Method and apparatus for providing player incentives
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- in response to a player playing a gaming machine during a first visit to a physical gambling location, providing, via the gaming machine, a first invitation to the player to play a first electronic game away from 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;
requiring the player to return to the physical gambling location at a later time to first active the first invitation;
enabling, via a game server, the player to play the first electronic game away from the physical gambling location;
enabling an award earned from playing the first electronic game to be redeemed, at the gaming machine or another gaming machine, during a second visit to the physical gambling location; and
providing, via the gaming machine or the another gaming machine whereas the award is redeemed during the second visit, a second invitation to the player to play a second, different electronic game away from the physical gambling location.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
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in response to a player playing a gaming machine during a first visit to a physical gambling location, providing, via the gaming machine, a first invitation to the player to play a first electronic game away from 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; requiring the player to return to the physical gambling location at a later time to first active the first invitation; enabling, via a game server, the player to play the first electronic game away from the physical gambling location; enabling an award earned from playing the first electronic game to be redeemed, at the gaming machine or another gaming machine, during a second visit to the physical gambling location; and providing, via the gaming machine or the another gaming machine whereas the award is redeemed during the second visit, a second invitation to the player to play a second, different electronic game away from the physical gambling location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A gaming system, comprising:
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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 on controller configured to perform one or more operations, comprising; in response to a player playing the gaming machine during a first visit to the physical gambling location, providing, via the gaming machine, a first invitation to the player to play a first electronic game away from the physical gambling location, requiring the player to return to the physical gambling location at a later time to first activate the first invitation; enabling the player to play the first electronic game away from the physical gambling location, enabling an award earned from playing the first electronic game to be redeemed, at the gaming machine or another gaming machine, during a second visit to the physical gambling location, and providing, whereas the award is redeemed during the second visit, a second invitation to the player to play a second, different electronic game away from the physical gambling location. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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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 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; in response to a player playing the gaming machine during a first visit to the physical gambling location, provide a first invitation to the player to play a first electronic game away from the physical gambling location, require the player to return to the physical gambling location at a later time to first activate the first invitation; enable the player to play the first electronic game away from the physical gambling location, enable an award earned from playing the first electronic game to be redeemed, at the gaming machine or another gaming machine, during a second visit to the physical gambling location, and provide, whereas the award is redeemed during the second visit, a second invitation to the player to play a second, different electronic game away from the physical gambling location. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. One or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a set of one or more processors, cause the set of one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
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in response to a player playing a gaming machine during a first visit to a physical gambling location, providing, via the gaming machine, a first invitation to the player to play a first electronic game away from 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; requiring the player to return to the physical gambling location at a later time to first activate the first invitation; enabling the player to play the first electronic game away from the physical gambling location; enabling an award earned from playing the first electronic game to be redeemed, at the gaming machine or another gaming machine, during a second visit to the physical gambling location; and providing, via the gaming machine or the another gaming machine, whereas the award is redeemed during the second visit, a second invitation to the player to play a second, different electronic game away from the physical gambling location. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification