Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3244—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
  • G07F17/3255—Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3244—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
  • G07F17/3251—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Definitions

• the field of the invention relates generally to gaming and more particularly to introducing game elements that enhance game play and player engagement across one or many games.
• Some gambling establishments may provide players with coupons and awards to entice play on the gaming floor.
• these coupons and awards are only usable with particular games on the floor of the gaming establishment.
• these coupons and awards are simply currencies or virtual currencies that grant entry to the game or help the player to place a bet. Unfortunately, they do not enhance or extend the gaming experience in an integrated way, and thus may not adequately promote higher durations of engagement or play.
• aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods that provide for gambling establishments or others to create game extensions and provide players with game extensions and game variations that attract new players, track engagement by new and existing players, and/or modify or enhance the game play, thereby creating more opportunities to educate players to new games, attract players to a particular game on the gaming floor, keep players engaged in that game for an extended period of time, provide a greater level of excitement, and produce positive emotions and experiences, which ultimately promotes higher durations of engagement and play.
• These methods may be used, for example, by gambling establishments to enhance the awareness of, attraction to, and engagement with particular games on the gaming floor. In another embodiment, one or more of these methods may also be used by gaming
• one or more "enhancements” may be provided to a player that increases the desire to play such games.
• gaming enhancements can be player-activated and provide an enhanced experience that attracts players to such games.
• Game “enhancements” can also be provided in addition to free play provided by the gaming operator.
• PC and mobile phone applications into their games and marketing programs. These methods can be also used by Internet-based gambling establishments to integrate PC and mobile phone applications into their games and marketing programs.
• a method for delivering a game experience comprising acts of providing to a player a gaming extension, the gaming extension having an associated identifier, providing for the player to selectively use the gaming extension with a game provided by a gaming establishment at a gaming location, and responsive to the player selectively using the gaming extension with the game, providing an extended gaming experience and/or a modification to one or more rules and/or parameters of the game for the player.
• the act of providing the gaming extension comprises delivering the identifier to the player though a delivery medium.
• the method further comprises an act of storing the identifier of the gaming extension on a storage medium.
• the method further comprises an act of modifying one or more rules of the game for the player responsive to the player selectively using the gaming extension with the game.
• the method further comprises an act of modifying one or more pay tables of the game for the player for use in the game responsive to the player selectively using the gaming extension with the game.
• the method further comprises an act of providing one or more bet protection options to the player responsive to the player selectively using the gaming extension with the game.
• the method further comprises an act of providing one or more side bet options to the player responsive to the player selectively using the gaming extension with the game.
• the method further comprises an act of converting the game into another type of game for the player responsive to the player selectively using the gaming extension with the game.
• the delivery medium includes at least one of a group comprising a printed medium, an electronic medium, an element having an RFID chip, and an electronic device having a readable component that stores a representation of the gaming extension.
• the method further comprises an act of associating the identifier of the gaming extension with an identifier of the player.
• the method further comprises an act of activating the gaming extension during play of the game.
• the act of activating the gaming extension is responsive to an act performed by the player.
• the act performed by the player comprises an act of the player placing the gaming extension on or near a predefined physical location.
• the act of activating the gaming extension comprises at least one of placing the gaming extension on a gaming table in a predefined location, entering identification information into a computer-based device, placing a bet, scanning a medium, moving a GPS -enabled device to a defined location, inserting a card into a reading device, scanning a frequent player identifier, moving an RFID transmitter in proximity to an RFID reader, and scanning a gaming extension with a camera.
• the method further comprises an act of providing one or more online games responsive to the player selectively using the gaming extension with the game.
• FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of a printed "gaming extension
• FIG. 2 is an illustration of another embodiment of a printed "gaming extension;"
• FIG. 3 is an illustration of an embodiment of a gaming table upon which embodiments of a "gaming extension" may be used;
• FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method of using a "gaming extension
• FIG. 5 is a flow chart of another embodiment of a method of using a "gaming extension
• FIG. 6 is a flow chart of another embodiment of a method of using a "gaming extension."
