Abstract:
A method and system for distributing discounted slot play credits comprising receiving an offer for discounted slot play credit from a sponsoring casino, displaying the offer for sale to potential purchasers, receiving payment from a purchaser for the discounted slot play credit, and providing a redemption code to the purchaser for use in redeeming the discounted slot play credit. The offer for sale to potential purchasers may be displayed on a web site and the redemption code sent to the purchaser by electronic mail, text message, or computer network. Information about the purchase of discounted slot play credit may be provided to the sponsoring casino for use in redemption of the discounted slot play credit, wherein the sponsoring casino can use the information about the purchase to determine whether or not to allow redemption of the discounted slot play credit.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/336,064 filed on Jan. 14, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many casinos offer free promotional slot machine credits (often referred to as “Free Slot Play” or “promotional slot play”) to new players club members as an incentive to visit their casino, join their players club, and begin playing slot machines at their casino. Some casinos also offer free promotional slot play to existing players club members in an effort to induce repeat visits. The value of any given free promotional slot play offer varies depending on the type of promotion. New players club member free promotional slot play offers are typically from $10 and $50, while existing players club member free promotional slot play offers are typically limited to an amount commensurate to the average daily theoretical (ADT) value of the targeted player. Casinos do not charge for free promotional slot play, though they do limit the frequency that it may be redeemed. 
         [0003]    Under such a free promotional slot play offer, the casino is liable for 100% of the value of promotional slot play. Thus, any amount of free promotional slot play that is cycled through and cashed out becomes a 100% cost to the casino. 
         [0004]    When using free promotional slot play, players tend to use the maximum coin-in available for the particular slot machine they are using in order to maximize their win if they hit a jackpot. When using their own money, players are much more aware of their gaming budget and bet accordingly. It is well known that jackpots pose the largest liability in that jackpots pay disproportionately higher when the maximum “coin-in” is wagered. Thus, the behavioral modifications driven by free promotional slot play significantly increase the risk of loss to the casino. 
         [0005]    Existing free promotional slot play offers also require the prospective player to: (a) receive the offer, and (b) contemplate the offer, and (c) commit to the offer by traveling to the promoting casino. It is the final step of committing to travel to the casino where many players either do not act, or are distracted to competing casinos. 
         [0006]    Existing free promotional slot play offers are also limited in terms of the frequency and amounts in which they can be offered in order to prevent players from playing only the free promotional slot play, and not using any of their own money. Casinos must either limit the amount of free promotional slot play to a nominal sum to insure that the low level players are not over compensated, or first query their databases to determine the value of each player and then make unique offers accordingly. Such techniques are time consuming and expensive, so casinos tend to limit these offers to their most loyal players or to players within certain proximity to their casino. As such, players who have not recently frequented the promoting casino or players that are outside the determined proximity are often excluded from the list of players offered the free promotional slot play. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A method of distributing discounted slot play credits comprising receiving an offer for discounted slot play credit from a sponsoring casino, displaying the offer for sale to potential purchasers, receiving payment from a purchaser for the discounted slot play credit, and providing a redemption code to the purchaser for use in redeeming the discounted slot play credit. In various exemplary embodiments, the offer for sale to potential purchasers is displayed on a web site and the redemption code is sent to the purchaser by electronic mail, text message, or computer network. In various exemplary embodiments, the redemption code is provided to the sponsoring casino to validate the purchase of the discounted slot play credit and/or purchase details are sent to the sponsoring casino for use in redemption of the discounted slot play credit. In an exemplary embodiment the purchase details include a portion of the redemption code provided to the purchaser. In various exemplary embodiments, the sponsoring casino can validate the purchase of and issue the discounted slot play credits using a telephone system or a computer network such as the internet. In an exemplary embodiment, a central agent is used to provide a secure system for the sponsoring casino to track information relating to discounted slot play credits, including redeemed and outstanding discounted slot play credits. 
