IP Library Granted Patent US 8,088,001
Granted Patent B2
US 8,088,001 · App. 12/193,533 · Granted Jan 3, 2012

Casino gaming exchange market

Assignee: IGT
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,088,001
App. No.
12/193,533
Granted
Jan 3, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a cashless gaming environment, a gaming patron has accounts and may accumulate winnings as well as different types of awards. Methods for efficiently exchanging the awards are disclosed. A secondary market is established for trading different goods and services. Liquidity of credits and awards is established.

Claims (18)

1. A method comprising:

awarding a plurality of players in a casino gaming environment at least one award of each type from a group of awards comprising the following types: an amount of comp; and a non-comp award comprising at least one of extra game play credit and a tangible object; wherein, the casino gaming environment comprises a plurality of gaming machines or terminals and at least one remote host;

receiving, at the remote host, a plurality of indications for exchange, each said indication being entered by a respective player via at least one gaming machine or terminal, and transmitted from the at least one gaming machine or terminal to the remote host; wherein

at least one of the plurality of indications is an indication from at least one of the plurality of players that the player desires to exchange an amount of comp for a different type of award;

at least one of the plurality of indications is an indication from at least one of the plurality of players that the player desires to exchange an amount of extra game play credit for a different type of award;

at least one of the plurality of indications is an indication from at least one of the plurality of players that the player desires to exchange an awarded tangible object for a different type of award;

maintaining, at the remote host, a database of the indications for exchanges, the remote host:

referencing the database and determining an aggregate supply of comp;

referencing the database and determining an aggregate demand for comp;

referencing the database and determining an aggregate demand for the non-comp award;

referencing the database and determining an aggregate supply of the non-comp award;

pairing at least a first player desiring to exchange a first non-comp award for comp with at least a second player desiring to exchange comp for the first non-comp award;

determining a transaction value of the comp based on a first comparison of the aggregate demand for comp with the aggregate supply of comp;

determining a transaction value of the non-comp award based on a second comparison of an aggregate demand for the first non-comp award with an aggregate supply of the non-comp award; and

transmitting, to at least one of the first player and the second player, a suggested transaction amount, wherein the suggested transaction amount comprises at least one of the transaction value of the comp and the transaction value of the non-comp award.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the suggested transaction amount comprises an amount between the transaction value of the comp and the transaction value of the other award.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the transaction value of the comp comprises applying a ratio of the demand to supply to the amount of the comp.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the transaction value of the non-comp award comprises applying a ratio of the demand to supply to the amount of the non-comp award.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS FROM 9295 PROROTYPE DRIVE, RENO, NEVADA 89521 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 021404 FRAME 0374. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE TO 9295 PROTOTYPE DRIVE, RENO, NEVADA 89521. Recorded Feb 20, 2009
From: PREISACH, MICHAEL
To: IGT
Reel/Frame 022289/0961 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2008
From: PREISACH, MICHAEL
To: IGT
Reel/Frame 021404/0374 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100041470A1 · Feb 18, 2010