Universal player rewards system

Abstract

An electronic game including at least one display exhibiting a plurality of windows or segments each displaying a different subject matter is disclosed. The different subject matter in each of the plurality of windows preferably includes a real time promotional points total, an awards display, a sponsor advertising material display, an Internet display and an electronic game. The electronic game, which may include a wagering game, may be played by tendering money or tendering promotional points instead of money. Promotional points may be awarded instead of a portion of a money award, or supplemental to it. Promotional points may be accumulated by players through both gaming and non-gaming activities, including activities not involving a commercial transaction. An electronic gaming apparatus is described which also serves as an Internet portal.

1 .- 100 . (canceled)  
   
   
       101 . A universal casino player rewards system, comprising: 
 at least one gaming machine adapted to accept wagers, administer games based on said wagers, and award monetary payouts based on the results of said games, said at least one gaming machine including a display unit, a value input device, a player tracking device and a gaming machine controller in communication with said player tracking device and adapted to administer said games, said at least one gaming machine being located at a casino or other gaming establishment, and wherein said at least one gaming machine is configured for wager based game play resulting from direct contact from a patron;    at least one central player tracking controller in communication with said player tracking device from said at least one gaming machine, said at least one central player tracking controller adapted to award promotional points to a player tracking account for said patron based on the play of wager based games by said patron at said at least one gaming machine; and    at least one Internet server in communication with said at least one central player tracking controller, said at least one Internet server adapted to host at least one Internet website adapted for the play of wager based games on the Internet, wherein said at least one central player tracking controller is also adapted to award promotional points to said player tracking account for said patron based on the play of wager based games over the Internet by said patron on said at least one Internet server.    
   
   
       102 . The universal casino player rewards system of  claim 101 , wherein said at least one central player tracking controller is adapted to award promotional points to said patron regardless of the outcomes of said wager based games.  
   
   
       103 . The universal casino player rewards system of  claim 101 , wherein said gaming machine controller is programmed to cause a video image representing a wager based game to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing at least one game selected from the group consisting of poker, blackjack, slots, keno, bingo, craps, roulette and baccarat.  
   
   
       104 . The universal casino player rewards system of  claim 101 , wherein said at least one gaming machine comprises a plurality of gaming machines located at a plurality of separate casinos or other physical gaming establishments.  
   
   
       105 . The universal casino player rewards system of  claim 101 , further comprising: 
 at least one sponsor based computing device in communication with said at least one central player tracking controller, said at least one sponsor based computing device adapted to facilitate the award of promotional points to said player tracking account for said patron based on non-gaming activity of said patron at a sponsor separate from said casino or other gaming establishment.    
   
   
       106 . The universal casino player rewards system of  claim 101 , further comprising: 
 a promotional points database in communication with said central player tracking controller and adapted to store data regarding said player tracking account of said patron.    
   
   
       107 . The universal casino player rewards system of  claim 106 , wherein said promotional points database is adapted to store data regarding player tracking accounts for all patrons associated with said universal casino player rewards system.  
   
   
       108 . The universal casino player rewards system of  claim 106 , wherein said at least one central player tracking controller comprises a plurality of central player tracking controllers, each of which is in communication with said promotional points database.  
   
   
       109 . A method of providing casino player rewards, comprising: 
 providing at a casino or other gaming establishment a gaming machine adapted to accept wagers, administer games based on said wagers, and award monetary payouts based on the results of said games, said gaming machine including a display unit, a value input device, a player tracking device and a gaming machine controller in communication with said player tracking device and adapted to administer said games, wherein said gaming machine is configured for wager based game play resulting from direct contact from a patron;    accepting a first monetary wager from a patron at said gaming machine;    administering a first game on said gaming machine based on said first monetary wager;    awarding a first monetary payout to said patron based on the result of said first game;    granting a first amount of promotional points to a player tracking account of said patron based on the placement of said first monetary wager;    providing an Internet server adapted to host an Internet website adapted for the play of wager based games on the Internet;    accepting a second monetary wager from said patron at said Internet server;    administering a second game on said Internet server based on said second monetary wager;    awarding a second monetary payout to said patron based on the result of said second game; and    granting a second amount of promotional points to said player tracking account of said patron based on the placement of said second monetary wager.    
   
   
       110 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein said first amount of promotional points is granted regardless of the outcome of said first game.  
   
   
       111 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein said second amount of promotional points is granted regardless of the outcome of said second game.  
   
   
       112 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein said first game is selected from the group consisting of poker, blackjack, slots, keno, bingo, craps, roulette and baccarat.  
   
   
       113 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising the steps of: 
 tracking a non-gaming activity of said patron at a sponsor separate from said casino or other gaming establishment; and    granting a third amount of promotional points to said player tracking account for said patron based on said non-gaming activity of said patron.    
   
   
       114 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising the step of: 
 redeeming a number of points from said patron in exchange for a prize.