U.S. patent application number 13/961410 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-05 for system and method for using time-sensitive tickets as player awards in gaming machines.
This patent application is currently assigned to Bally Gaming, Inc. The applicant listed for this patent is Bally Gaming, Inc. Invention is credited to Robert A Luciano, JR..
Application Number | 20130324226 13/961410 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37423174 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130324226 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Luciano, JR.; Robert A |
December 5, 2013 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING TIME-SENSITIVE TICKETS AS PLAYER AWARDS
IN GAMING MACHINES
Abstract
Method and systems are set forth for player devices, such as
gaming machines, to award at least a right to one or more
time-sensitive tickets in response to a triggering event during
play of a feature where the event results in a prize having a
value. The devices are networked with a host computer and a
database storing data representing the right to one or more tickets
as an award where the ticket or tickets awarded have a value
corresponding to the value of the event prize. The event may be a
gaming machine outcome, an event related to a player loyalty
program. The tickets may be airline tickets, entertainment event
tickets, sporting event tickets or the like. In an embodiment the
tickets are initially held by a third party and the event host has
an arrangement to purchase the awarded tickets to settle with the
third party.
Inventors: |
Luciano, JR.; Robert A;
(Reno, NV) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bally Gaming, Inc |
Las Vegas |
NV |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Bally Gaming, Inc
Las Vegas
NV
|
Family ID: |
37423174 |
Appl. No.: |
13/961410 |
Filed: |
August 7, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12938839 |
Nov 3, 2010 |
8523652 |
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13961410 |
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11458932 |
Jul 20, 2006 |
7828647 |
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12938839 |
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10391295 |
Mar 17, 2003 |
7137889 |
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11458932 |
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60366026 |
Mar 19, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/0207 20130101;
G06Q 30/0239 20130101; G06Q 20/204 20130101; Y10S 283/903 20130101;
G06Q 30/0209 20130101; G07F 17/3225 20130101; G06Q 30/0212
20130101; G06Q 30/0235 20130101; G07F 17/3269 20130101; G06Q 10/02
20130101; G07F 17/3244 20130101; G07F 17/3223 20130101; G07F 17/32
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/25 |
International
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20060101
G07F017/32 |
Claims
1. A method for providing a right to a time sensitive ticket to one
or more players of one or more electronic devices configured to
participate in a feature provided by a host which may result in a
trigger event resulting in an award having a prize value, said
method comprising: enabling communication between a host computer
and said devices and between said host computer and a ticket
database, said ticket database including data representing a set of
time sensitive tickets each having a value and each having a
termination date after which the ticket becomes substantially
valueless; configuring one of said host computer and ticket
database for associating a block of said tickets of said set for
purchasing by the host, one or a combination of tickets of said
block having a value corresponding to a said prize value; upon
occurrence of a player achieving said trigger event during said
feature, said host computer configured for (i) awarding said right
to one or combination of tickets to said player corresponding to
said prize value, (ii) confirming the purchases of the awarded one
or combination of tickets and (iii) updating in substantially real
time said database by depleting said awarded tickets from said
allocated block; and one of said host computer and database
configured for enabling disassociation of any tickets from said
block after their said termination date.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said feature is a wagering game
where a player stakes wagers to play a game randomly resulting in
winning and losing outcomes, said method comprising defining at
least one winning outcome as said triggering event.
3. The method of claim 1 comprising enabling communication between
said host computer and a ticket database maintained by an entity
different from said host and configuring one of said host computer
and ticket database for associating a block of said tickets of said
set for purchasing by the host.
4. The method of claim 3 comprising enabling communication between
said host computer and said ticket database maintained by an entity
different from said host and configuring one of said host computer
and ticket database for associating a block of said tickets of said
set for purchasing by the host, said tickets of said block
including data representing a set of time sensitive tickets
selected from one or more of airline tickets, show tickets and
sporting event tickets.
5. A system for providing a right to a time sensitive ticket to one
or more players of one or more electronic devices configured to
participate in a feature provided by a host during which a series
of events occurs and wherein at least one event is defined as a
trigger event resulting in an award of value, said system
comprising: a host computer; a data structure storing data
corresponding to a block of time-sensitive tickets, said data at
least one of (a) representing and (b) associating to one or more
host-purchasable tickets each having a value and a termination date
after which the ticket becomes substantially valueless, said host
computer programmed to access said data structure; a communication
network providing communication between said devices and said host
computer; said devices configured to participate in said feature;
during said feature one or more of a said device and host computer
configured to (i) control a display at a device to display
information of the occurrence of said triggering event at said
device (ii) award the right to one or more tickets from said block
corresponding to said prize value to said player of said triggering
device and (iii) deplete said awarded tickets from said set.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein said host-purchasable tickets
originate from a third party, said system comprising said host
computer configured to record said award of the right to one or
more tickets for settlement with said third party for the purchase
thereof.
