Bonusing digital media

Abstract

This invention provides a gaming machine able to provide entertainment content (e.g. ring tones, videos, music, etc.) from entertainment content sources located within the gaming machine or outside of the gaming machine. A player may be presented with entertainment content options that may be accessed via the gaming machine or via another device. In some implementations of the invention, a player may be offered the option of transferring entertainment content to another device (e.g., a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant or a portable memory device). The option of providing the entertainment content may be granted in various circumstances, e.g., in response to an aspect of a player's gaming on the gaming machine and/or an aspect of the player's gaming history. In some implementations, entertainment content may be offered as an inducement to join a player tracking program.

1 . A method of providing entertainment content, the method comprising: 
 receiving a wager for a game of chance on a gaming machine;    providing the game of chance on the gaming machine;    presenting entertainment content options on the gaming machine; and    transferring entertainment content to a portable output device.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entertainment content options comprise one or more of a ring tone, an audio clip, a video clip, a music video, a game and an image.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the presenting step is in response to an event in a player's gaming history.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the presenting step depends on a wagering amount.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a complete entertainment content unit comprises a plurality of entertainment content segments and wherein the transferring step comprises: 
 transferring one entertainment content segment after a first goal is attained; and    transferring another entertainment content segment after a second goal is attained.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the presenting step comprises at least one of presenting a GUI on a display of the gaming machine and making an audio presentation.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portable output device comprises a cellular telephone, wherein the transferring step comprises transferring entertainment content to the cellular telephone.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portable output device comprises at least one of a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, an iPod, an MP3 player and a portable storage device.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portable output device is configured for communication with an interface of the gaming machine and wherein the transferring step comprises transferring the entertainment content to the portable output device via the interface.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of offering the entertainment content as an inducement to enroll in a player tracking program.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the event comprises at least one of attaining a level of a player tracking program, playing a wagering game for a predetermined time, accumulating a predetermined number of bonus points, playing a wagering game for a predetermined number of times and wagering at least a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a complete entertainment content unit comprises N entertainment content segments and wherein all N entertainment content segments are transferred only after N goals are attained.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a complete entertainment content unit comprises N entertainment content segments and wherein all N entertainment content segments are transferred after fewer than N goals are attained.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising offering to transfer at least one entertainment content segment in exchange for a credit.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising awarding at least one entertainment content segment of a second entertainment content unit after a player has obtained all entertainment content segments of a first entertainment content unit.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second goals comprise at least one of attaining a level of a player tracking program, playing a wagering game for a predetermined time, accumulating a predetermined number of bonus points, playing a wagering game for a predetermined number of times and wagering at least a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       17 . A gaming method, comprising: 
 providing at least one game on a first device;    identifying a second device; and    offering to transfer entertainment content to the second device in response to a predetermined criterion relating to gaming on the first device.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first device is a gaming machine configured to provide wagering games and wherein the predetermined criterion comprises at least one of a predetermined level of a player tracking program, a predetermined time of playing a wagering game, a predetermined number of accumulated bonus points, a predetermined number of times that a wagering game has been played and a predetermined amount of wagering.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a complete entertainment content unit comprises a plurality of entertainment content segments and wherein the offering step comprises: 
 offering to transfer one entertainment content segment after a first goal is attained; and    offering to transfer another entertainment content segment after a second goal is attained.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the second device comprises at least one of a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, an iPod, an MP3 player and a portable storage device.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first device is a gaming machine configured to provide wagering games, wherein the predetermined criterion comprises a determination that a player tracking function of the gaming machine is not in use and wherein the offering step comprises an inducement to join a player tracking program.  
   
   
       22 . A gaming machine, comprising: 
 means for receiving a wager for a game of chance;    means for providing the game of chance, the providing means comprising a display device;    a logic device configured to control the display device to present entertainment content options on the gaming machine; and    means for transferring entertainment content to a portable output device.    
   
   
       23 . The gaming machine of  claim 22 , wherein the transferring means comprises an output device of the gaming machine.  
   
   
       24 . The gaming machine of  claim 22 , wherein the transferring means comprises a network interface for communicating instructions to another device to transmit the entertainment content to the portable output device.