Method and apparatus for awarding and redeeming promotional points at an electronic game

• US 20030083943A1
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Anchor Coin
• Inventors: Matthews, Thomas J., Adams, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,025,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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

An electronic game including at least one display exhibiting a plurality of windows or segments each displaying a different subject matter is disclosed. The different subject matter in each of the plurality of windows preferably includes a real time promotional points total, an awards display, a sponsor advertising material display, an Internet display and an electronic game. The electronic game, which may include a wagering game, may be played by tendering money or tendering promotional points instead of money. Promotional points may be awarded instead of a portion of a money award, or supplemental to it. Promotional points may be accumulated by players through both gaming and non-gaming activities, including activities not involving a commercial transaction. An electronic gaming apparatus is described which also serves as an Internet portal.

Claims

19. An electronic game including at least one display configured for simultaneously displaying at least a promotional point total and an electronic game.

20. The electronic game of claim 19, configured to increase the promotional point total in response to at least one aspect of a player'"'"'s activity at the electronic game.

21. The electronic game of claim 19, configured to further display, substantially simultaneously with the promotional point total, an awards display.

22. The electronic game of claim 19, configured to enable redemption of promotional points therethrough.

23. The electronic game of claim 22, configured to enable redemption of promotional points for awards displayed on an awards display segment of the display.

61. The electronic game of claim 19, further configured for substantially simultaneously displaying at least one of a money credit total and a money winnings total.

24. An electronic game configured for simultaneously displaying an award for which promotional points may be redeemed at the electronic game.

25. The electronic game of claim 24, configured to further display, simultaneous with the awards display, sponsor advertisement material.

26. The electronic game of claim 25, configured to associate the sponsor advertisement material with a displayed award.

95. The electronic game of claim 24, wherein the electronic game is a gaming device in a licensed casino.

27. An electronic game system for awarding promotional points, the system comprising:

a central controller;

at least one electronic game in communication with the central controller, wherein the at least one electronic game is configured to retrieve and display a promotional points total of a player accessing the at least one electronic game.

28. The electronic game system of claim 27, further comprising a promotional points database accessible by the central controller and from which the promotional points total of the player are retrieved.

29. The electronic game system of claim 28, wherein the at least one electronic game is configured to retrieve award information transmitted from the central controller in relation to an amount of promotional points accumulated by the player.

30. The electronic game system of claim 27, wherein the at least one electronic game is directly connected to the central controller.

31. The electronic game system of claim 27, wherein the at least one electronic game in communication with the central controller through the Internet.

32. The electronic game system of claim 27, wherein the at least one electronic game is in communication with the central controller through a remote communication system.

96. The electronic game system of claim 27, wherein the electronic game system is managed by a licensed casino.

33. A method of awarding promotional points comprising:

assigning at least one person a unique identifier;

awarding promotional points redeemable for goods or services to the at least one person for predetermined activities involving commercial transactions; and

awarding promotional points redeemable for goods or services to the at least one person for predetermined activities other than commercial transactions.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the predetermined activities involving commercial transactions include transactions where money is spent on casino- or sponsor-related activities.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the casino- or sponsor-related activities include gaming, shopping at casino or sponsor shops or restaurants, and renting casino or sponsor rooms.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the predetermined activities other than commercial transactions include activities where no money or monetary credit is required to change possession.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the activities where no money or monetary credit is required to change possession include visiting Internet sites, visiting places of business, reading sponsor approved material, attending sales presentations, attending promotional gatherings, and being exposed to advertising material.

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising associating the promotional points awarded to the at least one person with the at least one person'"'"'s unique identifier.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising storing the unique identifier in the form of at least one of a bar code, a magnetic strip, a smart card, a personal identification number and a Bluetooth electronic communicator.

40. A method of redeeming promotional points, the method comprising:

retrieving a number of promotional points associated with a unique identifier;

displaying the number of promotional points on at least one of an electronic game display and other element associated with the electronic game display;

displaying an award, having a promotional points exchange value, on at least one of the electronic game display and a display associated with the electronic game display, substantially simultaneous to displaying the number of promotional points; and

receiving an indication from a player of the electronic game to redeem promotional points for the award displayed.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein displaying an award having a promotional points value comprises displaying an award having a promotional points value less than the promotional points displayed.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising offering at least one of a discounted cash and discounted credit price for redemption of an award item, if the award sought to be redeemed by the player has a promotional points value greater than the promotional points displayed.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising calculating an updated promotional points total by subtracting the promotional points value of the award displayed from the promotional points displayed when the player indicates to redeem the promotional points for the award displayed.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising recording the updated promotional points total in association with the unique identifier.

45. The method of claim 40, further comprising sending the displayed award to the player in response to information associated with the unique identifier.

97. The method of claim 40, wherein the method is performed at least in part by a licensed casino.

46. A method of awarding and redeeming promotional points, the method comprising:

awarding promotional gaming points for activities associated with at least one casino property;

visiting a business location of at least one sponsor separate from the at least one casino property; and

exchanging at least a portion of the promotional points for discounts on goods or services associated with the at least one sponsor.

