Optimizing drawing prize awards

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9721429-B2
Application number	US-201414538597-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2014
Priority date	Nov 11, 2014
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A promotional game is conducted over participants' cell phones. During a play period, a participant advances on a virtual game board using cell phone commands. During the player period drawing entries are generated proportional to play on electronic gaming devices, play of the promotional game, or retail purchases. Some players receive a multiplier for their drawing entries to enhance chances of winning the promotional game. In one embodiment, the multiplier is removed for a player after a cutoff threshold for prizes awarded to that player is reached.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of conducting a promotion of the type in which drawing entries are allocated to players of electronic gaming devices each of which includes a non-transitory memory device configured to store computer-readable instructions to facilitate play of the electronic gaming device, the method comprising:
receiving value at the electronic gaming devices via an accepting device associated with each electronic gaming device, the accepting device configured to accept a physical item associated with a monetary value;
establishing a credit balance on at least some of the electronic gaming devices using the associated monetary value;
increasing and decreasing the credit balance based at least on wagering activity;
receiving a wager amount on at least some of the electronic gaming devices responsive to actuation of a first actuator associated with each gaming device;
decreasing the credit balance on each electronic gaming device at which a wager amount is received responsive to actuation of the first actuator;
initiating a game on at least some of the electronic gaming devices responsive to actuation of a second actuator associated with each gaming device;
monitoring at least a credit meter of the electronic gaming devices during the promotion;
identifying at least some of the players via a player-tracking system during the promotion;
associating a metered amount of play on the electronic gaming devices with each of at least some of the players;
generating a number of preliminary drawing entries for each player, the number of preliminary drawing entries being related to the metered amount of play by the player during the promotion;
storing each player's identity and the associated preliminary number of drawing entries in a database;
totaling the number of preliminary entries for each player to create a first set of entries having a first number of entries therein;
associating at least some of the players with a predefined multiplier number greater than one;
multiplying each player's preliminary drawing entries by the player's associated multiplier number to create a second set of drawing entries having a second number of entries therein for each player;
drawing one from among at least all of the second sets of drawing entries;
associating a prize from a prize table with the drawn entry;
continuing to draw one from among all of at least the second sets of drawing entries and associating a prize from the prize table with each drawn entry;
setting a prize cutoff level for each of at least some of the players;
keeping a running total of the value of the prizes awarded to each player;
changing the number of drawing entries for a player from the number in the second set to the number in the first set when the running total for the player reaches the prize cutoff level;
awarding the prizes to the players; and
cashing out a payout associated with the credit balance on at least some of the electronic gaming devices responsive to actuation of a third actuator associated with each electronic gaming device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the prize table includes prizes of varying value and wherein the method further includes awarding prizes in order from the lowest value to the highest value.

3. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming devices, each of which includes:
a non-transitory memory device configured to store computer-readable instructions to facilitate play of the electronic gaming device,
an accepting device configured to accept a physical item associated with a monetary value, the monetary value establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity,
a first actuator configured to apply a wager amount placed for play of the gaming device, the wager amount decreasing the credit balance,
a second actuator configured to initiate a game on the gaming device,
a cashout device configured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance, and
a third actuator configured to generate the input to cause initiation of the payout via the cashout device;

at least one meter associated with each gaming device to track the amount of play on the gaming device;
a player tracking system connected to the network, the player tracking system being configured to identify at least some of the players playing the gaming devices and to associate the amount of play with an identified player; and
at least one processor connected to the network, the processor configured to:
generate a number of preliminary drawing entries for each player, the number of preliminary drawing entries being related to the amount of play by the player;
store each player's identity and the associated preliminary number of drawing entries in a database;
total the number of preliminary entries for each player after the promotion ends to create a first set of entries having a first number of entries therein;
associate at least some of the players with a predefined multiplier number greater than one;
multiply each player's preliminary drawing entries by the player's associated multiplier number to create a second set of drawing entries having a second number of entries therein for each of at least some of the players;
draw one from among all of at least the second sets of drawing entries;
associate a prize from a prize table with each drawn entry;
set a prize cutoff level for each of at least some of the players;
keep a running total of the value of the prizes awarded to each player;
change the number of drawing entries for the player from the number in the second set to the number in the first set when the running total for a player reaches the prize cutoff level;
continue to draw drawing entries until there are no more prizes; and
award the prizes to the players.

4. The gaming system of claim 3 wherein the prize table includes prizes of varying value and the processor is further configured to award prizes in order from the lowest value to the highest value.

5. The gaming system of claim 3 wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive an electronic communication from a player; and
generate a presentation on a display that reveals the prizes won by the player responsive to the electronic communication.

6. A method of conducting a promotional game on a plurality of gaming devices, each of which includes a non-transitory memory device configured to store computer-readable instructions to facilitate play of the electronic gaming device, an accepting device configured to accept a physical item associated with a monetary value, the monetary value establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity, a first actuator configured to apply a wager amount placed for play of the gaming device, the wager amount decreasing the credit balance, a second actuator configured to initiate a game on the gaming device, a cashout device configured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance, and a third actuator configured to generate the input to cause initiation of the payout via the cashout device, the method comprising:
tracking play by players on the plurality of gaming devices;
creating a number of drawing entries in a first set of drawing entries for each of the tracked players, the number of drawing entries in the first set being related to the amount of play by each player;
enhancing the odds of winning for each player in a group of predefined players by multiplying the drawing entries for each player in the predefined group by a multiplier greater than one to create a second set of drawing entries for each player in the predefined group;
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Assignees

• Patent Invest & Licensing Co

Inventors

• Acres John F

Classifications

• G07F17/3223

  Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, leader-follower, wireless communication · CPC title

• G07F17/3225

  Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users · CPC title

• G07F17/3218

  wherein at least part of the system is portable · 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

• G07F17/3255

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