• FIG. 7 is a flow chart of another embodiment of a method of using a "gaming extension.”
• Gambling establishments may provide games of chance whose primary appeal is the potential opportunity for players to win money or some other award or prize of value or perceived value. It can be appreciated that gambling establishments may provide many different types of games on the gaming floor that fit the aforementioned description to offer their players variety and choice. It can also be appreciated that not all of these games may receive an equal amount of engagement by players and that not all games may be equally profitable for the gambling establishment.
• Gambling establishment operators may spend a large amount of capital in the effort to attract new players to their gaming establishment. Games and variety in gaming titles may be used as one attractor, but it has historically been a challenge for gambling establishments to build awareness of a gaming title prior to a patron visiting the gambling establishment. It has been equally challenging for gambling establishments to then drive participation at particular titles and measure that engagement.
• gaming establishments are often required to wait for game producers and gaming manufactures to produce new and innovative games and systems.
• the cycle for introducing new games onto a gaming floor can take many years. Because of this, it can be appreciated that gaming establishments may benefit from ways to immediately extend or enhance lower performing games to facilitate a highest level of engagement and return on a regular basis.
• gambling establishments may benefit from new and innovative ways to attract new players, drive players at particular games on the gaming floor, educate players to new games, keep players engaged in these games for an extended period of time, extend and enhance these games in an integrated way to provide a greater level of excitement, and evoke positive emotions and experiences that ultimately promote higher durations of engagement and play.
• a "gaming extension" containing an index or identifier is produced by a system, stored on a storage medium, and given or delivered to a player though a delivery mechanism.
• the term "gaming extension” as used herein is used both to refer to a game enhancement that may be provided to a player and to refer to a physical or electronic embodiment of a medium or of information that may be provided to and which may be used by a player to active the game enhancement.
• a player may be provided with a "gaming extension,” which in some embodiments may be in the form of a physical card, for example a thermal printed card.
• a physical "gaming extension" card 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1.
• the card may include an area where there is printed a title 110 for the "gaming extension," a description of a feature 120 of the enhancement represented by the card, an image 130, for example an image of a dragon or any other image desired, as an identifier, an area including descriptive text instructions 140, a bar coded index 160 and/or a QR code 150 (a quick response code, which may be a two-dimensional bar code or matrix code).
• a QR code 150 a quick response code, which may be a two-dimensional bar code or matrix code.
• gaming extension card are not limited to any particular method or structure for information storage or retrieval.
• a game such as, but not limited to Pai Gow Poker, may be extended to have an additional area placed on the table for the activation of the "gaming extension.”
• a gaming table 200 may include, in addition to the usual indicators and markings used on gaming tables, an area 210 for the placement of a "gaming extension" card.
• the gaming table 200 may also include a bonus bet area 220 which may be used to place a bonus bet which may be allowed during the use of the "gaming extension.”
• a player can then take a "gaming extension” card and use it in conjunction with, or as an indicator of an activation of an extension of the Pai Gow gaming experience, by placing the "gaming extension” card on the designated area of the table to activate the card in the game.
• the player By “activating" the "gaming extension” during play, the player then becomes eligible for new game rules, which when applied, engage the player in new and extended gaming experiences.
• Use of the "gaming extension” may provide one or more gaming enhancements and/or modifications to the rules or other aspects or parameters of a game for a player. For example, use of the "gaming extension” may modify a pay table or provide a player with an increased award upon winning a game instance. Use of the "gaming extension” may provide a player with a bonus upon the occurrence of some event, for example, the dealing of two or more cards with a same numerical value or suit, or a particular defined card or type of card during a card game such as blackjack, Spanish 21, or Pai Gow Poker.
• Use of the "gaming extension” may provide a player with an opportunity to utilize amended game rules, for example to swap one or more undesirable cards during a card game such as blackjack or Pai Gow Poker or one or more symbols in a slot machine game, or to place an additional bonus bet, for example to place an additional bet after the dealing of one or more cards during play of a card game.
