Abstract:
The invention comprises a gaming system including at least one gaming machine arranged to accept and print receipts. In one embodiment of a method, a player playing a gaming machine is issued a receipt which represents credit or value belonging to the player, and includes secondary information. The secondary information may comprise promotional award information, such as a matching bet for use in playing another game or a prize, or information unrelated to the games, such as a horoscope. In another embodiment of the invention, a method comprises issuing a first receipt at a first location, such as a parking garage, accepting the first receipt at a gaming machine, issuing a second receipt at the gaming machine and then accepting the second receipt at another location, such as a parking garage exit. In this method, the gaming machine serves as a validation mechanism to a player activity or event.
Abstract:
A player is permitted to participate in an interactive gaming event from a remote location, such as a hotel room or home computer, once the player's entitlement to participate has been confirmed using a biometric identifier. One method of the invention includes first verifying the identity of a potential player of a gaming event, such as by verifying the age of the player. If verified, the fingerprint of the player is obtained and the fingerprint is stored in association with an assigned identification code. When a player requests to participate in a gaming event from a remote location, the player's identification code is received from the player and is used to locate the corresponding stored fingerprint. The player then transmits their scanned fingerprint. If the transmitted fingerprint and stored fingerprint match, the player is verified as entitled to participate in the gaming event.
Abstract:
A method of monitoring and providing support to a gaming device that includes monitoring the gaming device to determine an occurrence of an event, generating a message regarding the event, encoding the message, transmitting the message to a remote location over a communication link, receiving the message at the remote location, decoding the message, analyzing the message, and initiating a response to the message. In one embodiment, the event comprises an error or fault and the message regarding the event is transmitted using the simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP). Embodiments of the invention comprise apparatus forming a part of a gaming network or system including gaming devices such as gaming machines. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises servers associated with a remote service center and message data storage.
Abstract:
A gaming environment includes portable transaction/tracking devices for rendering services and tracking game play. In one embodiment, the gaming environment includes at least one table game and a portable transaction interface capable of receiving and sending information over a wireless communication link to/from a player tracking server adapted to store player identification and player game play data. One embodiment of a method comprises the tracking of player game play in such a gaming environment using the portable transaction device or interface. Player identification information and player game play data is input to the portable transaction device and transmitted to the player tracking server for association with a player's rating file. Graphical information may be generated and displayed to the user of the portable transaction device regarding the gaming environment. This information may be used by the user to identify players or their location.
Abstract:
A progressive gaming system is configured to run many progressive prizes on one central system. The relationship between progressive group and prize with a particular game is designed so that the odds and bet on a particular game need not be identical throughout a group. In one embodiment, prize definition is in terms of number of coins expected to be played between prize hits, independent of denomination, and minimum number of coins returned to players, regardless of odds or denominations. When a progressive game is designed, the coins bet and odds related to the logic of the game are verified as compatible with the prize definitions coins expected to be played between prize hits. The prize definition is used to validate an association between a particular game and a particular progressive prize. Preferably the event that triggers a progressive prize may be unrelated to the events on any game.
Abstract:
Methods and devices are described that allow a casino to dynamically service patrons. The dynamic systems and methods collect data related to the behavior of multiple people in a gaming establishment, and collect data for entertainment resources in the gaming establishment, such as gaming devices and services. The data may be flexibly used. In one embodiment, a person is at least partially identified in the casino. The gaming establishment uses a model that selects tailor offerings for a person, such as advertisements for services that the person may enjoy or games on gaming machines that the person may enjoy. The model selects a tailored offering for the person based on the at least partial identification and the data previously obtained for multiple people and entertainment resources. The identification, selection and offering may be performed in real time. In another embodiment, the gaming establishment uses the data to reconfigure its entertainment resources to better deploy its resources relative to the behavior of people in that specific gaming establishment.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for facilitating and monitoring player financial and player tracking/reward transactions, including the tracking of player losses, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes at least one server and a plurality of gaming machines and/or a game generator for transmitting game information to a remote game play location. The server has a memory containing data files corresponding to players. The data files contain information such as credits or monies in an account which belong to the player and which may be used by the player to play games. The data files also contain player tracking information, such as points awarded to a player based upon their game play and/or information regarding player expenditures or deductions, such as amounts wagered by a player. In one embodiment, a player and a casino may manage the player's accounts, such as by placing criteria upon the account(s), tracking a player's gain or loss while playing games, awarding awards such as prizes and credits for free game play or redeemable awards.
Abstract:
A gaming machine is arranged with a gaming machine controller and a secondary “queuing” device, preferably a player tracking controller having a memory. A communication link is provided between the player tracking controller and gaming machine controller, and the player tracking controller and a player tracking network including a player tracking host or server. A game code server is connected to the player tracking network. In accordance with a method, gaming machine code or data, such as game or other control code, is transmitted from the game code server over the player tracking network to the player tracking controller. The code may be processed by the player tracking controller, including by storing it in the player tracking controller memory. The code may then be transmitted to the gaming machine controller for storage and execution.
Abstract:
A parking locator system providing variably priced parking includes one or more parking sensors and one or more parking kiosks. The parking sensors may generate parking information identifying one or more occupied parking spaces and one or more unoccupied parking spaces within a vicinity. Promotion information including one or more discounts to parking fees may be received at the parking kiosks. The parking kiosks may display the discounted parking fees and receive payment of the same. The discounts to parking fees may expire at particular times. The size of the discounts may be set based on traffic congestion, which may be determined based on the number of occupied parking spaces within the vicinity.
Abstract:
A game utilizes cards or similar game elements having at least primary indicia or symbols and in some instances at least a secondary or bonus indicia or symbol. The primary indicia may comprise card rank and suit indicia. The cards may include a secondary slot or bonus symbol. A deck of cards may comprise multiple cards having primary indicia with one or more or all of the cards including a secondary or bonus symbol. The primary indicia may be evaluated in the play of a primary game such as a poker game, while the secondary symbols may be used in a secondary slot game or may trigger one or more bonus events. In other embodiments, the game cards may include game symbol primary indicia, game suit secondary indicia and slot line tertiary indicia. A deck of slot cards may be formed from individual cards each bearing unique combinations of the indicia. In game play, slot cards may be dealt in a row and, after any discard and replacement, the resulting slot cards may be evaluated against a pay table which defines winning combinations of slot cards and associated awards.