Specialized advertising displays for gaming machines and systems

Abstract

An electronic game including at least one display exhibiting a plurality of windows or segments each displaying a different subject matter is disclosed. The different subject matter in each of the plurality of windows preferably includes a real time promotional points total, an awards display, a sponsor advertising material display, an Internet display and an electronic game. The electronic game, which may include a wagering game, may be played by tendering money or tendering promotional points instead of money. Promotional points may be awarded instead of a portion of a money award, or supplemental to it. Promotional points may be accumulated by players through both gaming and non-gaming activities, including activities not involving a commercial transaction. An electronic gaining apparatus is described which also serves as an Internet portal.

1 . A gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a payout based on the result of the game, comprising: 
 an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein;    a central processing unit in communication with at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components, said central processing unit being adapted to execute or control one or more aspects of said wager based game and also being adapted to facilitate the communication and display of advertising; and    a first display device in communication with said central processing unit and adapted to present simultaneously thereupon one or more components of said wager based game as well as one or more advertising components directed to a player of said wager based game.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a communication link from said first display device to a distinct advertising source, said distinct advertising source being separate from said central processing unit.    
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a second display device in communication with said central processing unit and adapted to present simultaneously thereupon one or more components of said wager based game as well as one or more advertising components directed to a player of said wager based game, said second display device being separate from said first display device.    
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said one or more advertising components comprises sponsor based advertising.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming machine is adapted to award player tracking points to a player that is subjected to said advertising.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming machine is adapted to permit a player to control one or more parameters with respect to the display of said advertising.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming machine is adapted to present said one or more advertising components at said first display device on a constant basis regardless of the display of said one or more game play components.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a player tracking device in communication with said central processing unit and adapted to accept player identifying indicia, wherein said one or more advertising components comprise player targeted advertising in response to the identification of said player and player specific information contained in a player tracking profile for said player.    
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 8 , wherein said player specific information comprises player tracking points redemption patters, player lifestyle patterns, or both.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more advertising components comprises an entire television style commercial.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more advertising components comprises banner type advertisement.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said first display device comprises a plurality of separate windows, and wherein said one or more components of said wager based game are presented in a first window while said one or more advertising components are presented in a second separate window on said first display device.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 12 , wherein said second window comprises an Internet connection including advertising content.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 13 , wherein said Internet window is provided as a reward based upon the play or performance of said player.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 12 , wherein said first window displays game play content from said central processing unit while said second window displays advertising content from an advertising source separate from said central processing unit.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 12 , wherein said first and second windows are arranged such that distinct inter-window borders are eliminated, whereby said player is thereby induced to scan both the game play and advertising components of said first display in their entirety.  
   
   
       17 . A method of advertising on a wager based gaming machine, the method comprising: 
 providing a gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a payout based on the result of the game, said gaming machine including    an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein,    a central processing unit in communication with at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components, said central processing unit being adapted to execute or control one or more aspects of said wager based game and also being adapted to facilitate the communication and display of advertising, and    a display device in communication with said central processing unit and adapted to present simultaneously thereupon one or more components of said wager based game as well as one or more advertising components directed to a player of said wager based game;    displaying said one or more components of said wager based game on said display device; and    displaying said one or more advertising components on said display device simultaneously with said step of displaying one or more wager based game components.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said one or more wager based game components are displayed on a first window of said display device while said one or more advertising components are displayed on a second separate window of said display device.  
   
   
       19 . A method of awarding and redeeming promotional points, the method comprising: 
 providing a gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a payout based on the result of the game, said gaming machine including    an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein,    a central processing unit in communication with at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components, said central processing unit being adapted to execute or control one or more aspects of said wager based game and also being adapted to facilitate the communication and display of advertising, and    a display device in communication with said central processing unit and adapted to present simultaneously thereupon one or more components of said wager based game as well as one or more advertising components directed to a player of said wager based game;    displaying said one or more advertising components on said display device while a player is present at said gaming machine; and    awarding promotional points to said player for being exposed to said one or more advertising components.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further including the step of: 
 enabling said player to redeem said promotional points in exchange for one or more opportunities to play addition wager based games.