Casino gaming incentives using game themes, game types, paytables, denominations

Abstract

Various techniques are disclosed for conducting promotional activities in a casino gaming network. In at least one embodiment, various incentives and/or promotions may be associated with selected gaming components which are accessible to a given gaming machine. Such gaming components may include, for example, paytables, denominations, game types, and/or game themes which are accessible to a given gaming machine cabinet. In this way, the lowest level of granularity for targeting promotional offers and incentives may be extended to selected paytables, denominations, game types, game themes, and/or other desired components within (and/or accessible to) selected gaming machine cabinet(s).

1 . A gaming device in a casino gaming network, comprising:
 a first display;   a communication interface for communicating with a remote host;   a master gaming controller;   an input mechanism for receiving cash or an indicia of credit;   the gaming device being operable to:   control a wager-based game played on the gaming device;   identify a first gaming machine in the casino gaming network;   identify at least one gaming component available at the first gaming machine, wherein the at least one gaming component includes a first gaming component selected from a group of gaming components consisting of: a game theme, a game type, a paytable, and a denomination;   identify a first promotion that is available for the first gaming component; and   present a first promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion;   wherein the first promotional offer provides an incentive for a player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine relating to the first gaming component.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming device is configured as a single-player gaming machine. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming device of  claim 1 :
 wherein the first promotional offer includes at least one offer selected from a group consisting of: a game type promotional offer, a game theme promotional offer, a paytable promotional offer, and a denomination promotional offer;   wherein the game type promotional offer provides an incentive for a player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine involving a new or different game type;   wherein the game theme promotional offer provides an incentive for a player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine involving a new or different game theme;   wherein the denomination promotional offer provides an incentive for a player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine involving a new or different denomination;   wherein the paytable promotional offer provides an incentive for a player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine involving a new or different paytable.   
   
   
       4 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first game type which is available for play at the first gaming machine, the gaming device being further operable to:
 identify a first available promotion relating to the identified first game type; and   present a first game type promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion;   wherein the first game type promotional offer provides an incentive for the player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine which relates to the first game type.   
   
   
       5 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first game kind which is available for play at the first gaming machine, the gaming device being further operable to:
 identify a first game kind promotion relating to the identified first game kind; and   present a first available promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion;   wherein the first game kind promotional offer provides an incentive for the player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine which relates to the first game kind.   
   
   
       6 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first paytable which is available for play at the first gaming machine, the gaming device being further operable to:
 identify a first available promotion relating to the identified first paytable; and   present a first paytable promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion;   wherein the first paytable promotional offer provides an incentive for the player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine which relates to the first paytable.   
   
   
       7 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first denomination which is available for play at the first gaming machine, the gaming device being further operable to:
 identify a first available promotion relating to the identified first denomination; and   present a first denomination promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion;   wherein the first denomination promotional offer provides an incentive for the player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine which relates to the first denomination.   
   
   
       8 . A promotion server system in a casino gaming network, the casino gaming network including a plurality of gaming devices, the promotion server system comprising:
 at least one CPU;   memory; and   at least one interface for communicating with other devices in the gaming network;   the promotion server system being operable to:   identify at least one gaming component available for game play at the casino gaming network, the at least one gaming component including a first gaming component selected from a group of gaming components consisting of: a game theme, a game type, a paytable, a denomination;   identify a first promotion that is available for the first gaming component; and   present a first promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion;   wherein the first promotional offer includes an offer to provide a first promotional reward to an offeree upon satisfaction of a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including a first condition that the offeree participate in game play relating to the first gaming component.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first game type which is available for play at the casino gaming network, the system being further operable to:
 identify a first available promotion relating to the identified first game type;   present a first game type promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion to the offeree;   wherein the first game type promotional offer includes an offer to provide a first promotional reward to the offeree upon satisfaction of a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including a first condition that the offeree participate in game play relating to the first game type.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first game kind which is available for play at the casino gaming network, the system being further operable to:
 identify a first available promotion relating to the identified first game kind;   present a first game kind promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion to the offeree;   wherein the first game kind promotional offer includes an offer to provide a first promotional reward to the offeree upon satisfaction of a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including a first condition that the offeree participate in game play relating to the first game kind.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first paytable which is available for play at the casino gaming network, the system being further operable to:
 identify a first available promotion relating to the identified first paytable;   present a first paytable promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion to the offeree;   wherein the first paytable promotional offer includes an offer to provide a first promotional reward to the offeree upon satisfaction of a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including a first condition that the offeree participate in game play relating to the first paytable.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first denomination which is available for play at the casino gaming network, the system being further operable to:
 identify a first available promotion relating to the identified first denomination;   present a first denomination promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion to the offeree;   wherein the first denomination promotional offer includes an offer to provide a first promotional reward to the offeree upon satisfaction of a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including a first condition that the offeree participate in game play relating to the first denomination.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 8  being further operable to:
 detect that the offeree has initiated a process of satisfying the first set of conditions at a first gaming device;   detect that the offeree has suspended the process of satisfying the first set of conditions at the first gaming device;   detect that the offeree has resumed the process of satisfying the first set of conditions at a second gaming device   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 8  being further operable to:
 detect that the offeree has successfully satisfied the first set of conditions via game play on at least two different gaming devices.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 8 :
 wherein the first promotional reward includes a promotional credit for providing the offeree with a specified amount of free play credits for use in engaging in game play relating to at least one specified gaming component;   wherein the at least one gaming specified component includes at least one gaming component selected from a group of gaming components consisting of: a game theme, a game type, a paytable, and a denomination.   
   
