Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02548977 2008-08-06
A METHOD FOR CREDITING A PLAYER OF AN ET ACTRONIC GAMING DEVICE
BACICGROI,IND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to networked electronic gaming machines, such as
electronic slot machines, and more particularly to a method for crediting a
player of one of
the machines.
2. Description of the Related Art
Linking together electronic slot machines on a computer network is known in
the art.
One example of such a network is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,882 which
issued as a
patent on May 19, 1998 to Acres et al. ("the '822 patent"), which is assigned
to the assignee
of the present application. The '882 patent discloses a number of different
bonuses, which
pay awards to players at their respective slot machines that are over and
above any awards
dictated by the pay tables of the machines.
One such bonus award is paid randomly to one of the players via that player's
slot
machine. Once a slot machine is selected for this type of award, a computer on
the network
transmits a command to the slot machine that causes it to pay a predetermined
amount from
the hopper of the machine to the player.
Another type of award is personal to each player and is based on the level of
that
player's play. As discussed in the '822 patent, a player may be issued a
player-tracking card
that is insertable into a card reader associated with each slot machine. The
network collects
data relating to the player's play and stores it in a central computer.
Personal awards to the
player may be a predetermined amount or a percentage of the player's total
play. They are =
awarded upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g., when the player's
cumulative
wagers exceeds a predetermined level.
Player tracking points is another award sometimes given to players of
networked
gaming devices. Each player who uses their card accrues a predetermined number
of points
for each dollar wagered on the networking gaming machines. Some systems award
points for
jackpots won on the machines. In any event, the player is eligible to redeem
his or her points
for complimentary meals, merchandise, or other awards determined by the casino
that
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operates the slot machines. In addition to point accrual based on play, points
are often
awarded to induce players to sign up for carded play.
In still another effort to induce play on machines, casinos sometimes provide
a player
with the ability to make complimentary wagers, or to make half price wagers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present inventors have appreciated that it would be desirable to provide
the
foregoing incentives, e.g., bonuses, inducements for signing up for carded
play, player
tracking points, complimentary or reduced-price wagering, etc., with a single
system. It
would be convenient for both the casino and the players for the system to be
accessible using
the player-tracking card, which is already in use by many of the players. The
present
inventors have appreciated that it would be advantageous for such a system to
award player
credit to machines under conditions determined by the casino whether or not
the player was
enrolled for carded play. Another advantage relates to providing such awards
while
permitting the player to continue play at the machines. A further advantage
would be awards
that can only be taken in further wagers on the machines. In other words, the
player cannot
cash out the award immediately but must apply it to subsequent wagers made on
the machine.
Also, the player should be able to cash out any awards won during play. This
means the
player can have ready access to his or her winnings ¨ and casino overhead is
reduced ¨ rather
than having to present their card to a casino cashier who gives the winnings
to the player.
The foregoing advantages are especially significant in connection with
redeeming
player tracking points. The system may permit conversion of player-tracking
points to credits
while the players remain at the gaming machines and permits the player to
convert back and
forth between points and credits that can be wagered. Traditionally, players
have had to leave
the gaming machines, wait in a line, and present their player-tracking card to
redeem accrued
points for an award. The present inventors have appreciated that this
traditional system has
several disadvantages. First, it requires the player to leave the gaming floor
and often wait in
line thus depriving the casino of revenues that might have resulted had the
player remained
on the floor and continued to play. Second, it would be advantageous to the
casino to redeem
the points for credits to promote additional play rather than for merchandise,
meals or the
like. If the player could redeem the points for credits on the gaming devices
while remaining
on the floor, it would also reduce casino overhead devoted to maintaining and
delivering
awards such as merchandise.
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ID one illustrative embodiment, credit is applied to the player's account-
When a game
is played, the player account is debited and the gaming device is credited in
the amount of the
wager.
In another illustrative embodiment, gaming devices are connected by a network
to a
host computer. A credit is applied to a player account accessible by the host
computer.
