Multi-property player tracking system

A player tracking system and method are set forth for tracking the play of a customer playing wagering games at any one of a plurality of gaming venues. The system and method includes a local data base for each venue and a central data base. In response to reading a player tracking card the player's file at the local data base is placed into an open condition to receive updated gaming information. When the player terminates their gaming session, gaming activity data is sent to the player's file at the local data base and as network data to the central data base as well as other venue local data bases to maintain a current record of gaming information throughout the system for the purposes of tracking wagering activity and providing promotions to player based, at least in part, on that wagering activity.

DESCRIPTION Turning to FIG. 1, a system 10 according to the present invention for tracking the wagering activity of players at any one of several locations, shown as locations 12 a - d , is provided. Location 12 d is indicated as a future location to demonstrate that the system 10 can be expanded to include new locations. While only four locations are shown in FIG. 1 , it is to be understood that the system 10 and method of the present invention are applicable to more locations. These locations may be adjacent, across town, in different cities, states or even in different countries. Accordingly, while the description set forth below is confined to a situation having only four locations at which players can engage in wagering activity, that the system 10 is applicable for tracking the wagering activity of players at many locations. Each of the locations, 12 a - d provides numerous games by which players, in a known fashion, can make wagers, play a game to produce an outcome and, based upon that outcome either win or lose their wager. These games may be table games such as Blackjack or Craps or sports wagering at which the casino may wish to track the play of players or may be, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , slot machines 16 of a known design. As used herein, slot machines 16 include video poker machines, video Keno machines, video Blackjack machines, the well known reel-type slot machines or any other electronic or electromechanical wagering devices. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the use of the term slot machines generically refers to electronic and electromechanical gaming devices. Further it is to be understood that while the description hereinafter set forth is directed to slot machines that it can be used to track play at table games and for sports wagering as well thereby tracking play regardless of the nature of the wagering activity engaged by the player. As is well known, modern slot machines 16 are under control of a internal processor (not shown) which not only controls the play of the game but also makes random selections of indicia such as cards, numbers or symbols to produce an outcome. Based upon the outcome obtained, the processor controls whether or not the player loses their wager, whether they win their wager and the amount of the pay off to the player. Also in a known fashion, the slot machines 16 include means to receive a wager as by a player inputting a token or coin or by wagering accumulated credits at the machine. The internal processor of the slot machine senses the input of a wager and the amount thereof for the play of the game. The data signals generated by the internal processor of the slot machine 16 of pay outs to players and wagers made as well as other events such as when the machine is opened for servicing, malfunctions and the like are issued by the machine's processor for purposes of which will hereinafter become evident. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , each of the slot machines 16 has associated therewith means for reading a machine readable element 18 of a player tracking card 20 issued to the player in a manner described below. Preferably, the machine readable element 18 is a magnetic strip on the player tracking card 20 which is encoded with data unique to the player for identifying the player to the system 10 in the manner described below. The card reading means are shown in FIG. 2 as card readers 22 disposed at each of the slot machines 16 . The card readers 22 are adapted to, in response to insertion of the player tracking card 20 therein, issue data signals corresponding to the presence of the card 20 and the data encoded on the machine readable element 18 . This data from the card readers 22 is used by the system 10 in a manner described below. Each of the locations 12 a - d includes a local data structure, shown in FIG. 1 as a home data structure 24 a and local data structures 24 b - d . The home data structure 24 a is designated for the location at which the player enlists to be tracked by the system 10 and at which he/she is issued their player tracking card 20 . The home data structure 24 a contains home location file data for each player who enlisted at that location. The home data structure 24 a would therefore contain home player account file data for all players who enlisted to be tracked at the first location 12 a . Likewise at the other locations 12 b - d , the local data structures 24 b - d would contain, for players who enlisted to be tracked at those locations 12 b - d , home location player account file data for the those players. Thus, it is to be understood that if the home location 12 a is “ABC Casino,” players who enlist to be tracked at the ABC Casino would have stored in the home data structure 24 a for that casino, the player