Method and system for remote entry in frequent player programs

• US 20070254736A1
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Inventors: Hardy, Dow, Herrmann, Mark, Kane, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,016,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• 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

The field of the invention relates generally to casino frequent player programs, and more specifically to providing special incentives for remote entry of casino affiliation or membership cards. The special incentives may include providing a prize or award to frequent player program members that remotely use his or her membership. The member may or may not be told of any winnings upon entry. In one example, the player is provided an indication of winning an incentive during play of an online game. In another example, the player may be required to obtain the winnings at the casino to encourage players to return to the casino. Also, the player may be required to redeem any winnings within a specified period of time. Further, the player incentives may be offered periodically, encouraging the player to periodically check their status remotely.

Claims

1. A method for conducting an incentive program, the method comprising acts of:

permitting at least one frequent player program member of the incentive program to submit identification information associated with the at least one frequent player program member; and

providing at least one special incentive to the at least one frequent player program member in response to the remote entry of the identification information associated with the at least one frequent player program member.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of permitting further comprises an act of permitting the user to remotely swipe a membership card identifying the at least one frequent player program member.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the act of remotely swiping a membership card is performed by the member entering a unique identifier.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the act of remotely swiping a membership card is performed by the member additionally entering at least one of a password and a passcode.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one special incentive includes at least one of a prize and an award.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one of a prize and an award is won by a frequent player program member through a sweepstake.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the member is not informed of a win until the player visits the land-based casino.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the member must go to the land-based casino to receive the at least one of the prize and the award.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the member must go to the land-based casino to receive the at least one of the prize and the award within a specified time period.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of providing to the member a unique identifier.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising an act of providing to the member at least one of a password and a passcode.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the act of remotely swiping the membership card is performed by at least one of a video-enable, audio-enabled, and card reader-containing device.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the device includes at least one of a kiosk, a personal computer, a handheld device, a telephone, and a wireless telephone.

14. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one of the prize and the award includes at least one of money, a credit, merchandise, and loyalty points.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one of the prize and the award includes money, and wherein the method further comprises an act of paying out money including an act of providing at least one of cash, a check, a debit card, and an account credit.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one of the prize and the award includes loyalty points, and the method further comprises an act of paying out loyalty points including providing at least one of a loyalty program credit and an account credit.

17. The method according to claim 5, wherein the member is required to redeem the at least one of the prize and the award at the land-based casino.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the member is required to redeem the at least one of the prize and the award at the land-based casino within a predetermined time period.

19. A method for conducting a game, the method comprising acts of:

providing an incentive to a player to return to a gaming establishment; and

displaying an indication of the incentive to the player in an interface of a remote computer system.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the remote computer system is located outside of the gaming establishment.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the computer system is not part of the gaming establishment.

22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising an act of associating the incentive with an identification of the player.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the identification of the player includes frequent player identification.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein the act of displaying includes an act of displaying the incentive to the player during play of an online game.

25. The method according to claim 19, wherein the act of providing an incentive is performed periodically.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising an act of determining an incentive periodically and displaying an active incentive to the player in the interface of a remote computer system.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the act of determining an incentive periodically further comprises determining a time period for the active incentive such that the player is motivated to periodically view the interface.

28. The method according to claim 19, wherein the interface includes a browser-based interface.

29. The method according to claim 19, wherein the remote computer system is coupled to the gaming establishment via a communication network.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the communication network includes the Internet.

31. The method according to claim 19, further comprising an act of requiring the player to return to the gaming establishment to redeem the incentive.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising an act of requiring the player to redeem the incentive within a predetermined time period.

33. The method according to claim 19, wherein the gaming establishment includes a land-based casino.

34. The method according to claim 22, wherein the association is performed by a computer system of the gaming establishment.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising an act of tracking a winning of the incentive by the player according to the identification of the player.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the act of tracking includes tracking the winning of the incentive using the frequent player identification.

37. The method according to claim 34, wherein the computer system of the gaming establishment includes at least one of a player tracking system, a gaming machine, a kiosk, and a casino management system.