Access to the account is provided responsive to a command initiated by the
player at one of
the gaming devices. The account is debited and the gaming device credited
responsive to a
game played by the player_
In still another illustrative embodiment, points are accrued in the player
account
I 0 related to the level of player play on the gaming devices. Points in
the account are converted
to a credit in the player account responsive to a conversion command initiated
by the player
at the gaining device. The player thereafter wagers credit from the account on
the gaming
device.
In general, illustrative embodiments of the present invention may overcome
disadvantages associated with prior art methods for awarding and redeeming
player-tracking
points, bonus awards, and other incentives that do not result from awards
dictated by pay
tables in the gaining machines. The advantages and disadvantages mentioned
above are
discussed for illustration, and not to limit the scope of the invention as
defined by the
accompanying claims. Thus, illustrative embodiments of the invention may
provide one or
more of these advantages, or may overcome one or more of the disadvantages.
Alternatively,
illustrative embodiments of the invention need not provide any of the above
advantages, but
may provide other advantages or overcome other disadvantages_
In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is
provided
a method of providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network
to a host
computer. The method includes creating a player account accessible by the host
computer,
applying an incentive credit to the player account, accessing information in
the player
account responsive to a comMand initiated by a player at one of the gaming
devices, and
converting points in the player account to a credit in the player account
responsive to a
conversion command initiated by the player at the one gaming device. The
method further
includes applying credit from the player account to the one gaining device
responsive to a
game played on the one gaming device, accruing points in the player account
related to the
level of player play on the gaming devices, and preventing the applied
incentive credit from
being cashed out until after the game is played.
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In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is
provided
a method of providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network
to a host
computer. The method includes creating a player account accessible by the host
computer,
applying an incentive credit to the player account, and accessing information
in the player
account responsive to a command initiated by a player at one of the gaming
devices. The
method further includes applying credit from the player account to the one
gaming device
responsive to a game played on the one gaming device, preventing applying
credit from the
player account to the gaming device until after the game is played, and
preventing more than
one transfer of credit from the player account to the gaming device between
games played.
In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is
provided
a method of providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network
to a host
computer. The method includes creating a player account accessible by the host
computer,
applying an incentive credit to the player account, accruing points in the
player account
related to the level of player play on the gaming devices, and providing
access to the account
responsive to a command initiated by a player at one of the gaming devices.
The method
further includes converting points in the player account to a credit in the
player account
responsive to a conversion command initiated by the player at the one gaming
device,
permitting the player to wager credit from the account on the gaming device,
and preventing
the applied incentive credit from being cashed out until after the game is
played_
In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is
provided
a computer-readable medium storing instruction codes for directing a processor
circuit to
cause the methods described herein to be carried out.
In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is
provided
an apparatus for providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a
network to a host
computer. The apparatus includes means for creating a player account
accessible by the host
computer, means for applying an incentive credit to the player account, and
means for
accessing information in the player account responsive to a command initiated
by a player at
one of the gaming devices. The apparatus further includes means for converting
points in the
player account to a credit in the player account responsive to a conversion
command initiated
by the player at the one gaming device, and means for applying credit from the
player
account to the one gaming device responsive to a game played on the one gaming
device.
The apparatus further includes means for accruing points in the player account
related to the
level of player play on the gaming devices, and means for preventing the
applied incentive
credit from being cashed out until after the game is played.
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In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is
provided an
apparatus for providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a
network to a host
computer. The apparatus includes means for creating a player account
accessible by the host
computer, means for applying an incentive credit to the player account, and
means for accessing
information in the player account responsive to a command initiated by a
player at one of the
gaming devices. The apparatus further includes means for applying credit from
the player account
to the one gaming device responsive to a game played on the one gaming device,
means for
preventing applying credit from the player account to the gaming device until
after the game is
played, and means for preventing more than one transfer of credit from the
player account to the
gaming device between games played.
