Controlling and rewarding gaming socialization

• US 9,286,759 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Barclay, Brian J., Guinn, Andrew C., Nelson, Travis N., Robbins, Richard B., Stankovic, Danijel, Werneke, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): YEN, JASON TAHAI
• Application Number:
  US14/165,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20140141871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars

Abstract

A wagering game system and its operations are described. In some embodiments, the operations include detecting an indication of a benefit available to a first player account via a wagering game venue; and selecting a second player account linked to the first player account as a social contact. The operations can further include configuring a persistent object to provide access to the benefit available to the first player account; and transferring the persistent object from the first player account to the second player account.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a set of one or more processors of a gaming system cause the set of one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

providing, via a network communications interface of the gaming system, electronic gaming content for presentation outside a casino via an electronic display device;

detecting, via the network communications interface, gaming activity related to the electronic gaming content, wherein the gaming activity is associated with a first wagering game player account;

determining, via at least one of the set of one or more processors, a first benefit for the performance of the gaming activity;

configuring, via at least one of the set of one or more processors in response to user input, a persistent object to provide the first benefit when the persistent object is electronically selected inside the casino within a first amount of time after the persistent object is configured;

storing an indication of the persistent object in a first memory store associated with the first wagering game player account;

detecting, via the network communications interface, that a first wagering game machine within the casino electronically selected the persistent object within the first amount of time, wherein the first wagering game machine is associated with the first wagering game player account, and wherein the first wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive monetary value for placement of one or more wagers on one or more casino wagering games;

providing the first benefit after the persistent object is electronically selected by the first wagering game machine;

selecting, based on analysis of the first wagering game player account, a second wagering game player account linked to the first wagering game player account as a social contact;

electronically transmitting, via the network communications interface, the persistent object from the first wagering game player account to the second wagering game player account;

detecting use of the first benefit by the second wagering game player account;

providing, via the network communications interface, an award to the second wagering game player account for use of the first benefit; and

electronically transferring a portion of the award to the first wagering game player account based proportionally on a chain of possession of the persistent object, wherein the portion of the award is redeemable via the first wagering game machine.

2. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 1, said operations further comprising:

storing an additional indication of the persistent object in a second memory store associated with the second wagering game player account;

configuring, the persistent object to provide the first benefit when the persistent object is electronically selected inside the casino within a second amount of time;

detecting, via the network communications interface, that the persistent object is electronically selected by a second wagering game machine inside the casino, wherein the second wagering game machine is associated with the second wagering game player account; and

providing the first benefit after the persistent object is selected by the second wagering game machine.

3. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 2, said instructions further comprising:

assigning an expiration value to the persistent object that limits usage of the first benefit by the second wagering game player account for the second amount of time.

4. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the first benefit comprises one or more of a a game enhancement benefit associated with a virtual wagering game asset, a virtual trophy associated with the one or more casino wagering games, improved odds of winning in the one or more casino wagering games, and a higher expected value for an outcome in the one or more casino wagering games.

5. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 1, said operations further comprising:

before selecting the second wagering game player account, determining that the second wagering game player account performs a social networking activity via a social networking venue that presents an indication of the gaming activity performed via the electronic gaming content.

6. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 5, wherein the social networking activity comprises posting a social communication, via the social networking venue, wherein the social communication includes a phrase related to one or more of a wagering game, a wagering game venue, a wagering game provider, a wagering game benefit, and a wager.

7. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 1, said operations further comprising:

assigning a degree of value to the first benefit based on a number of affiliate relationships between the first wagering game player account and the second wagering game player account.

8. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 1, wherein the first benefit is non-monetary.

9. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 1, said operations further comprising:

providing the first benefit for use in at least one of the one or more casino wagering games presented via the first wagering game machine.

10. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 1, said operations further comprising:

increasing a value of the first benefit in response to detecting performance of one or more additional activities in the casino, wherein the performance of the one or more additional activities are associated with the first wagering game player account.

11. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 10, wherein the detecting the performance of the one or more additional activities in the casino comprises detecting performance, in the casino, of a social communication associated with the first wagering game player account.

12. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 1, said operations further comprising:

providing a virtual tool for presentation via the first wagering game machine;

detecting, via a user input of the virtual tool, a selection of a second benefit awarded to the first wagering game player account; and

configuring, via at least one of the set of one or more processors, the persistent object to have both the first benefit and the second benefit based on the user input.

