Methods and apparatus for operating games and contests utilizing a novel and unique point system to realistically emulate real money gaming and contests

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for operating games and contests, utilizing a unique point system, whereby the excitement of participating in traditional games of chance, gambling style games and sport event outcome contests can be realistically emulated, without requiring participants to stake or risk anything of value, other than the personal efforts of the participants in playing the games or participating in the contests or in obtaining access to the Internet or in going to brick and mortar sites where participation in the games and contests is possible, inasmuch as the points that are used by participants are given to them by the sponsors of the games and contests free of charge and can be used for participation in the games or contests without risk of loss, i.e., all points that are given to participants are never, in reality, “lost” and are, at any and all times, redeemable for cash and/or prizes. More specifically, participants are afforded the opportunity to emulate the experience of real money gaming through the thrill of amassing point “winnings,” or the agony of suffering point “losses,” with absolutely no risk of experiencing the financial devastation of real money gaming or contests, inasmuch as participants cannot put any consideration, not even the points that they have been given, “at risk.” The only “risk” to a participant is that the participant will become “hooked” by the entertainment experience and thus participate more often and longer and thereby be exposed to a greater number of messages from the sponsor—in the same manner that previous forms of entertainment such as radio and television have sought to present better and better programming to entice listeners and viewers to tune in more often and listen/watch longer and thereby be exposed to greater numbers of radio and tv commercials.

1 . A method of affording a player the opportunity to experience the excitement of participating in traditional games of chance, gambling style games and sport event outcome contests, including the thrill of amassing point “winnings,” or the agony of suffering point “losses,” with absolutely no risk of experiencing the financial devastation of real money gaming or contests, the method comprising:
 registering a player;   exposing the player to advertising;   establishing a point system that gives points to the player;   enabling the player to play with points given to him;   enabling the player to win additional points;   precluding the player from putting anything “at risk,” including the points that he has been given;   causing the player's loss of points he has been given to merely impact his ability to continue to play; and   enabling the player to redeem the points he has been given for cash or merchandise.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein during said step of registering the player, demographic data for the player is stored, the method further comprising targeting the advertising exposed to the players based upon the demographic data. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of establishing a prize account for the player and a play account for the player, and transferring play points from the player's play account to the player's prize account when the player “loses” play points in the course of play. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of transferring, at the player's request, play points from the player's play account to the player's prize account. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  or  claim 4  further comprising the step of causing such transfer of points from the player's play account to the player's prize account to be an irreversible, one-way transfer. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the step of redeeming points from the player's prize account for a prize or for cash. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said games comprise: poker, slots, blackjack, bingo, other casino games or online sports betting. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said advertising is a local or regional advertisement targeted to the player based upon the stored demographics data. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of exposing further comprises displaying an advertisement on a portion of a computer display screen in conjunction with simultaneous display of a game display. 
   
   
       10 . A method for rewarding potential customers who are exposed to advertising and for emulating a real money online gaming site, the method comprising:
 registering a player;   establishing a prize account for the player and a play account for the player;   exposing the player to advertising; and   assigning points having value to the player's prize account and points having no value to the player's play account, wherein any points in the player's play account can be utilized by the player to play games on an emulated real money online gaming site.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein during said step of registering the player, demographic data for the player is stored, the method further comprising targeting the advertising exposed to the players based upon the demographic data. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of transferring, at the request of the player, points from the player's play account to the player's prize account. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of transferring play points from the player's play account to the player's prize account when the player “loses” play points in the course of play. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  or  claim 13  further comprising the step of causing such transfer of points from the player's play account to the player's prize account to be an irreversible, one-way transfer. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  or  claim 12  or  claim 13  further comprising the step of redeeming points from the player's prize account for a prize or for cash. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said games comprise: poker, slots, bingo, blackjack, other casino games or online sports betting. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said advertising is a local or regional advertisement targeted to the player based upon the stored demographics data. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said step of exposing further comprises displaying an advertisement on a portion of a computer display screen in conjunction with simultaneous display of a game display. 
   
