GAMING MACHINE WITH LOYALTY BONUS

• US 20080268937A1
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Olive, Scott, Bryant, Natalie
• Granted Patent: US 8,636,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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

A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot machine game as a stand alone function with no dependence upon a supporting communications network, the second game may be linked game in which a plurality of network connected machines (50) participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller (60), while the communications network (62) is controlled by a network controller (61). A first game mode is available to all players and a second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have reached a predetermined threshold of loyalty points.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of gaming comprising accumulating loyalty points for a player based on play of a game on a gaming console in a way which is not directly proportional to the amount bet.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, comprising accumulating points at a first rate for a bet of a first amount and accumulating points at a second rate for a bet of a second amount.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second amount is higher than the first amount and the second rate is higher than the first rate.

24. A method as claimed in claim 21, comprising allocating a first point value for a bet of a first amount and allocating a second point value for a bet of a second amount.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the second amount is higher than the first amount and the second rate is higher than the first rate.

26. A method as claimed in claim 21, allocating a fixed point value for a non-winning game and allocating an amount of points to award based on a size of a win for winning game.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the amount of points awarded in a winning game is proportional to the size of the win.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the amount of points awarded corresponds to the amount of credits won.

29. A method as claimed in claim 21, comprising making the player eligible for a bonus game when a number of accumulated loyalty points reaches a threshold level.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, comprising deducting an amount of loyalty points from the accumulated loyalty points in response to the initiation of a bonus game for which eligibility is provided by the loyalty points.

31. A loyalty points system comprising:

a gaming console operable by a player to play a game; and

a controller arranged to accumulate loyalty points for the player based on play of the game in a way which is not directly proportional to the amount bet.

32. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the controller accumulates points at a first rate for a bet of a first amount and accumulating points at a second rate for a bet of a second amount.

33. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the second amount is higher than the first amount and the second rate is higher than the first rate.

34. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the controller allocates a first point value for a bet of a first amount and allocating a second point value for a bet of a second amount.

35. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 34, wherein the second amount is higher than the first amount and the second rate is higher than the first rate.

36. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the controller allocates a fixed point value for a non-winning game and allocating an amount of points to award based on a size of a win for winning game.

37. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the amount of points awarded in a winning game is proportional to the size of the win.

38. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 37, wherein the amount of points awarded corresponds to the amount of credits won.

39. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 31, arranged to make the player eligible for a bonus game when a number of accumulated loyalty points reaches a threshold level.

40. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 39, arranged to deduct an amount of loyalty points from the accumulated loyalty points in response to the initiation of a bonus game for which eligibility is provided by the loyalty points.