Systems and gaming devices for indicating comp eligibility

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10373433-B2
Application number	US-201715853786-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2017
Priority date	Sep 10, 2012
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A player comp system and method may include a gaming device having a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player. A player comp indicator provides a notification output based on a signal received from a remote computer that calculates comp eligibility points based on gameplay data and at least one comp eligibility criterion. The comp indicator may provide a visual notification, such as a light, LED, or a voucher or ticket provided to the player or an attendant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A player comp system, comprising:
a gaming device, comprising:
a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance;
a user interface device configured to receive input from the player to enable the player to play the game of chance;
at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device; and
a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the gaming device;
a player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device, the comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player;
a computer coupled to the gaming device by a network, the computer programmed to:
store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion;
calculate a number of comp eligibility points based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion;
determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of accumulated comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and
communicate data to the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the accumulated comp eligibility points, wherein the computer is further programmed to require approval to award the at least one comp if the number of comp eligibility points is greater than the threshold but less than a second threshold value, and to award the comp without approval if the comp eligibility points exceed the second threshold value.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the comp indicator is configured to illuminate one or more LEDs based on the comp eligibility status for the player in response to the data received from the computer over the network.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one comp eligibility criterion is based on at least one of an amount of coin-in by the player at the gaming device, a number of wins or losses of the player at the gaming device, an amount of wagering activity by the player, an amount of money won or lost by the player, loyalty points accrued by the player over a designated period of time, total accumulated loyalty points associated with the player, a loyalty point tier level of the player, a minimum wager amount placed by the player on the gaming device, a maximum wager placed by the player on the gaming device, an average wager placed by the player on the gaming device, accumulated time playing the gaming device, elapsed time between wagers placed on the gaming device, a statistical hold percentage of the gaming device, and a theoretical win of the player during gameplay on the gaming device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the comp indicator is configured to provide a ticket or voucher indicative of the comp eligibility status of the player in response to the data received by the computer over the network.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer transmits data representative of a number of accumulated comp eligibility points to the comp indicator.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the comp indicator is attached to the gaming device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the comp indicator is configured to display a representation of a number of accumulated comp eligibility points based on the data received from the computer over the network.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to award a premium comp for the at least one comp in response to the comp eligibility points exceeding the second threshold value.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer is further programmed to decrease the comp eligibility points of the player based on a number of comps actually redeemed by the player.

10. A player comp system, comprising:
a gaming device, comprising:
a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance;
a user interface device configured to receive input from the player to enable the player to play the game of chance;
at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device; and
a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the gaming device;
a player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device, the comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player;
a computer coupled to the gaming device by a network, the computer programmed to:
store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion;
calculate a number of comp eligibility points based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion;
determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of accumulated comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and
communicate data to the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the accumulated comp eligibility points, wherein the gaming device comprises one of a plurality of gaming devices within a gaming establishment, and wherein the computer is further programmed to reset the comp eligibility points to zero after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the player last wagered any amount on any of the plurality of gaming devices.

11. A player comp system, comprising:
a gaming device, comprising:
a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance;
a user interface device configured to receive input from the player to enable the player to play the game of chance;
at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device; and
a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the gaming device;
a player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device, the comp indicator configured to display a comp eligibility status for the player;
a computer coupled to the gaming device by a network, the computer programmed to:
store data indicative of at least one comp eligibility criterion;
calculate a number of comp eligibility points based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion;
determine the comp eligibility status for the player based on the comp eligibility points, wherein the comp eligibility status indicates whether the player is eligible for at least one comp based on the number of accumulated comp eligibility points being greater than a threshold value; and

communicate data to the comp indicator over the network to enable display of the comp eligibility status for the player based on the at least one comp eligibility criterion and the accumulated comp eligibility points, wherein the gaming device comprises one of a plurality of gaming devices within a gaming establishment, and wherein the computer is further programmed to decrease the comp eligibility points in response to determining that the player has not placed a wager at any of the plurality of gaming devices for a predetermined amount of time.

12. A player comp system, comprising:

Assignees

• Gaming Arts LLC

Inventors

• Colvin David
• Colvin Eric D

Classifications

• G07F17/3244

  Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes · CPC title

• G07F17/3241

  Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance (computer security G06F21/00) · CPC title

• G07F17/3255 Primary

  Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements · CPC title

• G07F17/3267

  Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games · CPC title

• G07F17/3262

  Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played · CPC title