Bonus game points in a gaming environment
View Patent ↗A system and method for using bonus points, where bonus points may be accumulated by a player in a casino setting to invoke a bonus play or bonus game ordinarily reachable only through a random event. Bonus points are usable in combination with tiered bonus levels, allowing the issuance of points or credits that a player may accumulate until they have enough to trade-in for a bonus round, event, or game at the chosen level.
1. A gaming machine-enabled method of using gaming machines having bonus games, comprising:
providing one or more bonus servers that are connected to a physical game network;
providing a plurality of gaming machines that are connected to the one or more bonus servers via the physical game network;
using the one or more servers, designating two or more groups of gaming machines from the plurality of gaming machines;
on a gaming machine, issuing one or more bonus points, using a processor, as a result of play of a non-bonus game within a first group of gaming machines;
wherein the one or more bonus points are redeemable for play of a bonus game on a gaming machine within the first group of gaming machines and invalid for redemption for play of a bonus game on a gaming machine within a second group of gaming machines, wherein the bonus game within the first group of gaming machines is initiatable in a first mode and a second mode, the first mode including an occurrence of an event during play of the non-bonus game and the second mode including a redemption of the one or more bonus points; and
upon redemption of one or more bonus points, initiating play of the bonus game, using the processor, on a gaming machine.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more bonus points further comprise age data associated with the one or more bonus points, wherein the one or more bonus points expires according to a predetermined algorithm.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bonus games within each group of gaming machines have an essentially equivalent cost to the casino.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gaming machines are grouped according to similarity of play.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gaming machines are grouped according to location.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein play of the bonus game for which the one or more bonus points is redeemable may also be initiated as a direct result of a paytable entry of the non-bonus game of the first group of gaming machines, such direct initiation less likely to occur than the issuance of each of the one or more bonus points.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second mode is initiated by a player separate from initiation of the non-bonus game.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first mode is initiated separate from initiation of the non-bonus game.
9. A gaming machine-enabled method of using gaming machines having bonus games, comprising:
providing one or more bonus servers that are connected to a physical game network;
providing a plurality of gaming machines that are connected to the one or more bonus servers via the physical game network;
on a gaming machine, issuing one or more bonus points, using a processor, as a result of play of a non-bonus game within a first group from two or more groups of gaming machines;
wherein the one or more bonus points are redeemable for play of a bonus game on a gaming machine within the first group of gaming machines and invalid for redemption for play of a bonus game on a gaming machine within a second group of gaming machines, wherein the bonus game within the first group of gaming machines is initiatable in a first mode and a second mode, the first mode including an occurrence of an event during play of the non-bonus game and the second mode including a redemption of the one or more bonus points; and
upon redemption of one or more bonus points, initiating play of the bonus game, using the processor, on a gaming machine.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more bonus points further comprise age data associated with the one or more bonus points, wherein the one or more bonus points expires according to a predetermined algorithm.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bonus games within each group of gaming machines have an essentially equivalent cost to the casino.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the gaming machines are grouped according to similarity of play.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the gaming machines are grouped according to location.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein play of the bonus game for which the one or more bonus points is redeemable may also be initiated as a direct result of a paytable entry of the non-bonus game of the first group of gaming machines, such direct initiation less likely to occur than the issuance of each of the one or more bonus points.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second mode is initiated by a player separate from initiation of the non-bonus game.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first mode is initiated separate from initiation of the non-bonus game.