Method apparatus for promoting play on a network of gaming devices
AssigneeAcres Gaming Incorporated
InventorJohn Acres
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling a bonusing promotion system using a bonus server interconnected to a plurality of gaming devices is described. A percentage of a wager played on each gaming device is accumulated into a bonus pool stored on the bonus server. The bonus pool is compared to a threshold value stored on the bonus server each time the bonus pool changes. One of the gaming devices is selected when the threshold value is substantially met. A bonus prize funded by the bonus pool is awarded to the selected gaming device.
Claims22
A method of providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network to a host computer comprising:
- creating at least one player account accessible by the host computer;
- accruing points in the player account related to the level of player play on the gaming devices;
- providing access to the account responsive to a command initiated by a player at one of the gaming devices;
- converting points in the player account to a credit responsive to a conversion command initiated by the player at said one gaming device;
- debiting the account responsive to a game played at said one gaming device;
- and
- crediting said one gaming device responsive to debiting the account.
A method of providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network to a host computer comprising:
- creating a player account accessible by the host computer;
- tracking the level of gaming-device play of a player associated with the account;
- applying credit to the player account when the level of play exceeds a predefined level;
- preventing the player from wagering the credit on any of the gaming devices until after a predefined time;
- and
- permitting the player to wager the credit on at least one of the gaming devices after the predefined time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.