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

providing, via a network communications interface of the gaming system, electronic gaming content for presentation outside a casino via an electronic display device;

detecting, via the network communications interface, gaming activity related to the electronic gaming content, wherein the gaming activity is associated with a first wagering game player account;

configuring, via at least one of one or more processors of the gaming system in response to user input, a virtual object associated with the first wagering game player account to provide a first benefit for performance of the gaming activity when the virtual object is electronically selected inside the casino within a first amount of time after the virtual object is configured;

storing an indication of the virtual object in a first memory store associated with the first wagering game player account;

detecting, via the network communications interface, that a first wagering game machine within the casino electronically selected the virtual object within the first amount of time, wherein the first wagering game machine is associated with the first wagering game player account, and wherein the first wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive monetary value for placement of one or more wagers on one or more casino wagering games;

providing the first benefit after the virtual object is electronically selected by the first wagering game machine;

selecting, based on analysis of the first wagering game player account, a second wagering game player account linked to the first wagering game player account as a social contact;

electronically transmitting, via the network communications interface, the virtual object from the first wagering game player account to the second wagering game player account;

detecting use of the first benefit by the second wagering game player account;

providing an award to the second wagering game player account for use of the first benefit; and

providing a portion of the award to the first wagering game player account based proportionally on a chain of possession of the virtual object, wherein the portion of the award is redeemable via the first wagering game machine.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

assigning a degree of value to the first benefit based on a number of affiliate relationships between the first wagering game player account and the second wagering game player account.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first benefit comprises one or more of a status benefit associated with points from a loyalty program for the first wagering game player account, a status level for the first wagering game player account, a game enhancement benefit associated with a virtual wagering game asset, a virtual trophy, improved odds of winning in the one or more casino wagering games, and a higher expected value for an outcome in the one or more casino wagering games.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

providing the first benefit for use in at least one of the one or more casino wagering games presented via the first wagering game machine.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

increasing a value of the first benefit in response to detecting performance of one or more additional activities in the casino, wherein the performance of the one or more additional activities are associated with the first wagering game player account.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the detecting the performance of the one or more additional activities in the casino comprises detecting performance, in the casino, of a social communication associated with the first wagering game player account.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

providing a virtual tool for presentation via the first wagering game machine;

detecting, via a user input of the virtual tool, a selection of a second benefit awarded to the first wagering game player account; and

configuring, via at least one of the one or more processors, the virtual object to have both the first benefit and the second benefit based on the user input.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

storing an additional indication of the virtual object in a second memory store associated with the second wagering game player account;

configuring, the virtual object to provide the first benefit when the virtual object is electronically selected inside the casino within a second amount of time;

detecting, via the network communications interface, that the virtual object is electronically selected by a second wagering game machine inside the casino, wherein the second wagering game machine is associated with the second wagering game player account; and

providing the first benefit after the virtual object is selected by the second wagering game machine.

21. A gaming system comprising:

one or more processors;

a network communications interface; and

one or more memory storage devices configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to perform operations to

provide, via the network communications interface, electronic gaming content for presentation outside a casino,

detect, via the network communications interface, gaming activity related to the electronic gaming content, wherein the gaming activity is associated with a first wagering game player account,

determine a first benefit for the performance of the gaming activity,

configure, in response to user input, a persistent object to provide the first benefit when the persistent object is electronically selected inside the casino within a first amount of time after the persistent object is configured,

store an indication of the persistent object in a first memory store associated with the first wagering game player account,

detect, via the network communications interface, that a wagering game machine within the casino electronically selects the persistent object within the first amount of time, wherein the wagering game machine is associated with the first wagering game player account, and wherein the wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive monetary value for placement of one or more wagers on one or more casino wagering games,

provide the first benefit after the persistent object is electronically selected by the wagering game machine,

select, based on analysis of the first wagering game player account, a second wagering game player account linked to the first wagering game player account as a social contact,

electronically transmit, via the network communications interface, the persistent object from the first wagering game player account to the second wagering game player account,

detect use of the first benefit by the second wagering game player account,

provide, via the network communications interface, an award to the second wagering game player account for use of the first benefit, and

electronically transfer a portion of the award to the first wagering game player account based proportionally on a chain of possession of the persistent object, wherein the portion of the award is redeemable via the wagering game machine.

22. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the first benefit comprises one or more of a status benefit associated with a loyalty program for the first wagering game player account, a game enhancement for the one or more casino wagering games, a virtual trophy associated with the one or more casino wagering games, improved odds of winning in the one or more casino wagering games, and a higher expected value for an outcome in the one or more casino wagering games.

23. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to further perform operations to:

award the persistent object to the first wagering game player account in response to performance of a social networking activity via a social networking venue outside the casino, wherein the social networking activity includes a phrase related to one or more of a wagering game, a wagering game venue, a wagering game provider, a wagering game gaming benefit, or a wager.

24. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to further perform operations to:

assign a degree of value to the first benefit based on a number of affiliate relationships associated with the first wagering game player account and the second wagering game player account.

25. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the persistent object is an application for a mobile device, and wherein a value for the first benefit is a based on a degree of downloads of the application.

26. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the first benefit is non-monetary.

27. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to further perform operations to:

provide the first benefit for use in at least one of the one or more casino wagering games presented via the wagering game machine.

28. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to further perform operations to:

increase a value of the first benefit in response to detecting performance of one or more additional activities in the casino, wherein the performance of the one or more additional activities are associated with the first wagering game player account.

29. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to further perform operations to detect performance, in the casino, of a social communication associated with the first wagering game player account.

30. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to further perform operations to:

provide a virtual tool for presentation via the first wagering game machine device;

detect, via a user input of the virtual tool, a selection of a second benefit awarded to the first wagering game player account; and

configure the persistent object to have both the first benefit and the second benefit based on the user input.