In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is
provided an
apparatus for providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a
network to a host
computer. The apparatus includes means for creating a player account
accessible by the host
computer, means for applying an incentive credit to the player account, and
means for accruing
points in the player account related to the level of player play on the gaming
devices. The
apparatus further includes means for providing access to the account
responsive to a command
initiated by a player at one of the gaming devices, and means for converting
points in the player
account to a credit in the player account responsive to a conversion command
initiated by the
player at the one gaming device. The apparatus further includes means for
permitting the player to
wager credit from the account on the gaming device, and means for preventing
the applied
incentive credit from being cashed out until after the game is played.
In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a
computerized apparatus for providing incentive to play gaming devices
connected by a network to
a host computer. The computerized apparatus includes a processor and a memory
which stores an
instruction set executable by the processor, the instruction set, when
executed by the processor,
causing the processor to create a player account accessible by the host
computer, apply an
incentive credit to the player account, access information in the player
account responsive to a
command initiated by a player at one of the gaming devices, convert points in
the player account
to a credit in the player account responsive to a conversion command initiated
by the player at said
one gaming device, apply credit from the player account to said one gaming
device responsive to a
game played on said one gaming device, accrue points in the player account
related to the level of
player play on the gaming devices, and prevent the applied incentive credit
from being cashed out
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until after the game is played.
In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a
computerized apparatus for providing incentive to play gaming devices
connected by a network to
a host computer. The computerized apparatus includes a processor and a memory
which stores an
instruction set executable by the processor, the instruction set, when
executed by the processor,
causing the processor to create a player account accessible by the host
computer, apply an
incentive credit to the player account, access information in the player
account responsive to a
command initiated by a player at one of the gaming devices, apply credit from
the player account
to said one gaming device responsive to a game played on said one gaming
device, prevent
applying credit from the player account to the gaming device until after the
game is played, and
prevent more than one transfer of credit from the player account to the gaming
device between
games played.
In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a
computerized apparatus for providing incentive to play gaming devices
connected by a network to
a host computer. The computerized apparatus includes a processor and a memory
which stores an
instruction set executable by the processor, the instruction set, when
executed by the processor,
causing the processor to create a player account accessible by the host
computer, apply an
incentive credit to the player account, accrue points in the player account
related to the level of
player play on the gaming devices, provide access to the account responsive to
a command
initiated by a player at one of the gaming devices, convert points in the
player account to a credit
in the player account responsive to a conversion command initiated by the
player at said one
gaming device, permit the player to wager credit from the account on the
gaming device, and
prevent the applied incentive credit from being cashed out until after the
game is played.
These and other aspects and advantages of illustrative embodiments of the
present
invention will become more fully apparent when the following detailed
description is read in view
of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a plurality of electronic gaming machines
interconnected
by a computer network to a host computer in accordance with an illustrative
embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a slot machine and associated hardware
implemented in
accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now to FIG. 1, indicated generally at 10 is a schematic diagram
illustrating
eleetronic gaming machines (EGMs), like EGMs 12, 13, interconnected by a
computer
network. Included therein are three banks, indicated generally at 16, 18, 20,
of EOM& Each
EGM, is connected via a network connection, like connection 22, to a bank
controller 24. In
the present embodiment of the invention, each bank controller comprises a
processor that
facilitates data communication between the EGMs in its associate bank and the
other
components on the network. The bank controller also includes a CD ROM drive
for
transmitting digitized sound effects, such as music and the like, to a speaker
26 responsive to
commands issued over the network to bank controller 24. The bank controller is
also
connected to an electronic sign 28 that displays information, such as jackpot
amounts and the
like, visible to players of machines on bank 16. Such displays are generated
and changed
responsive to commands issued over the network to bank controller 24. Each of
the other
banks 18, 20 of EGMs include associated bank controllers, speakers, and signs
as shown,
which operate in substantially the same manner.
