Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2002-12-31
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C463S012000, C463S013000, C463S016000, C463S025000, C273S292000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06500066
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method for increasing gambling operation utilization by gamblers, and has application in conventional gambling operations such as casinos, video poker outlets and sports books, horse and dog tracks, and in more recently developed internet-based on-line gambling operations which operate similarly to conventional casinos. The purposes of the invention include increasing the playing time of gamblers, creating incentives to play particular games, and to increasing the utilization of the gambling operation based on given utilization factors. All of these purposes are referred to below generally as increasing the utilization of the gambling operation.
Gambling involves placing a wager, or bet, of a specified amount of money on the outcome of an event, such as the pull of a slot machine handle, the roll of dice, drawing particular cards or combinations of cards, or the outcome of a sporting event. The gambler either wins or loses the wager. If the wager is won, the gambler wins the amount of the wager multiplied by the “odds” on the wager. For example, a wager of $100.00 with odds of three-to-one results in winnings of $300.00. If the wager is lost, the gambler typically loses the full amount of the wager, i.e., the full $100.00.
There are many factors that affect the utilization of gambling operations, including the time of day, day of the week, season of the year, weather, competitive entertainment events or other gambling operations, economic conditions, and holiday periods. It is well known that gambling operation utilization varies based on these utilization factors, among others.
Known casino gambling incentives include free or reduced-price rooms, meals, drinks and entertainment, rebates based upon an initial deposit by the gambler and bet volume. Gambling operations have developed sophisticated formulae for tracking betting volume, level of play and the like. However, none of these systems is known to be tied directly to gambling losses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a method for increasing gambling operation utilization by gamblers.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method of increasing the playing time and thus the number of bets made by gamblers.
It is another object of the invention to create incentives for gamblers to play particular betting games.
It is another object of the invention to create incentives for gamblers to play betting games at particular times of day or on different days of the week.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a method for increasing gambling operation utilization by gamblers. The method includes the steps of determining the effect on the utilization of the gambling operation occurring as a result of variations in percentage of losses or winnings incurred by a gambler who loses or wins a particular wager at the gambling operation, communicating the percentage variation in losses or winnings on the wager to gamblers or potential gamblers, and varying the percentage of losses or winnings incurred by a gambler on the wager by an amount correlated to the effect on the utilization of the gambling operation occurring as a result of the variation in the percentage of losses or winnings by the gambler.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the variation of the percentage of loss always results in losses less than the amount wagered and/or the variation in the percentage of winnings always results in winnings greater than the amount wagered.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the gambling operation is a casino.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the gambling operation is an internet-based on-line gambling operation.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the variation in losses or winnings is based on the effect on the utilization of the gambling operation during different times of day during which the gambling operation operates.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the variation in losses or winnings is based on the effect on the utilization of the gambling operation during different days of the week during which the gambling operation operates.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the variation in losses or winnings is based on the effect on the utilization of different games offered by the gambling operation.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the variation in losses or winnings is based on the effect on the utilization of the gambling operation during different seasons of the year.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the variation in losses or winnings is based on the effect on the utilization of the gambling operation during different weather conditions.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the variation in losses or winnings is based on the effect on the utilization of the gambling operation during different holidays.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the variation in losses or winnings is based on the effect on the utilization of the particular games of chance available for play at the gambling operation.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the variation in losses or winnings is based on the effect on the utilization of the gambling operation in relation to other competitive gambling operations.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the variation in losses or winnings is based on the effect on the utilization of the gambling operation in relation to the type of gambler desired by the gambling operation.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the reduction of loss or increase in winnings is credited to the gambler immediately after the result of the wager is determined.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the credit representing the reduction of loss or increase in winnings is valid for use only at the gambling operation issuing the credit.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE
Gambling businesses are governed by the laws of supply and demand, just as are other types of businesses. It is well known that the “demand” for gambling operations varies by the time of day, the day of the week, the season of the year, weather, holiday periods, competition from other gambling businesses and other forms of entertainment, among others.
The principal “price” entailed in gambling is the bet, or wager, placed by the player. As in any supply and demand equation, there is a particular demand at a particular price. Generally, if price is lowered, demand increases, and if price increases, demand decreases. If a relatively small change in price results in a relatively large change in demand, the demand is “elastic.” If a relatively large change in price results in a relatively small change in demand, the demand is “inelastic.” The elasticity of demand can be determined by use of formulae, or empirically by actually noting the change in demand that results from change in price.
One significant factor in the relationship between price and demand is the extent to which the purchaser—in this case, the gambler—is aware of the real price and the changes in price.
Free or reduced-price rooms, meals, drinks and entertainment, rebates based upon an initial deposit by the gambler and bet volume are all known ways of reducing the price of placing a wager and thereby providing a greater incentive to gamble. However, these incentives are relatively indirect. They do not necessarily induce the gambler to play longer or place larger or more bets. In many cases, these techniques may not even be recognized by the player as having an effect on the price of gambling.
A core incentive to gamble resides in the fact that any single bet, if won, can wipe out numerous losses. Thus, providing an additional betting
Bower Thomas J.
Rothman Wayne R.
Adams, Schwartz & Evans P.A.
Collins Dolores R.
Layno Benjamin H.
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