   
       19 . A method for operating games and contests, whereby the excitement of participating in traditional games of chance, gambling style games and sport event outcome contests can be realistically emulated, without requiring participants to stake or risk anything of value, other than the personal efforts of the participants in playing the games or participating in the contests or in obtaining access to the Internet or in going to brick and mortar sites where participation in the games and contests is possible, the method comprising:
 registering at least two players;   establishing a prize account, a play account and a house account for each player;   exposing both players to advertising;   assigning points having value to the prize account of each player and points having no value to the play account of each player;   enabling each player to redeem points in the player's prize account for cash or prizes;   enabling each player to use any points in the player's play account to play such games and participate in such contests;   transferring an amount of points from the play account of the losing player into his prize account equal in number to the points “lost” by such player; and   assigning to the house account of the winning player an amount of points equal to the number of points lost by the losing player.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of transferring, at the request of the player, points from the player's house account to the player's prize account. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of transferring house points from one player's house account to another player's house account when said one player “loses” house points in the course of play to said another player. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising the step of causing such transfer of points from the player's house account to the player's prize account to be an irreversible, one-way transfer. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19  or  claim 20  or  claim 22  further comprising the step of redeeming points from the player's prize account for a prize or for cash. 
   
   
       24 . A computer based system for rewarding potential customers who are exposed to advertising and for emulating a real money online gaming site, the system comprising:
 means for registering a player;   means for establishing a prize account for the player and a play account for the player;   means for exposing the player to advertising; and   means for assigning points having value to the player's prize account and points having no value to the player's play account, wherein any points in the player's play account can be utilized by the player to play games on an emulated real money online gaming site.   
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24  further comprising storage for storing demographic data for the player gathered during registration of said player, the system further comprising:
 means for targeting the advertising exposed to the player based upon the demographic data.   
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24  further comprising means for transferring points from the player's play account to the player's prize account, said transfer being a one way transfer. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 24  or  claim 26  further comprising means for redeeming points from the player's prize account for a prize or for cash. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said games comprise: poker, slots, bingo, blackjack, other casino games or online sports betting. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said advertising is a local or regional advertisement targeted to the player based upon the stored demographics data. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 24  further comprising a video display screen for simultaneously displaying advertising content and a game screen. 
   
   
       31 . A method for giving points to individuals for viewing advertising, comprising:
 registering an individual, including securing demographic data for the individual which is stored;   exposing such individual to online advertising;   independently verifying that such individual has been exposed to such advertising;   reporting such exposure to advertisers; and   giving the individual points based upon such exposure.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising the steps of:
 giving the individual play points of no value;   providing the individual games that can be played and contests that can be participated in using such play points.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising the step of:
 giving the individual a card, in the nature of a credit card, on which the individual's play points can be registered.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising the steps of:
 giving the individual prize points as well as play points;   giving the individual a card, in the nature of a universal gift card, on which the individual's prize points can be registered; and   enabling the individual to redeem the prize points for prizes at brick and mortar and/or online stores.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising the steps of:
 giving the individual prize points as well as play points;   giving the individual a card, in the nature of an ATM or debit card, on which the individual's prize points can be registered; and   enabling the individual to redeem the prize points for cash at the locations where ATM and debit cards are accepted for such purpose.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising the step of:
 giving the individual play points for viewing commercials at a movie theater before the movie is aired.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising the step of:
 giving the individual play points for viewing commercials before, during and/or after the broadcast of media programming, such as television, radio and/or Internet programming.   
   