Ethernet hub 30 connects each of the bank controllersassociated with banks 16,
18,
of EGMs to a concentrator 32. Another Ethernet hub 34 connects similar bank
controllers
(not shown), each associated with an additional bank of EGMs (also not shown),
to
20 concentrator 32. The concentrator functions as a data control switch to
route data from each
of the banks to a translator 36. The translator comprises a compatibility
buffer between the
concentrator and a proprietary accounting system 38. It functions to place all
the data -
gathered from each of the bank controllers into a format compatible with
accounting system
38. The present embodiment of the invention, translator 38 comprises an Intel
Pentium 200
MHz Processor operating Microsoft Windows NT 4Ø (Pentium is a registered
trademark of Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA, USA; and Microsoft Windows NT
is a
registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA.)
Another Ethernet hub 39 is connected to a configuration workstation 40, a
player
server 42, and to bonus servers 44, 46. Hub 39 facilitates data flow to or
from workstation 40
and servers 42, 44, 46.
The configuration workstation 40 comprises a personal computer including a
keyboard, Intel Pentium Processor, and Ethernet card. It is the primary user
interface with
the network.
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The player server 42 comprises a microcomputer that is used to control
messages that
appear on displays associated with each EGM. Player server 42 includes an
Intel Pentium
Processor and an Ethernet card.
Bonus servers 44,46 each comprise a microcomputer used to control bonus
applications on the network. Each bonus application comprises a set of rules
for awarding
jackpots in excess of those established by the pay tables on each EGM. For
example, some
bonus awards may be made randomly, while others may be made to linked groups
of EGMs
operating in a progressive jackpot mode. Examples of bonuses that can be
implemented on
the network are disclosed in the '882 patent, together with a network that
could be used to
implement the present invention.
As used herein the term jackpot indicates an award made resulting from the pay
table
on one of the EGMs while the term bonus indicates an award that does not
result from the
machine's pay table. The '882 patent includes many examples of bonuses. The
term award is
intended to encompass any payment given to a player of one of the EGM's and
includes both
jackpots and bonuses.
FIG. 2 is a highly schematic representation of an electronic slot machine --
typical of
each of the machines in the network -- that incorporates network
communications hardware
as described hereinafter. This hardware is described in the '882 patent, and
is referred to
therein as a data communications node. Preferably the network communications
hardware is
a machine communication interface (MCI) 50. MCI 50 facilitates communication
between
the network, via connection 22, and microprocessor 52, which controls the
operation of EGM
12. This communication occurs via a serial port 54 on the microprocessor to
which MCI 50
is connected.
Included in EGM 12 are three reels, indicated generally at 48. Each reel
includes a
plurality of different symbols thereon. The reels spin in response to a pull
on handle 51 or
actuation of a spin button 53 after a wager is made.
MCI 50 includes a random access memory (RAM), which can be used as later
described herein. The MCI also facilitates communication between the network
and a
vacuum florescent display (VFD) 58, a card reader 60, a player-actuated push
button 62, and
a speaker 64.
Before describing play according to the invention, description will first be
made of
typical play on a slot machine, like EGM 12. A player plays EGM 12 by placing
a wager and
then pulling handle 51 or depressing spin button 53. The wager may be placed
by inserting a
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bill into a bill acceptor 68. A typical slot machine, like EGM 12, includes a
coin acceptor
(not shown) that may also be used by the player to make a wager. A credit
meter 70 is a
numeric display that indicates the total number of credits available for the
player to wager.
The credits are in the base denomination of the machine. For example, in a
nickel slot
machine, when a five dollar bill is inserted into bill acceptor 68, a credit
of 100 appears on
credit meter 70. To place a wager, the player depresses a coin-in button (not
shown), which
transfers a credit from the credit meter 70 to a coin-in meter 72. Each time
the button is
depressed a single credit transfers to the coin-in meter up to a maximum bet
that can be
placed on a single play of the machine. In addition, a maximum-bet button
(also not shown)
may be provided to immediately transfer the maximum number of credits that can
be
wagered on a single play from the credit meter 70 to the coin-in meter 72.