7. The system of claim 5 comprising at least one of said host
computer and database configured to deplete said data of at least
one of (a) representing and (b) associating to one or more of the
awarded host-purchasable tickets from said block.
8. The system of claim 5 wherein the electronic devices are
configured as gaming devices adapted to accept wagers and produce
at gaming device displays winning and losing outcomes, at least one
winning outcome defining said trigger event.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of pending U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/938,839 filed Nov. 3, 2010 and titled
"System, Device and Method for Using Time-Sensitive Tickets as
Player Awards in Gaming Devices" which is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/458,932 filed Jul. 20, 2006 and now U.S.
Pat. No. 7,828,647 and titled "System and Method for Using
Time-Sensitive Tickets as Player Awards in Gaming Machines" which
is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/391,295, filed
Mar. 17, 2003 and now U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,889 titled "System and
Method for Using Time-Sensitive Tickets as Player Awards in Gaming
Machines" which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/366,026 filed Mar. 19, 2002, all of which
are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention pertains generally to gaining machines. More
particularly, the present invention discloses a method and
apparatus for providing gaming machines with time-sensitive awards
in a dynamic manner, enabling tickets to be purchased by the casino
only when a ticket is actually won by a player.
[0004] 2. The Prior Art
[0005] Traditional Las Vegas style slot machines are generally well
known. In particular, the slot machines have a display area visible
to a player that allows viewing of either physical slot reels, reel
strips, or video displays showing pseudo-reels. The reels either
spin or appear to spin, stopping with various game indicia visible
to the user through a viewing area or display.
[0006] In addition to the primary game, an increasing number of
games have a bonus game or secondary game. Typical of this type of
game is "Wheel Of Fortune".RTM., which upon a winning event in the
primary game, lets a player hit a button that spins a wheel. When
the wheel stops, and the player's bonus is increased by an amount
indicated by the pointer or wheel indicator.
[0007] Other games play in an essentially similar way. A player
plays the primary game until a triggering-went occurs (i.e.,
certain symbols show up on the paylines of the reels, etc.). The
game then enters a bonus or secondary game, where in some manner
additional points (game credits) are awarded. This may be the spin
of a wheel, an animated sequence where the player is made to
believe they have input by pushing a button or touching the screen
during the animation, or some type of fixed display sequence which
results in an additional bonus. In all cases, some amount of
additional game play points are awarded to the player. That
completes the bonus or secondary game play.
[0008] The other common way in which players can win something more
than a traditional jackpot is to play on a machine that is part of
a progressive. Upon the occurrence of a winning event, in addition
to any jackpot won on the local machine, a player also wins an
amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter. The progressive
jackpot meter is typically a single display above a bank of
machines, showing the amount of money a player could win if they
play on a machine in that bank, and hit the progressive
jackpot.
[0009] These types of gaming machine enhancements are very limited,
involving the win of additional game credits or a progressive
jackpot. There is a need to provide additional player excitement
upon the occurrence of a winning event, but in a manner that
enables casinos to properly manage the award costs and the cash
flow associated with any given prize or award.
SUMMARY
[0010] The present invention is a method and system that allows
gaming establishments to use time-sensitive tickets
("time-sensitive" includes but is not limited to tickets for events
including sports events, travel packages, concerts, reservations at
specified restaurants, etc.). In the past it has been much too
difficult to use tickets, which have a relatively short lifespan
for prizes associated with game play in a gaming environment. The
system of the present invention, however, allows the use of tickets
with very limited lifespan to be used as prizes in a gaming
establishment. "Gaming establishment" includes traditional
Nevada-style casinos, Amerindian casinos, bingo halls, and any
other place where players win or lose money based on games whose
outcomes are fully or partially determined by purely random
events.
[0011] This is accomplished by providing real-time, online access
from a gaming establishment to a ticket database on a computer at a
ticket seller's establishment. It is preferable that the ticket
database be the primary source of the tickets (airline's
reservations database, promoter's database, travel package tickets
from the originator of the entire package, etc.) but may be
indirect, such as from a travel agency.
