Server based gaming system having system triggered loyalty award sequences

• US 8,210,930 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Graham, Jacob, Schlottmann, Greg, Low, Michael N., Baerlocher, Anthony J., Schneider, Richard J., Iddings, Cara L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Application Number:
  US11/830,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20080076576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,800 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/21, 463/23, 463/25, 463/29, 463/42
• 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 plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one gaming device processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to display a game, each play of said game has an average expected payback percentage; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with said plurality of gaming devices, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to;

(a) identify each of a plurality of players of a plurality of said gaming devices, wherein each identified player is ranked at one of a plurality of different player tracking levels; and

(b) when a loyalty award sequence is triggered for a designated one of said identified players;

(i) determine a value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, said value being determined independent of any of the average expected payback percentages of any of the games of any of the gaming devices,

(ii) for said triggered loyalty award sequence, determine a number of plays of the game of the gaming device of the designated player, wherein said determined number of plays of the game is based, at least in part, on the determined value and the average expected payback percentage of each play of the game of the gaming device of the designated player,

(iii) for said triggered loyalty award sequence, determine a multiplier to apply to each of the determined number of plays of the game, wherein said determined multiplier is based on the player tracking level of the designated player,

(iv) communicate the determined multiplier and the determined number of plays of the game to the gaming device of the designated player, and

(v) cause the gaming device of the designated player to display at least one of;

(x) the determined number of plays of the game and (y) the determined multiplier.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein for each of the determined number of plays of the game, when executed by the at least one gaming device processor of the gaming device of the designated player, the plurality of instructions cause said at least one gaming device processor of the gaming device of the designated player to:

(i) enable the designated player to place a wager to initiate said play of the game;

(ii) generate and display a plurality of symbols;

(iii) determine if any of said generated symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations;

(iv) if any of said generated symbols form any of said winning symbol combinations, modify a value associated with said generated winning symbol combination by the determined multiplier; and

(v) provide the modified value to the designated player.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the modified values for the number of plays of the game form a total value different than the determined value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determined value is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information received from a player tracking system, and an amount of wagers placed.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to:

(a) determine to trigger a loyalty award sequence for another one of said identified players, and

(b) when the loyalty award sequence is triggered for the other one of said identified players;

(i) for said triggered loyalty award sequence;

(A) determine a value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, said value being determined independent of any of the average expected payback percentages of any of the games of any of the gaming devices,

(B) determine a number of plays of the game of the gaming device of the other player, wherein said determined number of plays of the game is based, at least in part, on the determined value and the average expected payback percentage of each play of the game of the gaming device of the other player, and

(C) determine a multiplier to apply to each of the determined number of plays of the game, wherein said determined multiplier is based on the player tracking level of the other player,

(ii) communicate the determined multiplier and the determined number of plays of the game to the gaming device of the other player, and

(iii) cause the gaming device of the other player to display at least one of the determined number of plays of the game and the determined multiplier.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein if the determined values for the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, the average expected payback percentage of each play of the games of the gaming devices of the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, the determined number of plays of the games for the triggered loyalty award sequences for the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, and the designated player has a different player tracking level than the other player, the determined multiplier for the triggered loyalty award sequence for the designated player is different than the determined multiplier for the triggered loyalty award sequence for the other player.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to cause the gaming device of the designated player to decrease any displayed number of plays of the game for each of a plurality of the games played.

8. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one gaming device processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to display a game, each play of said game has an average expected payback percentage; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with said gaming devices, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to;

(a) identify each of a plurality of players of a plurality of said gaming devices, wherein each identified player is ranked at one of a plurality of different player tracking levels; and

(b) when a loyalty award sequence is triggered for a designated one of said identified players;

(i) determine a value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, said value being determined independent of any of the average expected payback percentages of any of the games of any of the gaming devices,

(ii) for said triggered loyalty award sequence, determine a multiplier wherein said determined multiplier is based on, at least in part, on the determined value and the average expected payback percentage of each play of the game of the gaming device of the designated player,

