Gaming systems and methods for use in creating random rewards

Abstract

Servers and method for use in creating a random reward are disclosed. One exemplary method includes receiving a request for a random reward from an organizer, establishing a random reward in response to the request, transmitting a credential associated with the random reward to a player, and crediting gaming activity associated with the credential to the random reward. Access to the random reward is limited to players presenting the credential.

1 . A method for use in creating a random reward accessible to a group of players, said method comprising:
 receiving, from a first player of the group of players, a request to initiate a casino-based game on a gaming machine;   during play of the game by the first player on the gaming machine, receiving a request for the random reward from an organizer;   establishing, by a processor in a gaming server, the random reward in response to the request;   transmitting, from the processor in the gaming server, a credential associated with the random reward to each player in the group of players through a social network website, wherein access to the random reward is limited to players presenting the credential; and   crediting gaming activity associated with the credential to the random reward.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the request for the random reward includes receiving the request including identifying information for a plurality of invitees; and
 wherein transmitting the credential to each player in the group of players includes transmitting the credential to each of the plurality of invitees based on the identifying information, the credential being player-specific.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the request for the random reward includes receiving a request including a social network identifier; and
 wherein transmitting the credential associated with the random reward to each player in the group of players includes transmitting the credential to each of a plurality of invitees through a social network website based on the social network identifier.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein transmitting the credential to each of the plurality of invitees includes transmitting a player-specific credential to each of the plurality of invitees. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising tracking gaming activity credited to the random reward by each player in the group of players. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, when the random reward is triggered, awarding a prize associated with the random reward to at least one player in the group of players based on the total gaming activity credited to the random reward and attributed to said at least one player. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the request for the random reward includes receiving the request including identifying information for a plurality of invitees, and wherein the identifying information includes at least one of a name, a mailing address, an email address, a social network identifier, a user identifier, and a rewards account number. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, from the gaming server, a status of the random reward to be displayed by the gaming machine when gaming activity on the gaming machine is credited to the random reward. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, from the gaming server, a status of the random reward to the first player, via at least one of a social network server and a wide area network (WAN). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising setting a parameter of the random reward based on the request received from the organizer, the parameter including at least one of a random reward payout amount, an eligibility requirement, a target amount of gaming activities per time period, and a duration of the random reward. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting a credential associated with the random reward to each player in the group players comprises transmitting a credential associated with the random reward to players that are designated by the first player, wherein the first player is not the organizer. 
     
     
         12 . A gaming system comprising:
 a gaming machine; and   a gaming server coupled to said gaming machine, said gaming server configured to:
 receive, from a first player, a request to initiate a casino-based game on a gaming machine; 
 during play of the game by the first player on the gaming machine, receive a request for a random reward from an organizer; 
 establish, at said gaming server, the random reward in response to the request; 
 transmit, from said gaming server, a credential associated with the random reward to one or more additional players through a social network website, wherein access to the random reward is limited to players presenting the credential; and 
 credit gaming activity on said gaming machine and associated with the credential to the random reward. 
   
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , wherein said gaming server is configured to track gaming activity associated with each player credited to the random reward. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , wherein said gaming server is further configured to distribute a payout associated with the random reward according to at least one payout instruction received from the organizer and/or at least one invitee of the organizer. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , further comprising a local presentation device coupled to said gaming server and configured to receive a status message associated with the random reward from said gaming server and to display the status message to at least one player. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , wherein the request includes identifying information for one or more additional players, and wherein said gaming server is configured to transmit the credential associated with the random reward to the one or more additional players based on the identifying information. 
     
     
         17 . A gaming server for use in creating a random reward accessible to a group of players, said gaming server comprising:
 a memory device configured to store multiple credentials associated with the random reward; and   a processor coupled to said memory device, said processor configured to:
 receive, from a first player of the group of players, a request to initiate a casino-based game on a gaming machine; 
 during play of the game by the first player on the gaming machine, establish the random reward in response to a request for the random reward from an organizer; 
 transmit the multiple credentials associated with the random reward from the memory device to each player in the group of players through a social network website, wherein access to the random reward is limited to players presenting one of the multiple credentials; and 
 credit gaming activity to the random reward when at least one of the multiple credentials is associated with the gaming activity. 
   
     
     
         18 . The gaming server of  claim 17 , wherein each of the multiple credentials is specific to one of the players in the group of players. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming server of  claim 17 , wherein said processor is configured to transmit the multiple credentials associated with the random reward to the group of players based on a social network identifier associated with each player in the group of players. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming server of  claim 17 , wherein said processor is further configured to store a status of the random reward in said memory device and to cause the status of the random reward to be broadcast to the gaming machine, a display signage, a desktop computer, a tablet, a smartphone, and a laptop. 
     
     
         21 . The gaming server of  claim 17 , wherein the gaming activity is directed to gaming machines disposed at a gaming location. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming server of  claim 17 , wherein the gaming activity is directed to at least one of a desktop computer, a smartphone, a tablet, and a laptop. 
     
     
         23 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, said computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
 receive, from a first player, a request to initiate a casino-based game on a gaming machine;   during play of the game by the first player, receive a request for a random reward from an organizer;   establish the random reward in response to the request;   transmitting a credential associated with the random reward to each player in the group of players through a social network website, wherein access to the random reward is limited to players presenting the credential; and   credit gaming activity associated with the credential to the random reward.   
     
     
         24 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 23 , wherein said computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to individually track gaming activity of each player credited to the random reward. 
     
     
         25 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 23 , wherein the credentials are player-specific. 
     
     
         26 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of  claim 23 , wherein said computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to transmit the credential to each player, via a social network server.