When coin-in meter 72 reflects the number of credits that the player intends
to wager,
the player depresses spin button 53 thereby initiating a game.
The player may choose to have any jackpot won applied to credit meter 70. When
the
player wishes to cash out, the player depresses a cash-out button 74, which
causes the credits
on meter 70 to be paid in coins to the player at a hopper 78, which is part of
machine 12. The
machine consequently pays to the player, via hopper 78, the number of coins --
in the base
denomination of the machine ¨ that appear on credit meter 70.
Card reader 60 reads a player-tracking card 66 that is issued by the casino to
individual players who choose to have such a card. Card reader 60 and player-
tracking card
66 are known in the art, as are player-tracking systems, examples being
disclosed in the '882
patent. Briefly summarizing such a system, a player registers with the casino
prior to
commencing gaming. The casino issues a unique player-tracking card to the
player and
opens a corresponding player account that is stored on accounting system 38
(in FIG. 1).
Accounting system 38 is referred to herein as a host computer. It should be
appreciated,
however, that the host computer can be distributed on the network and could
include multiple
processors or memories. The account includes the player's name and mailing
address and
perhaps other information of interest to the casino in connection with
marketing efforts.
Prior to playing one of the EGMs in FIG. 1, the player inserts card 66 into
reader 60 thus
permitting accounting system 38 to track player activity, such as amounts
wagered and won
and rate of play.
To induce the player to use the card, the casino awards each player points
proportional to the money wagered by the player. Players consequently accrue
points at a
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rate related to the amount wagered. The points are displayed on display 58. In
prior art
player tracking systems, the player may take his or her card to a special desk
in the casino
where a casino employee scans the card to determine how many accrued points
are in the
player's account. The player may then redeem points for selected merchandise,
meals in
casino restaurants, or the like, which each have assigned point values.
Before describing the manner in which the present invention is implemented on
the
network of slot machines depicted in Fig. 1, consideration will first be given
to terminology
used in the description.
First, a player-tracking account is one that is established by the casino,
typically for
an identified player -- although the invention could be implemented with an
anonymous
account. The player-tracking account is referred to herein as a player
account. When the
player inserts his or her card into card reader 60 of EGM 12, information
related to that
player's account is fetched from the host computer, transmitted on the
network, and stored in
the RAM included in MCI 50 of EGM 12. Such information includes player-
tracking points,
which are referred to herein as account points. In accordance with the present
invention, the
player's account may also include credits that may be transferred by the
player from the
player's account to credit meter 70 on the machine and thereafter wagered by
the player.
These credits in the player's account are referred to herein as account
credits and are awarded
and redeemed as described hereinafter. Credits appearing on credit meter 70 of
EGM 12 are
referred to herein as meter credits.
One way in which account credits may be applied to a player's account is as an
incentive to open the account. In other words, when the account is opened by
the casino, an
account credit, e.g., $5, is applied to the account. The following Table 1,
which is described
in more detail below, sets forth the sequence followed by the player to redeem
the account
credits for play on EGM 12.
TABLE 1
I. Player account information, including account credits
and points, is
stored in MCI 50 RAM responsive to insertion of card 66 into reader
60.
2. Player places wager by inserting bill into bill
acceptor 68 or coin into
the coin acceptor (not shown).
3. Player plays game by pushing spin button 53.
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4. Responsive to play, the account credits are automatically debited in the
amount of the wager and applied to credit meter 70.
5. Steps 3 and 4 are repeated so long as the player wishes to play.
6. When the player is finished playing, he or she pushes cash-out button
74 and withdraws card 66 from reader 60.
When the player inserts card 66 into reader 60, the account information is
fetched
from the host computer in step 1 above. The amount of account credit available
appears on
display 58 in the denomination of the machine being played. In the example
above, with an
initial account credit in the amount of $5, when the card is inserted into a
nickel slot machine
display 58 shows: Account Credit = 100. If the player was using a dollar slot
machine,
display 58 would show: Account Credit = 5.
