Method and system for dynamically awarding bonus points

• US 9,406,194 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M., Luciano, Robert Anthony Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US12/112,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20090275399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,016 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• 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 player of an enhanced game receives a bonus for playing the enhanced game and a chance for an additional extra award. The additional extra award may be based on one or more factors: the actual game title of the game being played by the player, the rate of gameplay by the player, the rate of gain/loss for an entity different from the player, a rate of gain/loss for the player, or the like. Gameplay and player data may be gathered and a dynamic bonusing system may reconfigure a gaming machine being played by the player based at least on the gathered data.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing gaming, comprising:

gathering data from a gaming machine that is related to at least one of gameplay and wagering by a player of a game title over a first period of time, wherein the player places a number of wagers during the first period of time;

determining at a server at least one quantity based at least on the gathered data;

determining at the server whether the determined at least one quantity exceeds an extra-bonus threshold value;

providing a respective payout amount to the player of the game title of the gaming machine in accordance with rules of the game title and a respective wager for each of the number of wagers placed by the player during the first period of time; and

during the first period of time, from time to time,

providing the player with bonus points at a first bonus rate in accordance with a bonus point plan based on a second quantity different from the determined at least one quantity, and

determining an amount of an extra-award at an extra-award accrual rate based at least on the determined at least one quantity, the extra-award accrual rate being awarded concurrently with and in addition to the first bonus rate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining at least one quantity based at least on gathered data includes determining a loss rate for the player, the loss rate given by (TPA - TWA)/N, where the TWA, total wager amount, is an aggregate amount of the number of wagers placed by the player, where TPA, total payout amount, is an aggregate amount of the respective payout amounts for the number of wagers placed by the player, and N is one of a number of games of the game title played and a length of time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

for each of the number of wagers placed by the player during the first period of time,

collecting the respective wager in accordance with rules of the game title, and wherein determining at least one statistical quantity based at least on gathered data comprises determining a gain rate for an entity collecting the respective wagers, the gain rate given by (TCA−

TPA)/N, where the TCA, total collected amount, is an aggregate amount of the collected wagers placed the player, where TPA, total payout amount, is an aggregate amount of the respective payout amounts for the number of wagers placed by the player, and N is one of a number of games of the game title played or a length of time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining at least one quantity based at least on gathered data includes determining a play rate for the player, the play rate given by a number of games of the game title played by the player divided by the first period of time.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining at least one quantity based at least on gathered data includes determining a wager rate for the player, the wager rate given by an aggregate of a respective amount of each respective wager of the number of wagers divided by the number wagers.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the player with an offer to reconfigure a gaming machine being played by the player.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

reconfiguring the gaming machine from a configuration of the gaming machine during the first period of time to a different configuration in response to the player accepting the offer to reconfigure the gaming machine.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reconfiguring the gaming machine to provide a round of the game title at a new rate of play, wherein the new rate of play is different from a rate of play for a round of the game title during the first period of time.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

reconfiguring the gaming machine to provide a respective amount of extra-award based at least on a new bonus plan, wherein the new bonus plan is different from a bonus plan provided to the player during the first period of time and the respective amount of extra-award is provided to maintain an average gaming machine collection rate below a collection rate threshold.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein reconfiguring the gaming machine to provide a respective amount of extra-award based at least on a new bonus plan includes changing a rate of extra-bonus point accrual based at least on an aggregate amount of the wagers placed during the first period of time.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein reconfiguring the gaming machine to provide a respective amount of extra-award based at least on a new bonus plan includes changing a rate of extra-bonus point accrual based at least on an aggregate amount of the payouts during the first period of time.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a total number of extra-awards based at least on the extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time;

determining a second extra-award accrual rate based at least on the data gathered during the first period of time; and

during a second period of time, from time to time,

determining an amount of an extra-award based at least on the determined second extra-award accrual rate.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the player based at least on information indicative of a member identification;

associating at least a portion of an aggregate of the bonus points provided to the player during the first period of time with a member account based at least on the member identification; and

associating at least a portion of an aggregate of the amount of extra-award determined during the first period of time with a member account based at least on the member identification.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a number of other players based at least on information indicative of a respective member identification for each of the number of other players, each of the other players associated with a respective member account; and

associating at least a portion of an aggregate of the amount of extra-award determined during the first period of time with the respective member account associated with a respective one of the other players.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

notifying at least one respective player of the other players that the respective player receives at least a portion of the determined amount of the extra-award.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

notifying the player that at least one respective player of the other players receives at least a portion of the determined amount of the extra-award.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

notifying the player of an account having a least a portion of the determined amount of the extra-award associated therewith, wherein no association between the account and the player exists; and

providing the player with account access.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein providing the player with account access includes providing the player with a tangible medium carrying information indicative of an account identifier for the account.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein providing the player with account access includes providing the player with information indicative of an account identifier for the account.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying the player that the player may receive at least a portion of the determined amount of the extra-award subject to the player joining a membership club.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

enrolling the player in the membership club; and

associating at least a portion of the determined amount of extra-award with a member account established for the player.

