Gaming systems and methods for use in providing random rewards

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10685533-B2
Application number	US-201615236883-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 15, 2016
Priority date	Jun 11, 2012
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

Systems and methods for use in providing a random reward associated with at least one game are disclosed. One exemplary method includes receiving, by a gaming server, data representative of gaming activity of a player of the at least one game, providing, by the gaming server, a code associated with the random reward, wherein the code is representative of an entry to win the random reward, receiving, by the gaming server, data representative of a text message including the code, determining whether the player won the random reward based on the received code, and providing a notification indicating whether the player won the random reward.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a random reward associated with at least one wagering game that is operable on a gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine is in communication with a gaming server via a network communication interface, said the method comprising:
monitoring, by the gaming server, one or more operations performed by the gaming machine in response to inputs of a player, wherein the player is playing the at least one wagering game on the gaming machine, wherein the one or more operations are associated with a player tracking account associated with the player, and wherein the player tracking account is stored by the gaming server;
determining, by the gaming server, whether a predetermined condition was met based on the one or more operations;
transmitting, by the gaming server, a code representative of an entry to win the random reward to a user computing device based on the predetermined condition being met, wherein the user computing device includes one of a portable computing device of the player and the gaming machine, and wherein the user computer device is linked to the player tracking account;
receiving, by the gaming server from the portable computing device, the code via a text message, wherein the text message is received from the portable computing device through a messaging server via one of the following: a short message service (SMS), an enhanced messaging service (EMS), and a multimedia messaging service (MMS); determining whether the player won the random reward based on the received code at time of receipt of the code and the player meeting at least one winning predetermined condition;
transmitting, from the gaming server to the user computing device, a notification indicating whether the player won the random reward at the time of receipt of the code; and
causing to be displayed, on a display of the gaming machine, a secondary game associated with the random reward in response to determining that the player won the random reward.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving gaming activity data representative of an interaction of a player with the gaming machine through an input interface of the gaming machine, the input interface including at least one of a button, a touch-sensitive screen, a bill acceptor, and a printer.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising receiving the gaming activity data from the gaming machine and transmitting the code to the portable computing device of the player via the gaming machine and based on the gaming activity data.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the at least one winning predetermined condition is met if at least one of an amount wagered by the player exceeds a predetermined threshold, the player plays the at least one wagering game within a predetermined time window, an amount of time the player has played the at least one wagering game exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the player plays the at least one wagering game with a predetermined number of other players satisfying a predetermined relationship.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein satisfying a predetermined relationship comprises being a member of a circle of friends of the player.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein transmitting the code further comprises transmitting the code based on the predetermined condition being satisfied by the gaming activity data, the predetermined condition includes the player playing the at least one wagering game with a predetermined number of other players that have a predetermined relationship with the player, the predetermined relationship is one or more of the following: the player tracking account is associated with the other players; the player is associated with the other players on a social media web site; and the player and each of the other players have selected to be a part of a defined group of players.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition comprises:
transmitting digital content to the portable computing device of the player, wherein the portable computing device of the player is configured to display the digital content to the user;
receiving, by the gaming server, an acknowledgment that the digital content was displayed to the player via the display of the portable computing device of the player; and
determining, by the gaming server, whether a predetermined condition was met based on the one or more operations and the acknowledgement.

8. A gaming server for use in providing a random reward associated with at least one wagering game operable on a gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine is in communication with a gaming server via a network communication interface, the gaming server comprising: a computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions; and a processor coupled to the computer-readable storage medium for executing the computer-executable instructions, when the processor executes the computer-executable instructions which cause the processor to at least:
receive gaming activity data of a player playing the at least one wagering game with a circle of friends of the player, the gaming activity data determined by an interaction of a player through a player input interface and a credit input mechanism of the gaming machine, wherein the gaming activity data is associated with a player tracking account associated with the player, and wherein the player tracking account is stored by the gaming server;
determine whether at least one predetermined condition was met based on the gaming activity data;
transmit, to a user computing device, a code representative of an entry to win the random reward based on the at least one predetermined condition being met, wherein the user computing device includes one of a portable computing device of the player and the gaming machine, and wherein the user computer device is determined based on the player tracking account;
receive, from the portable computing device, the code via a text message, wherein the text message is received from the portable computing device through a messaging server via one of the following: a short message service (SMS), an enhanced messaging service (EMS), and a multimedia messaging service (MMS);
determine whether the player won the random reward based on the received code at time of receipt of the code; and provide a notification indicating whether the player won the random reward at the time of the determining; and
cause to be displayed, on a display of the gaming machine, a secondary game associated with the random reward in response to determining that the player won the random reward.

9. The gaming server of claim 8 , wherein the at least one predetermined condition includes at least one of the player plays the at least one wagering game within a predetermined time window, an amount wagered by the player exceeds a predetermined threshold, and an amount of time the player has played the at least one wagering game exceeds a predetermined threshold.

10. The gaming server of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to provide the notification that the player won the random reward if at least one winning predetermined condition is met, the at least one winning predetermined condition includes at least one of the code is received within a predetermined time window, an amount wagered by the player exceeds a predetermined threshold, the player plays the at least one wagering game with a predetermined number of other players satisfying a predetermined relationship, the code matches a predetermined winning code, and the code is received after a predetermined number of other codes have been received within a predetermined time window

Assignees

• Video Gaming Tech Inc

Inventors

• Thacker Christopher John
• Milligan Daniel William

Classifications

• G07F17/323 Primary

  wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions · CPC title

• G07F17/3218 Primary

  wherein at least part of the system is portable · CPC title

• G07F17/3244 Primary

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

• G07F17/3258

  Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots · CPC title