Server based gaming system having system triggered loyalty award sequences

• US 8,616,959 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Iddings, Cara L., Baerlocher, Anthony J., Schneider, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US11/756,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20080076542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,406 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463 12- 13, 463/25, 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 tables. 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 table at which that the player is currently playing.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a controller;

a first gaming table configured to communicate with the controller, said first gaming table including a table top configured such that upon a wager, a first game can be played on the table top, wherein said first gaming table is associated with a first average expected payout for said first game; and

a second gaming table configured to communicate with the controller, said second gaming table including a table top configured such that upon a wager, a second game can be played on the table top, wherein said second gaming table includes a second, different average expected payout for said second game;

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

(a) determine a loyalty award monetary value for a player, wherein said loyalty award monetary value is;

(i) independent of the first average expected payout for the first game,

(ii) independent of the second average expected payout for the second game,

(iii) independent of any outcome determined for the first game, and

(iv) independent of any outcome determined for the second game;

(b) if the player is playing at the first gaming table;

(i) determine a first loyalty award sequence for the first gaming table, wherein said first loyalty award sequence is based on the determined loyalty award monetary value and the first average expected payout for the first game, and

(ii) communicate information based on the determined first loyalty award sequence to the first gaming table; and

(c) if the player is playing at the second gaming table;

(i) determine a second loyalty award sequence for the second gaming table, wherein the second loyalty award sequence is based on the determined loyalty award monetary value and the second average expected payout for the second game, and

(ii) communicate information based on the determined second loyalty award value sequence to the second gaming table.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein upon the occurrence of the triggering event, if the player is playing at the first gaming table:

(1) a first gaming table loyalty award monetary value is determined, wherein said determined first gaming table loyalty award monetary value is based on the determined first loyalty award sequence and the first average expected payout for the first game; and

(2) provide the determined first gaming table loyalty award monetary value to the player.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein upon the occurrence of the triggering event, if the player is playing at the second gaming table:

(1) a second gaming table loyalty award monetary value is determined, wherein said determined second gaming table loyalty award monetary value is based on the determined second loyalty award sequence and the second average expected payout for the second game; and

(2) provide the determined second gaming table loyalty award monetary value to the player.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the player is playing at the first gaming table, the communicated information is instructions how to provide the determined first loyalty award sequence.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the player is playing at the second gaming table, the communicated information is instructions how to provide the determined second loyalty award sequence.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller determined loyalty award monetary value is funded by a gaming establishment loyalty program.

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

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

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

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the player is playing at the first gaming table, the first game includes a plurality of playing cards which form a plurality of winning playing card combinations, and a plurality of values associated with said plurality of winning playing card combinations.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the first loyalty award sequence includes a determined number of free plays of the first game to provide to a player, wherein said number of free plays of the first game is based, at least in part, on the determined loyalty award monetary value and the average expected payout associated with each play of the first game.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein for each of the determined number of free plays of the first game, a plurality of said playing cards are dealt, and if any of said dealt playing cards form any of said winning playing card combinations, the player is provided the value associated with said dealt winning playing card combination.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the player is playing at the second gaming table, the second game includes a plurality of playing cards which form a plurality of winning playing card combinations, and a plurality of values associated with said plurality of winning playing card combinations.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the second loyalty award sequence includes a determined number of plays of the second game and a multiplier to apply to each of said determined number of plays of the second game, wherein said determined number of plays of the second game and the determined multiplier are based, at least in part, on the determined loyalty award monetary value and the average expected payout associated with each play of the second game.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein for each of the determined number of plays of the second game, the wager is placed to initiate said play of the second game, a plurality of said playing cards are dealt, if any of said dealt playing cards form any of said winning playing card combinations, any value associated with said generated winning playing card combination is modified by the determined multiplier and the modified value is provided to the player.