98. The method of claim 46, wherein the method of awarding and redeeming promotional gaming points is performed at least in part by a licensed casino.

47. A method of advertising using an electronic game, the method comprising:

providing at least one electronic game display having a plurality of windows;

displaying an electronic game in a first of the plurality of windows; and

displaying advertising material for a sponsor in a second of the plurality of windows, simultaneous to displaying the electronic game in the first of the plurality of windows.

48. A method of gaming using promotional points, the method comprising:

accumulating a number of promotional points; and

tendering promotional points to play one of a game of chance, a game of skill, and a game of skill and chance.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein tendering promotional points comprises wagering at least a portion of the number of promotional points.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein tendering promotional points comprises using promotional points as credits to enable play at a non-gaming electronic game.

51. A method of awarding and redeeming promotional points, the method comprising:

awarding promotional points to customers allowing themselves to be exposed to sponsor advertising material; and

enabling customers to redeem promotional points in exchange for opportunities to play electronic games.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein customers allowing themselves to be exposed to sponsor advertising material includes customers visiting sponsor business sites.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein visiting sponsor business sites includes visiting sponsor Internet sites.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein enabling redemption of promotional points in exchange for opportunities to play electronic games comprises enabling redemption of promotional points in exchange for opportunities to increase promotional point totals through wagering of at least a portion of the promotional points previously awarded.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the electronic games are played over the Internet.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein customers allowing themselves to be exposed to sponsor advertising material includes allowing an advertising banner to remain active on an Internet browser throughout customer use of the Internet.

57. A method of providing incentive to a player of an electronic game to continue playing the electronic game, the method comprising displaying at least one award for which promotional points may be redeemed on a game display substantially simultaneously with displaying an electronic game.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

retrieving a player'"'"'s promotional points total; and

displaying a promotional point total associated with a player substantially simultaneously with displaying the at least one award.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein displaying the at least one award comprises displaying at least one award having a redemption value higher than a promotional point total associated with a player of the electronic game.

60. The method of claim 57, further comprising configuring the electronic game for redemption of promotional points through the electronic game.

62. A method of awarding promotional points, the method comprising:

awarding a first portion of a player'"'"'s winnings at an electronic game in at least one of money or money credits; and

awarding a second portion of the player'"'"'s winnings at the electronic game in promotional points.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein awarding the second portion of the player'"'"'s winnings at the electronic game is a user-selectable option.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein if the player'"'"'s winnings are zero, a bonus game is initiated to determine an amount of promotional points to award.

65. A method of awarding promotional points, the method comprising:

initiating a promotional points game upon completion of an electronic game; and

awarding promotional points in response to at least one aspect of a player'"'"'s activity in the promotional point game.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the promotional points game is one of a game of skill, a game of chance and a game of skill and chance.

67. The method of claim 65, further comprising providing an option to a player to choose between receiving promotional points awarded through a promotional points game or associated with at least one aspect of the player'"'"'s activity at the electronic game.

68. An apparatus for communicating with a remote site through the Internet, comprising a device configured as a gaming machine interactive with a player at the gaming machine and including at least one portion of at least one display having associated therewith hardware for accessing a site remote from the gaming machine site through the Internet.

69. A method of accessing the Internet, comprising:

playing a game of skill or chance interactively on-site with an apparatus specifically configured for playing the game; and

communicating through the Internet with a site remote from the site of the apparatus.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein communicating comprises communicating with a remote site for purposes other than playing the game for which the apparatus is configured.

71. A method of award redemption including communications through the Internet, comprising:

accessing an electronic game at a selected site;

selecting an award at the selected site through the Internet for redemption in exchange for a number of promotional points;

initiating redemption of the award; and

receiving the award from a sponsor of the electronic game.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the selecting the award is effected through the sponsor'"'"'s website.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein initiating redemption of the award is effected through the Internet at the sponsor'"'"'s website.

74. The method of claim 71, further including shipping of the award by the sponsor for receipt.

75. The method of claim 71, wherein the site of receipt of the award is provided in conjunction with a unique identifier associated with the person initiating redemption.

76. A method of award redemption including communications through the Internet, comprising:

accessing a display of promotional points at a selected site;

selecting an award at the selected site through the Internet for redemption in exchange for a number of promotional points;

initiating redemption of the award; and

receiving the award from a sponsor of a game by which the promotional points at least in part may be accumulated.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the selecting the award is effected through the sponsor'"'"'s website.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein initiating redemption of the award is effected through the Internet at the sponsor'"'"'s website.

79. The method of claim 76, further including shipping of the award by the sponsor for receipt.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the site of receipt of the award is provided in conjunction with a unique identifier associated with the person initiating redemption.

