Player tracking using a wireless device for a casino property

Abstract

A method for tracking patronage of a customer in at least one casino property is described. The method comprises monitoring a wireless handset that determines the location of the customer. The method then proceeds to generate a user profile that comprises user preferences and monitored betting activity associated with the customer and accumulated points stored in a customer account according to a monetary value of the monitored betting activity. Complementary goods or services are determined based on the accumulated points associated with the customer account. A message is sent to the wireless handset associated with the complementary goods or services that is consistent with the user preferences.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for tracking patronage of a customer in at least one casino property, the method comprising the steps of:
 monitoring a wireless handset configured to determine the location of the customer, said wireless handset configured to communicate with a network using at least one wireless networking protocol;   generating a user profile associated with the customer, said user profile comprising user preferences and monitored betting activity associated with the customer and accumulated points stored in a customer account according to a monetary value of the monitored betting activity;   determining complementary goods or services to be provided to the customer based on the accumulated points associates with the customer account; and   sending a message to the wireless handset associated with the complementary goods or services that is consistent with the user profile.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing access to the customer account at any of the plurality of casino properties. 
     
     
         3 . The method of claim I further comprising redeeming the accumulated points in the customer account for an award determined by a number of accumulated points, and reducing the accumulated points by the number of accumulated points redeemed for the award. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of redeeming accumulated points comprises redeeming accumulated points for gifts or services provided by the casino property. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining the location of the customer according to the user profile. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising sending a particular message to the wireless handset based on the location, accumulated points, and user profile. 
     
     
         7 . A system for tracking customer activity at a casino property using customer accounts, the system comprising:
 a wireless handset associated with the customer and configured to determine the location of the customer, said wireless handset configured to communicate with a network using at least one wireless networking protocol;   at least one computer system associated with at least one casino property that monitors the betting activity of the of customer, said computer system configured to generate a user profile that comprises user preferences and tracking accumulated points in a customer account according to the monetary value of the monitored betting activity and determine complimentary goods or services to be provided to the customer based on the accumulated points associated with the customer account and the user profile; and   a means for generating a message that is sent to the wireless handset regarding the complementary goods or services that is consistent with the user profile.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the at least one computer system associated with the casino is communication with a plurality of input devices located at various venues of at least one casino property and the venues include slot machines, gaming tables, restaurants, retail sales locations, hotel check-in locations, and other service locations associated with the casino property. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein each customer account includes a gaming field in which customer activities associated with slots, gaming tables, and other gaming sites are tracked separately. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein each customer account includes an activity points field to which points are added when customer activity is registered in the gaming field. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the customer account is accessible at any of a plurality of casino properties in communication with the at least one computer system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a means for redeeming the accumulated points in the customer account for an award determined by a number of accumulated points, and reducing the accumulated points by the number of accumulated points redeemed for the award. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the user profile comprises a field that permits the location of the user to be tracked. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the message sent to wireless handset is dependent on the location of the customer. 
     
     
         15 . A method for communicating a particular message to a wireless handset, said method comprising:
 providing at least one computer system associated with a casino property configured to stored a plurality of messages, said at least one computer system configured to wirelessly communicate at least one message within a geographical area;   communicating with a wireless handset that is configured to receive messages from the at least one computer system associated with the casino property;   determining an approximate location for the wireless handset;   transmitting at least one message form the casino computer system to the wireless handset based on the location of the wireless handset; and   displaying the message on the wireless handset.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising receiving a reply from the wireless handset. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising generating a user profile associated with the particular customer, wherein the user profile includes user preferences. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said user profile further comprises monitoring betting activity associated with the customer and accumulated points stored in a customer account according to a monetary value of the monitored betting activity. 
     
     
         19 . The method  claim 18  wherein the message comprises a random number generator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the handset is a dual mode handset that operates using at least two different networking protocols. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the dual mode handset comprises a first networking protocol that meets E911 federal mandates.