Method and apparatus for offering and providing consolation prizes

Abstract

A system and method for providing consolation prizes base upon player gaming losses is described. Gaming device players are awarded consolation prizes based upon the amount of money they lose in a gambling session. The prizes a player may be offered may be determined by calculating the total amount a player put into a gaming device (the “coin-in” amount) less the total amount he receives from the device (the “coin-out” amount) during a gambling session. In some embodiments, third-party merchants provide prizes that both represent value to players and allow the merchants to establish a relationship with new customers. For example, a consolation prize may include a free three-month trial subscription to a magazine or to a cable television service. In some embodiments, the consolation prizes may be rewarded on a tiered basis in proportion to the amount of loss the player has sustained. In some embodiments, a voucher with a retail value equal to the player's entire loss amount may be provided as a consolation prize

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method comprising: 
 determining an amount lost by a player at a gaming device;    determining a consolation prize based upon the amount lost; and    offering the consolation prize to the player.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining an amount lost includes 
 determining a tier based upon the amount lost.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein determining a consolation prize includes 
 determining a consolation prize based upon the tier.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining an amount lost includes 
 determining an amount lost based upon an initial amount.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining an amount lost includes 
 determining an amount lost based upon a cash-out amount.  
 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising: 
 determining gambling losses; and    providing an award based upon the gambling losses.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein determining gambling losses includes 
 determining that an amount lost exceeds a threshold amount.  
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein determining gambling losses includes 
 determining an average rate of loss and a period of play.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein providing an award based upon the gambling losses includes 
 offering an award if the gambling losses exceed a threshold.  
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein providing an award based upon the gambling losses includes 
 offering an award if within a defined period of time the gambling losses exceed a threshold.  
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  wherein providing an award based upon the gambling losses includes 
 offering an award if a duration of losing play exceeds a threshold.  
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6  wherein providing an award based upon the gambling losses includes 
 offering an award if  
 a duration of play exceeds a threshold, and  
 gambling losses exceed gambling winnings during the duration of play.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6  wherein providing an award based upon the gambling losses includes 
 determining a tier based upon the gambling losses; and  
 offering an award based upon the teir.  
 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a player identifier;    receiving a wager amount;    receiving an indication that a gambling session is complete;    determining a cash-out amount;    determining a loss amount based upon the wager amount and the cash-out amount;    determining a prize based upon the loss amount; and    offering the prize.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein receiving a wager amount includes 
 determining the wager amount based upon receipt of a plurality of wagers.  
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein determining a prize based upon the loss amount includes 
 determining a tier based upon the loss amount; and  
 determining a prize based upon the tier.  
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further including: 
 providing an indication of an amount required to be lost to qualify for a prize.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further including: 
 providing an indication of an additional minimum amount required to be wagered to be able to qualify for a prize.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method comprising: 
 determining a loss amount; and    providing an offer based upon the loss amount.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein providing an offer based upon the loss amount includes 
 providing a coupon to a player.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein providing a coupon to a player includes 
 providing a coupon having a face value based upon the loss amount.  
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein providing an offer based upon the loss amount includes 
 providing a coupon for a third-party product via a gaming device to a player.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein providing a coupon for a third-party product includes 
 providing a coupon having a face value based upon the loss amount.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  wherein providing an offer based upon the loss amount includes 
 providing a consolation prize ticket via a gaming device to a player.  
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19  wherein providing an offer based upon the loss amount includes 
 providing a discount offer for a product.  
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19  wherein providing an offer based upon the loss amount includes 
 providing a voucher for a free product.  
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19  wherein providing an offer based upon the loss amount includes 
 providing an amount of value to a player wherein the amount of value is determined based upon the loss amount.  
 
     
     