   
       16 . A method for conducting promotional activities in a casino gaming network, the casino gaming network including a plurality of gaming devices operable for playing wager-based games, the method comprising:
 identifying a first gaming machine in the casino gaming network;   identifying at least one gaming component available at the first gaming machine, wherein the at least one gaming component includes a first gaming component selected from a group of gaming components consisting of: a game theme, a game type, a paytable, and a denomination;   identifying a first promotion that is available for the first gaming component; and   presenting a first promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion;   wherein the first promotional offer provides an incentive for a player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine relating to the first gaming component.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 :
 wherein the first promotional offer includes at least one offer selected from a group consisting of: a game type promotional offer, a game theme promotional offer, a paytable promotional offer, and a denomination promotional offer;   wherein the game type promotional offer provides an incentive for a player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine involving a new or different game type;   wherein the game theme promotional offer provides an incentive for a player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine involving a new or different game theme;   wherein the denomination promotional offer provides an incentive for a player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine involving a new or different denomination;   wherein the paytable promotional offer provides an incentive for a player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine involving a new or different paytable.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first game type which is available for play at the first gaming machine, the method further comprising:
 identifying a first available promotion relating to the identified first game type;   presenting a first game type promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion;   wherein the first game type promotional offer provides an incentive for the player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine which relates to the first game type.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first game kind which is available for play at the first gaming machine, the method further comprising:
 identifying a first game kind promotion relating to the identified first game kind;   presenting a first available promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion;   wherein the first game kind promotional offer provides an incentive for the player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine which relates to the first game kind.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first paytable which is available for play at the first gaming machine, the method further comprising:
 identifying a first available promotion relating to the identified first paytable;   presenting a first paytable promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion;   wherein the first paytable promotional offer provides an incentive for the player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine which relates to the first paytable.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first denomination which is available for play at the first gaming machine, the method further comprising:
 identifying a first available promotion relating to the identified first denomination;   presenting a first denomination promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion;   wherein the first denomination promotional offer provides an incentive for the player to participate in game play at the first gaming machine which relates to the first denomination.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the first promotional offer is presented via a display at the first gaming machine. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16  wherein first promotional offer is presented to a casino player or patron. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 16  wherein first promotional offer is presented via a wireless handheld device. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 16  wherein first promotional offer is presented via a display device on the casino floor. 
   
   
       26 . A method for conducting promotional activities in a casino gaming network, the casino gaming network including a plurality of gaming devices operable for playing wager-based games, the method comprising:
 identifying at least one gaming component available for game play at the casino gaming network, the at least one gaming component including a first gaming component selected from a group of gaming components consisting of: a game theme, a game type, a paytable, and a denomination;   identifying a first promotion that is available for the first gaming component; and   presenting a first promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion;   wherein the first promotional offer includes an offer to provide a first promotional reward to an offeree upon satisfaction of a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including a first condition that the offeree participate in game play relating to the first gaming component.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first game type which is available for play at the casino gaming network, the method further comprising:
 identifying a first available promotion relating to the identified first game type;   presenting a first game type promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion to the offeree;   wherein the first game type promotional offer includes an offer to provide a first promotional reward to the offeree upon satisfaction of a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including a first condition that the offeree participate in game play relating to the first game type.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first game kind which is available for play at the casino gaming network, the method further comprising:
 identifying a first available promotion relating to the identified first game kind;   presenting a first game kind promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion to the offeree;   wherein the first game kind promotional offer includes an offer to provide a first promotional reward to the offeree upon satisfaction of a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including a first condition that the offeree participate in game play relating to the first game kind.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first paytable which is available for play at the casino gaming network, the method further comprising:
 identifying a first available promotion relating to the identified first paytable;   presenting a first paytable promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion to the offeree;   wherein the first paytable promotional offer includes an offer to provide a first promotional reward to the offeree upon satisfaction of a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including a first condition that the offeree participate in game play relating to the first paytable.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the first gaming component corresponds to a first denomination which is available for play at the casino gaming network, the method further comprising:
 identifying a first available promotion relating to the identified first denomination;   presenting a first denomination promotional offer relating to the identified first promotion to the offeree;   wherein the first denomination promotional offer includes an offer to provide a first promotional reward to the offeree upon satisfaction of a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including a first condition that the offeree participate in game play relating to the first denomination.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising:
 detecting that the offeree has initiated a process of satisfying the first set of conditions at a first gaming device;   detecting that the offeree has suspended the process of satisfying the first set of conditions at the first gaming device;   detecting that the offeree has resumed the process of satisfying the first set of conditions at a second gaming device   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising:
 detecting that the offeree has successfully satisfied the first set of conditions via game play on at least two different gaming devices.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 26 :
 wherein the first promotional reward includes a promotional credit for providing the offeree with a specified amount of free play credits for use in engaging in game play relating to at least one specified gaming component;   wherein the at least one gaming specified component includes at least one gaming component selected from a group of gaming components consisting of: a game theme, a game type, a paytable, and a denomination.