• Use of the "gaming extension” may provide a player with an opportunity to use a form of gaming insurance, for example to decrease potential losses during a hand of a card game by 50% or more.
• Use of the "gaming extension” may provide a player with an opportunity to modify game rules during play of a game, for example to modify a game of blackjack from following standard blackjack rules to a game following the rules of a game of Spanish 21 during play of the game.
• the gaming table 200 may include an RFID reader to read an RFID chip embedded in a "gaming extension” card or a magnetic or optical reader to read magnetically or optically encoded information from a "gaming extension” card.
• the gaming table may include, for example, a manual input or an optical or electronic reader to receive or read information that may be encoded in a non-physical "gaming extension," for example a "gaming extension” in the form of an electronic image or code downloaded into a player's cell phone, PDA, or other electronic device, or simply known to the player.
• a dealer at a gaming table and/or a pit boss may acknowledge and/or verify the use of a "gaming extension" by a player and provide the player with a gaming enhancement.
• a player receives a "gaming extension.”
• the player may receive the gaming extension in the form of a physical card, or as discussed in further detail below, may receive the "gaming extension” electronically.
• the player may then visit a gaming establishment, for example a physical gambling establishment or an online gaming website, and proceed to activate the "gaming extension” (act 320).
• Activation of the "gaming extension” may be performed in various ways. For example, in some embodiments, the player may activate a "gaming extension” by placing a "gaming extension” card on a designated area of a table at which a game is played.
• the player may activate a "gaming extension” by providing information encoded on or in or printed on the "gaming extension” to a dealer, or to an electronic system associated with a gaming table, device, or web site.
• the player may insert the "gaming extension" into a ticket reader associated with a gaming table or device, may provide for a bar code on the "gaming extension” to be scanned at a gaming table or device, may provide for an RFID chip associated with the "gaming extension” to be read at a gaming table or device, may enter or otherwise provide an identifier associated with the "gaming extension" at a gaming table, device, or web site, or may activate the "gaming extension” in other ways as described further below.
• the "gaming extension" may remain activated for only a single game instance, for example, a single hand at a blackjack or Pai Gow Poker table, or a single pull of a slot machine. In other embodiments the "gaming extension" may remain activated for a defined period of time or number of game instances, for example for a defined number of hands of blackjack or Pai Gow Poker, a defined number of pulls of a slot machine, or a defined amount of time of game play. In some embodiments, the defined number of game instances or defined amount of gaming time may be split across multiple gaming sessions. In some embodiments the "gaming extension" becomes void after the defined amount of game instances have been played or the defined amount of time has elapsed. In some embodiments, the "gaming extension" must be activated for each individual game instance, and in others may remain activated for multiple game instances until a player decides to de-activate it.
• the game starts (act 330).
• One or more game turns or instances e.g., hands of a card game or pulls of a slot machine, may then be played by the player (act 340), during which, if the player had activated the "gaming extension” extended or modified gaming rules or parameters associated with the "gaming extension” may be applied to the game for the player (act 350).
• the player may win or lose a game turn (act 360) and proceed to play an additional game turn or a new game.
• the acts in the flowchart of FIG. 4 (as well as those of FIGS. 5-7, discussed below) may be performed in different orders, and one or more acts may be deleted or added.
• the player may activate the "game extension" (act 320) subsequent to beginning a game, or between game turns.
• the "gaming extension" may be used by a player in conjunction with the extension of a gaming experience on the floor of the gambling establishment, for example at slot machines or other floor games, with any one or more or any alternate or additional methods or apparatus for recognizing or reading information from the "gaming extension" described above included in the slot machines or other floor games, to enhance the game play.
• a game such as, but not limited to, Pai Gow Poker
• Rules may be modified or extended for the Pai Gow game so that when the "gaming extension" is activated, a player may be eligible for potentially wining a monetary bonus when a card is dealt to the player that contains the same identifier as the "gaming extension.”