When a player account is accessed responsive to insertion of the player's
card, the
host computer prevents the account from being accessed from another slot
machine. This
blocks the use of a duplicate card to load the account into a second machine
after the account
information has already been fetched from the host computer and loaded into a
first machine.
This can be accomplished in a manner similar to that used to prevent a
document from being
loaded into a word processor operating on two different computers on a
network. In other
words, after the document is loaded, it is locked out from being loaded into a
second word
processor on the network.
In steps 2 and 3, the player places a wager, for example, in the amount of
$.15 via the
coin acceptor and presses spin button 53 to play the game. lithe player
deposits coins or
bills, via bill acceptor 68, in excess of the amount wagered, the balance
appears on credit
meter 70. But in the present example, assume that the wager is made via the
coin acceptor
and that there is a zero balance on the credit meter after the wager is
applied to coin-in meter
72 and before the player pushes spin button 53.
When the player presses the spin button, the reels begin to spin. Also in
response to
pressing the spin button, coin-in meter 53 goes to zero, the account credits
are debited by 3
(the amount of the wager in the number of coins applied to coin-in meter 72),
and credit
meter 70 is credited by 3 -- effectively restoring the player's initial wager.
Display 58 now
shows: Account Credit = 97, credit meter 70 now shows a balance of 3, and the
player has
had a free game.
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It should be appreciated that the credit applied to the meter after the reels
spin, could
be in amounts other than a one-to-one ratio. That is, instead of matching each
credit bet with
a credit applied to the credit meter, the casino could choose to award, e.g.,
a half credit for
each credit bet, or could make the award greater, e.g., two credits applied to
the credit meter
for each credit bet. The present embodiment, however, is described with a
matching credit
applied to the credit meter for each credit bet.
The player may, if he or she so chooses, redeem the meter credits by
depressing cash-
out button 74, or may continue to play. Assume that the player elects to wager
2 credits on
the next game. The player depresses the coin-in button (not shown) to transfer
2 credits from
credit meter 70 to coin-in meter 72. Credit meter 70 then shows a balance of 1
and coin-in
meter displays 2. When spin button 53 is depressed to play the game, 2 more
credits are
deducted from the account credits and added to credit Meter 70. After the
game, display 58
shows: Account Credit = 95. And credit meter 70 shows a balance of 3, 1 credit
remaining
from before the game and 2 added from the account credits responsive to the
play.
Assume this game resulted in a 10 coin win based on the pay table in EGM 12.
This
win is applied to credit meter 10, which now shows a balance of 13. The player
may again
decide to cash out and thus retrieve the 10 coin win and the initial 3 coin
investment All 5
credits wagered came from the account credits, which now has a 95 credit
balance.
With this system, the player must wager each account credit he or she wishes
to cash out. In other words, the player can not cash out the account credits
without wagering
them. All awards, whether from jackpots or bonuses, are applied to credit
meter 70. When
the player finishes wagering, he or she cashes out and removes his or her
card. When the
player wishes to resume wagering, on EGM 12 or on any other of the EGM's
connected to the
network of Fig. 1, the card is again inserted into the card reader, like
reader 66, associated
with the EGM played by the player. The display shows : Account Credit = 95.
And the
player must again use their own money, recovered from cashing out at the last
machine, to
initiate the wagers.
Account credits can be applied by the casino to a players account as a player-
tracking
sign-up award, as in the example above. In addition, the casino might credit
the account for a
special date such as a birthday, an anniversary,etc., and send mail to the
player notifying him
or her of this credit.
Another promotion is referred to as Welcome Back. In that promotion, a player
who
earns a predetermined minimum number of account points has their account
credited for half
-
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priced wagering. This encourages the player to return to the casino at a later
time. This
award could be made in account credits that are redeemed as described in the
present
application.
