Patent ID: 8016668

Claim:
A method for conducting an incentive program associated with a land-based gaming establishment, the method comprising acts of: providing for at least one frequent player program member of the incentive program associated with the land-based gaming establishment to submit identification information associated with the at least one frequent player program member to the gaming establishment utilizing a device located outside the gaming establishment, the device being remotely coupled to the gaming establishment via a communications network; providing an indication of at least one special incentive to the at least one frequent player program member on an interface of the device while outside the gaming establishment in response to the remote submission of the identification information associated with the at least one frequent player program member; awarding the at least one frequent player program member at least one special incentive responsive to the remote submission, wherein the at least one special incentive is provided as a result of the remote submission and independent of game play; and informing the at least one frequent player program member of an award of the at least one special incentive awarded responsive to the remote submission, and not informing the at least one frequent player program member of a value of the at least one special incentive at the time of the remote submission, wherein the at least one frequent player program member is required to be physically present within the gambling establishment to be informed of and to redeem the value of the at least one special incentive.