# US 10,121,319 B2 · Gaming system and method for rewarding players > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,121,319 B2 - Document ID: US10121319B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/357,501 - Filed: 2016-11-21 - Published: 2017-03-09 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-30 - Assignees: Igt - Applicants: Igt - Inventors: Anthony David Radisich; Johann Blignaut; Colin Gray - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121319B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/3255: {Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements} - G07F 17/32: for games, toys, sports, or amusements - G07F 17/3211: {Display means} - G07F 17/3216: {Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects} - G07F 17/3225: {Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users} - G07F 17/3244: {Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A gaming system and method of rewarding players of electronic gaming machines connected by a network to a host computer, including storing player-useable points at a network-accessible location, enabling a player to convert at least some of the points into monetary units at a conversion rate, wherein the monetary units are convertible into credits for wagering on at least one of the electronic gaming machines, awarding a personal points conversion rate multiplier to a player, and applying the points conversion rate multiplier to the conversion rate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gaming system comprising: an electronic gaming machine including: at least one input device, at least one processor, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable a player to convert, via the at least one input device, at least one of a quantity of player-usable points into monetary units at a conversion rate, wherein the monetary units are redeemable for an item which is independent of any wagering credits, a first conversion rate is associated with converting a first quantity of player-usable points into a first quantity of monetary units of a first currency and a second, different conversion rate is associated with converting the first quantity of player-usable points into a second, different quantity of monetary units of the first currency; and a data storage device configured to store the quantity of player-useable points at a network accessible location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, which includes a host computer connected to the electronic gaming machine via a network, the host computer configured to determine a personal points conversion rate multiplier and apply the personal points conversion rate multiplier to the conversion rate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The gaming system of claim 2, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to enable the player to selectively apply, via the at least one input device, the personal points conversion rate multiplier to the conversion rate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the host computer is configured to apply the personal points conversion rate multiplier to the conversion rate if the points to be converted at least meet a threshold value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the host computer is configured to utilize the personal points conversion rate multiplier during a preselected awards period. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the host computer is configured to utilize the personal points conversion rate multiplier based on an occurrence of a game event. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the item is selected from the group consisting of: a beverage, a meal, and a unit of merchandise. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the electronic gaming machine includes a plurality of input devices including an acceptor, and a cashout device, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the plurality of input devices to: responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance. ### Claim 9 A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising: enabling a player at an electronic gaming machine to convert at least one of a quantity of player-usable points into monetary units at a conversion rate, wherein the monetary units are redeemable for an item which is independent of any wagering credits, a first conversion rate is associated with converting a first quantity of player-usable points into a first quantity of monetary units of a first currency and a second, different conversion rate is associated with converting the first quantity of player-usable points into a second, different quantity of monetary units of the first currency; and causing a data storage device to store the quantity of player-useable points at a network accessible location. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising determining, by a host computer, a personal points conversion rate multiplier and apply the personal points conversion rate multiplier to the conversion rate, wherein the host computer is connected to the electronic gaming machine via a network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, which includes enabling the player to selectively apply the personal points conversion rate multiplier to the conversion rate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising applying, by the host computer, the personal points conversion rate multiplier to the conversion rate if the points to be converted at least meet a threshold value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising utilizing, by the host computer, the personal points conversion rate multiplier during a preselected awards period. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising utilizing, by the host computer, the personal points conversion rate multiplier based on an occurrence of a game event. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the item is selected from the group consisting of: a beverage, a meal, and a unit of merchandise. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic gaming machine displays a credit balance which is increasable via an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and which is decreasable via a cashout device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, which is executed through a data network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the data network is an internet.