[0012] In addition to the online access, the present method
involves a low- to no-risk allocation of tickets to the gaming
establishment, coupled with additional discounts to the gaming
establishment to make the tickets look better to the players who
win them. This is accomplished by allocating a block of tickets for
the gaming establishment ("casino" for short, but is understood to
include bingo halls and the like as well as traditional casinos),
as ticket awarding events occur at the casino. However, the block
is not allocated exclusively to the casino; it is simply the
maximum number of tickets that may be purchased and then awarded to
players for that ticket event by the casino. The tickets in that
block may also be sold by the airlines, promoter, etc. This allows
the casino to arrange a below normal discount (steeper discount
rate) for those tickets than the average reseller gets. If the
tickets are "hot" and the tickets are all or mostly sold through
normal, higher-margin resellers; in such a case the promoters,
airlines, etc., will sell all or most of the tickets at the normal
rate. The casino may award a few as time goes on, but will not use
many if the event sells out quickly. This limits the downside for
the organization selling the extra discount tickets to the casinos.
On the other hand if the event is undersold, the extra sales made
through the casinos are all welcomed to reduce losses or make
minimal margins (are "found sales" or "free sales", as ordinarily
there would be no sales through the casinos, and no marketing money
has been spent to reach that channel).
[0013] A value is assigned by the casino for each ticket,
preferably being more than what the casino paid but less than full
retail, enabling an apparent higher payback to be given to players
(from the player's perspective). That assigned value is then used
to associate the tickets with game events having the same value
(equivalent cash value). Instead of giving cash for this game event
when it occurs, once the association is made the casino will award
a ticket instead. This association is preferably made in software,
using pointers to go from certain entries in a payout table to the
issuance of a ticket rather than a cash award being dispensed. When
the tickets are no longer available (for any reason), the tickets
are disassociated from the payout table and revert to equivalent
cash awards.
[0014] In addition to being awarded for a specific game event on a
specific game, the tickets may also be awarded upon the occurrence
of player loyalty events (how much the player is at the casino, how
much they spend, etc.). In this case, the tickets would be paid
from casino promotional money rather than as a percentage of
player's wagers. Tickets may further be used with progressive
pools, forming part or all of the prize when a game hits.
[0015] Note that although the allocated pool may be sold by two or
more entities, an agreement between the ticket sellers and the
casino does not have to be made on such an arrangement. Alternate
arrangements are possible while still enabling a casino to be
treated to steeper discounts, or, in some cases, a casino may
simply be willing to pay the normal going rate for particularly
popular events (i.e., baseball world series tickets). All such
variations are considered herein.
[0016] Further, there is an additional way of using the present
invention when there will be a predictable series of tickets
available for related events over an extended time period (a sports
season, a concert season, etc.). A block of tickets will be
allocated to the casino on a rolling time basis. As one event is
either sold out or the time has come for the event, there will be
another allocated block of tickets for the next event in the
season; when that one is sold out of past, then the tickets being
sold are from the next event, and so on. This also works extremely
well for multiple events, allowing multiple allocated blocks of
tickets for different events being available at the same time.
Players can then choose what they like, rather than having to
accept a single type of ticket (i.e., a sports event vs. a symphony
orchestra concert vs. reservations at a desirable restaurant).
[0017] According to one embodiment, a gaming machine includes a
game display for presenting a game having one or more winning game
outcomes. The gaming machine also includes one or more network
interfaces that is in communication with a ticket database that
provides time-sensitive tickets. The gaming machine also includes a
game controller in communication with the game display and the
network interfaces. The game controller awards one or more
time-sensitive tickets in response to one or more triggering
events.
[0018] In another embodiment, gaming systems capable of awarding
time-sensitive tickets in a gaming environment are disclosed
herein. The gaming system includes a ticket sales system having
access to a ticket database. The gaming system also includes a
gaming establishment network computer in communication with the
ticket sales system, wherein the gaming establishment network
computer is configured to monitor the ticket database and to
reserve or purchase one or more time-sensitive tickets. The gaming
system also includes a plurality of networked gaming machines,
wherein the gaming machines are in communication with the gaming
establishment network computer, and wherein the networked gaming
machines are capable of awarding time-sensitive tickets in response
to one or more triggering events.
