SERVER BASED GAMING SYSTEM HAVING SYSTEM TRIGGERED LOYALTY AWARD SEQUENCES

• US 20080076532A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Low, Michael N., Iddings, Cara L., Schneider, Richard J., Graham, Jacob, Schlottmann, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 7,674,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. In one embodiment, the gaming system provides players with one or more loyalty incentives, such as one or more loyalty awards, utilizing one or more loyalty incentive award sequences. In one embodiment, the gaming system determines a loyalty award to provide to a player and then determines an appropriate loyalty award sequence to utilize to provide the player the determined loyalty award, wherein the loyalty award sequence is determined based on the individual gaming device that the player is currently playing.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a controller;

at least one gaming device including;

a game operable upon a wager,

at least one display device,

at least one input device, and

a gaming device processor programmed to operate with said controller, said display device and said input device to display said game;

a triggering event, wherein upon an occurrence of the triggering event, said controller is programmed to;

(a) determine a loyalty award;

(b) determine a loyalty award sequence based on said determined loyalty award, wherein the loyalty award sequence includes at least one game outcome modification; and

(c) communicate information based on the determined loyalty award sequence to the gaming device;

wherein the gaming device processor is programmed to;

(i) generate and display a first game outcome in said game;

(ii) provide any award associated with the first game outcome to a player;

(iii) enable the player to selectively activate the game outcome modification of the determined loyalty award sequence; and

(iv) if the player activates the game outcome modification of the determined loyalty award sequence;

(1) modify the generated first game outcome to form a second game outcome in said game, and

(2) provide any award associated with the second game outcome to the player.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the loyalty award sequence includes a plurality of game outcome modifications.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the game outcome modification is associated with an average expected payout for said game and the number of game outcome modifications in the loyalty award sequence is based on said average expected payout relative to the loyalty award.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the game includes a plurality of reels and at least one of the game outcome modifications includes a regeneration of at least one symbol on at least one reel.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the game includes a plurality of reels and at least one of the game outcome modifications includes a nudge of at least one symbol on at least one reel.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the game outcome modifications includes causing at least one symbol to function as a wild symbol.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determined loyalty award is funded by a gaming establishment loyalty program.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event occurs based on information received from a player tracking system.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said loyalty award is based on at least one of said wagers.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determined loyalty award is based on information received from a player tracking system.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the communicated information is the determined loyalty award sequence.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the communicated information is instructions to execute the loyalty award sequence.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the loyalty award sequence is stored on a memory device of said gaming device.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to store at least part of the determined loyalty award sequence.

15. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon a wager;

at least one display device operable with the processor;

at least one input device operable with the processor; and

wherein said processor is in communication with a controller and programmed to;

(a) receive information based on a loyalty award sequence from the controller, said loyalty award sequence based on a controller determined loyalty award and including at least one game outcome modification;

(b) generate and display a first game outcome in said game;

(c) provide any award associated with the first game outcome to a player;

(d) enable the player to selectively activate the game outcome modification of the determined loyalty award sequence; and

(e) if the player activates the game outcome modification of the determined loyalty award sequence;

(i) modify the generated first game outcome to form a second game outcome in said game, and

(ii) provide any award associated with the second game outcome to the player.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the loyalty award sequence includes a plurality of game outcome modifications.

17. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the game outcome modification is associated with an average expected payout for said game and the number of game outcome modifications in the loyalty award sequence is based on said average expected payout relative to the loyalty award.

18. The gaming device of claim 15, which includes a plurality of reels, wherein at least one of the game outcome modifications includes a regeneration of at least one symbol on at least one reel.

19. The gaming device of claim 15, which includes a plurality of reels, wherein and at least one of the game outcome modifications includes a nudge of at least one symbol on at least one reel.

20. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein at least one of the game outcome modifications includes causing at least one symbol to function as a wild symbol.

21. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the loyalty award is funded by a gaming establishment loyalty program.

22. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein said loyalty award is based on at least one of said wagers.

23. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the determined loyalty award is based on information received from a player tracking system.

24. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the received information is the determined loyalty award sequence.

25. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the received information is instructions to execute the determined loyalty award sequence.

26. The gaming device of claim 25, which includes a memory device, wherein the loyalty award sequence is stored on the memory device.

27. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a controller in communication with at least one gaming device which includes a game operable upon a wager, at least one display device, and at least one input device, said method comprising:

(a) determining if a triggering event occurs;

(b) if the triggering event occurs;

(i) causing the controller to determine a loyalty award;

(ii) causing the controller to determine a loyalty award sequence based on said determined loyalty award, wherein the loyalty award sequence includes at least one game outcome modification; and

(iii) causing the controller to communicate information based on the determined loyalty award sequence to the gaming device; and

(c) causing the gaming device to;

(i) generate and display a first game outcome in said game;

(ii) provide any award associated with the first game outcome to a player;

(iii) enable the player to selectively activate the game outcome modification of the determined loyalty award sequence; and

(iv) if the player activates the game outcome modification of the determined loyalty award sequence;

(1) modify the generated first game outcome to form a second game outcome in said game, and

(2) provide any award associated with the second game outcome to the player.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the loyalty award sequence includes a plurality of game outcome modifications.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the game outcome modification is associated with an average expected payout for said game and the number of game outcome modifications in the loyalty award sequence is based on said average expected payout relative to the loyalty award.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one of the game outcome modifications includes regenerating of at least one symbol on at least one reel.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one of the game outcome modifications includes nudging of at least one symbol on at least one reel.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein at least one of the game outcome modifications includes causing at least one symbol to function as a wild symbol.

33. The method of claim 27, which includes a gaming establishment loyalty program funding the determined loyalty award.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the triggering event occurs based on information received from a player tracking system.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein said loyalty award is based on at least one of said wagers.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the determined loyalty award is based on information received from a player tracking system.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the communicated information is the determined loyalty award sequence.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the communicated information is instructions to execute the loyalty award sequence.

39. The method of claim 27, which includes storing at least part of the determined loyalty award sequence.

40. The method of claim 27, which is provided through a data network.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the data network is an internet.

42. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) receiving information based on a loyalty award sequence from a controller, said loyalty award sequence based on a controller determined loyalty award and including at least one game outcome modification;

(b) generating and displaying a first game outcome in a game;

(c) providing any award associated with the first game outcome to a player;

(d) enabling the player to selectively activate the game outcome modification of the determined loyalty award sequence; and

(e) if the player activates the game outcome modification of the determined loyalty award sequence;

(i) modifying the generated first game outcome to form a second game outcome in said game, and

(ii) providing any award associated with the second game outcome to the player.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the loyalty award sequence includes a plurality of game outcome modifications.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the game outcome modification is associated with an average expected payout for said game and the number of game outcome modifications in the loyalty award sequence is based on said average expected payout relative to the loyalty award.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein at least one of the game outcome modifications includes regenerating of at least one symbol on at least one reel.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein at least one of the game outcome modifications includes nudging of at least one symbol on at least one reel.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein at least one of the game outcome modifications includes causing at least one symbol to function as a wild symbol.

48. The method of claim 42, which includes a gaming establishment loyalty program funding the determined loyalty award.

49. The method of claim 42, wherein said loyalty award is based on at least one of said wagers.

50. The method of claim 42, wherein the determined loyalty award is based on information received from a player tracking system.

51. The method of claim 42, wherein the received information is the determined loyalty award sequence.

52. The method of claim 42, wherein the received information is instructions to execute the determined loyalty award sequence.

53. The method of claim 42, which is provided through a data network.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the data network is an internet.