Wagering games with guaranteed loyalty points
A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a guaranteed loyalty point system. A player is provided a fixed amount of guaranteed loyalty points which are converted to loyalty points as the play plays wagering games such as slot games. When the amount of guaranteed loyalty points is depleted, then the player continues to player the slot game but no further loyalty points are awarded to the player until the player once again possesses some more guaranteed loyalty points. In this way, the amount of loyalty points a player ultimately receives is not dependent on luck. The loyalty points can be redeemed for tangible goods and/or services (e.g., show tickets, meal at a restaurant, etc.).
1. A method to implement a game, the method comprising:
executing instructions which perform the following operations on an electronic processing unit:
providing a player a total amount of guaranteed loyalty points and a total amount of loyalty points;
a) receiving a wager of non-cash value credits from the player to play a slot machine game, wherein the non-cash value credits are purchased by the player with cash, wherein the non-cash value credits are not redeemable for cash;
b) implementing the slot machine game which pays awards in non-cash value credits;
c) when the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points is greater than zero, converting some of the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points to an amount of loyalty points which is added to the total amount of loyalty points, wherein the converting subtracts the some of the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points from the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points, wherein when the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points is not greater than zero then the total amount of loyalty points is not increased and the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points is not increased;
repeating a), b), and c) until the player stops playing; and
enabling the player to redeem the total amount of loyalty points for tangible goods.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the total amount of loyalty points is displayed to the player.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points is not displayed to the player.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising after the player purchases non-cash value credits for cash, increasing the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein an amount of the some of the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points converted is based on an amount of the wager.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising making a predetermined award amount of loyalty points to the player which is added to the total amount of loyalty points, the predetermined award amount of loyalty points being the same for all players.
7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the predetermined award amount of loyalty points is presented to the player in a game form which results in the predetermined award amount of loyalty points being added to the total amount of loyalty points.
8. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising making a random award of loyalty points to the player which is converted from the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points to a corresponding amount of loyalty points which is added to the total amount of loyalty points.
9. An apparatus to implement a game, the apparatus comprising:
an electronic server connecting to the Internet, the electronic server configured to read and execute computer readable instructions which are programmed to cause the server to:
provide a player a total amount of guaranteed loyalty points and a total amount of loyalty points;
a) receive a wager of non-cash value credits from the player to play a slot machine game, wherein the non-cash value credits are purchased by the player with cash, wherein the non-cash value credits are not redeemable for cash;
b) implement the slot machine game which pays awards in non-cash value credits;
c) when the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points is greater than zero, convert some of the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points to an amount of loyalty points which is added to the total amount of loyalty points, wherein the convert operation subtracts the some of the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points from the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points, wherein when the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points is not greater than zero then the total amount of loyalty points is not increased and the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points is not increased;
repeat the a), b) and c) until the player stops playing; and
enable the player to redeem the total amount of loyalty points for tangible goods.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein the server is further programmed such that the total amount of loyalty points is displayed to the player.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein the server is further programmed such that the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points is not displayed to the player.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein the server is further programmed such that after the player purchases non-cash value credits using cash, the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points in increased.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein the server is further programmed such that an amount of the some of the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points converted is based on an amount of the wager.
14. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein the server is further programmed to make a predetermined award amount of loyalty points to the player which is added to the total amount of loyalty points, the predetermined award amount of loyalty points is the same for all players.
15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 , wherein server is further programmed such that the predetermined award amount of loyalty points is presented to the player in a game form which results in the predetermined award amount of loyalty points being added to the total amount of loyalty points.
16. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 , wherein the server is further programmed to make a random award of loyalty points to the player which is converted from the total amount of guaranteed loyalty points to a corresponding amount of loyalty points which is added to the total amount of loyalty points.