[0019] In addition to gaming machines and gaming systems, methods
for awarding time-sensitive tickets in a gaming environment are
disclosed herein. According to one method, access to a ticket
database managed by a ticket provider is established. A block of
time-sensitive tickets from the ticket database is then allocated
to a gaming establishment, wherein one or more time-sensitive
tickets from the block of tickets are purchasable by the gaming
establishment. The time-sensitive tickets are associated with one
or more trigger events in the gaming environment, and one or more
tickets are reserved in response to a trigger event being
established. One or more time-sensitive tickets then are awarded to
a player in response to the trigger event.
[0020] In another method, access to a ticket database managed by a
ticket provider is established. A block of time-sensitive tickets
from the ticket database is then allocated to a gaming
establishment, wherein one or more time-sensitive tickets from the
block of tickets are purchasable by the gaming establishment. The
tickets are associated with one or more winning game events in the
gaming environment. A determination is made as to whether a game
outcome is a winning game event, and one or more time-sensitive
tickets are reserved in response to the winning game event. The
time-sensitive tickets are then awarded to a player if the tickets
are available. Otherwise, the player is awarded a cash award for
the winning game event if the tickets are not available.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a system and infrastructure according to the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing a method of using
time-sensitive awards to enhance game attractiveness according to
the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a gaming system for use with the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing additional methods of using
time-sensitive tickets as awards in a gaming environment according
to the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 is another flow diagram showing an additional method
of using time-sensitive tickets as awards in a gaming environment
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Persons of ordinary skill in the art and with the benefit of
the present disclosure will realize that the following description
of the present invention is illustrative only, and is not limiting.
Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves
when such skilled persons have the benefit of the present
disclosure.
[0027] Referring to the drawings, for illustrative purposes the
present invention is shown embodied in FIGS. 1 through 5. It will
be appreciated that the apparatus may vary as to configuration and
as to details of the parts without departing from the inventive
concepts disclosed herein. The methods may vary as to details,
partitioning, repetition, actions varied and the order of the acts,
without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein.
[0028] FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of a system according to
the present invention. There must be at least one travel industry
computer 100 having a tickets or reservations database on storage
102 that is online to computer 100 (i.e., an online reservations or
ticket sales system). Computer 100 is accessible by a casino
computer 104 (typically a backend machine not on the casino floor)
which will typically have its own a storage and database 106. The
connection must be a real-time connection, shown as Internet cloud
connection 118. It may be any type of wide area connection, or even
a local area connection if the travel industry online system is in
close proximity to the casino backend system.
[0029] "Real-time" means that as tickets and/or travel packages are
sold, or for any reason become unavailable for use by a casino as
recorded by the travel agency's or travel industry's reservations
database, the casino's computer can be informed within a very short
amount of time (typically in less than a minute, preferably within
a few seconds). There are several ways of achieving this using
WAN/LAN technology, including the use of a web page interface on
the reservations database computer by a casino. Any such network
based enabling configuration is contemplated by the present
invention. Each installation will decide which connectivity means
best suits its needs and existing network infrastructure.
[0030] Casino computer 104 keeps its data about the availability of
travel packages that may be won by a patron updated, as explained
above. Casino computer 104 then uses the information to create more
attractive winnings for players, communicating with internal (to
the casino, or set of casinos) displays (114) or individual gaming
machines (110).
[0031] The communications links between a Casinos' backend computer
and displays associated with banks of machines and/or individual
gaming machines is known, and may include an Ethernet backbone
connection to floor controllers, with the floor controllers
connected to individual gaming machines using serial interfaces.
Alternatively, the backend computers may be linked to both
individual gaming machines (alternatively just visual displays
thereon) and displays associated with banks of machines. Other
configurations may be used as well; any such operable networked
connection is contemplated by the present invention. FIG. 1 shows
the casino's network connections generally as connections 106 and
108, which are understood to include any operable network
connection between a casino's backend computer system and
individual gaming machines, banks of machines (for progressive-type
travel awards), and displays associated with banks of gaming
machines or stand-alone displays used for promotional purposes.
[0032] For systems having displays on individual gaming machines,
display locations may be in any place visible to the user to be
operable with the present invention. Gaming machine 110 could have
small LCD displays on any surface pointed to by 112 and perform the
needed functions of the present invention. Gaming machines could
also use a portion of a larger video display typically on the
slanted surface of gaming machine 110 (a "screen within a screen"),
or may have a smaller, separate video display near the primary
display. All such display variations are contemplated by the
present invention. The important functions any such display must
have is to be visible to a player using the machine, and to be able
to be updated on an ongoing basis by responding to signals sent by
casino computer 104, using the networked connection 106.
