Method for awarding prizes

Abstract

Methods and systems for awarding and dispensing prizes are disclosed. In one embodiment a gaming system involving a gaming device in communication with a cashless device dispenser and a remote network, such as a computer system, is provided to the player. In another embodiment, a method for awarding and dispensing prizes includes presenting a game to the player using a gaming apparatus located at a gaming location, where the player is allowed to place a wager and a game outcome is determined. If a prize qualifying result occurs, the prize is awarded to the player and the player is allowed to obtain the prize at a location different from the gaming location. Alternatively, the player may be allowed to choose a prize at a time different from the time or date of the prize qualifying result.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60 / 496,603, filed on Aug. 19, 2003; the latter is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to methods and systems for awarding prizes and for prize recipients to redeem their prizes. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Methods of Awarding Prizes [0006] Gaming devices, such as slot machines, video poker machines, and the like, typically allow a player to place a wager and play a game and to produce a game outcome. The game outcome is typically a winning or losing outcome. Prizes may be awarded for winning outcomes. Typically the prizes are in the form of currency that is dispensed directly from the gaming device. For example, if a player plays a quarter slot machine, a winning game outcome that results in a five-dollar prize would typical...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025] The various embodiments of the present invention may, but do not necessarily, achieve one or more of the following advantages:

[0030] allow players greater choice regarding the prize they receive;

Problems solved by technology

Other prizes are not currency based and therefore are typically unsuitable for dispensing from the gaming device.

While the winning of such prizes can easily be conveyed by such machines, the prizes themselves cannot generally be dispensed by the gaming machine.

Current award systems are limited in both the types of prizes a player can be awarded and the way in which the prizes are awarded.

Although Luciano et al purport to provide an apparatus that allows a player to choose among a plurality of available prizes, the number of and types of prizes from which the player may choose are still quite limited.

Another drawback with current systems is that they award the player the prize immediately.

This restriction is unsatisfactory for both players and for gaming proprietors.

Players are unsatisfied because they are forced to carry around large quantities of heavy coins.

Furthermore, players are unable to interchangeably use coins in machines designed for wagers of different denominations.

This inconvenience detracts from the player's gaming experience.

The restriction to coins is also unsatisfactory to gaming proprietors.

Apart from providing their patrons with a sub-optimal experience, the use of coins creates added expense and inconvenience for gaming proprietors.

Gaming proprietors are also forced to deal with the logistics of maintaining sufficient amounts of various coins, including an increased security risk to gaming employees and patrons from maintaining large amounts of currency on the gaming premises.

Coins also create increased maintenance costs and machine down-time.

Coins also cause wear and tear on the internal components of the gaming machines, resulting in malfunctions and broken machines.

Coins generate metallic dust that can cause the machines to break and malfunction.

Coins often become jammed in the coin transport mechanisms, requiring maintenance.

However, other problems were not solved by paper currency acceptors.

Once a player stops playing the game and “cashes-out” his or her winnings, the player is not able to use the coins in machines designed for different denominations of coins or tokens.

Paper currency acceptors also have not solved the problems of filling and removing currency from the machines and maintenance resulting from wear and tear on the machines caused by the coin handling functions.

In fact, the paper currency acceptor and transport mechanisms have additional issues requiring maintenance and service.

Similarly, if a patron reported a cashless device as lost or stolen, the gaming proprietor may cancel the missing cashless device and issue the patron a new device.

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