Method and apparatus for off property prize pooling

Abstract

A system and method is provided for incentivizing players to visit a gambling location. A system is provided that allows users to group players into teams that may perform various gaming activities and share in prizes earned by those activities. Further the system may require that players visit a gambling location to perform various acts, including activating electronic game play requests. A method is provided by which players have additional incentive to visit gambling establishments with more regularity.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 122,146 entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OFF PROPERTY PRIZE POOLING,” filed on Dec. 12, 2008, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]At least one embodiment in accord with the present invention relates generally to gaming and more particularly to providing incentives to game players.[0004]2. Discussion of Related Art[0005]People enjoy playing games and often regard the experience of winning a prize by playing a game to be more valuable than the prize itself. Just the chance to win a prize provides considerable entertainment. Games are often used to induce persons to visit a location in order to obtain a game entry, check game outcomes or redeem prizes won. The well-known McDonalds restaurant, for example, provides scratch-off game cards with prizes of cash and other awards as prizes. Such sc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]Additionally, an aspect in accord with the present invention manifests an appreciation for the ability of team-oriented games and game play to enhance the entertainment experience of individual players, thus encouraging them to play more and more frequently visit a casino or other gambling location. It is also desirable to invite qualified persons to either return to, or initially visit, a gambling location based upon their projected interest in gambling and their projected worth as a gambling customer. It is further desirable to automate some or all of the monitoring and fulfillment process using computer networks such as those found within the Internet infrastructure and the gambling location's player tracking infrastructure.

[0022]As discussed, the prize may be redeemed on the operator's property, thereby encouraging the player to return to the gambling location. In another example, the prize is awarded after the player's experience on the operator's property, increasing the likelihood that the player will return to the operator's property to redeem the prize. The prize, in one embodiment, may include a non-cashable credit for playing additional games, and thus, the play of additional games may increase revenue for the gaming operator. Other prizes (e.g., complimentary offers, promotional prizes, etc.) separate from the casino may be provided which enhance the player's experience and encourage the player return.

[0030]The method may include acts of providing outcome information to the at least one first player, the outcome information indicating at least one winning outcome, receiving a redemption request including the outcome information in the gambling location and redeeming the outcome information in the gambling location. In the method, the act of providing the outcome information to the at least one first player may include an act of providing the outcome information to all of the plurality of qualified players. In addition, the act of redeeming may include an act of providing a monetary prize. Further, the act of redeeming may include an act of providing a non-monetary prize. Moreover, the act of providing a non-monetary prize may include an act of providing any of merchandise, points, a chance to win a monetary prize, free game play, reduced cost game play, credits, coupons, gift certificates, and qualification for other games. Additionally, the act of providing the non-monetary prize may include an act of providing an entry to play one of the games offered in a gambling environment at the gambling location. Furthermore, the act of redeeming may include an act of allocating a portion of a prize to more than one of the plurality of qualified players.

Problems solved by technology

While such offers are enticing, they often are not strong enough to overcome the effort of returning to the casino and often times, people simply forget about the offer and do not return within the allotted time to collect their incentive.

It is expensive for the casino to market to the general population because so many people are unqualified for gambling because of age restrictions or the biases of personal belief.

And the burden of making a first-ever visit to the casino are comparatively high in terms of comfort and convenience, so incentives must be disproportionately large.

As a result of these factors, most gambling venues, such as casinos, find it prohibitively expensive to recruit new players to the extent desired.

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