[0033] For cases where the travel awards or other time-sensitive
tickets are to be won based on a progressive-style event, meaning
more than one gaming machine is contributing to the cost of a
travel award and/or more than one gaming machine may allow a player
to win the same award, then a preferred embodiment will use casino
computer 104 and network connection 108 to communicate with display
114 (also connected to a bank of gaming machines 116). A
description of the travel award, its retail value, and the number
of travel awards available will be displayed in a "player attract
mode". Note that this connectivity allows gaming machines 116 to
participate in both a progressive-style travel award win, and have
travel awards winnable on only specific individual gaming machines.
This may be desirable when two price levels of travel awards are
being promoted by a casino at the same time. A relatively
inexpensive travel award (i.e., a weekend in Hawaii) may be won on
certain individual gaming machines, while more expensive travel
packages (i.e., a month on the French Riviera, with 2-day stops in
various other cities) are available as a progressive-style win.
[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates a method using blocks of dynamically
allocable tickets from a travel agency or a member of the travel
industry (i.e., an airline's reservations database directly, rather
than through an agent), the casino's backend computer system, and
dynamically addressable displays visible to players on the casino
floor to create enhanced player interest in gaming through more
attractive awards.
[0035] Box 200 is the starting point, where the actions
corresponding to this box include providing a casino with a block
of travel tickets (or a sporting event or other time-sensitive
tickets). This block of tickets will typically have a reduced
wholesale price negotiated between the agency or provider of the
event or travel package. In a preferred embodiment, the casino will
not pay for the tickets up front. Rather, a block of tickets is
provided that may be used by both parties. Preferably, the agency
or service provider will use non-allocated tickets first, then, on
an as needed basis as the event or travel package shows signs of
selling out using normal distribution channels, the block of
tickets allocated to the casino will be sold. Because the casino
has an operable real-time connection (as explained above) with the
agency's or provider's database, as tickets are removed from
availability to the casino, the casino's computer will update
itself and make the current availability known to players. Note
that this is a great way to create excitement amongst players--if
they want this travel package, they must play to win the triggering
event on an eligible gaming machine. If a player wins a ticket
during game play, the casino indicates that a ticket from its pool
is now purchased, and not available to either other players in the
casino nor available to sell through the agency's or provider's
normal ticket distribution means. Payment between the casino and
the agency/provider is as previously arranged between the two;
typically it will be fairly immediate through an online transfer
but may simply be invoiced by the agency/provider, after the casino
indicates it has reserved a ticket from its block, on a timely
basis to the casino.
[0036] Continuing into block 202, the displays on or near gaming
machines will be updated by a casino computer with (as the casino
sees fit); descriptions of the time-sensitive item (travel package,
event ticket); retail value; and, number of such prizes currently
available (note: the internal prize level of the ticket will
typically be less than the retail value, although that is not
required). Depending on the display capabilities, attract modes may
further include digitized pictures depicting the package or event.
Box 202 is left and box 204 entered.
[0037] The actions corresponding to box 204 include a player
enabling the game for play. This may be the presentation of a
voucher to a player I/O device, cash input to the gaming machine,
EFT transfer, or any other means of establishing game play credits
on the gaming machine. After game play starts in box 204, diamond
206 is entered.
[0038] The decision corresponding to diamond 206 is to determine if
a game winning event has occurred after a game play. This could be
any game winning event as defined by the game itself, or, if a
progressive-style award is available, the occurrence of a
progressive winning event (which may or may not depend on the
gaming results of the individual gaming machine). If there is a
winning event, diamond 206 is left via the "YES" exit to box
212.
[0039] The actions corresponding to box 212 includes enhanced
player recognition by using the display in communication with the
casino's backend computer, update of the number of tickets
remaining after this win (both on the player-visible display and
with the providing agency's reservations database), and the
printing of a redeemable voucher or ticket, or an attendant call
(the attendant will do any needed paperwork to deliver a ticket,
possibly including filling out a W4G). Box 212 is left for diamond
208.
[0040] The decision corresponding to diamond 208 is if the player
is continuing to play or is leaving the game. If the player decides
to leave the game, the "NO" exit is taken from diamond 208 and box
202 is re-entered, continuing the process with the actions
corresponding to that box.
[0041] If the player wishes to continue to play, the "YES" exit is
taken to box 210. The actions corresponding to box 210 include the
player continuing play by invoking a next game event, and,
optionally, using one or more dynamic displays in a continuing
player attract mode. As soon as a player has triggered a next game
event, box 210 is left and diamond 206 is re-entered.