Similarly, any of the bonus awards described in the '882 patent could be made
in
account credits rather than being applied directly to the credit meter. For
example, some
random awards are funded by placing a preselected percentage of wagers made
into a bonus
pool. The wagers may be made either on a preselected group of machines or by a
single
identified, player playing on different machines. The group is preselected by
the casino at
workstation 40 with the host computer accounting for the bonus pool for that
group, as well
as other groups of machines. Such a preselected group is referred to as a
link. After a
minimum amount is accrued in the bonus pool, the pool, or a portion thereof,
is awarded at
random to an eligible player. Such awards, rather than being paid to the
credit meter, could
be in the form of account credits that must be redeemed as described above.
Another bonus award that could be made in account credits occurs when a big
win is
won. For example, assume that one of the slot machines pays a large amount,
defined by the
casino as being over a predetermined amount. This big win could be a result of
a jacicpot,
dictated by the machine's pay table, or as a result of one of the random or
other bonuses that
does not result from the machines pay table.
When a big win occurs, all the same machines on the link (or all the machines
on the
network) can be paid a bonus, either in the form of a credit to the credit
meter or as account
credits or points. Such a bonus can be programmed at the host computer to
occur responsive
to the big win. The casino can impose eligibility criteria for awarding this
bonus, such as a
predetermined rate or level of play. In addition, the casino can also
condition that such
bonuses be paid only to carded players as a further incentive to enroll
players in the player-
tracking system. On the other hand, awards could still be made to uncarded
players but
carded players could give larger awards, also as an incentive to register for
and use a player-
tracking card. The big-win award is made to all of the players on the link by
crediting the
RAM in each MCI 50 on the link with a predetermined amount of account credit.
Uncarded
players therefore receive the same credit as a carded player. The uncarded
player must,
however, use all of the account credits on the machine to which the award is
made. Thus,
applying credit to a player's account may be done manually by the casino at a
keyboard when,
e.g., the player signs up for carded play. This credit is applied to the
player's account on the
host computer. As described above, the credit may also be applied to either a
carded or
CA 02548977 1999-04-27
uncarded player by awarding account credits over the network directly to the
RAM in MCI
50 in the player's EGM.
The big-win award could be in a predetermined amount of money (in account
credits)
or as a multiple of the player's last wager. Alternatively, the award could be
in account
credits, e.g., 5 credits. A player on a $1 machine would get a $5 account
credit and a player
on a quarter machine would receive a $1.25 account credit.
Finally, big-win awards have an expiration time. If button 62 is not pressed
within a
predetermined number of seconds after the award is made, it expires and will
not be granted.
This prevents a nonplayer from collecting an award at a machine that a player
has just walked
away from. Display 58 coupled with audible signals from speaker 64 clearly
indicate to the
player the need to press button 62 to collect the prize.
Another important feature of the present invention permits a player to convert
account
points to account credits at the slot machine and without involvement of
casino personnel.
The following Table 2, which is described in more detail below, sets forth the
sequence
followed by the player to convert account points to account credit at EGM 12.
TABLE 2
1. Player account information, including account credits and points, is
stored in MCI 50 RAM responsive to insertion of card 66 into reader
60.
2. Display 58 displays account points.
3. Player pushes button 62 to convert all account points to account
credits, which now appear on display.
4. Player places wager by inserting bill into bill acceptor 68 or coin into
the coin acceptor (not shown).
5. Player plays game by pushing spin button 53.
6. Responsive to play, the account credits are automatically debited in the
amount of the wager and applied to credit meter 70.
7. Steps 5 and 6 are repeated so long as the player wishes to play.
8. When the player is finished playing, he or she pushes cash-out button
74 and withdraws card 66 from reader 60.
11
CA 02548977 1999-04-27
When the player inserts card 66 into reader 60, the account information is
fetched
from the host computer in step 1 above. In step 2, the amount of account
points accrued
appears on display 58. In the present example, assume the casino awards one
point for every
$.01 wagered. A player having wagered $50 has consequently accrued 5,000
account points,
which is the number appearing on display 58.