81. A method of encouraging participation by an individual in selected activities, comprising:

assigning a trackable identifier to the individual;

referencing the identifier in conjunction with a plurality of selected, different activities by the individual; and

awarding promotional points to the individual responsive to at least one aspect of each of the selected, different activities.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein at least some of the selected, different activities are conducted at two or more sites remote from each other, and the awarded promotional points are accumulated at a single site.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the activities are monitored through the Internet.

84. The method of claim 82, further comprising enhancing the amount of promotional points awarded responsive to at least one factor selected from the group comprising frequency of activities, duration of activities, money tendered, visitation to different of the at least two remote sites, and visitation to remote sites within a selected group of sites.

85. The method of claim 82, further comprising sponsoring of the promotional points by organizations located at the at least two remote sites.

86. A method of structuring promotional point awards responsive to gaming activity, comprising:

selecting a first set of criteria for awarding promotional points responsive to gaming activity; and

selecting a second set of criteria for enhancing the value of the promotional points awarded during the gaming activity based upon at least one of frequency of gaming, duration of gaming, the amount of money wagered per game, the amount of money wagered during a selected time period, the amount of money won during a selected time period, and the amount of money lost during a selected time period.

87. A method of modifying an individual'"'"'s behavior through a promotional points system, comprising:

awarding promotional points responsive to selected activities of the individual at sites affiliated with sponsors of the system; and

selectively enhancing a value of the promotional points awarded responsive to selected criteria assigned to activities conducted at a plurality of sites.

1. An electronic game comprising at least one display including at least two distinct windows, each window configured to display at least one subject of display different and independently alterable with respect to at least one other of the at least two distinct windows and comprising one or more images.

2. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the at least one subject of in each of the at least two windows includes at least one of an interactive game, an Internet display, a control element, an advertising material display, a promotional point total, a credit total, a wager total and an awards display.

3. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the at least two distinct windows are formed using picture-in-picture technology.

4. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the at least two distinct windows are formed using software programming.

5. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the at least two distinct windows are formed using at least one LED display including a plurality of sub-arrays, each subarray being activated by a distinct signal.

6. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two windows is a promotional points total window.

7. The electronic game of claim 6, configured to update a points total in the promotional points total window in substantially real time.

8. The electronic game of claim 6, wherein the promotional points total window is configured to display at least one of a total of promotional points earned by a player of the game on site and a cumulative total of unredeemed promotional points currently awarded to a player.

9. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two windows is a sponsor advertising window.

10. The electronic game of claim 9, wherein the sponsor advertising window is configured to display casino or sponsor information.

11. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two windows is an awards display window.

12. The electronic game of claim 11, wherein the awards display window is configured to display a plurality of awards for which a player may redeem promotional points.

13. The electronic game of claim 12, configured so that the awards displayed are awards having a redemption value in promotional points higher than a total of promotional points awarded to the player.

14. The electronic game of claim 11, further comprising an interactive control device through which a player may view a plurality of awards.

15. The electronic game of claim 14, configured to enable access by the player to view at least one of the awards from an online catalog.

16. The electronic game of claim 11, configured so that the awards display window comprises a portion to indicate additional promotional points a player needs to accumulate in order to redeem a displayed award.

17. The electronic game of claim 11, configured to enable a player to redeem promotional points at the electronic game.

18. The electronic game of claim 12, wherein the awards displayed are selected to correspond to sponsors'"'"' advertising material substantially simultaneously displayed in a sponsor advertising window on the at least one electronic game display.

88. The method of claim 87, further comprising selecting the criteria from the group comprising frequency of activity, duration of activity, and an amount of money tendered in the course of an activity, the number of different sites at which an activity are conducted during a selected time period, and a number of sites among a selected group of sites at which an activity is conducted during a selected time period.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the activities remotely conducted through the Internet are conducted in communication with a sponsor'"'"'s website.

94. The electronic game of claim 1, wherein the electronic game is a gaming device in a licensed casino.

88-1. The method of claim 87, wherein the selected activities of the individual are conducted, at least in part, remotely through the Internet.

90. A method of training an individual to initiate commercial transactions through at least one website, comprising:

awarding promotional points redeemable for goods or services responsive to a plurality of activities of at least one individual;

providing a redemption process for the goods or services through the Internet requiring a sequence of steps substantially the same as that required to purchase at least one good or service from a merchant using legal tender, but for the use at least in part of promotional points in lieu of legal tender.

91. An electronic game comprising at least one display configured to display a promotional points total.

92. The electronic game of claim 91, wherein the promotional points total is displayed on an output removable from the game.

93. The electronic game of claim 92, wherein the removable output comprises indicia printed on a portable element.

99. A method of awarding promotional points, the method comprising:

initiating a promotional points game upon completion of an electronic game wherein legal tender is wagered; and

awarding promotional points in response to at least one aspect of a player'"'"'s activity in the promotional point game.

100. A method of awarding and redeeming promotional points, the method comprising:

initiating a promotional points game upon completion of an electronic game wherein legal tender is wagered;

awarding promotional points in response to at least one aspect of a player'"'"'s activity in the promotional point game; and

redeeming the promotional points for an award at the location of the electronic game and promotional points game.