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US 6,503,146 B2Granted
System and method for facilitating casino team play
AssigneeWalker Digital, LLC
InventorsJay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Magdalena Mik, Jason Krantz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for facilitating group play by a team of members associated with a casino slot club. The method includes the steps of identifying the team members, identifying a set of rules designated by the team for rewarding the team members when a payout is due to one of the team members, detecting a payout due to one of the team members, and rewarding the team members in accordance with the set of rules.
Claims25
A method comprising the steps of:
- identifying a set of players that are associated with one another, wherein the set of players are associated independent of gaming devices played by the players;
- identifying at least one predetermined rule for rewarding the set of players when a payout is due to a player of the set of players;
- determining that a payout is due to the player;
- and
- rewarding the set of players in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule, wherein at least one player of the set of players other than the player to whom the payout is due may be rewarded based on the payout even if the at least one other player is not located in a casino at a time when the payout is determined.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- registering a set of players as being associated with one another, wherein the set of players are associated independent of a current location and activity of each of the players;
- determining at least one rule to be used to direct the distribution of an award among the set of players;
- utilizing the at least one rule to distribute the award among the set of players when it is determined that a particular one of the set of players has won a payout while playing a gaming device, wherein at least a portion of the award may be provided to one of the set of players when the one of the set of players is not playing at a gaming device at a time when the payout it won by the particular player.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a storage device;
- and
- a processor in communication with the storage device,
- the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor;
- and
- the processor operative with the program to:
- identify members of a team;
- identify at least one predetermined rule for rewarding the members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member, wherein identifying at least one predetermined rule includes identifying an activity multiplier;
- and
- reward the members of the team in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.
7 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a storage device;
- and
- a processor in communication with the storage device,
- the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor;
- and
- the processor operative with the program to:
- identify a team member;
- identify a team with which the team member is associated;
- identify a rule set governing allocation of bonuses to the team when a payout is due to the team member, wherein identifying a rule set includes identifying an activity multiplier associated with the team;
- receive a signal indicating that a payout is due to the team member;
- evaluate the rule set based in part on the payout to facilitate allocation of bonuses;
- and
- allocate bonuses to the team in accordance with the rule set.
10 more elements
A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:
- identifying a team member;
- identifying a team with which the team member is associated;
- identifying a rule set governing allocation of bonuses to the team when a payout is due to the team member, wherein identifying a rule set includes identifying an activity multiplier associated with the team;
- receiving a signal indicating that a payout is due to the team member;
- evaluating the rule set based in part on the payout to facilitate allocation of bonuses;
- and
- allocating bonuses to the team in accordance with the rule set.
4 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a storage device;
- and
- a processor in communication with the storage device,
- the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor;
- and
- the processor operative with the program to:
- register a team with a casino;
- register members of the team with the casino;
- and
- designate at least one rule for facilitating the distribution of bonuses amongst the members of the team when a particular member of the team receives a payout from a gaming device in the casino, including generating a team plan in a team plans database.
7 more elements
A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:
- register a team with a casino;
- register members of the team with the casino;
- and
- designate at least one rule for facilitating the distribution of bonuses amongst the members of the team when a particular member of the team receives a payout from a gaming device in the casino, including generating a team plan in a team plans database.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.