In step 3, the player pushes button 62 and thereby converts the account points
to
account credits, using the value assigned by the casino for each account
point. Assuming the
EGM is a dollar machine, display 58 consequently shows: Account Credit = 50.
Steps 4 through 8 occur in the same manner as described for steps 2 through 6
in the
example associated with Table 1. In other words, account credits are debited
after each play
in the amount of the wager with that amount being also credited on the credit
meter. All
awards, whether from jackpots or bonuses, are applied to the credit meter.
In step 8, when the player is finished playing, he or she may cash out any
amount on
credit meter 70 by pushing cash-out button 74 and withdraw card 66 from reader
60. When
the player next inserts the card into one of the card readers on the network,
the balance in
points appears in display 58.
Any awarded account credits, e.g., as a result of a bonus or big-win award,
cause the
display to show those account credits and to indicate decreasing amounts as
play proceeds. If
the player has already converted account points to account credits -- as
described above --
when the award is made, the awarded account credits (as opposed to the
converted account
credits) are played off first to protect the points. If, however, a player
stops play before all
the awarded account credits are used, the account has a balance in both
account points and
account credits, with the account-credit balance appearing on the display of
the machine
when the player next logs in.
Also, account credits that have been converted from points are always stored
as points
when the player logs out For example, assume the player has 5,000 points and
converts
them to 50 account credits. The player then plays down to 42 account credits
and when he or
she logs out, the account balance shows 4,200 points. On the other hand, if
the player
converts the 5,000 points to 50 account credits and then receives a big-win
prize of 20
account credits, the player's balance is 70 account credits: 50 converted from
points, and 20
awarded. If the player logs out after only nine of the account credits are
used, the system
stores 5,000 account points and 11 account credits in the player's account
When the player
12
CA 02548977 1999-04-27
next logs on to a machine, the number of account points ¨ 5,000 ¨ are
displayed, and the
display then changes to Account credit = 11. These credits are used as play
proceeds.
In another example, assume the player converts 5,000 points into 50 account
credits
and plays 8 of the account credits. If an award of 20 account credits is then
made, the display
indicates 62 account credits, and play continues. If the player then plays
down an additional
five credits, then logs out, the account has 4,200 points and 15 account
credits, the account
credits being displayed the next time the player logs in.
The activity described in the preceding examples takes place at the MCI 50 and
associated RAM after the player's account information is retrieved from the
host computer.
When the player logs out, any remaining points or account credits are again
stored in the
account on the host computer.
Account credits awarded to uncarded players, for example, big-win, must be
used at
the machine or are forfeited.
With this system, player points are redeemed for additional gaming rather than
for
merchandise, meals, or the like. The casino would prefer to be providing
gaming to players
rather than maintaining and dispensing an inventory of noncash items. In
addition, the
present system prevents a break in gaming. Rather than the player waiting in
line to redeem
points, the player is on the floor playing the games, which again enables the
casino to
continue to provide gaming to the player. The player also has the flexibility
of converting
back and forth between account credits and account points, as he or she
chooses. Because the
points are converted to account credits rather than to credits on the gaming
meter, the player
can redeem the credits one wager at a time, i.e., they can not be cashed out
at once.
In all embodiments disclosed herein, any jackpots or bonuses won are applied
to the
credit meter, which the player can cash out or wager as he or she sees fit In
addition,
account credits can be applied either at the host computer or locally over the
network. The
account credits may be applied either manually, responsive to input by casino
personnel at a
keyboard, or in response to bonus rules that are programmed on the host
computer. Finally,
it is a significant advantage that this system is implemented with the player
tracking card,
because many players already have and use one.
Having illustrated and described the principles of my invention in a preferred
embodiment thereof, it should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art
that the invention
can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such
principles. I claim all
modifications coming within the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims.
13
