Method and apparatus for conducting focus groups using networked gaming devices

Abstract

The invention includes a system and method for conducting a focus group via networked gaming devices. A slot server or a third party server in communication with gaming devices provides access to players operating the gaming devices. A topic for the focus group's discussion is received from a marketer via a marketer terminal in communication with the slot server. The system identifies players currently operating gaming devices who also are suitable potential participants in the focus group based on a focus group pool definition received from the marketer. Those players that accept an invitation to participate, become participants. The topic is communicated to the participants and the participants comments are relayed back to a moderator who controls the focus group discussion via a moderator terminal (and a graphical user interface) also in communication with the slot server. The moderator (and/or the system) verifies that each of the participants is in fact participating in the focus group and compensation is provided to the participants via the gaming devices.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including:
 at least one display device, 
 at least one input device, 
 at least one processor, and 
 at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to:
 (a) enable a player to place a wager on a play of a game, 
 (b) determine a game outcome for the wagered on play of the game, 
 (c) display the determined game outcome, 
 (d) determine any award associated with the displayed game outcome, and 
 (e) display any determined award associated with the displayed game outcome; and 
 
   a server configured to operate with said gaming devices to:
 (a) for a plurality of said gaming devices, identify the player of said gaming device, said identified player associated with at least one characteristic of a plurality of different characteristics, 
 (b) designate a first plurality of the identified players, wherein which of the identified players are designated as part of the first plurality of identified players is based, at least in part, on the associated at least one characteristic of said identified players, and 
 (c) for each of the identified players of the designated first plurality of identified players:
 (i) enable the identified player to participate in a first event, said first event being:
 (A) independent of any wager placed on any plays of any of the games, 
 (B) independent of any of the determined game outcomes, 
 (C) independent of any awards associated with any of the displayed game outcomes, and 
 (D) independent of any characteristics associated with any of the players, and 
 
 (ii) if the identified player participates in the first event, cause a first benefit to be provided to the identified player, said first benefit being independent of any awards associated with any of the displayed game outcomes. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein for each of the gaming devices, the server is configured to identify the player of said gaming device. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to designate a second plurality of the identified players, wherein which of the identified players are designated as part of the second plurality of identified players is based, at least in part, on the associated at least one characteristic of said identified players, and for each of the identified players of the designated second plurality of identified players, enable the identified player to participate in a second, different event, said second event being: independent of any wager placed on any plays of any of the games, independent of any of the determined game outcomes, independent of any awards associated with any of the displayed game outcomes, and independent of any characteristics associated with any of the players, and if the identified player participates in the second event, cause a second, different benefit to be provided to the identified player, said second benefit being independent of any awards associated with any of the displayed game outcomes. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein for each of the gaming devices of the identified players of the designated first plurality of identified players, when executed by the at least one processor of said gaming device, the plurality of instructions of said gaming device cause the at least one processor of said gaming device to operate with the at least one display device of said gaming device to display the first event in a first window distinct from any displayed play of any games. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different characteristics includes at least one of: an age of the identified player, a demographic of the identified player, a place of birth of the identified player, a name of the identified player, a purchasing history of the identified player, a mailing address of the identified player, an email address of the identified player, a phone number of the identified player, a gender of the identified player, at least one product preference of the identified player, a historic wagering performance of the identified player, a measure of any wins of the identified player, and a measure of any losses of the identified player. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is configured to identify the plurality of players in association with a player tracking system. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the first event is a focus group associated with a topic for discussion. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the first benefit is at least one selected from the group consisting of: an amount of currency, a quantity of gambling tokens, an increased odds of winning at least one play of at least one game, an insurance against losses of at least one play of at least one game, at least one play of at least one game associated with a first denomination in exchange for currency having a second denomination, the second denomination lower than the first denomination, at least one free play of at least one game, an activation of at least one symbol associated with at least one play of at least one game, an activation of at least one symbol combination associated with at least one play of at least one game, and an activation of at least one pay line associated with at least one play of at least one game. 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
 (a) for each of a plurality of gaming devices:
 (i) enabling a player to place a wager on a play of a game, 
 (ii) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a game outcome for the wagered on play of the game, 
 (iii) causing at least one display device to display the determined game outcome, 
 (iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any award associated with the displayed game outcome, and 
 (v) causing the at least one display device to display any determined award associated with the displayed game outcome; 
   (b) for a plurality of said gaming devices, causing a server to identify the player of said gaming device, said identified player associated with at least one characteristic of a plurality of different characteristics;   (c) causing the server to designate a first plurality of the identified players, wherein which of the identified players are designated as part of the first plurality of identified players is based, at least in part, on the associated at least one characteristic of said identified players; and   (d) for each of the identified players of the designated first plurality of identified players:
 (i) enabling the identified player to participate in a first event, said first event being:
 (A) independent of any wager placed on any plays of any of the games, 
 (B) independent of any of the determined game outcomes, 
 (C) independent of any awards associated with any of the displayed game outcomes, and 
 (D) independent of any characteristics associated with any of the players, and 
 
 (ii) if the identified player participates in the first event, causing a first benefit to be provided to the identified player, said first benefit being independent of any awards associated with any of the displayed game outcomes. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , which includes, for each of the gaming devices, causing the server to identify the player of said gaming device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , which includes causing the server to designate a second plurality of the identified players, wherein which of the identified players are designated as part of the second plurality of identified players is based, at least in part, on the associated at least one characteristic of said identified players, and for each of the identified players of the designated second plurality of identified players, enabling the identified player to participate in a second, different event, said second event being: independent of any wager placed on any plays of any of the games, independent of any of the determined game outcomes, independent of any awards associated with any of the displayed game outcomes, and independent of any characteristics associated with any of the players, and if the identified player participates in the second event, causing a second, different benefit to be provided to the identified player, said second benefit being independent of any awards associated with any of the displayed game outcomes. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , which includes, for each of the gaming devices of the identified players of the designated first plurality of identified players, causing the at least one display device to display the first event in a first window distinct from any displayed play of any games. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of different characteristics includes at least one of: an age of the identified player, a demographic of the identified player, a place of birth of the identified player, a name of the identified player, a purchasing history of the identified player, a mailing address of the identified player, an email address of the identified player, a phone number of the identified player, a gender of the identified player, at least one product preference of the identified player, a historic wagering performance of the identified player, a measure of any wins of the identified player, and a measure of any losses of the identified player. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , which includes causing the server to identify the plurality of players in association with a player tracking system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first event is a focus group associated with a topic for discussion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first benefit is at least one selected from the group consisting of: an amount of currency, a quantity of gambling tokens, an increased odds of winning at least one play of at least one game, an insurance against losses of at least one play of at least one game, at least one play of at least one game associated with a first denomination in exchange for currency having a second denomination, the second denomination lower than the first denomination, at least one free play of at least one game, an activation of at least one symbol associated with at least one play of at least one game, an activation of at least one symbol combination associated with at least one play of at least one game, and an activation of at least one pay line associated with at least one play of at least one game. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , which is provided through a data network. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the data network is an internet.