Method for providing incentives for a player to play a gaming device

Abstract

An incentive offering system can be used to enhance player enjoyment by making targeted suggestions to the player. Specifically, this system can evaluate player preferences, as evidenced by prior playing styles or by other methods, and suggest other games that have similar qualities that the player seems to prefer. Non-game offers may be made as well. Player histories may be evaluated in real-time to help the offering system determine the best offer to make to the player. Player values and casino resources may also be considered. Some offers may be complementary, while others may require some amount of cost or effort by the player.

1 . A method for inducing a player of a first game on an electronic gaming device at a gaming station to play a second game comprising:
 determining that the player has begun play of the first game;   communicating to the player at the gaming station about the second game; and   offering to the player at the gaming station an incentive to play the second game.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second game is on a second electronic gaming device at a second gaming station. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising indicating to the player where the second gaming station is located. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 downloading the second game to the electronic gaming device; and   allowing the player to play the second game on the electronic gaming device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 tracking the player's play of games on a plurality of gaming devices;   comparing the tracked play with play characteristics of a plurality of different games;   selecting at least one of the plurality of different games; and   identifying the selected game as the second game.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the play characteristics include at least one of volatility and payback percentage. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the incentive is effective immediately. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the incentive is effective after a predefined lapse of time. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the incentive comprises at least one free play of the second game. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the incentive comprises discounted play for at least one play of the second game. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising communicating to the player at the gaming station about the second game in response to an indication that the player is preparing to conclude play on the first game. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the incentive offer is made via at least one of a portable electronic communicator, a computing device connected to a computer network, a screen associated with the gaming device, a cell phone associated with the player, and a ticket printed at the gaming device. 
     
     
         13 . A method for inducing a player to play an electronic gaming device comprising:
 detecting the player playing a first game at a first electronic gaming device;   suggesting to the player at the first electronic gaming device that the player play a second game at a second electronic gaming device; and   offering to the player at the first electronic gaming device an incentive to play the second game at the second electronic gaming device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising indicating to the player where the second gaming station is located. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 tracking the player's play of games on a plurality of gaming devices;   comparing the tracked play with play characteristics of a plurality of different games;   selecting at least one of the plurality of different games; and   identifying the selected game as the second game.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the play characteristics include at least one of volatility and payback percentage. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the incentive is effective immediately. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the incentive is effective after a predefined lapse of time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the incentive comprises at least one free play of the second game. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the incentive comprises discounted play for at least one play of the second game. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising communicating to the player at the first electronic gaming device about the second game in response to an indication that the player is preparing to conclude play on the first electronic gaming device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the incentive offer is made via at least one of a portable electronic communicator, a computing device connected to a computer network, a screen associated with the gaming device, a cell phone associated with the player, and a ticket printed at the gaming device. 
     
     
         23 . A method for operating a plurality of networked gaming devices comprising:
 tracking at least one player of the networked gaming devices;   storing data related to the tracked player, including data related to the player's play of the networked gaming devices;   identifying the tracked player at a first one of the gaming devices;   communicating to the player at the first gaming device about a second gaming device;   offering to the player at the first gaming device an incentive to play the second gaming device; and   basing at least one of (a) the identity of the second gaming device and (b) the incentive, at least in part, on the stored data.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising indicating to the player where the second gaming device is located. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein storing data related to the tracked player further comprises storing demographic data related to the tracked player. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the demographic date includes the player's age. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the incentive is effective only during at least one predefined time period. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the incentive is effective only during at least one predefined time period. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the incentive is effective immediately. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the incentive is effective after a predefined lapse of time. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the incentive comprises at least one free play of the second gaming device. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the incentive comprises discounted play for at least one play of the second gaming device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising communicating to the player at the gaming station about the second gaming device in response to an indication that the player is preparing to conclude play on the first gaming device. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the incentive offer is made via at least one of a portable electronic communicator, a computing device connected to a computer network, a screen associated with the gaming device, a cell phone associated with the player, and a ticket printed at the gaming device. 
     
     
         35 . A method for inducing a player of a first game on an electronic gaming device at a gaming station to play a second game comprising:
 observing the player's play on the first game;   storing data related to the observed play;   suggesting to the player at the gaming station that the player play a second game;   offering to the player at the gaming station an incentive to play the second game; and   basing at least one of (a) the identity of the second game and (b) the incentive, at least in part, on the stored data.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the second game is on a second electronic gaming device at a second gaming station. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  further comprising indicating to the player where the second gaming station is located. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising:
 downloading the second game to the electronic gaming device; and   allowing the player to play the second game on the electronic gaming device.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising:
 tracking the player's play of games on a plurality of gaming devices;   comparing the tracked play with play characteristics of a plurality of different games:   selecting at least one of the plurality of different games; and   identifying the selected game as the second game.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the play characteristics include at least one of volatility and payback percentage. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the incentive is effective immediately. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the incentive is effective after a predefined lapse of time. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the incentive comprises at least one free play of the second game. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the incentive comprises discounted play for at least one play of the second game. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising communicating to the player at the gaming station about the second game in response to an indication that the player is preparing to conclude play on the first game. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 35  wherein the incentive offer is made via at least one of a portable electronic communicator, a computing device connected to a computer network, a screen associated with the gaming device, a cell phone associated with the player, and a ticket printed at the gaming device.