         28 . A method comprising: 
 receiving value from a player at a gaming device;    determining a loss amount for the player;    determining if the loss amount falls within a particular loss range among a plurality of predefined loss ranges;    associating the particular loss range with a consolation prize tier;    presenting the player with a consolation prize offer based on the consolation prize tier;    receiving acceptance of the consolation prize offer from the player; and    transferring the acceptance of the consolation prize offer to a third-party merchant.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein receiving value from a player at a gaming device includes 
 receiving a player tracking card.  
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein receiving value from a player at a gaming device includes 
 receiving a balance transfer from a casino account.  
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein receiving value from a player at a gaming device includes 
 receiving funds via a bill validator.  
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  wherein receiving value from a player at a gaming device includes 
 receiving tokens.  
 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28  wherein receiving value from a player at a gaming device includes 
 receiving a player identity.  
 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28  wherein receiving value from a player at a gaming device includes 
 receiving a cashless gaming receipt.  
 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28  wherein receiving value from a player at a gaming device includes 
 receiving a financial account identifier.  
 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining a loss amount for the player includes 
 tracking coin-in and coin-out.  
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining a loss amount for the player includes 
 receiving an indication the player desires to cash-out.  
 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining a loss amount for the player includes 
 receiving a cash-out signal.  
 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining a loss amount for the player includes 
 detecting a pause in play greater than a threshold period of time.  
 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining a loss amount for the player includes 
 subtracting a cash-out amount from a buy-in amount.  
 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining a loss amount for the player includes 
 subtracting a coin-out amount from a coin-in amount.  
 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining a loss amount for the player includes 
 summing loss amounts from all gambling sessions within a time period.  
 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining a loss amount for the player includes 
 summing loss amounts from a continuous gambling session.  
 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining a loss amount for the player includes 
 summing loss amounts from gambling sessions during a stay at a hotel associated with the gaming device.  
 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining a loss amount for the player includes 
 counting losing outcomes and winning outcomes of the gaming device.  
 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining if the loss amount falls within a particular loss range among a plurality of predefined loss ranges includes 
 specifying the plurality of predefined loss ranges.  
 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining if the loss amount falls within a particular loss range among a plurality of predefined loss ranges includes 
 comparing the loss amount to the plurality of predefined loss ranges.  
 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining if the loss amount falls within a particular loss range among a plurality of predefined loss ranges includes 
 specifying the plurality of predefined loss ranges based upon a value of a loss range to a casino.  
 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining if the loss amount falls within a particular loss range among a plurality of predefined loss ranges includes 
 specifying the plurality of predefined loss ranges based upon values of a set of available consolation prizes.  
 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 28  wherein determining if the loss amount falls within a particular loss range among a plurality of predefined loss ranges includes 
 determining if the loss amount is greater than a lower bound of the particular loss range and less than an upper bound of the loss range.  
 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 28  wherein associating the particular loss range with a consolation prize tier includes 
 determining a number of consolation prize tiers desired.  
 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 28  wherein associating the particular loss range with a consolation prize tier includes 
 associating each one of the plurality of loss ranges with a different consolation prize tier.  
 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 28  wherein presenting the player with a consolation prize offer based on the consolation prize tier includes 
 associating a consolation prize with a consolation prize tier.  
 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 28  wherein presenting the player with a consolation prize offer based on the consolation prize tier includes 
 associating a plurality of consolation prizes with a consolation prize tier.  
 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 28  wherein presenting the player with a consolation prize offer based on the consolation prize tier includes 
 associating consolation prizes of increasing value with increasingly higher consolation prize tiers.  
 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 28  wherein presenting the player with a consolation prize offer based on the consolation prize tier includes 
 offering a plurality of consolation prize offers to the player.  
 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 28  wherein presenting the player with a consolation prize offer based on the consolation prize tier includes 
 determining a consolation prize offer having a cost approximately equal to the value of a loss amount associated with the consolation prize tier.  
 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 28  wherein presenting the player with a consolation prize offer based on the consolation prize tier includes 
 determining a consolation prize having a value based upon duration wherein the duration of the consolation prize is related to the consolation prize tier.  
 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 28  wherein presenting the player with a consolation prize offer based on the consolation prize tier includes 
 drawing attention to the player.  
 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 28  wherein presenting the player with a consolation prize offer based on the consolation prize tier includes 
 requesting information from the player.  
 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 28  wherein receiving acceptance of the consolation prize offer from the player includes 
 receiving a signal that indicates the player has accepted the consolation prize offer.  
 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 28  wherein receiving acceptance of the consolation prize offer from the player includes 
 providing the player with a written copy of the consolation prize offer.  
 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 28  wherein receiving acceptance of the consolation prize offer from the player includes 
 printing the consolation prize offer.  
 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein printing the consolation prize offer includes 
 printing the consolation prize offer on a cashless gaming receipt.  
 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 28  wherein receiving acceptance of the consolation prize offer from the player includes 
 receiving payment from a third-party after a player redeems the consolation prize offer.  
 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 28  wherein receiving acceptance of the consolation prize offer from the player includes 
 requiring information from the player.  
 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 28  wherein transferring the acceptance of the consolation prize offer to a third-party merchant includes 
 providing the player with a copy of the consolation prize offer that can be redeemed at the third-party merchant.  
 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 28  wherein transferring the acceptance of the consolation prize offer to a third-party merchant includes 
 providing the player with a copy of the consolation prize offer that can be redeemed at a casino.  
 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 28  wherein transferring the acceptance of the consolation prize offer to a third-party merchant includes 
 providing the player with a confirmation number.  
 
     
     
         70 . The method of  69  wherein providing the player with a confirmation number includes 
 providing the player with a confirmation number via email.  
 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 28  wherein transferring the acceptance of the consolation prize offer to a third-party merchant includes 
 transmitting data regarding the player to the third-party merchant.  
 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 28  wherein transferring the acceptance of the consolation prize offer to a third-party merchant includes 
 providing access to a database containing information regarding the consolation prize offer.  
 
     
     
         73 . A system comprising: 
 means for computing an amount lost by a player at a gaming device;    means for selecting a consolation prize based upon the amount lost; and    means for presenting the consolation prize to the player.    
     
     
         74 . A system comprising: 
 a gaming device coupled to a controller operative to    compute an amount lost by a player of the gaming device,    select a consolation prize based upon the amount lost, and    present a voucher for the consolation prize to the player.    
     
     
         75 . A coupon comprising: 
 a material having printed theron a confirmation number representative of a consolation prize offered to a player of a gaming device based upon an amount lost by the player while playing the gaming device.    
     
     
         76 . Computer readable media including computer executable instructions operable to implement the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         77 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a memory; and    a processor coupled to the memory and operative to 
 calculate an amount lost by a player at the gaming device;  
 identify a consolation prize based upon the amount lost; and  
   provide a voucher for the consolation prize to the player.