Method and apparatus for use of a network by a casino

Abstract

A casino receives activity from a player, both in-house and on-line. The player's activities are combined in a single account stored by the casino. The combined activities can then be used to the player's benefit, for example by awarding benefits to the player, allowing the player to access his activity across a network, or by preparing for the player a tax statement based on his year-to-date activities.

1 . A system for player management, comprising: 
 a casino;    a computer for a player to use;    a network connecting the computer and the casino; and    means for combining an on-line activity by the player using the computer with an in-house activity in the casino by the player.    
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for tracking the on-line activity by the player.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a message unit operative to generate a message for delivery to the computer.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the message includes a promotion.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the message includes a coupon.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the message includes a bonus.  
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the message unit is operative to generate the message responsive to a request initiated by the player on the computer.  
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 3 , wherein the message unit is operative to automatically generate and deliver the message to the computer.  
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a second computer operative to process the message.  
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9 , the second computer including means for determining an identity of the player.  
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 9 , the second computer including a card reader.  
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the casino includes a second computer storing an information about the player, the information including the on-line activity and the in-house activity by the player; and    the apparatus further comprises software installed in the computer enabling the player to access the information from the second computer.    
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a point awarding unit operative to award points to the player based on the combination of the on-line activity and the in-house activity by the player.  
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for generating a tax statement based on the combination of the on-line activity and the in-house activity by the player.  
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a server including an on-line gaming web site.  
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 15 , wherein the on-line gaming web site includes an on-line game.  
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 15 , wherein the on-line gaming web site includes a play-for-fun site.  
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a patron management software.  
     
     
         19 . A method for using a first computer in a casino, comprising: 
 receiving an in-house activity by a player;    receiving an on-line activity by a player using a second computer;    combining the in-house activity and the on-line activity;    storing the combined activity in the first computer; and    using the combined activity to benefit the player.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein receiving an on-line activity includes receiving the on-line activity about an on-line game played by the player using the second computer.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein receiving an on-line activity includes receiving the on-line activity about a play-for-fun activity played by the player using the second computer.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the method further comprises receiving a request from the player; and    using the combined activity includes providing a benefit to the player responsive to the request.    
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein using the combined activity includes providing the player with a bonus.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein using the combined activity includes providing the player with a coupon.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein using the combined activity includes: 
 receiving a request for a coupon from the player; and    providing the player with the coupon responsive to the request.    
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein using the combined activity includes providing the player with a promotion.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein using the combined activity includes generating a tax statement based on the combined activity for the player.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein using the combined activity includes delivering a benefit to the player.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein delivering a benefit to the player includes delivering the benefit to the player using electronic mail.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein delivering a benefit to the player includes: 
 identifying the player at a second computer;    verifying that the player is entitled to the benefit at the second computer;    awarding the benefit to the player; and    canceling the benefit at the second computer.    
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30 , wherein identifying the player includes reading a player identification card.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein identifying the player includes identifying the player by an attendant.  
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein using the combined activity includes awarding points to the player based on the combined activity.  
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising reviewing the combined activity by the casino using a patron management software.  
     
     
         35 . Computer-readable media containing a program to use a first computer in a casino, the program comprising: 
 software to receive an in-house activity by a player;    software to receive an on-line activity by a player using a second computer;    software to combine the in-house activity and the on-line activity;    software to store the combined activity in the first computer; and    software to use the combined activity to benefit the player.    
     
     
         36 . Computer-readable media containing a program according to  claim 35 , wherein the software to receive includes software to receive the on-line activity about an on-line game played by the player using the second computer.  
     
     
         3738 . Computer-readable media containing a program according to  claim 35 , wherein the software to receive includes software to receive the on-line activity about a play-for-fun activity played by the player using the second computer.  
     
     
         38 . Computer-readable media containing a program according to  claim 35 , wherein: 
 the program further comprises software to receive a request from the player; and    the software to use the combined activity includes software to provide a benefit to the player responsive to the request.    
     
     
         39 . Computer-readable media containing a program according to  claim 35 , wherein the software to use the combined activity includes software to deliver a benefit to the player.  
     
     
         40 . Computer-readable media containing a program according to  claim 39 , wherein the software to deliver a benefit to the player includes: 
 software to identify the player at a second computer;    software to verify that the player is entitled to the benefit at the second computer;    software to award the benefit to the player; and    software to cancel the benefit at the second computer.    
     
     
         41 . Computer-readable media containing a program according to  claim 35 , wherein the software to use the combined activity includes software to award points to the player based on the combined activity.  
     
     
         42 . Computer-readable media containing a program according to  claim 35 , further comprising patron management software to enable the casino to review the combined activity.  
     
     
         43 . A method for promoting play of a gaming device in a casino, comprising: 
 creating a player account for a player;    playing the gaming device in the casino by the player;    permitting the player to access the player account during play of the gaming device;    accumulating information about the play of the gaming device by the player;    associating the accumulated information with the player account; and    permitting the player to access the player account from a remote location.    
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein permitting the player to access the player account includes permitting the player to access the accumulated information about the play of the gaming device by the player.  
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein permitting the player to access the player account includes permitting the player to access the player account from the remote location via an Internet connection.  
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the remote location is remote from the gaming device.  
     
     
         47 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein the remote location is remote from the casino.  
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein associating the accumulated information includes associating the accumulated information with the player account in real-time.  
     
     
         49 . Computer-readable media containing a program to promote play of a gaming device in a casino, the program comprising: 
 software to create a player account for a player;    software to play the gaming device in the casino by the player;    software to permit the player to access the player account during play of the gaming device;    software to accumulate information about the play of the gaming device by the player;    software to associate the accumulated information with the player account; and    software to permit the player to access the player account from a remote location.    
     
     
         50 . Computer-readable media containing a program according to  claim 49 , wherein the software to associate the accumulated information includes software to associate the accumulated information with the player account in real-time.  
     
     
         51 . A method for on-line and casino player tracking, comprising: 
 creating a player account for a player;    permitting the player to play a gaming device in the casino;    accumulating information about the player's play of the gaming device;    permitting the player to engage in on-line gaming;    accumulating information about the player's on-line gaming;    associating the accumulated information with the player account; and    viewing the information associated with the player account.    
     
     
         52 . A method according to  claim 51 , further comprising using the information associated with the player account.  
     
     
         53 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein using the information includes awarding the player a benefit.  
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein using the information includes improving the gaming device in the casino.  
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein using the information includes improving the on-line gaming.  
     
     
         56 . Computer-readable media containing a program to perform on-line and casino player tracking, the program comprising: 
 software to create a player account for a player;    software to permit the player to play a gaming device in the casino;    software to accumulate information about the player's play of the gaming device;    software to permit the player to engage in on-line gaming;    software to accumulate information about the player's on-line gaming;    software to associate the accumulated information with the player account; and    software to view the information associated with the player account.    
     
     
         57 . Computer-readable media containing a program according to  claim 56 , the program further comprising software to use the information associated with the player account.  
     
     
         58 . Computer readable media containing a program according to  claim 56 , wherein the software to use the information includes software to award the player a benefit.