         [0008]    In an exemplary embodiment, a redemption code is provided to a purchaser of discounted slot play credit at a sponsoring casino, and information about the purchase of discounted slot play credit is provided to the sponsoring casino for use in redemption of the discounted slot play credit, wherein the sponsoring casino can use the information about the purchase to determine whether or not to allow redemption of the discounted slot play credit. In various exemplary embodiments, the sponsoring casino can approve or decline redemption based on the terms of the purchase, the redemption frequency of the purchaser, the expiration date of the discounted slot play credit, the age of person redeeming the discounted slot play credit, the status of the purchaser&#39;s membership in a player&#39;s club, the purchaser&#39;s guest status at a hotel, or the restricted play status of the person redeeming the discounted slot play credit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a computer system or network in connection with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart showing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and/or use the invention. For purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Descriptions of specific embodiments or applications are provided only as examples. Various modifications to the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
         [0013]    The present invention provides a system and method for the sale and distribution of discounted slot play credits. Discounted slot play credits are credits that can be used for slot play at a specific land-based casino or other gaming establishment (collectively referred to as “casinos”) which are purchased at a price that is less than the value of the actual credits. For example, a consumer that desires to play slot machines at Casino No. 1 might purchase $100 in slot play credits usable at Casino No. 1 for $75. 
         [0014]    Unlike free promotional slot play, customers using discounted slot play credits have an investment in the credits, and thus will behave more consistently with typical gaming norms. Most players will realize that once they have cycled through the percentage of the promotional slot play that they have received as a result of their discounted purchase, the remaining amount is their original investment and will tend to stretch out the remaining promotional credits by lowering their wagers, thus reducing the jackpot liability to the casino. 
         [0015]    Discounted slot play credits can incorporate a wide variety of different offers depending on the promotional goals of the offering casino. For example, Casino No. 1 might offer $100 in slot play credits usable anytime for $75, or $100 in slot play credits usable only during certain specified hours or on certain days of the week for $50. A casino could offer unlimited volumes of discounted slot play credits, or it could limit the amount of discounted slot play credits available to any particular customer or potential customer. Thus, discounted slot play credits provide an extremely flexible tool for promoting casinos that can be tailored to the specific needs of any given casino. 
         [0016]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, discounted slot play credits are offered for sale in advance through an internet web site. The web site may offer advance purchase of discounted slot play credits from a range of different casinos. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, players are provided a central agent to pre-pay for the offer via telephone, internet, or other advanced purchase means, thus immediately committing the player to visit the promoting casino with which they have completed the transaction. 
         [0017]    The central agent in the present invention provides a means to limit the frequency and amounts offered by the promoting casino. Finally, the central agent in the present invention is not limited to the promoting casino&#39;s existing database, thus allowing any person of legal age to take advantage of all discounted slot play credit offers. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention a central agent  102  receives one or more offers for discounted slot play credits from one or more casinos  104 ,  106 , and  108 . The central agent makes those offers available to customers  110 ,  112  through a web site  114  or other medium that can be accessed via a network  116  such as the internet. Customers purchase discounted slot play credits in accordance with the various offers from the casinos from the central agent, and the central agent provides the customers with a redemption code or other means of authentication for their purchase. The customer then presents their redemption code or other authentication at the casino to receive their discounted slot play credits. The central agent may use a payment clearing house  118  to handle some or all elements of the financial transaction. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the functions performed by the central agent may be performed by a casino or other entity directly. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in an exemplary embodiment of the method of the present invention a central agent or other entity receives offers from casinos and creates offer records in a database on a computer server  202 . The records contain the terms of the offer and all relevant details regarding the casino. The central agent or other entity displays the casino offers  204  on a website or other medium, then receives orders and payment from customers  206 . The central agent or other entity then sends a redemption code or other authentication means to the customer  210 , and sends order redemption information and other authentication details to the casino  208 . Upon redemption by the customer of the discounted slot play credits, term and redemption code validity is provided to the casino. If valid  214 , the casino loads the discounted slot play credits to the customer&#39;s player&#39;s club card or otherwise provides the slot play credits  216 . Funds for the transaction are then transferred to the casino  218 . It will be understood that the central agent or other entity may be part of the casino itself. 