(iii) for said triggered loyalty award sequence, determine a number of plays of the game of the gaming device of the designated player to apply said determined multiplier, wherein said determined number of plays of the game is based on the player tracking level of the designated player,

(iv) communicate the determined number of plays of the game and the determined multiplier to the gaming device of the designated player, and

(v) cause the gaming device of the designated player to display at least one of;

(x) the determined number of plays of the game and (y) the determined multiplier.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein for each of the determined number of plays of the game, when executed by the at least one gaming device processor of the gaming device of the designated player, the plurality of instructions cause said at least one gaming device processor of the gaming device of the designated player to:

(i) enable the designated player to place a wager to initiate said play of the game;

(ii) generate and display a plurality of symbols;

(iii) determine if any of said generated symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations;

(iv) if any of said generated symbols form any of said winning symbol combinations, modify a value associated with said generated winning symbol combination by the determined multiplier; and

(v) provide the modified value to the designated player.

10. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the values provided to the designated player during the determined number of plays of the game form a total value different than the determined value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence.

11. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the determined value is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information received from a player tracking system, and an amount of wagers placed.

12. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to:

(a) determine to trigger a loyalty award sequence for another one of said identified players, and

(b) when the loyalty award sequence is triggered for the other one of said identified players;

(i) for said triggered loyalty award sequence;

(A) determine a value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, said value being determined independent of any of the average expected payback percentages of any of the games of any of the gaming devices,

(B) determine a multiplier wherein said determined multiplier is based on, at least in part, on the determined value and the average expected payback percentage of each play of the game of the gaming device of the other player, and

(C) determine a number of plays of the game of the gaming device of the other player to apply said determined multiplier, wherein said determined number of plays of the game is based on the player tracking level of the other player,

(ii) communicate the determined number of plays of the game and the determined multiplier to the gaming device of the other player, and

(iii) cause the gaming device of the other player to display at least one of the determined number of plays of the game and the determined multiplier.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein if the determined values for the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, the average expected payback percentage of each play of the games of the gaming devices of the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, the determined multipliers for the triggered loyalty award sequences for the designated player and the other player are substantially equal and the designated player has a different player tracking level than the other player, the determined number of plays of the game for the triggered loyalty award sequence for the designated player is different than the determined number of plays of the game for the triggered loyalty award sequence for the other player.

14. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to cause the gaming device of the designated player to decrease any displayed number of plays of the game for each of a plurality of the games played.

15. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one gaming device processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to display a game, each play of said game has an average expected value; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with said at least one gaming device, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to;

(a) identify each of a plurality of players of a plurality of said gaming devices, wherein each identified player is ranked at one of a plurality of different player tracking levels; and

(b) when a loyalty award sequence is triggered for a designated one of said identified players;

(i) determine a value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, said value being determined independent of any of the average expected values of any of the games of any of the gaming devices,

(ii) for the triggered loyalty award sequence, determine a number of free plays of the game of said gaming device of the designated player, wherein said determined number of free plays is based, at least in part, on;

(A) the player tracking level of the designated player,

(B) the determined value, and

(C) the average expected value of each play of the game of the gaming device of the designated player,

(iii) communicate the determined number of free plays of the game to the gaming device of the designated player, and

(iv) cause the gaming device of the designated player to display the determined number of free plays of the game.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein for each of the determined number of free plays of the game, when executed by the at least one gaming device processor of the gaming device of the designated player, the plurality of instructions cause said at least one gaming device processor of the gaming device of the designated player to:

(i) generate and display a plurality of symbols;

(ii) determine if any of said generated symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations; and

(iii) if any of said generated symbols form any of said winning symbol combinations, provide a value associated with said generated winning symbol combination to the designated player.

17. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the values provided to the designated player during the determined number of free plays of the game form a total value different than the determined value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence.

18. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the determined value is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information received from a player tracking system, and an amount of wagers placed.

19. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to:

(a) determine to trigger a loyalty award sequence for another one of said identified players, and

(b) when the loyalty award sequence is triggered for the other one of said identified players;

(i) determine a value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, said value being determined independent of any of the average expected values of any of the games of any of the gaming devices,

(ii) for said triggered loyalty award sequence, determine a number of free plays of the game of said gaming device of the other player, wherein said determined number of free plays is based, at least in part, on;

(A) the player tracking level of the other player,

(B) the determined value, and

(C) the average expected value of each play of the game of the gaming device of the other player,

(iii) communicate the determined number of free plays of the game to the gaming device of the other player, and

(iv) cause the gaming device of the other player to display the determined number of free plays of the game.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein if the determined values for the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, the average expected payback percentage of each play of the games of the gaming devices of the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, and the designated player has a different player tracking level than the other player, the determined number of free plays of the game for the triggered loyalty award sequence for the designated player is different than the determined number of free plays of the game for the triggered loyalty award sequence for the other player.

21. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to identify each of a plurality of players of a plurality of gaming devices, wherein each identified player is ranked at one of a plurality of different player tracking levels; and

(b) when a loyalty award sequence is triggered for a designated one of said identified players;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, said value being determined independent of any average expected payback percentage of any games of any of the gaming devices,

(ii) for said triggered loyalty award sequence, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a number of plays of a game of the gaming device of the designated player, wherein said determined number of plays of the game is based, at least in part, on the determined value and an average expected payback percentage of each play of the game of the gaming device of the designated player,

(iii) for said triggered loyalty award sequence, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a multiplier to apply to each of the determined number of plays of the game, wherein said determined multiplier is based on the player tracking level of the designated player, and

(iv) causing the gaming device of the designated player to display at least one of;

(x) the determined number of plays of the game and (y) the determined multiplier.

22. The method of claim 21, which includes, for each of the determined number of plays of the game of the gaming device of the designated player:

(i) enabling the designated player to place a wager to initiate said play of the game;

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate a plurality of symbols;

(iii) causing at least one display device to display the plurality of symbols;

(iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any of said generated symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations;

(iv) if any of said generated symbols form any of said winning symbol combinations, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify a value associated with said generated winning symbol combination by the determined multiplier; and

(vi) providing the modified value to the designated player.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the modified values for the number of plays of the game form a total value different than the determined value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence.

24. The method of claim 21, which includes:

(a) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine to trigger a loyalty award sequence for another one of said identified players, and

(b) when the loyalty award sequence is triggered for the other one of said identified players;

(i) for said triggered loyalty award sequence;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, said value being determined independent of any of the average expected payback percentages of any of the games of any of the gaming devices,

(B) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a number of plays of a game of the gaming device of the other player, wherein said determined number of plays of the game is based, at least in part, on the determined value and an average expected payback percentage of each play of the game of the gaming device of the other player, and

(C) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a multiplier to apply to each of the determined number of plays of the game, wherein said determined multiplier is based on the player tracking level of the other player, and

(ii) causing the gaming device of the other player to display at least one of the determined number of plays of the game and the determined multiplier.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein if the determined values for the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, the average expected payback percentage of each play of the games of the gaming devices of the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, the determined number of plays of the games for the triggered loyalty award sequences for the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, and the designated player has a different player tracking level than the other player, the determined multiplier for the triggered loyalty award sequence for the designated player is different than the determined multiplier for the triggered loyalty award sequence for the other player.

26. The method of claim 21, which is provided through a data network.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the data network is an internet.

28. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to identifying each of a plurality of players of a plurality of gaming devices, wherein each identified player is ranked at one of a plurality of different player tracking levels; and

(b) when a loyalty award sequence is triggered for a designated one of said identified players;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, said value being determined independent of any average expected payback percentage of any games of any of the gaming devices,

(ii) for said triggered loyalty award sequence, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a multiplier wherein said determined multiplier is based on, at least in part, on the determined value and an average expected payback percentage of each play of a game of the gaming device of the designated player,

(iii) for said triggered loyalty award sequence, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a number of plays of the game of the gaming device of the designated player to apply said determined multiplier, wherein said determined number of plays of the game is based on the player tracking level of the designated player, and

(iv) causing the gaming device of the designated player to display at least one of;

(x) the determined number of plays of the game and (y) the determined multiplier.