home location account file data. Players who enlist to be tracked at a second location 12 b called, for example, the “XYZ Casino,” would have stored in that local data structure home location player account file data as hereinafter described. The system 10 also includes a central data base 28 communicating with each of the home and local structures 24 a - d through a suitable network, telecommunications link 30 . The central data base 28 includes for each player network account file data as hereinafter described. The network file data for each player stored in the central data base 28 is an abbreviated amount of data in comparison to the data stored for players at their home location, shown in FIG. 1 as the home location data base 24 a. Turning to FIG. 1 , the enlistment of a player to be tracked by the system 10 is illustrated. To enlist to be tracked, the player enters one of the locations embraced by the system 10 , defining the home location and shown in FIG. 1 as the home location 12 a . There the player presents himself/herself at an enlistment station 34 which includes a monitor 36 , enlistment processor 38 and data entry means which may include a keyboard 40 and/or a mouse. The enlistment station 34 also includes a card magnetic strip data encoder (not shown) of known construction. At the enlistment station 34 , the player provides information to the casino staff to input into the system 10 . The data 47 input at the home location for each player is as shown in Table 1 below. This data is sent to one of a plurality of servers 46 for the local system which opens a player file at the local data base 24 a for the player enlisting and stores the player's information in that file. The server 46 also assembles from the input of the home location data what will hereinafter be referred to as network data 50 . When data entry is complete and a player tracking card 20 is encoded and issued to the player, the home location data is sent to the server 46 which, by an interface 51 through the link 30 where it is stored at the home location data base 24 a at a newly created home location player file. The network data which is sent through the interface 51 and link 30 to open a new player, central data base 28 , player file and stores therein the network data for that player. Thus, upon enlistment, the home data base 24 includes home location data whereas the central data base 28 includes network data 50 , each identified by an account number for the player. At the enlistment station 34 , a player's account number is assigned to the player. Data identifying the home location and player account number is encoded by the card encoder onto the machine readable element 18 . The card is then given to the player. Table 1 below shows the nature of the home location data and network data stored, respectively, at the player's home location data base and at the central and other location data bases. 1 TABLE 1 Home Location Data Network Data 1. Player Account Number Yes and Home Location Data a. identifies player account number to system b. identifies home location to the system 2. Player Identification Data Yes a. name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number 3. Player Account Information Yes a. Comp points balance b. Player rating (level of promotions available to the player) c. Player bonus points balance 4. Customer Activity Information Yes a. hotel revenue from player b. food and beverage purchases c. retail purchases 5.Player personal and credit No data a. Credit worthiness data 1. Bank information 2. Employer data 3. Credit limit available to player 4. Credit transaction history with casino 5. Casino contact for approving credit 6. Credit collection history 7. Credit write-offs b. Cash transaction history c. Personal data 1. Identification card Information, e.g. driver's license number 2. Gaming data a. gaming preferences e.g. slot or table games 3. Personal information a. phone number, alternate and prior addresses 4. Trip information a. prior visits to casino b. length of stays c. accommodation preferences Table 1 shows generally the categories of data which may be stored as home and network data. Preferably, the network data is less extensive than the home data so as to save network, and, as described below, local data base data storage and to reduce the amount of data which must be transmitted over the link 30 . The home location data includes player account and identification number data as well as the comp point data which represents the information being tracked for purposes of rating the player. The home location data base 24 a also includes the player personal and credit data used by the home location to supplement the other data, to describe the creditworthiness of the player, e.g. whether and how much credit should be extended to the player, historical, personal data as well as historical trip information concerning this player. It is to be understood that other home location data could be included such as family data, player comp preferences and the like thought useful in servicing the customer. Thus at the home location, the home location data base 24 a can be accessed to review and change the home location data. The home location data which is not also network data is not accessible to the non-home locations 12 b - d. The network data sent and stored at the central data base 28 does not include the player personal or credit information. Hence the network data sent to the central data base 28 is somewhat an abbreviated amount of data in comparison to the home location data. It is to be understood that the nature and quantity of the home and network data can be altered as by adding