GAMING MACHINE WITH LOYALTY BONUS

• US 20150005056A1
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• 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: Bryant, Natalie, OLIVE, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,361,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller, while the communications network is controlled by a network controller. 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 for playing a game of chance having an outcome on a gaming console having an electronic gaming display and an electronic controller, the method comprising:

accumulating loyalty points via the electronic controller based on a wager made on the outcome of a play of the game of chance;

determining via the electronic controller if the accumulated loyalty points reaches an eligibility level;

determining via the electronic controller if at least a portion of the accumulated loyalty points is being wagered in a bonus game in responset to the accumulated loyalty points reaching the eligibility level; and

initiating the bonus game via said electronic controller on said electronic gaming display in response to at least a portion of the accumumated loyalty points having been wagered in the bonus game.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, and wherein the bonus game is a secondary game different to the game played to accumulate loyalty points.

23. A method as claimed in claim 21, and further comprising accumulating the loyalty points at the gaming console.

24. A method as claimed in claim 21, and further comprising deducting the at least a portion of the accumulated loyalty points from the accumulated loyalty points.

25. A loyalty points system comprising:

a gaming console operable by a player to play a game of chance;

a device configured to store loyalty points for the player based on a wager made by the player on an outcome of a play of the game of chance on the gaming console; and

a controller configured to determine if at least a portion of the stored loyalty points is being wagered in a bonus game, and to initiate the bonus game in response to at least a portion of the stored loyalty points having been wagered in the bonus game.

26. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 25, and wherein the bonus game is a secondary game different to the game played to store loyalty points.

27. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 25, and wherein the device is a player card.

28. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 25, and wherein the controller is a controller at the gaming console.

29. A loyalty points system as claimed in claim 28, and wherein the controller is further configured to deduct the at least a portion of the stored loyalty points from the stored loyalty points.

30. A method of gaming for playing a game of chance having an outcome with a portable gaming device on a gaming console having an electronic gaming display and an electronic controller, the method comprising:

storing loyalty points in the portable gaming device via the electronic controller based on a wager made on the outcome;

determining via the electronic controller if the stored loyalty points reaches an eligibility level;

determining via the electronic controller if at least a portion of the accumulated loyalty points is being wagered in a bonus game in response to the stored loyalty points reaching the eligibility level; and

initiating the bonus game via said electronic controller on said electronic gaming display in response to at least a portion of the accumumated loyalty points having been wagered in the bonus game.

32. A method as claimed in claim 30, further comprising accumulating the loyalty points at a central controller connected to the gaming console by a network.

33. A method as claimed in claim 30, further comprising accumulating the loyalty points at the gaming console.

34. A method as claimed in claim 30, further comprising deducting the at least a portion of the stored loyalty points from the stored loyalty points.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising deducting the at least a portion of the stored loyalty points corresponding to the eligibility level.

31. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the bonus game is a secondary game different to the game played to accumulate the loyalty points.