29. The method of claim 28, which includes, for each of the determined number of plays of the game of the gaming device of the designated player:

(i) enabling the designated player to place a wager to initiate said play of the game;

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate a plurality of symbols;

(iii) causing at least one display device to display the plurality of generated symbols;

(iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any of said generated symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations;

(iv) if any of said generated symbols form any of said winning symbol combinations, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify a value associated with said generated winning symbol combination by the determined multiplier; and

(vi) providing the modified value to the designated player.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the values provided to the designated player during the determined number of plays of the game form a total value different than the determined value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence.

31. The method of claim 28, which includes:

(a) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine to trigger a loyalty award sequence for another one of said identified players, and

(b) when the loyalty award sequence is triggered for the other one of said identified players;

(i) for said triggered loyalty award sequence;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a value associated with the triggered loyalty, said value being determined independent of any of the average expected payback percentages of any of the games of any of the gaming devices,

(B) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a multiplier wherein said determined multiplier is based on, at least in part, on the determined value and an average expected payback percentage of each play of a game of the gaming device of the other player, and

(C) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a number of plays of the game of the gaming device of the other player to apply said determined multiplier, wherein said determined number of plays of the game is based on the player tracking level of the other player, and

(ii) causing the gaming device of the other player to display at least one of the determined number of plays of the game and the determined multiplier.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein if the determined values for the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, the average expected payback percentage of each play of the games of the gaming devices of the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, the determined multipliers for the triggered loyalty award sequences for the designated player and the other player are substantially equal and the designated player has a different player tracking level than the other player, the determined number of plays of the game for the triggered loyalty award sequence for the designated player is different than the determined number of plays of the game for the triggered loyalty award sequence for the other player.

33. The method of claim 28, which is provided through a data network.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the data network is an internet.

35. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to identifying each of a plurality of players of a plurality of gaming devices, wherein each identified player is ranked at one of a plurality of different player tracking levels; and

(b) when a loyalty award sequence is triggered for a designated one of said identified players;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, said value being determined independent of any average expected value of any games of any of the gaming devices,

(ii) for the triggered loyalty award sequence, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a number of free plays of a game of said gaming device of the designated player, wherein said determined number of free plays is based, at least in part, on;

(A) the player tracking level of the designated player,

(B) the determined value, and

(C) an average expected value of each play of the game of the gaming device of the designated player, and

(iii) causing the gaming device of the designated player to display the determined number of free plays of the game.

36. The method of claim 35, which includes, for each of the determined number of free plays of the game of the gaming device of the designated player:

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate a plurality of symbols;

(ii) causing at least one display device to display the plurality of generated symbols;

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any of said generated symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations; and

(iv) if any of said generated symbols form any of said winning symbol combinations, providing a value associated with said generated winning symbol combination to the designated player.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the values provided to the designated player during the determined number of free plays of the game form a total value different than the determined value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence.

38. The method of claim 35, which includes:

(a) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine to trigger a loyalty award sequence for another one of said identified players, and

(b) when the loyalty award sequence is triggered for the other one of said identified players;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, said value being determined independent of any of the average expected values of any of the games of any of the gaming devices,

(ii) for said triggered loyalty award sequence, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a number of free plays of a game of said gaming device of the other player, wherein said determined number of free plays is based, at least in part, on;

(A) the player tracking level of the other player,

(B) the determined value, and

(C) an average expected value of each play of the game of the gaming device of the other player, and

(iii) causing the gaming device of the other player to display the determined number of free plays of the game.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein if the determined values for the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, the average expected payback percentage of each play of the games of the gaming devices of the designated player and the other player are substantially equal, and the designated player has a different player tracking level than the other player, the determined number of free plays of the game for the triggered loyalty award sequence for the designated player is different than the determined number of free plays of the game for the triggered loyalty award sequence for the other player.

40. The method of claim 35, which is provided through a data network.

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