[0042] Returning to diamond 206 from above, if the game event had
no winning event then the "NO" exit is taken to diamond 208. The
actions corresponding to diamond 208 are explained immediately
above; the player decides to keep playing or not.
[0043] Referencing FIG. 3, shown is a gaming machine 300 with one
or more displays 302 usable with the present invention. Displays
302 are preferably LCD displays, but can be any visual media. The
gaming machine 300 has the standard components, including reel
display 304, player input or control buttons 306, player input
devices 310 (including player's card magnetic stripe card reader,
bill acceptor or voucher reader/printer, smart card dock, and/or
other player devices), game cabinet base 308, and networking
interfaces 312 (the top one, corresponding to connection 314, is an
ethernet interface; the bottom two, corresponding to connections
316 and 318, are serial interfaces). Included but not shown are the
internal mechanical, electrical, and logical components needed in
an average gaming machine.
[0044] Also shown is a floor controller 322, typically used for
functions including translating serial protocols to general LAN
protocols, typically to ethernet-based TCP/IP, as well as keeping
various accounting and state information in case of a power hit to
the games. Floor controller 322 then communicates with backend
system 328 via LAN connection 324.
[0045] Shown is an alternate control path for the game's top box
containing player visible display(s) 302. One is connecting the top
box video output to video controllers (in the gaming machine's top
box, controllers and video drive circuitry not shown) run by output
sent directly by backend computer 328 over a backbone LAN 320 via
connection 314 to the LAN (preferably ethernet) port into the top
box. Any means or path can be used as long as display information
visible to a player may be updated via electronic communications
for high frequency time-sensitive awards (lower cost and often won
awards or tickets, expected to be awarded on a daily basis,
including more than one per day, rather than a once-a-week or less
frequent basis).
[0046] Referring to FIG. 4A, shown is one time-sensitive award
method. Starting in box 400, a designated block of preferably
specially discounted tickets is made available at a travel agency,
sports ticket outlet, or directly from a supplier of such things
(i.e., an airline, a sports team, an event promoter, etc.) in an
online database. "Tickets" is understood to include but is not
limited to any type and any price level of time-sensitive purchases
such as: travel packages; entertainment packages including but not
limited to such traditional packages as weekend getaways; a concert
with dinner and transportation; a significant sports event with a
weekend or overnight stay and transportation to the location, plus
meals; a local event's entrance fee only; and/or anything similar,
where one basic component is that the timing is fixed (i.e., the
event happens on a specific date: the travel package expires in 2
months and must be used in a fixed time period after that, the
concert date, the sports event date, the restaurant reservations
date, etc.). Part of allocating the block of tickets will be to
establish a value, from a payout perspective, that will be assigned
to each ticket. Box 400 is left for box 402.
[0047] The actions corresponding with box 402 include those needed
to associate the value a ticket with a win event. Note that in
general, there are two ways to associate tickets with events. One
is to individual event occurrences on individual games, which upon
occurrence will result in a ticket being awarded to the player of
the game. In this case, when a specific symbol sequence occurs,
instead awarding a cash prize the ticket associated with this event
will be awarded (as an exemplar of such a game machine currently
operating in Nevada-style casinos, Sierra Design Group, Inc., of
Reno, Nev. has a game that awards jewelry to players upon certain
winning events rather than cash--this same type of machine could
readily award tickets rather than jewelry). The other is to
associate the tickets with progressive or bonus events, where the
triggering event may or may not be related to any specific event on
an individual machine (e.g., may be a "surprise bonus" or "mystery
win" that is awarded upon the occurrence of non-game events or upon
the occurrence of a game event on a machine different than the game
on which the player being awarded the ticket is playing). Various
other specific ways of assigning tickets of specified value to be
awarded as prizes to players will come to the mind of a person of
ordinary skill in the gaming arts and with the benefit of the
present disclosure, and are fully contemplated by the present
invention. Each casino will decide for each block of tickets how
they want to use the tickets as prizes to reward play.
[0048] Details for methods of awarding a ticket physically to the
player are not given in detail, but include hand-pays by casino
attendants, printing a voucher with the award redemption
information on it to the player, and having tickets physically
present in compartments in the game machine's top box which are
electronically opening upon the occurrence of an award event. A
plurality of such methods is readily available at all casinos; the
casino will choose which one most suits its particular needs.
