Universal comp bank and regional servers for use in multi-property casino enterprise

1. A computer-implemented method for allocating awarded comp points to a casino patron of a casino enterprise having a plurality of affiliated casino properties communicatively coupled via a communications network, each comp point having a dollar value, the method implemented by a computer system coupled to the communications network, the method comprising:

storing a first bank account of comp points in a database, the balance of the first bank account being visible to the patron, accessible by the patron, and directly redeemable by the patron, the comp points in the first bank account being redeemable on a multi-property basis;

storing a second bank account of comp points in the database, the balance of the second bank account being invisible to the patron, capable of becoming negative, redeemable on a discretionary basis only by authorized casino employees, and redeemable only on an individual property basis;

receiving, via the communications network of the affiliated properties, gaming activity of the patron from one or more gaming machines at any affiliated property of the casino enterprise; and

awarding the patron comp points for the received gaming activity, wherein awarding comprises:

apportioning the awarded comp points into a first portion and a second portion according to a ratio;

updating the balance of the patron's first bank account in the database using the first portion; and

updating the balance of the patron's second bank account in the database using the second portion.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising awarding the patron comp points for selected non-gaming activity at any affiliated property of the casino enterprise, the awarding comprising placing the entire awarded comp points in the first bank account.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein comp points awarded for non-gaming activity are restricted to preferred patrons.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the comp points awarded for at least some gaming activity are awarded based on theoretical win for the gaming activity.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the comp points awarded for at least some gaming activity are awarded based on a percentage of the total dollars spent on the gaming activity.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a redemption request from an authorized casino employee to redeem comp points from the patron's second bank account, the redemption request specifying an amount of comp points greater than the balance of the patron's second bank account; and

withdrawing the amount from the patron's second bank account causing the patron's second bank account to become negative.

7. A computer program product for allocating awarded comp points to a casino patron of a casino enterprise having a plurality of affiliated casino properties communicatively coupled via a communications network, each comp point having a dollar value, the computer program product usable by a computer system coupled to the communications network, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer program code comprising instructions for:

storing a first bank account of comp points in a database, the balance of the first bank account being visible to the patron, accessible by the patron, and directly redeemable by the patron, the comp points in the first bank account being redeemable on a multi-property basis;

storing a second bank account of comp points in the database, the balance of the second bank account being invisible to the patron, capable of becoming negative, redeemable on a discretionary basis only by authorized casino employees, and redeemable only on an individual property basis;

receiving, via the communications network of the affiliated properties, gaming activity of the patron from one or more gaming machines at any affiliated property of the casino enterprise; and

awarding the patron comp points for the received gaming activity, wherein awarding comprises:

apportioning the awarded comp points into a first portion and a second portion according to a ratio;

updating the balance of the patron's first bank account in the database using the first portion; and

updating the balance of the patron's second bank account in the database using the second portion.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , further comprising instructions for awarding the patron comp points for selected non-gaming activity at any affiliated property of the casino enterprise, the awarding comprising placing the entire awarded comp points in the first bank account.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein comp points awarded for non-gaming activity are restricted to preferred patrons.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the comp points awarded for at least some gaming activity are awarded based on theoretical win for the gaming activity.

11. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the comp points awarded for at least some gaming activity are awarded based on a percentage of the total dollars spent on the gaming activity.

12. The computer program product of claim 7 , further comprising instructions for:

receiving a redemption request from an authorized casino employee to redeem comp points from the patron's second bank account, the redemption request specifying an amount of comp points greater than the balance of the patron's second bank account; and

withdrawing the amount from the patron's second bank account causing the patron's second bank account to become negative.