System and method for advertising/sales at a gaming device

• US 6,890,256 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sparico, Thomas M., Tulley, Stephen C., Downs, Michael D., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US10/112,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20030125104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 12- 13, 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463 29- 31, 463 40- 42, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/143.R, 273292-293, 700 91- 93, 340/323.R, 705/14, 705 16- 18, 705 26- 27, 705/35, 705/39
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method provides for determining data associated with a gaming device; determining whether the data meets at least one established criterion; and providing an offer to a player if the data meets the at least one established criterion, the offer including a condition and an amount of credit to be provided to the player in exchange for the player agreeing to the condition.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining data associated with a gaming device;

determining whether the data meets at least one established criterion; and

providing an offer to a player if the data meets the at least one established criterion,

the offer including a condition and an amount of credit to be provided to the player in exchange for the player agreeing to the condition.

2. The method of claim 1, in which providing comprises:

displaying the offer at the gaming device.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the data includes an indication of at least one of:

a loss by the player,

a win by the player,

a payout,

a player status,

a denomination requirement of the gaming device,

a period of time for which the player has been playing, and

an agreement by the player to receive at least one offer.

4. The method of claim 1, in which providing the offer comprises:

transmitting the offer to the gaming device.

5. The method of claim 1, in which providing the offer comprises:

displaying the offer to the player.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of acceptance by the player of the offer; and

providing the amount of credit to the player.

7. The method of claim 6, in which providing the amount of credit comprises:

determining a balance associated with the player; and

adjusting the balance based on the amount of credit.

8. The method of claim 6, in which providing the amount of credit comprises:

dispensing the amount of credit to the player.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player switch from a first provider of a service to a second provider of the service.

10. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player switch from a first provider of telephone service to a second provider of telephone service.

11. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player switch from a first provider of credit to a second provider of credit.

12. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player switch from a first credit card issuer to a second credit card issuer.

13. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player switch from a first provider of cable television service to a second provider of cable television service.

14. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player switch from a first provider of Internet service to a second provider of Internet service.

15. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player establish a credit card account.

16. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player take out a loan.

17. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player establish an account with a provider of telephone service.

18. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player establish an account with a provider of cable television.

19. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player establish an account with a provider of Internet service.

20. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player attend a seminar.

21. The method of claim 1, in which the condition requires that the player speak with a sales representative.

22. The method of claim 1, in which the amount of credit is valid only for play of a gaming device.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

billing the player for the amount of credit if the player fails to satisfy the condition.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the indication of acceptance by the player of the offer.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a benefit to the player if the player has agreed to receive at least one offer.

26. The method of claim 25, in which the benefit comprises a higher payout.

27. The method of claim 25, in which the benefit comprises a free game at the gaming device.

28. The method of claim 27, in which the gaming device comprises a slot machine, and

in which the benefit comprises a free slot pull.

29. A method comprising:

providing to a player an offer for an amount of compensation in exchange for the player agreeing to switch from a first provider of a service to a second provider of the service,

in which the player is associated with a gaming device;

receiving an indication of acceptance by the player of the offer;

determining a balance associated with the player; and

crediting the balance based on the amount of compensation.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

determining an occurrence of a win by the player.

31. The method of claim 30, in which providing comprises:

providing the offer in response to determining the occurrence of the win.

32. The method of claim 30, in which crediting comprises:

crediting the balance in response to determining the occurrence of the win.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

determining an occurrence of a loss by the player.

34. The method of claim 33, in which providing comprises:

providing the offer in response to determining the occurrence of the loss.

35. The method of claim 33, in which crediting comprises:

crediting the balance in response to determining the occurrence of the loss.

36. The method of claim 29, farther comprising:

debiting an account associated with the second provider by the amount of compensation after receiving the indication of acceptance of the offer.

37. A method comprising:

monitoring respective data associated with each slot machine of a plurality of slot machines;

determining whether the respective data for each slot machine of the plurality of slot machines indicates a player loss;

transmitting a respective advertising message to each slot machine for which the respective data indicates a player loss, the advertising message comprising an offer;

receiving an indication of acceptance by a player of the offer;

determining an offer amount associated with the offer;

determining a balance associated with the player; and

debiting the balance by the offer amount.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

determining an issuer of the offer;

determining player data associated with the player;

transmitting the player data to the issuer;

determining an account associated with the issuer; and

crediting the account by a payment amount.

39. A method comprising:

monitoring respective data associated with each slot machine of a plurality of slot machines;

determining whether the respective data for each slot machine of the plurality of slot machines indicates a player loss;

transmitting a respective advertising message to each slot machine for which the respective data indicates a player loss, the advertising message comprising a switch offer;

receiving an indication of acceptance by a player of the offer;

determining an offer amount associated with the offer;

determining a balance associated with the player; and

crediting the balance by the offer amount.

40. A method comprising:

determining data associated with a slot machine;

determining whether the data indicates a loss by a player;

transmitting an offer to the slot machine if the data indicates a loss by the player;

receiving an indication of acceptance by the player of the offer;

determining an amount associated with the offer;

determining a balance associated with the player; and

crediting the balance by the amount.