[0049] Box 402 is left for box 404. The actions associated with
this box are those where players commence play on gaming machines
having tickets as awards or prizes. Diamond 406 is entered next,
where there is a continual test if a game event has occurred that
is associated with a ticket. If the game event is not one
associated with a ticket, then the "No" exit is taken back to box
404 and the box 404/diamond 406 loop continues. If the game event
is one associated with a ticket, then the "Yes" exit is taken to
box 408.
[0050] The actions corresponding to box 408 are to update the
online database, showing one of the tickets in the allocated block
as sold. Note that it is assumed there is a ticket to be sold--this
is because it is expected that if the tickets are no longer
available it will be the case that the online system will notify
the casino, which will in turn disassociate the tickets from any
game events. This is discussed further below. The online database
is updated and box 408 is left for box 410. The actions
corresponding to the box 410 are to award the ticket to the player
in whatever fashion the casino had previously decided (print
voucher or winning ticket to be cashed in, hand pay with casino
personnel, issue ticket from a compartment in the game similar to
the Siena Design Group.RTM. Raining Diamonds.RTM. game, etc.).
[0051] Continuing on with 4B, which shows the end events
surrounding the unavailability of tickets, the process starts at
box 412. The actions corresponding with box 412 include: awarding
the last ticket from the allocated block so that when updating the
online database the remaining ticket count goes to 0; being
notified by the owner of the online database that the ticket count
went to 0; being notified the package or tickets have been
cancelled; being notified that the purchase deadline has passed;
or, other reasons for the tickets to become unavailable for sale to
the casino, therefore unavailable as prizes. In all cases the
initiating event is the casino being notified that these tickets
are no longer available. Box 412 is left for diamond 414.
[0052] The actions corresponding to diamond 414 are to determine if
other blocks or tickets at the same value are currently available.
If the answer is yes, the "Yes" exit is taken to box 418. The
actions corresponding to box 418 are to determine the one or more
ticket blocks, currently available, at the same level (pricing
level or associated prize level) as the now expired or exhausted
ticket block. If there is more than one, then a selection is made
on which tickets to offer as awards in place of the recently
exhausted ones. In some cases this will be readily apparent; for
example, if the game is a sports themed game such as baseball, and
the prior tickets were for a baseball related event, then if there
is another baseball related event that would be chosen. Any such
criteria may be used by the casino, including a random selection.
After choosing a next replacement, the newly selection tickets are
associated with the win event. Box 418 is left for box 420.
[0053] Returning to diamond 414, if there are no more allocated
tickets at the same level, then the "No" exit is taken to box 416.
The actions corresponding to this box are any needed to
disassociate the ticket awards from any game event. The game event
(for individual games) will revert to the cash award; for
progressive and/or bonus awards, there may be a cash equivalent of
that particular event(s), or that prize or award may simply be
eliminated (no payout occurs for that previous awarded event). Box
416 is left for box 420.
[0054] The actions corresponding to box 420 are those taken to
change any existing visual pictures, notices, advertisements, etc.,
associated with the previous tickets and visible to players. If
there is no replacement block of allocated tickets, then the
notices will be changed to generic attract mode pictures, etc. If
there is a replacement block of tickets, the preferred embodiment
is to change all the attract mode and other advertising to the
newly available event, travel package, etc. As always, the choice
will be the casinos.
[0055] Flow diagram 4C illustrates a method for handling the rare
but possible event of having a player trigger a ticket issuing
event, but when the online database is used to transfer ticket
ownership to the casino (and thereafter to the player), there are
no tickets available. Starting at box 422, players are notified
that solely at the casino's option, there may be a cash award given
instead of any non-cash award at any time. This will preferably be
printed on the artwork of any games which may have individual
events associated with tickets, near the "malfunction voids all
pays" notice. If the award is from a shared bonus or progressive,
the notice should be shown with the bonus announcements or signage,
or, if the award is not automatically won upon the occurrence of an
event (is given based on non-game events at the casino's
discretion) is not needed (the online database will be used to
purchase a specific ticket just prior to it being awarded; if no
ticket is available, the award event will simply be internally
cancelled and any potentially involved players will never know of
the potential event).
[0056] However it is done, there must be a permanent notice to this
effect visible to players. Continuing from box 422 to box 424, the
action is a game event occurring that is associated with a ticket.
Continuing into box 426, the casino's system attempts to purchase
an individual ticket, but cannot (for any reason). Box 426 is left
for box 428, where the actions taken include those needed to inform
the player that the ticket is no longer available (package
cancelled, sold out, etc.) and that the casino must use its cash
equivalent option. The player is then given the cash equivalent of
the ticket that could not be awarded (this is always a known
amount, as explained above). This avoids problems in the unlikely,
but possible, event that a ticket that has been won cannot be
issued for reasons outside the casino's control.