22. A method for enhancing gaming, comprising:

gathering data with a server from a plurality of gaming machines, the gathered data being related to player activity on the plurality of gaming machines during a first period of time;

determining at the server at least one quantity based at least on the gathered data;

reconfiguring with the server at least one of the gaming machines based at least on the at least one quantity; and

for each player playing a respective one of the reconfigured at least one gaming machines, providing the respective player with a number of bonus points at a bonus point rate and an amount of extra-award during a second period of time, wherein during the second period of time the amount of extra-ward accrues at a rate different from an extra-award accrual rate for the first period of time, wherein the extra-award accrual rate of the first period and the extra-award accrual rate of the second period are respectively awarded concurrently with and in addition to the bonus point rate.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein determining at least one quantity based at least on gathered data includes determining a respective player rate of play for each player playing a respective one of the number of gaming machines.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein reconfiguring at least one of the gaming machines based at least on the at least one quantity includes:

determining to reconfigure a first gaming machine such that the extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is less than the extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time in response to determining the respective player play rate for a first player is less than a player play rate threshold, and

determining to reconfigure a second gaming machine such that the extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is greater than the extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time in response to determining the respective player play rate for a second player is greater than the player play rate threshold.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein determining at least one quantity based at least on gathered data includes determining a respective average wager for each player playing a respective one of the number of gaming machines.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein reconfiguring at least one of the gaming machines based at least on the at least one quantity includes:

determining to reconfigure a first gaming machine such that the extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is less than the extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time in response to determining the respective average wager for a first respective player is less than an average wager threshold, and

determining to reconfigure a second gaming machine such that the extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is greater than the extra-ward accrual rate during the first period of time in response to determining that the respective average wager for a second respective player is greater than the average wager threshold.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein determining at least one quantity based at least on gathered data includes determining a respective gain rate for a respective one of the number of gaming machines, wherein the respective gain rate is given by (TCA−

TPA)/N, where TCA, total collected amount, is an aggregate amount of collected wagers placed at the respective gaming machine during the first period of time, where TPA, total payout amount, is an aggregate amount of the payout amounts from the respective gaming machine during the first period of time, and N is one of a respective number of games played at the respective gaming machine during the first period of time or the first period of time.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein reconfiguring at least one of the gaming machines based at least on the at least one quantity includes:

for each reconfigured gaming machine of the at least one reconfigured gaming machine,

determining to reconfigure the respective gaming machine such that the extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is less than the extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time in response to determining the respective gain rate for the respective gaming machine is less than a gain rate threshold, and

determining to reconfigure the respective gaming machine such that the extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is greater than the extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time in response to determining the respective gain rate for the respective gaming machine is greater than the gain rate threshold.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein determining at least one quantity based at least on gathered data includes determining an average gaming machine occupancy rate for the number of gaming machines, wherein the average gaming machine occupancy rate is an average over the number of gaming machines of an aggregate amount of time that each respective one of the number of gaming machines is being played during the first period of time divided by a length of time for the first period of time.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein reconfiguring at least one of the gaming machines based at least on the at least one quantity includes:

determining to reconfigure a first gaming machine such that the respective extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is less than the respective extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time for the first gaming machine in response to determining that the average gaming machine occupancy rate is less than an average gaming machine occupancy rate threshold; and

determining to reconfigure a second gaming machine such that the respective extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is greater than the respective extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time for the second gaming machine in response to determining that the average gaming machine occupancy rate is greater than an average gaming machine occupancy rate threshold.

31. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

providing a respective player playing a respective one of the at least one reconfigured gaming machine with notification of the reconfiguration of the respective gaming machine prior to the reconfiguration of the respective gaming machine.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein reconfiguring at least one of the gaming machines based at least on the at least one quantity includes reconfiguring a respective gaming machine only after receiving an indication of assent to the reconfiguration by a respective player playing the respective gaming machine.

44. The method of claim 22 wherein during the second period of time the amount of extra-award accrues at the rate different from the extra-award accrual rate for the first period of time such that an average collection rate for the respective reconfigured gaming machine during the second period is approximately the same as an average collection rate for the respective reconfigured gaming machine during the first period.

