Cross-Device Gaming Benefit Redemption System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic game devices lack efficient methods to direct players from one game device to another for redeeming spins or payouts, limiting player engagement and casino flexibility in managing game floor traffic.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determines player eligibility for benefits, such as additional game play, on a second game device, which can be a bonus-round only device or a different type of wagering game, using a central database to store award values and probabilities, and provides offers that require redemption at a specific device, enhancing player experience and casino management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a player wins a benefit on a first game device, then the player receives an award value, but the player must return to the same device to redeem it, limiting player movement and engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal redemption system where benefits won on any game device can be redeemed on any other game device within the casino. The system uses a centralized database to track award values and a portable interface (such as a player card or display ticket) that allows the benefit to be transferred between devices. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling both easy redemption (the player simply needs to go to any device) and device interchangeability (any device can accept and process the redemption request).
2Reliability
If casinos provide benefits redeemable at the same device, then player loyalty to that device increases, but player distribution across the game floor becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the redemption function from the winning function by allowing benefits to be won on one device and redeemed on another. This segmentation enables casinos to maintain player retention (players receive their benefits reliably) while improving traffic distribution (players move between different devices and areas of the casino floor). The centralized tracking system ensures that the benefit value is preserved during the transfer, maintaining reliability while enabling geographic redistribution of player activity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a system tracks player benefits across multiple devices, then player engagement increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized database as an intermediary that mediates between multiple game devices and the player's benefit information. Instead of requiring complex peer-to-peer communication between devices, the centralized database stores award values and processes redemption requests. This intermediary simplifies the system architecture by providing a single point of truth for benefit tracking, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from direct device-to-device interactions while still enabling cross-device benefit redemption.
4Ease of operation
If benefits are immediately redeemable, then player satisfaction increases, but casino control over player movement decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by immediately crediting the benefit to the player's account or portable interface when the player wins, even though the actual redemption may occur later at a different device. This preliminary crediting maintains player satisfaction (the benefit is instantly awarded and visible) while preserving redemption location flexibility (the player can choose when and where to redeem, and the system will process it at any authorized device). The benefit exists in a portable, transferable state that enables both immediate recognition and deferred redemption.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are described for offering a benefit to a player of a first electronic game device. In an embodiment, the method includes determining if a player of a first electronic game device qualifies to receive at least one benefit associated with an award value, and then outputting an offer to provide the at least one benefit. In some embodiments, the offer requires use of a second electronic game device. The method may also include receiving a request for the benefit at the second electronic game device, and then providing at least one benefit to the player. In some embodiments, the offer includes such benefits as additional game play, one or more bonus-round game outcomes, a monetary payout, a game play modification, additional comp points, loss insurance, a multimedia option, and acquisition of at least one unit of media content.