Gaming systems and methods for use in creating random rewards

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11257320-B2
Application number	US-201916446329-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2019
Priority date	Dec 22, 2011
Publication date	Feb 22, 2022
Grant date	Feb 22, 2022

Abstract

Servers and method for use in creating a random reward are disclosed. One exemplary method includes receiving a request for a random reward from an organizer, establishing a random reward in response to the request, transmitting a credential associated with the random reward to a player, and crediting gaming activity associated with the credential to the random reward. Access to the random reward is limited to players presenting the credential.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gaming system comprising:
a first gaming machine; and
a gaming server coupled to the first gaming machine, the gaming server programmed to:
establish a random reward;
receive, from a first player associated with the random reward, a request to initiate a casino-based game on the first gaming machine;
transmit an invitation including a player-specific credential associated with the random reward to a plurality of invitees, wherein at least one invitation is transmitted via a social network website;
in response to at least one invitee redeeming the credential, credit gaming activity on the first gaming machine and associated with the first player, wherein credited gaming activity is determined based on an amount wagered for each game played by the first player and the at least one invitee, and the amount wagered meeting one or more wager amount thresholds, wherein the amount wagered is wagered using an account balance that is established based at least in part upon an input using a coin acceptor or a paper acceptor;
determine which invitees of the plurality of invitees are advancing the credited gaming activity toward a predetermined gaming activity threshold, wherein the plurality of invitees includes the first player;
in response to an amount of progress being made toward the predetermined gaming activity threshold for achieving the random reward, make static a pool of players eligible for the random reward, wherein the pool of players eligible for the random reward includes the first player and the invitees determined to be advancing the credited gaming activity toward the predetermined gaming activity threshold;
compare the credited gaming activity of the first player to the predetermined gaming activity threshold for achieving the random reward; and
cause display, on the first gaming machine, of a listing of the pool of players and an indicator of the comparison of the credited gaming activity and the predetermined gaming activity threshold.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the gaming server is further programmed to:
receive a request for the random reward from an organizer; and
establish the random reward in response to the request.

3. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the gaming server is further programmed to distribute a payout associated with the random reward according to at least one payout instruction received from at least one of the organizer and at least one invitee of the organizer.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the player-specific credential is specific to each respective invitee, such that each respective invitee of a random reward is provided a credential that is linked to the random reward and specific to that invitee.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the gaming server is further programmed to receive an indication of each credential redeemed by the at least one invitee at a second gaming machine, where the at least one invitee becomes a player.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one invitee is selected based on one or more actions performed by the at least one invitee on the social network website.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the gaming server is further programmed to award the random reward to a player associated with the credential when the credited gaming activity meets the predetermined gaming activity threshold.

8. A method of creating a random reward that is accessible to a group of players, the method comprising:
establishing, by a processor in a gaming server, the random reward associated with a plurality of players;
transmitting an invitation including a player-specific credential associated with the random reward to each player of the plurality of players, wherein access to the random reward is limited to at least one player of the plurality of players redeeming the credential, wherein at least one invitation is transmitted via a social network website;
in response to the at least one player redeeming the credential, crediting gaming activity of each player of the plurality of players with access to the random reward, wherein credited gaming activity is determined based on an amount wagered for each game played by each player of the plurality of players, and the amount wagered meeting one or more wager amount thresholds, wherein the amount wagered is wagered using an account balance that is established based at least in part upon an input using a coin acceptor or a paper acceptor;
determine which players of the plurality of players are advancing the credited gaming activity toward a predetermined gaming activity threshold, wherein the plurality of players includes the at least one player;
in response to an amount of progress being made toward the predetermined gaming activity threshold for achieving the random reward, making static a pool of players eligible for the random reward, wherein the pool of players eligible for the random reward includes the at least one player and the players determined to be advancing the credited gaming activity toward the predetermined gaming activity threshold;
comparing the credited gaming activity of each player associated with the random reward to the predetermined gaming activity threshold for achieving the random reward; and
causing display, at a computing device associated with the at least one player, of a listing of the pool of players and an indicator of the comparison of the credited gaming activity and the predetermined gaming activity threshold.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
receiving a request for the random reward from an organizer; and
establishing the random reward in response to the request.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the request for the random reward includes receiving the request including identifying information for a plurality of invitees; and
wherein transmitting the player-specific credential to each player in the group of players includes transmitting the credential to each of the plurality of invitees based on the identifying information.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the request for the random reward includes receiving a request including a social network identifier; and
wherein transmitting the credential associated with the random reward to each player in the group of players includes transmitting the credential to each of a plurality of invitees based on the social network identifier.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
receiving an indication of each credential redeemed by at least one invitee at a second gaming machine, where the at least one invitee becomes a player; and
displaying, on the second gaming machine, an indicator of the comparison of the credited gaming activity and the predetermined gaming activity threshold.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the request for the random reward includes receiving the request including identifying information for a plurality of invitees, and wherein the identifying information includes at least one of a name, a mailing address, an email address, a social network identifier, a user identifier, and a rewards account number.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein transmitting a credential associated with the random reward to each player in the group of players comprises transmitting a credential associated with the random reward to players that are designated by a first player.

15. A gaming server communicatively coupled to a plurality of gaming machines, the gaming server for use in creating a random reward accessible to a group of players operating respective gaming machines, the gaming serve

Assignees

• Video Gaming Tech Inc

Inventors

• Thacker Christopher John
• Milligan Daniel William
• Brooks Stephen Wade

Classifications

• G07F17/3211

  Display means · CPC title

• G07F17/3209

  Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen · CPC title

• G07F17/3241

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

• G07F17/3251

  involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens · CPC title

• G07F17/3246

  involving coins and/or banknotes · CPC title