33. A system for enhancing game play, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein a number of the gaming machines of the plurality of gaming machines are played by a number of players during a first period of time; and

at least one server that gathers data related to activity of the number of players during the first period of time, determines at least one quantity based at least on the gathered data and selectively reconfigures at least one of the number of gaming machines based at least on the determined at least one quantity; and

wherein a respective player playing a respective one of the at least one reconfigured gaming machines is provided with a first number of bonus points at a bonus point rate and a first amount of extra-award during the first period of time, and the respective player is provided a second amount of extra-award during a second period of time, wherein during the second period of time the second amount of extra-award accrues at a rate different from an extra-award accrual rate for the first period of time, and wherein the extra-award accrual rate of the first period and the extra-award accrual rate of the second period are awarded in addition to the bonus point rate.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least one server determines a respective player rate of play for each player playing a respective one of the number of gaming machines, and wherein the determined at least one quantity is based at least on the respective player rate of play for each player playing a respective one of the number of gaming machines.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the at least one server determines,

to reconfigure a first of the at least one gaming machines such that the extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is less than the extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time in response to determining the respective player play rate for a first respective player is less than a player play rate threshold, and

to reconfigure a second of the at least one gaming machines such that the extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is greater than the extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time in response to determining the respective player play rate for a second respective player is greater than the player play rate threshold.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least one server determines a respective average wager for each player playing a respective one of the number of gaming machines, and wherein the at least one quantity determined by the at least one server is based at least on the respective average wager for each player playing a respective one of the number of gaming machines.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the at least one server determines,

to reconfigure a first of the at least one gaming machines such that the extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is less than the extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time in response to determining the respective average wager for a first respective player is less than an average wager threshold, and

to reconfigure a second of the at least one gaming machines such that the extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is greater than the extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time in response to determining the respective average wager for a second respective player is greater than the average wager threshold.

38. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least one server determines a respective gain rate for a respective one of the number of gaming machines, wherein the respective gain rate is given by (TCA−

TPA)/N, where TCA, total collected amount, is an aggregate amount of collected wagers placed at the respective gaming machine during the first period of time, where TPA, total payout amount, is an aggregate amount of the payout amounts from the respective gaming machine during the first period of time, and N is one of a respective number of games played at the respective gaming machine during the first period of time or the first period of time.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the at least one server determines,

to reconfigure a first gaming machine such that the extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is less than the extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time in response to determining that the respective gain rate for the first gaming machine is less than a gain rate threshold;

and

to reconfigure a second gaming machine such that the extra-award accrual rate during the second period of time is greater than the extra-award accrual rate during the first period of time in response to determining that the respective gain rate for the second gaming machine is greater than the gain rate threshold.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least one server determines an average gaming machine occupancy rate for the number of gaming machines, wherein the average gaming machine occupancy rate is an average over the number of gaming machines of an aggregate amount of time that each respective one of the number of gaming machines is being played during the first period of time divided by a length of time for the first period of time, and wherein the at least one quantity determined by the at least one server is based at least on the average gaming machine occupancy rate for the number of gaming machines.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the at least one server determines,

to reconfigure a first gaming machine such that the respective extra-award accrual rate for the first gaming machine during the second period of time is less than the respective extra-award accrual rate for the first gaming machine during the first period of time in response to determining the average gaming machine occupancy rate is less than an average gaming machine occupancy rate threshold, and

to reconfigure a second gaming machine such that the respective extra-award accrual rate for the second gaming machine during the second period of time is greater than the respective extra-award accrual rate for the second gaming machine during the first period of time in response to determining the average gaming machine occupancy rate is greater than an average gaming machine occupancy rate threshold.

42. The system of claim 33

wherein a respective one of the at least one of the reconfigured gaming machines provides a respective player playing the respective one of the at least one reconfigured gaming machine with notification of the reconfiguration of the respective gaming machine prior to the reconfiguration of the respective gaming machine.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the at least one server reconfigures a respective gaming machine only after receiving an indication of assent to the reconfiguration by a respective player playing the respective gaming machine.

45. The system of claim 33 wherein during the second period of time the amount of extra-award accrues at the rate different from the extra-award accrual rate for the first period of time such that an average collection rate for the at least one reconfigured gaming machine during the second period is approximately the same as an average collection rate for the at least one reconfigured gaming machine during the first period.

46. The system of claim 33 wherein during the second period of time the amount of extra-award accrues at the rate different from the extra-award accrual rate for the first period of time such that an average collection rate for the at least one reconfigured gaming machine during the second period is regulated with the extra-award accrual rate to maintain the average collection rate below a collection rate threshold.