Method and apparatus for off property prize pooling

Abstract

A system and method is provided for incentivizing players to visit a gambling location. A system is provided that allows users to group players into teams that may perform various gaming activities and share in prizes earned by those activities. Further the system may require that players visit a gambling location to perform various acts, including activating electronic game play requests. A method is provided by which players have additional incentive to visit gambling establishments with more regularity.

1 . A method for conducting a game using an electronic device, the method comprising:
 providing entry information to at least one first player of a plurality of qualified players, the plurality of qualified players including a team of associated players;   receiving, from the at least one first player by the electronic device, at least one request to activate the entry information, the at least one request to activate including the entry information, the electronic device being located in either a gambling location or a affiliate location; and   providing at least one game to the at least one first player.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from a first location other than any gambling location or any affiliate location, at least one request to enter the at least one game from a second player of the plurality of qualified players; and   receiving, from a second location other than any gambling location or any affiliate location, at least one request to play the at least one game from a third player of the plurality of qualified players, wherein the at least one first player, the at least one second player and the at least one third player are associated with the team.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising receiving, from a location other than any gambling location or any affiliate location, at least one request to enter at least one game from the at least one first player. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein receiving, from the location other than any gambling location or any affiliate location, the at least one request includes receiving at least one request to enter a game conducted at either the gambling location or the affiliate location. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein receiving, from the location other than any gambling location or any affiliate location, the at least one request includes receiving a request to enter a game of skill. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein receiving, from the location other than any gambling location or any affiliate location, the at least one request includes receiving a request to enter a game of chance. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein receiving, from the location other than any gambling location or any affiliate location, the at least one request includes receiving a request to enter at least one game that provides an outcome when each of a plurality of the team gathers at least one game token. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein receiving, from the location other than any gambling location or any affiliate location, the at least one request includes receiving at least one request to enter an electronic game. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein receiving the at least one request to enter the electronic game includes receiving at least one request to enter an electronic game that is separate from games offered in a gambling environment at the gambling location. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein receiving, from the at least on first player by the electronic device, the at least one request to activate includes receiving the at least one request to active at a kiosk. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein receiving, from the at least on first player by the electronic device, the at least one request to activate includes receiving the at least one request to activate from a casino. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein receiving, from the at least on first player by the electronic device, the at least one request to activate includes receiving the at least one request to activate from a convenience store. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising qualifying the at least one first player. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising inviting the at least one first player. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising associating the at least one first player with the team. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein associating includes receiving an indication, from a person, of the at least one first player to associate with the team. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein associating includes receiving an indication, from a system, of the at least one first player, the indication referring to recorded demographic information applicable to the at least one first player. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein associating includes receiving an indication, from a system, of the at least one first player, the indication referring to recorded playing history information applicable to the at least one first player. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing outcome information to the at least one first player, the outcome information indicating at least one winning outcome;   receiving a redemption request including the outcome information in the gambling location; and   redeeming the outcome information in the gambling location.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein providing the outcome information to the at least one first player includes providing the outcome information to all of the plurality of qualified players. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein redeeming includes providing a monetary prize. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein redeeming includes providing a non-monetary prize. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein providing a non-monetary prize includes providing any of merchandise, points, a chance to win a monetary prize, free game play, reduced cost game play, credits, coupons, gift certificates, and qualification for other games. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein providing the non-monetary prize includes providing an entry to play one of the games offered in a gambling environment at the gambling location. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein redeeming includes allocating a portion of a prize to more than one of the plurality of qualified players. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising recording a number of games entered by each of the plurality of qualified players, wherein allocating the portion of the prize includes allocating a portion of a prize as a function of the number games entered by each of the plurality of qualified players. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising recording a number of entries activated by each of the plurality of qualified players, wherein allocating the portion of the prize includes allocating a portion of a prize as a function of the number of entries activated by each of the plurality of qualified players. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 receiving at least one request to play the at least one game from the at least one first player, the at least one request to play including the entry information; and   recording a number of games played by each of the plurality of qualified players, wherein allocating the portion of the prize includes allocating a portion of a prize as a function of the number games played by each of the plurality of qualified players.   
     
     
         29 . A system for conducting at least one electronic game, the at least one electronic game being separate from games offered in a gambling environment at a gambling location and having at least one winning outcome, the system comprising:
 an input;   an output; and   a controller configured to:
 receive, via the input, at least one request to enter the at least one electronic game from a first electronic device, the first electronic device coupled to a network located outside the gambling location; 
 provide, via the output, entry information to the first electronic device; 
 receive, via the input, at least one request to activate the entry information from a second electronic device, the at least one request to activate including the entry information, the second electronic device coupled to a network located within the gambling location; and 
 provide, via the output, the at least one electronic game to a third electronic device. 
   
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a database storing identifiers of a plurality of qualified players, wherein the at least one request to enter the at least one electronic game includes an identifier of a first player of the plurality of qualified players, the at least one request to activate the entry information includes an identifier of a second player of the plurality of qualified players and the database includes an association between at least one team and the first player and the second player.   
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one electronic game provides an outcome when each of a plurality of the at least one team gathers at least one token. 
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein the second electronic device is a kiosk. 
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein the gambling location includes a convenience store. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein the controller is further configured to qualify the first player. 
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide an invitation to the first electronic device. 
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 29 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 provide outcome information to the third electronic device;   receive a redemption request including the outcome information from a fourth electronic device, the fourth electronic device coupled to the network located within the gambling location; and   redeem the outcome information.   
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein the controller configured to provide outcome information is further configured to provide outcome information to electronic devices being used by any of the plurality of players. 
     
     
         38 . There system according to  claim 36 , wherein the controller configured to redeem the outcome information is further configured to provide a monetary prize. 
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein the controller configured to redeem the outcome information is further configured to provide a non-monetary prize. 
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 36 , wherein the controller configured to redeem the outcome information is further configured to allocate a portion of a prize to more than one of the plurality of qualified players. 
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein the controller configured to allocate the portion of the prize to more than one of the plurality of qualified players is further configured to allocate a portion of the prize as a function of a number of games entered by each of the plurality of qualified players. 
     
     
         42 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein the controller configured to allocate the portion of the prize to more than one of the plurality of qualified players is further configured to allocate a portion of the prize as a function of a number of entries activated by each of the plurality of qualified players. 
     
     
         43 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein the controller configured to allocate the portion of the prize to more than one of the plurality of qualified players is further configured to allocate a portion of the prize as a function of a number of games played by each of the plurality of qualified players. 
     
     
         44 . A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed by a controller cause the controller to perform a method comprising:
 receiving at least one request to enter at least one electronic game from at least one of a plurality of qualified players, the at least one electronic game being separate from games offered in a gambling environment at a gambling location and having at least one winning outcome;   providing entry information to the at least one of the plurality of qualified players;   receiving, from an electronic device in the gambling location, at least one request to activate the entry information from the at least one of a plurality of qualified players, the at least one request to activate including the entry information; and   providing the at least one electronic game to the at least one of the plurality of qualified players.