16. A gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming table including a table top configured such that upon a wager, a game can be played on the table top, said game having an average expected payout; and

a controller configured to operate with said at least one gaming table, said controller programmed to;

(a) determine to trigger a loyalty award sequence;

(b) determine a theoretical loyalty award value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, wherein said theoretical loyalty award value is based on information associated with a player received from a player tracking system;

(c) determine at least one parameter of the triggered loyalty award sequence, wherein each determined parameter is based on the determined theoretical loyalty award value and the average expected payout of said game; and

(d) communicate information based on the determined parameter of the loyalty award sequence to the gaming table;

wherein upon a triggering event;

(i) the determined loyalty award sequence is provided to the player at the gaming table;

(ii) after the at least one parameter of the triggered loyalty award sequence is determined, an actual loyalty award value associated with the provided loyalty award sequence is determined, wherein said determined actual loyalty award value is based on the determined parameter of the loyalty award sequence and the average expected payout of said game and, independent of when the determined actual loyalty award value is provided to the player, said actual loyalty award value is determined distinct from the determination of the at least one parameter of the triggered loyalty award sequence; and

(iii) the determined actual loyalty award value is provided to the player.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the theoretical loyalty award value and actual loyalty award value are different.

18. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the theoretical loyalty award value and actual loyalty award value are the same.

19. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the theoretical loyalty award value is independent of the average expected payout associated with the game.

20. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the theoretical loyalty award value is based on an amount of wagers placed.

21. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the communicated information is instructions how to provide the determined loyalty award sequence.

22. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the controller is programmed to store at least part of the determined loyalty award sequence.

23. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the game includes a plurality of playing cards which form a plurality of winning playing card combinations, and a plurality of values associated with said plurality of winning playing card combinations.

24. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the at least one determined parameter of the loyalty award sequence is a number of free plays of the game.

25. The gaming system of claim 24, wherein the actual loyalty award value associated with the provided loyalty award sequence is determined by causing a plurality of said playing cards to be dealt for each of the determined number of free plays of the game, and if any of said dealt playing cards form any of said winning playing card combinations, determining any values associated with said dealt winning playing card combination.

26. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the at least one determined parameter of the loyalty award sequence is a number of plays of the game and a multiplier to apply to each of said determined number of plays of the game.

27. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the actual loyalty award value associated with the provided loyalty award sequence is determined by:

for each of the determined number of plays of the game, causing a plurality of said playing cards to be dealt, and if any of said dealt playing cards form any of said winning playing card combinations, modifying the value associated with said dealt winning playing card combination by the determined multiplier.

28. A gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming table including a support structure, at least one display device supported by the support structure and a table top supported by the support structure, said table top configured such that upon a wager, a game can be played on the table top, said game having an average expected payout, a plurality of playing cards which form a plurality of winning playing card combinations, and a plurality of values associated with said plurality of winning playing card combinations; and

a controller configured to operate with said at least one gaming table, said controller programmed to;

(a) determine a loyalty award sequence for a player, said loyalty award sequence determined based on data received from a player tracking system and the average expected payout for the game, wherein said determined loyalty award sequence is a number of free plays of the game; and

(b) communicate information based on the determined loyalty award sequence to the gaming table;

wherein upon a triggering event;

(i) the at least one display device of the gaming table displays at least part of said communicated information to the player; and

(ii) for each of the number of free plays of the game;

1. a plurality of said playing cards are dealt, and

2. if any of said dealt playing cards form any of said winning playing card combinations, any values associated with said dealt winning playing card combinations are provided to the player.

29. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the at least one display device of the gaming table displays the number of free plays of the game to the player.