         [0020]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, downloadable discounted slot play credits are loaded to the player club member&#39;s card and can then be downloaded to an eligible slot machine for casino play using a pin code. Player&#39;s club membership and player&#39;s club cards are free at all land-based casinos. Downloadable credits are generally non-cashable, though the winnings they produce can be cycled through and cashed out. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , in an exemplary embodiment, discounted slot play credits are checked upon redemption to allow for authentication and tracking of discounted slot play using an internet web site. Upon presentation of discounted slot play credits to the casino  302 , the casino can access a web site and enter some or all of the player&#39;s redemption code, player&#39;s club membership number, or other identifying information  304 . The redemption system will then validate the code and then optionally allow the sponsoring casino to redeem it for the purchased credits  306 . This redemption system allows the casino to track and control coupon redemptions, prevent duplicate redemptions, and give the casino the ability to decline redemption of a coupon  310  facilitating a refund to the purchaser of the coupon. If the casino approves redemption  308 , the casino issues the discount slot play credits to the customer  312 . Such a redemption system also allows the casino to easily track and report a wide range of information relating to discounted slot play credits, including redeemed and outstanding credits, issued payments, redemption rates, etc. 
         [0022]    It will be readily understood by those of skill in the art that the methods disclosed herein can be implemented using commonly available systems to access and exchange information via a network  116  such as the Internet. In an exemplary embodiment, customers access the web site  114  offering discount slot play credits via network  116  using a standard personal computer comprising at least one processor coupled to a bus. Also typically coupled to the bus are a memory, a storage device, a keyboard, a graphics adapter, a pointing device, and a network adapter. A display or other output device will typically be coupled to the graphics adapter. 
         [0023]    In an exemplary computer network used in practicing various exemplary embodiments, one or more computer systems may carry out the methods presented herein as computer code. One or more processors are connected via a bus to various other components of the computer system. It is also contemplated that the bus may connect processor to other components and to other computer systems. Via the bus, the processor can receive computer code. The term “computer code” includes, for example, programs, instructions, signals and/or data. The processor executes computer code and may further send the computer code via the bus. 
         [0024]    The computer system may include one or more memories that function as a computer usable storage medium to store and/or access computer code such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a mass storage device, or any combination thereof. A mass storage device comprises a storage drive and a storage media. It is contemplated the storage media may or may not be removable from the storage drive. Mass storage devices with storage media that are removable, otherwise referred to as removable storage media, allow computer code to be transferred to and/or from the computer system. A mass storage device may include, for example, a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (“CDROM”), ZIP storage device, tape storage device, magnetic storage device, optical storage device, Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (“MEMS”), nanotechnological storage device, floppy storage device, or hard disk device. Mass storage device also includes program cartridges and cartridge interfaces (such as that found in video game devices), removable memory chips (such as an EPROM, or PROM) and associated sockets. 
         [0025]    The computer system may further or alternatively include other means for computer code to be loaded into or removed from the computer system, for example via input/output (“I/O”) interface and/or communications interface. Both the I/O interface and the communications interface allow computer code to be transferred between the computer system and external devices including other computer systems. This transfer may be bi-directional or omni-directional to or from the computer system. The I/O interface may be any connection, wired or wireless, that allows the transfer of computer code. An I/O interface includes, for example, an analog or digital audio connection, digital video interface (“DVI”), video graphics adapter (“VGA”), musical instrument digital interface (“MIDI”), parallel connection, PS/2 connection, serial connection, universal serial bus connection (“USB”), IEEE1394 connection, PCMCIA slot and card. In certain embodiments the I/O interface connects to an I/O unit such as a user interface, monitor, speaker, printer, touch screen display, to name a few. 
         [0026]    The communications interface is also any connection that allows the transfer of computer code. Communication interfaces include, but are not limited to, a modem, network interface (such as an Ethernet card), wired or wireless systems (such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and IR), local area networks, wide area networks, intranets, etc. 
         [0027]    The invention is also directed to computer products, otherwise referred to as computer program products, to provide software that includes computer code to the computer system. A processor executes the computer code in order to implement the methods of the present invention. As an example, the methods according to the present invention may be implemented using software that includes the computer code, wherein the software is loaded into the computer system using a memory such as the mass storage drive, or through an I/O interface, communications interface, or any other interface with the computer system. The computer code in conjunction with the computer system described herein may perform any one of, or any combination of, the steps of any of the methods presented herein. It is also contemplated that the methods according to the present invention may be performed automatically, or may be invoked by some form of manual intervention. 
         [0028]    The computer system or network architecture described herein is provided only for purposes of illustration, such that the present invention is not limited to this specific embodiment. It is appreciated that a person skilled in the relevant art knows how to program and implement the invention using any computer system or network architecture.