[0057] FIG. 5 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the
present invention, where the tickets will be used in high-frequency
win events. "High frequency" means a situation where it is
minimally expected that a plurality of tickets will be won per
week, and it is further within probabilistic expectations that a
plurality of tickets may be won per day. In a preferred embodiment,
this will be accomplished using regularly occurring events of a
given type (regular season baseball games at a local stadium,
regularly schedule concert events, etc.). Tickets will be allocated
in the 100s rather than in the 10s, and in the preferred embodiment
will comprise a rotating set of allocated blocks, overlapping in
terms of time deadlines. Thus, if the tickets are for baseball
games, then the preferred embodiment would be to allocate blocks of
tickets by series (typically 3 or so baseball games against a
single visiting opponent), with the agreement covering the entire
regular season. Thus, there would be allocated blocks of tickets by
2/3/4-game series, each series being considered one block of
tickets. The tickets would be awarded by blocks as the season goes
along, with all blocks being considered useable by the casino at
the start of the season, conceptually crating a plurality of
active, time-overlapped pools or blocks of allocated tickets. Each
block would be awarded in time sequence; upon the tickets for a
series being sold out or upon ticket time expiration, a new block
would become active and would become associated with the game
events. Pools would be rotated through in this manner until the end
of the season.
[0058] Having multiple active pools of allocated tickets is not
restricted to the same type of event; the concept is readily usable
with any time-overlapped pools of allocated tickets/packages.
[0059] Starting at box 500, there will be a set of pools (each pool
being an allocated block of tickets) made available to a casino,
with a subset of the pools having overlapping times of availability
on any given date, with additional pools becoming available as time
goes on, replacing expired or exhausted pools. The pools will have
an equivalent value or level, usable for associating with the same
win events in a game, bonus, or progressive. A set of overlapping
pools is selected by the casino. Box 500 is left for box 502, where
the value of a ticket (selectable from any of the active selected
pools) is associated with a game event, bonus round event, or
progressive event (it is expected that this will be used primarily
with individual game events and bonus events). Box 502 is left for
box 504, which corresponds to the action of a player playing a game
on which a triggering event occurs. Upon the occurrence of the
triggering event the player is presented with a plurality of
choices, preferably using screen-type displays as shown in FIG. 3.
Continuing into box 506, the player uses a designating player input
device (a physical button or touch-screen position) to make a
choice. Upon making a choice, the player is awarded a ticket of his
choice.
[0060] The line from box 506 to 508 is dotted, indicating a
different portion of the process that some casinos may not use. Up
to this point in the flow diagram, multiple pools could be open,
and they could all have the same expiration date. One significant
additive feature was that by having a plurality of open pools, a
player could make a choice between tickets upon the occurrence of a
single win event. Continuing into box 508, it is now assumed that
one pool becomes unusable (exhausted, expires before the other open
pools, etc.) That one pool is now de-allocated (is not a choice to
be shown to a player upon the occurrence of a winning event), after
the casino's backend system is notified by the online system. Box
508 is left and box 510 entered. The actions corresponding to box
510 are those associated with selecting at least one available pool
to replace the just deactivated pool. Upon the occurrence of a
winning event, the player will be shown a selection that now
includes the newly associated pool.
[0061] Note that the discussion for FIG. 5 involved a plurality of
pools; however, the last two boxes represent a process that could
work well with single pool choices as well. In such cases, the
player would be shown the currently active pool choice only.
[0062] The present invention has been partially described using a
flow diagram. As will be understood by a person of ordinary skill
in the art and with the benefit of the present disclosure, steps
described in the flow diagram can vary as to order, content,
allocation of resources between steps, times repeated, and similar
variations while staying fully within the inventive concepts
disclosed herein.
[0063] Accordingly, it will be seen that this invention provides a
system and method using additional game attract modes based on
travel package awards (or other time-sensitive awards), while
allowing a casino to offer these types of prizes without incurring
upfront costs of the tickets, and further without the risk of
having unused tickets when the time for use is passed by. This is
enabled using the real-time connection to an agency or provider of
the awards (travel packages, sporting events) coupled with the
dynamic displays viewable by players. Although the description
above contains certain specificity, the described embodiments
should not be construed indicating the scope of the invention; the
descriptions given are providing an illustration of certain
preferred embodiments of the invention.
* * * * *