30. A gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming table including a support structure, at least one display device supported by the support structure and a table top supported by the support structure, said table top configured such that upon a wager, a game can be played on the table top, said game having an average expected payout, a plurality of playing cards which form a plurality of winning playing card combinations, and a plurality of values associated with said plurality of winning playing card combinations; and

a controller configured to operate with said at least one gaming table, said controller programmed to;

(a) determine a loyalty award sequence for a player, said loyalty award sequence determined based on data received from a player tracking system and the average expected payout for the game, wherein said determined loyalty award sequence is a number of plays of the game and a multiplier to apply to each of said number of plays of the game; and

(b) communicate information based on the determined loyalty award sequence to the gaming table;

wherein upon a triggering event;

(i) the at least one display device of the gaming table displays at least part of said communicated information to the player; and

(ii) for each of the number of plays of the game;

1. a plurality of said playing cards are dealt,

2. if any of said dealt playing cards form any of said winning playing card combinations, the values associated with said dealt winning playing card combinations are modified by the multiplier, and

3. any modified values are provided to the player.

31. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the at least one display device of the gaming table displays the number of plays of the game and the multiplier to apply to each of said number of plays of the game to the player.

32. A gaming table comprising:

a support structure;

at least one display device supported by the support structure and controlled by at least one processor; and

a table top supported by the support structure, said table top configured such that upon a wager, a game can be played on the table top, said game having an average expected payout;

said at least one processor configured to communicate with a controller and programmed to;

(a) receive information based on a loyalty award sequence from the controller, said loyalty award sequence associated with at least one parameter determined based on a controller determined theoretical loyalty award value and the average expected payout of the game, wherein the theoretical loyalty award value is independent of the average expected payout of the game;

(b) cause said at least one display device to display a loyalty award sequence notification based on the received information;

(c) enable a player to participate in the loyalty award sequence;

(d) after the at least one parameter of the triggered loyalty award sequence is determined, determine an actual loyalty award value associated with the participated loyalty award sequence, wherein said determined actual loyalty award value is based on the parameter of the loyalty award sequence and the average expected payout associated of game and, independent of when the determined actual loyalty award value is provided to the player, said actual loyalty award value is determined distinct from the determination of the at least one parameter of the triggered loyalty award sequence; and

(e) provide the determined actual loyalty award value to the player.

33. The gaming table of claim 32, wherein the theoretical loyalty award value and actual loyalty award value are different.

34. The gaming table of claim 32, wherein the theoretical loyalty award value and actual loyalty award value are the same.

35. The gaming table of claim 32, wherein the theoretical loyalty award value is based on information received from a player tracking system.

36. The gaming table of claim 32, wherein the theoretical loyalty award value is based on an amount of wagers placed.

37. A gaming table comprising:

a support structure;

at least one display device supported by the support structure and controlled by at least one processor; and

a table top supported by the support structure, said table top configured such that upon a wager, a game can be played on the table top, said game having an average expected payout;

said at least one processor configured to communicate with a controller and programmed to;

(a) receive data from the controller, said data representing at least one modifier and a quantity of said games to apply said at least one modifier;

(b) cause said at least one display device to display to at least one player said at least one modifier and said quantity of said games to apply said at least one modifier;

(c) enable the at least one player to play said quantity of games, wherein for each of said played quantity of games, any award determined is modified by said at least one modifier; and

(d) provide any modified awards to the at least one player.

38. The gaming table of claim 37, wherein said at least one processor is programmed to cause said at least one display device to display a plurality of players said at least one modifier and said quantity of said games to apply said at least one modifier.

39. A gaming table comprising:

a support structure;

at least one display device supported by the support structure and controlled by at least one processor; and

a table top supported by the support structure, said table top configured such that upon a wager, a game can be played on the table top, said game having an average expected payout;

said at least one processor configured to communicate with a controller and programmed to;

(a) receive data from the controller, said data representing at least one loyalty award;

(b) cause said at least one display device to display to at least one player said at least one loyalty award;

(c) enable the at least one player to play a quantity of games funded by said at least one loyalty award; and

(d) for each of said quantity of games played which are funded by said at least one loyalty award;

(i) determine any award; and

(ii) provide any determined award to the at least one player.

40. The gaming table of claim 39, wherein said at least one processor is programmed to cause said at least one display device to display a plurality of players said at least one loyalty award.