Loyalty Token Reallocation in Gaming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gaming systems require players to visit physical locations to redeem game outcomes or use prepaid accounts with unactivated awards and non-expiring game outcomes, leading to inefficiencies in award redemption and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system that awards tokens with an activation date and expiration date, allowing players to redeem them within a specified timeframe, and reallocates expired token values to other players, enabling dynamic award management and resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If players are awarded tokens with unknown values and expiration dates, then player engagement and urgency to redeem awards are improved, but system complexity increases due to tracking activation dates, expiration dates, and redemption status
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-sets activation dates and expiration dates when tokens are awarded, creating a structured time-based framework that automatically manages award validity periods. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time tracking while ensuring timely redemption.
Solution Approach 2:
The token management system automatically handles redemption status determination by comparing current date against pre-set activation and expiration dates. The system self-manages the complexity of tracking without requiring manual intervention or complex user-side processing.
2Loss of energy
If tokens are reallocated to other players when expired, then resource utilization is optimized, but player trust may be affected due to unexpected value changes
Solution Approach 1:
Expired token values that would otherwise be wasted are converted into beneficial reallocations for other players. The system transforms the harmful effect of unclaimed awards into a positive outcome by redistributing values to active players, optimizing resource utilization while maintaining system fairness.
3Productivity
If players must visit physical locations to redeem awards, then casino foot traffic is increased, but convenience and ease of operation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables tokens to serve multiple functions: they can be redeemed at various locations including physical casinos and potentially digital platforms. The universal redemption capability allows players to choose the most convenient location while maintaining high redemption rates through flexible access options.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine coupled to at least one server via a network includes a display device configured to display a game to a player playing on the gaming machine, and a controller coupled to the display device. The controller detects an award trigger during play of the game, and awards a token upon detection of the award trigger, wherein the token includes an activation date, an expiration date, and a value that is unknown to the player at the time of being awarded. In response to a redemption request by the player, the controller determines a redemption status of the token and, based on the redemption status, awards the token value to the player or notifies the player that the token is expired.