• a winning extension with a Pai Gow Bonus Dragon card, such as that illustrated in FIG. 1 or FIG.
• Ticket-Out (TITO) ticket by a gaming device, kiosk, or other printing device within or external to a gaming establishment.
• a "gaming extension" may be printed via a TITO printer attached to an electronic gaming machine, e.g., a slot machine, prior to, during, or after a player plays the electronic game.
• the index or identifier printed or encoded on the "gaming extension” may be symbolic information, that when read and processed by one or a series of devices, processors, and/or software applications, may identify the index or identifier associated with the "gaming extension.”
• the gaming machine may then proceed to authenticate the gaming extension, for example by comparing an indicator of the "gaming extension” to a database present within the gaming machine, or a database accessed over an electronic network (act 720). If the "gaming extension" is found to be valid and useable (e.g., not void) the use of the "gaming extension" on the gaming machine may be approved and extended game rule(s) or other extensions of game play on the gaming machine associated with the "gaming extension" may be activated for the player (act 730).
• the "gaming extension" may be activated by a player visiting a particular location with a GPS enabled device.
• a player may visit a website and enter the index or identifier on the "game extension" into a web-based form to register the "game
• the "gaming extension" may be one in a series or collection of
• the index or identifier on the "gaming extension” may also be associated, through a database, to the wagering account.
• the player may then visit a casino (act 530) or any other physical or electronic gaming establishment to play the game.
• the "gaming extension” is activated with the gaming establishment (act 540), it can then be used to wager either in the context of the general game or in a game with parameters modified for the player in accordance with a set of rules associated with the "gaming extension.”
• the game may begin (act 550) and the player may place a wager (act 560) by using cash, chips, an identifier of the "gaming extension," or by any other method.
• a series of devices, networks, processors, and/or applications may be provided by which the gaming establishment can validate the "gaming extension" and credit or debit the wagering account though the use of the index or identifier of the "gaming extension.”
• the "gaming extension” may be tied to a wagering account which may also be associated with a credit account and represent and account for a debit between the player and the gaming establishment.
• the gaming establishment can issue "gaming extensions" that have a preset amount of wager associated with them. A player may pre-pay for all or a part of the preset amount of wager, or when the preset amount of wager is used, it is then owed by the player to the gaming establishment
• an online system may be used that provides a gaming establishment operator the ability to manage "gaming extensions."
• the gaming establishment operator can use, for example, a bar code reader or other information retrieval or transmission device to send an index of a "gaming extension" to a PC, which in turn uses a combination or series of networks, devices, processors, and/or applications to transmit the index to a central server. If the index represents a valid gaming extension, that result may be transmitted to the originating device(s) for display to a user.
• gambling establishment refers to any lawful gambling or gaming establishment, either physical or online or both.
• the gambling or gaming establishments may offer wagering and/or non-wagering games of skill and/or chance.
• Physical casinos, Internet casinos, lotteries, racetracks, betting shops, and Internet gaming establishments are common examples of such gambling establishments that are lawful in certain jurisdictions.
• some gambling establishments may provide gaming as a subset of other offerings or services. For example, a bar or restaurant whose primary business is selling food and drink may also provide Keno gaming. Similarly, a convenience store whose primary business is selling retail items may also sell lottery tickets. It can further be appreciated that all aspects of this invention may be applied to any other entities that represent a lawful gambling or gaming establishment. These gambling or gaming establishments may be accessed at physical locations or online or both.

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• 2010
  • 2010-12-29 EP EP10841690.0A patent/EP2519331A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-12-29 AU AU2010339515A patent/AU2010339515A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-12-29 US US12/980,667 patent/US20110281641A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-12-29 CA CA2785901A patent/CA2785901A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-12-29 WO PCT/US2010/062405 patent/WO2011082252A1/en not_active Ceased
• 2015
  • 2015-02-18 AU AU2015200811A patent/AU2015200811A1/en not_active Abandoned

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