more data which the casino believes would be useful. If the player wishes to have credit extended at another location, that location would establish another home location data file for the player to include creditworthiness and personal data. Thus the player may have more than one home location but would have only one card issued. In addition to the comprehensive data contained for each player as network data, the data bases 24 a - d also include in the player's file “comp points balance” data which reflects the accumulated value of points for the player for the basis of awarding promotions referred to in the industry as comps and “bonus points balance” data which reflects the accumulated total of bonus points in the player's file to be awarded should the player obtain a designated jackpot, e.g. a royal flush on a video poker machine. This comp and bonus data, as shown in Table 1, is included as network data at the central data base 28 . Returning to FIG. 1 , the slot machines 16 are linked by a local area network to one of a plurality of slot servers 46 , each which may receive data from a plurality, for example thirty, slot machines 16 . Each of the slot servers 46 at a location 12 a - d , and there may be a plurality of servers 46 at any location since a casino may have over two thousand slot machines 16 , is linked by an interface 51 through the link 30 to the local data base 24 a - d and the central data base 28 . Wagering data and data from the card readers 22 is sent at 58 from each of the slot machines 16 to their designated slot server 46 to locate the player's file, place it in an open condition and allocate comp and bonus points to the file as hereinafter described. While the system 10 is described with reference to slot machines 16 it is to be understood that the system 10 also accommodates table play such as play by players at Blackjack tables or crap tables or in sports wagering facilities to track the activity of the player playing these games. In those instances, the player would present their player tracking card 20 to the dealer or other casino staff who would present their card to a local card reader and, in a known fashion, input average wager and time of play data and the like for purposes of tracking the player's play. This data is sent to a local server to be allocated to the player's account. Turning to FIG. 2 , the operation of the system 10 and of the method according to the present invention will now be described with a player who has enlisted to have their play tracked while playing a slot machine 16 . The player presents their tracking card 20 to a card reader 22 at the gaming machine 16 . Where the tracking card 20 is of the type including the magnetic strip, the player inserts their tracking card 20 into the card reader 22 . The card reader 22 reads the card at 60 . In the event that the card 20 is unable to be read or in the event that the card does not include certain prefix data to identify and negotiate with the system 10 , the system 10 at 62 issues an error signal which may be displayed at the card reader 22 for the player to be informed that there is a problem concerning their tracking card 20 . If the card has sufficient prefix data to negotiate with the system 10 , the card reader data is sent to the local slot server 46 and the server 46 at 64 searches the local data base, shown as home location data base 24 a , to locate the player's account file therein and place it at 69 into an open condition. As shown at 66 , if the player's account is not found, the server 46 through the interface 51 and link 30 establishes communication with the central data base 28 and searches at 68 the central data base 28 network data for the player's account. If the player's account is located at 67 the central data base 28 , the network data including the player's network maintained comp point data is, at 69 , retrieved, a file is opened at the local data base 24 a for the player, the network data is copied to the local data base 24 a and that file at 70 is placed in an open condition. If a file for the player cannot be located at the central data base 28 , an error signal at 62 is issued to the player. As can be appreciated, in locations 12 a - d where the player has gamed and used their tracking card 20 , the local data bases 24 a - d will have an account file for the player. In those locations where the player has not played, the local data base(s) 24 a - d will not have a player account file. Thus storage space at the data bases is minimized in that account files for players who have enlisted to be tracked by the system 10 but who do not frequent one or more particular locations are not maintained at those locations. For example, the player may have an account file at only the home location and central data bases 24 a , 28 , this player not having gamed at any other location. When the player's account file has been located that file at 70 is placed into an open condition. The player thereafter inputs their wager by inserting tokens or wagering credits at the slot machine 16 . The slot machine 16 internal processor sends data 58 concerning the amount wagered to the slot server 46 which accumulates the wagering data while also noting the machine identification number which in turn co-relates to a denomination, i.e. dollar, 25 cent or $5 dollar gaming machine. The player's location file cached at the server 46 remains in the open condition during the time at which the player's tracking card 20 continues to be read by the card reader 22 . When the player removes their card, a signal is sent by the card reader 22 indicating that the tracking card 20 is no longer being read