Regulated gaming exchange

Abstract

System architecture and methods for enabling (a) freelance game developers gather intelligence data such as to offer dazzling electronic games to the regulated casino gaming marketplace and receive compensation based on the success of their games, and (b) game operators gather intelligence data to enables them to tailor their regulated game offerings. Intelligence data for both the freelance game developers and the game operators are based on demand/popularity of identical trial games available to the public over a predetermined computer site, the trial games using simulated money only. In addition, players are provided with the location of the casinos offering their favorite game(s) for playing with real money, together with the promotions offered if any. Operators are provided with the contacts of the players and their list of favorite games such as to offer incentives to attract them to their casino.

1 - 133 . (canceled) 
     
     
         134 . A method, comprising:
 providing access to a trial game over a computer network, the trial game being configured for game play on a personal computer or game console and to enable player selection of at least one of graphics and game play preferences;   enabling game play of the trial game and selection of the preferences by a player of the trial game on the personal computer or game console;   storing the selected preferences in a player profile associated with the player;   providing a regulated version of the trial game that is configured for game play and wagering on a regulated gaming machine;   retrieving the player profile of the player, and   configuring the regulated version of the trial game according to the selected at least one of graphic and game play preferences stored in the retrieved player profile and enabling game play of the configured regulated game on a regulated gaming machine.   
     
     
         135 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the providing steps are carried out with the regulated version of the trial game being substantially similar to the trial game but allows wagering. 
     
     
         136 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the storing step is carried out such that the stored player profile is accessible to at least one of a casino and the regulated gaming machine. 
     
     
         137 . The method of  claim 134 , further comprising a step of sending promotional information to players of the trial game over the computer network. 
     
     
         138 . The method of  claim 134 , further comprising generating and storing usage metrics of the trial game. 
     
     
         139 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the storing step includes storing a plurality of player profiles for a corresponding plurality of players having accessed and played the trial game and wherein the method further comprises running a query on the stored player profiles to derive useful information therefrom. 
     
     
         140 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the storing step includes storing a plurality of player profiles for a corresponding plurality of players of the trial game and wherein the method further includes a step of analyzing the plurality of player profiles to determine which games to offer in a casino. 
     
     
         141 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the providing steps are carried out such that the regulated version of the trial game and the trial game share some computer code. 
     
     
         142 . A regulated gaming machine, comprising a regulated game configured to run on the regulated gaming machine in a casino, the regulated game including an outcome free code portion and an outcome bearing code portion; at least a portion of the outcome free code portion being shared with a trial version of the regulated game that does not allow wagering, that is configured for game play on personal computers or game consoles, and that is configured to enable player selection of graphics and game play preferences to be stored in a player profile, the regulated gaming machine being configured to retrieve the stored player profile and to configure the regulated game according to the stored preferences in the retrieved player profile and to enable game play of the configured regulated game. 
     
     
         143 . The regulated gaming machine of  claim 142 , wherein the regulated game allows wagering but is otherwise substantially similar to the trial version of the regulated game. 
     
     
         144 . The regulated gaming machine of  claim 142 , wherein the gaming machine is configured to access the player profile. 
     
     
         145 . The regulated gaming machine of  claim 142 , wherein the gaming machine is configured such that the regulated game is referred to by a promotion sent or made accessible to a player of the trial version of the regulated game over a computer network. 
     
     
         146 . The regulated gaming machine of  claim 142 , wherein usage metrics of the trial version of the regulated game are collected and wherein at least one of the casino and the gaming machine is further configured to access the usage metrics and to configure the regulated game accordingly. 
     
     
         147 . The regulated gaming machine of  claim 142 , wherein at least one of the casino and the regulated gaming machine is configured to access a plurality of player profiles for a corresponding plurality of players of the trial version of the regulated game, to run a query on the stored player profiles and to configure the regulated game accordingly. 
     
     
         148 . A method, comprising:
 making a plurality of unregulated trial games accessible to players over a computer network, wherein each of the plurality of unregulated trial games is configured to enable players to select at least one of graphics and game play preferences thereof and to store the selected preferences in a player profile that is unique to each player and that is accessible to at least one of casino operators and regulated gaming machines;   deriving usage metrics from game play of the unregulated trial games by players;   determining which regulated games to provide in a casino based upon the derived usage metrics and configuring regulated gaming machines in the casino to provide the determined regulated games, and   configuring at least one of the provided regulated games on which a casino player initiates a gaming session according to the at least one of graphics and stored game play preferences in a player profile of the casino player.   
     
     
         149 . The method of  claim 148 , wherein the regulated games are regulated versions of the unregulated trial games and are substantially similar thereto in appearance and game play but allow for wagering. 
     
     
         150 . The method of  claim 148 , wherein the making step further includes a step of displaying promotions to a player of the unregulated trial games, the displayed promotion referring to at least one of the casino and a regulated game configured for a regulated gaming machine in the casino. 
     
     
         151 . The method of  claim 148 , wherein the making step is carried out with the unregulated trial games being configured for game play on personal computers or game consoles. 
     
     
         152 . The method of  claim 148 , wherein the deriving step is carried out with the usage metrics including popularity metrics that provide an indication of a popularity of the unregulated trial games. 
     
     
         153 . The method of  claim 148 , further comprising a step of running queries on the stored player profiles to derive statistical information therefrom regarding players of the unregulated trial games.