the player visited a website during a specified time period, and an indication of the player'"'"'s perceived worth.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to identify the player.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to redeem the award as game credits at the gaming machine.