Incorporating a secondary game with a loyalty program

• US 9,430,907 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vann, Jamie W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US14/274,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20140335943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include providing a secondary game for presentation. A game objective for the secondary game is associated with a set of achievements attainable via wagering games available for play via a wagering game machine. The operations can further include detecting attainment of one of the set of achievements via one of the wagering games. The attainment of the one of the set of achievements causes completion of the game objective for the secondary game. The operations can further include awarding a prize associated with a customer loyalty program based on the completion of the game objective.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

electronically providing, via a network communication interface of the gaming system, a secondary game for presentation on a display device associated with a wagering game machine, wherein the wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive monetary value for placement of one or wagers via user input at the wagering game machine in one or more wagering games available for play via the wagering game machine, wherein a game objective for the secondary game is associated with a set of potential game events that can occur via the one or more wagering games;

electronically determining, by at least one of one or more electronic processing units of the gaming system, occurrence of one of the set of potential game events via one of the one or more wagering games, wherein the occurrence of the one of the set of potential game events causes completion of the game objective for the secondary game, wherein prior to the occurrence of the one of the set of potential game events an identifier for each potential game event from the set of potential game events is assigned to a game space position on a game board for the secondary game, and wherein a location of the game space position on the game board corresponds to a value for an odds of occurrence of the potential game event in the one or more wagering games; and

electronically awarding, by at least one of the one or more electronic processing units, a prize associated with a customer loyalty program based on the completion of the game objective.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more wagering games include a plurality of wagering games that are different in game theme, and wherein at least a portion of game spaces from the game board are assigned to different potential game events from differently themed games.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

associating each of a set of game objectives for the secondary game with different types of events from the one or more wagering games, wherein the game objective is one of the set of game objectives.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronically awarding the prize comprises:

electronically awarding the prize based on a status of a wagering game player account for the customer loyalty program, wherein the one of the one or more wagering games is associated with the wagering game player account.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

electronically assigning the set of potential game events to positions on the game board based on the odds of occurrence in the one or more wagering games for the each potential game event.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electronically assigning the set of potential game events to the positions on the game board comprises:

determining, based on electronic analysis of the game board, that a first position on the game board is eligible for a first number of prizes in the secondary game, wherein the game board comprises the first position and a second position eligible for a second number of prizes less than the first number of prizes,

electronically assigning a first potential game event of the set of potential game events to the first position in response to determining that the first potential game event of the set of potential game events has first odds of occurrence lower than second odds of occurrence for a second potential game event of the set of potential game events, and

electronically assigning the second potential game event to the second position.

7. A gaming system comprising:

one or more processors; and

at least one memory device configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to perform operations to,

electronically provide, for presentation, a secondary game associated with a plurality of wagering game machines, wherein a game objective for the secondary game corresponds to a set of potential game events that can occur via wagering games available for play via the plurality of wagering game machines, wherein the plurality of wagering game machines are associated with a plurality of wagering game player accounts, and wherein each of the plurality of wagering game machines includes a value input device configured to receive monetary value for placement of one or wagers via user input at each wagering game machine in one or more of the wagering games,

electronically detect occurrence of one of the set of potential game events from one of the wagering games associated with one of the plurality of wagering game player accounts, wherein prior to the occurrence of the one of the set of potential game events an identifier for each potential game event from the set of potential game events is assigned to a game space position on a game board for the secondary game, and wherein a location of the game space position on the game board corresponds to a value for an odds of occurrence of the potential game event in the wagering games,

detect completion of the game objective for the secondary game based on the occurrence of the one of the set of potential game events, and

award a prize to any of the plurality of wagering game player accounts that have attained a game space on a first portion of the game board that pertains to the completion of the game objective in response to the completion of the game objective for the secondary game.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the prize is funded by a customer loyalty program.

9. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to perform operations to:

associate the game objective with different types of potential game events from the wagering games.

10. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to perform operations to:

associate the set of potential game events with positions on the game board based on the odds of occurrence in the wagering games for the each potential game event.

22. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the game board for the secondary game is presented on a common display for the plurality of wagering game machines.

23. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the first portion of the game board includes a first plurality of game spaces which must be attained before the game objective is completed, wherein a second portion of the game board includes a second plurality of game spaces that do not apply to the game objective, and wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to perform operations to:

determine, before completion of the game objective, that a first game event occurs in a first of the wagering games associated with a first of the plurality of wagering game player accounts, wherein the first game event is from the set of potential game events, and wherein the first of the wagering games has a first game theme;

indicate, via the game board, that the first of the plurality of wagering game player accounts has attained a first game space in the first plurality of game spaces;

determine that a second game event occurs in a second of the wagering games associated with a second of the plurality of wagering game player accounts, wherein the second game event is from the set of potential game events, and wherein the second of the wagering games is of a second game theme different from the first game theme;

indicate, via the game board, that the second of the plurality of wagering game player accounts has attained a second game space in the first plurality of game spaces, wherein detection of completion of the game objective for the secondary game includes a determination that occurrence of the one of the set of potential game events that corresponds to the second game space completes attainment of a last of the first plurality of game spaces; and

award the prize to the first of the plurality of wagering game player accounts and the second of the plurality of wagering game player accounts in response to attainment of the last of the first plurality of game spaces.

11. One or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a set of one or more processors of a gaming system cause the gaming system to perform operations comprising:

electronically providing, via a network communication interface of the gaming system, a secondary game for presentation on a display device associated with a wagering game machine, wherein the wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive monetary value for placement of one or wagers via user input at the wagering game machine, wherein a game objective for the secondary game is associated with a set of potential game events that can occur via different wagering games available for play via a first of a plurality of wagering game machines;

electronically determining, via the network communication interface, occurrence of one of the set of potential game events via one of the different wagering games, wherein the occurrence of the one of the set of potential game events causes completion of the game objective for the secondary game, wherein prior to the occurrence of the one of the set of potential game events an identifier for each potential game event from the set of potential game events is assigned to a game space position on a game board for the secondary game, and wherein a location of the game space position on the game board corresponds to a value for an odds of occurrence of the potential game event in the different wagering games; and

electronically awarding, by at least one of one or more electronic processing units of the gaming system, a prize associated with a customer loyalty program based on the completion of the game objective.

12. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 11, said operations further comprising:

providing, for presentation on the display device, the game board, wherein the game board has a plurality of game spaces, and wherein each of the plurality of game spaces on the game board corresponds to at least one of the set of potential game events; and

indicating the occurrence of the at least one of the set of potential game events via one of the plurality of game spaces.

13. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 12, said operations further comprising:

associating each of the plurality of game spaces with each of the set of potential game events, wherein each of the set of potential game events are different for each of the different wagering games.

14. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 13, said operations further comprising:

associating each of the plurality of game spaces with positions on the game board based on the odds of occurrence for the each of the set of potential game events.

15. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the operations for associating the each of the plurality of game spaces with the positions on the game board based on the odds of occurrence for the each of the set of potential game events includes operations comprising:

for the each of the plurality of game spaces, determining that the one of the plurality of game spaces is at a first position on the game board eligible for a first number of prizes in the secondary game, wherein the game board comprises at least the first position and a second position eligible for a second number of prizes less than the first number of prizes;

determining that a first potential game event from the set of potential game events has a first odds of occurrence lower than a second odds of occurrence for a second potential game event from the set of potential game events; and

assigning the first potential game event to the first position in response to the determining that the first potential game event has the first odds of occurrence lower than the second odds of occurrence.

16. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 15, said operations further comprising:

assigning the second potential game event to the second position.

17. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 12, wherein the game objective is one of a plurality of game objectives for the secondary game, wherein the plurality of game objectives are associated with a set of the plurality of game spaces arranged in a geometric pattern on the game board, wherein the one of the different wagering games is associated with a wagering game player account, and wherein the operations for electronically awarding the prize includes operations comprising awarding, to the wagering game player account, a number of instances of the prize proportional to a number of the set of the plurality of game spaces attained by the wagering game player account in the geometric pattern.

18. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 17, said operations further comprising electronically awarding the prize to a plurality of wagering game player accounts associated with the different wagering games, wherein each of the plurality of wagering game player accounts has attained at least one of the set of the plurality of game spaces.

19. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 12, said operations further comprising:

selecting a set of different potential wagering game outcomes indicated in a plurality of rules sets for the different wagering games;

associating each of the set of different potential wagering game outcomes with each of the plurality of game spaces;

associating a set of the plurality of game spaces with the game objective; and

associating the game objective with the prize, wherein attainment of one or more portions of the set of different potential wagering game outcomes is configured to complete the game objective.

20. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 11, said operations further comprising:

associating a plurality of awards to a type of prize associated with the customer loyalty program, wherein the plurality of awards are associated with different levels of status for the customer loyalty program;

associating the type of prize with the game objective; and

electronically awarding one of the plurality of awards based on a level of status for a wagering game player account associated with the wagering game machine, wherein the level of status corresponds to one of the different levels of status for the customer loyalty program.

21. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 20, said operations further comprising:

associating first values for the plurality of awards with a first time period;

detecting a change from the first time period to a second time period associated with second values for the plurality of awards different from the first values; and

automatically changing the first values to the second values in response to the change from the first time period to the second time period.