signifying that the player is leaving the slot machine 16 . When the card is no longer read, the system 10 at 76 closes the player file and sends at 78 the accumulated wagering data cached at the server 46 to the home data base 24 a (or the local data base 24 b - d where the player is playing) updating the data at the location data base 24 a - d with the player's bonus point and comp point data to reflect the wagering activity during the gaming session. For table games and sports wagering, the player's card is read at a local reader to locate and open the player's account. Casino staff thereafter inputs wagers or average wagers during the gaming session. When the player leaves, the card is again read and the casino employee enters a signal to close the player's account. Further, and in response to closure of the player's cached account file at the server 46 , and through the interface 51 and over the network link 30 , this data is also sent to the central data base 28 where the player's network file is located and updated to reflect the new wagering activity, i.e. the comp point and bonus data is updated. Further the servers 46 , interfaces 51 and link 30 provide for likewise updating the player's account files which exist at any of the other location local data bases 24 a - d . As described above, for those locations where the player has not gamed, no player account files are established at the local data base level. Hence there is no updating activity at these location local data bases 24 a - d . However for those locations where the player has gamed and the network data has been copied to the local data base 24 a - d , any established player account files are likewise updated to reflect the new gaming activity in response to closure of the player file at his/her gaming location, in this example home location 12 a . After the player's existing local and central data bases 24 a - d, 28 have been updated and revised, they are placed into a closed condition. Thus, the wagering activity of the player at the slot machine 16 is tabulated and the player's home location data at the home location data base 24 a as well as the network data existing at the central data base 28 and any other location data base 24 b - d is updated in response to removal of the players tracking card 20 from the card reader 22 . This updating occurs, subject to the time necessary for data transmission of data though the link 30 and data processing, substantially instantaneously. A player can game at one location withing the system 10 and then go next door to another location to game with their account files updated almost instantly to reflect their gaming activity. Comp points and bonus point data is not lost or temporarily stored as the player goes from one location to the next due to delays in transmission of the data which would occur if the data was stored for transmission at a later time. Further, by only updating the player files at locations where the player has gamed saves storage space at local data bases 25 a - d where the player does not game and data transmission is minimized. The operation of the system 10 and method of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 2 operates whether the player is gaming at the home location 12 a or any other location 12 b - d in the system 10 . Should the player obtain a bonus outcome such as by obtaining a royal flush at the slot machine 16 , they would be awarded their then current bonus points in addition to the jackpot award for obtaining the royal flush outcome. During play at any location 12 a - d within the system 10 , the bonus point data is updated and current in that there is no lag time between the accumulation of those points during gaming and the assignment of those points to the player's account files. Should the player wish to obtain a promotion or a comp such a free meal or show, a location 12 a - d within the system 10 can access their local data base 26 (or if necessary the central data base 28 ) to obtain the current level of the player's comp points in their account file and based thereon provide the player with the desired promotion. Furthermore, each location 12 a - d within the system 10 has sufficient data for marketing to all network players. Thus, even non-home location casinos have a data base to send out mailings, offer tournaments and the like. As a further feature of the system and method according to the present invention, the network data 50 may also include a player ranking based upon the amount of their comp points. For example, there could be established certain classes of rankings such as silver, gold and platinum to distinguish between three levels of comp points. Players below a first threshold would be assigned to the silver classification, players between the first and a second threshold assigned a gold classification and those above a second threshold assigned a platinum classification. These classifications can be used for marketing purposes to determine which players should receive mailings, personal contact, offers of promotions and the like. Thus, casino staff can simply refer to the classification to determine what level of comps are available to the player. Periodically, the central data base server 32 would update the network data 50 to reclassify players based upon wagering activity occurring during the preceding period of time. For example, the central data base server 32 may reclassify players monthly based upon the preceding month's wagering activity of the player. While we have shown and described certain embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that it is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.