   
       38 . Apparatus for giving points to individuals for viewing advertising, comprising:
 means for registering an individual, including for securing and storing demographic data for the individual;   means for exposing such individual to online advertising;   means for independently verifying that such individual has been exposed to such advertising;   means for reporting such exposure to advertisers; and   means for giving the individual points based upon such exposure.   
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  further comprising:
 means for giving the individual play points of no value;   means for providing the individual with games that can be played and contests that can be participated in using such play points.   
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 38  further comprising:
 a card, in the nature of a credit card, on which the individual's play points can be registered.   
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 38  further comprising:
 means for giving the individual prize points as well as play points;   a card, in the nature of a universal gift card, on which the individual's prize points can be registered; and   means for enabling the individual to redeem the prize points for prizes at brick and mortar and/or online stores.   
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 38  further comprising:
 means for giving the individual prize points as well as play points;   a card, in the nature of an ATM or debit card, on which the individual's prize points can be registered; and   means for enabling the individual to redeem the prize points for cash at the locations where ATM and debit cards are accepted for such purpose.   
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 means for giving the individual play points for viewing commercials at a movie theater before the movie is aired.   
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 means for giving the individual play points for viewing commercials before, during and/or after the broadcast of media programming, such as television, radio and/or Internet programming.   
   
   
       45 . A method for emulating real money gaming and sport event outcome contests comprising:
 establishing a point system;   registering at least two players;   creating play point, prize point and house point accounts for each player;   placing play points in each player's play point account, both:
 (a) initially upon registration; and 
 (b) thereafter on an ongoing basis; 
   crediting each player's prize point account with prize points as the player:
 (a) at any time elects to convert play points to prize points; or 
 (b) uses and “loses” play points during play of games or participation in contests; 
   providing house points to one of said players who plays and “wins” play points from said other of said players in an amount equal to the amount of play points “lost” by said one player;   enabling said players to play in games and participate in contests with house points;   crediting each player's prize point account as the player at any time elects to convert house points to prize points; and   enabling each player to redeem prize points at any time for cash or prizes.   
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45  further comprising the step of placing prize points in each player's prize point account concomitantly with placement of play points in each player's play point account. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45  further comprising the step of precluding each player from converting prize points from the player's prize point account to either play points or house points. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 45  further comprising the step of placing points in one or both player's play, prize and/or house account during game play or contest participation. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 45  further comprising the step of placing points in one or both player's play, prize and/or house account as part of a promotion to promote play and/or participation. 
   
   
       50 . A method for emulating real money gaming and sport event outcome contests comprising:
 establishing a point system;   registering at least two players;   creating play point, prize point and house point accounts for each player;   placing play points in each player's play point account, both:
 (a) initially upon registration; and 
 (b) thereafter on an ongoing basis; 
   placing prize points in each player's prize point account concomitantly with placement of play points in each player's play point account;   crediting each player's prize point account with prize points as the player:
 (a) at any time elects to convert play points to prize points; or 
 (b) uses and “loses” play points during play of games or participation in contests; 
   providing house points to one of said players who plays and “wins” play points from said other of said players in an amount equal to the amount of play points “lost” by said one player;   enabling said players to play in games and participate in contests with house points;   crediting each player's prize point account as the player at any time elects to convert house points to prize points;   placing points in one or both player's play, prize and/or house account during game play or contest participation;   placing points in one or both player's play, prize and/or house account as part of a promotion to promote play and/or participation;   precluding each player from converting prize points from the player's prize point account to either play points or house points; and   enabling each player to redeem prize points at any time for cash or prizes.   
   
   
       51 . Apparatus for emulating real money gaming and sport event outcome contests comprising:
 means for establishing a point system;   means for registering at least two players;   means for creating play point, prize point and house point accounts for each player;   means for placing play points in each player's play point account, both:
 (a) initially upon registration; and 
 (b) thereafter on an ongoing basis; 
   means for placing prize points in each player's prize point account concomitantly with placement of play points in each player's play point account;   means for crediting each player's prize point account with prize points as the player:
 (a) at any time elects to convert play points to prize points; or 
 (b) uses and “loses” play points during play of games or participation in contests; 
   means for providing house points to one of said players who plays and “wins” play points from said other of said players in an amount equal to the amount of play points “lost” by said one player;   means for enabling said players to play in games and participate in contests with house points;   means for crediting each player's prize point account as the player at any time elects to convert house points to prize points;   means for placing points in one or both player's play, prize and/or house account during game play or contest participation;   means for placing points in one or both player's play, prize and/or house account as part of a promotion to promote play and/or participation;   means for precluding each player from converting prize points from the player's prize point account to either play points or house points; and   means for enabling each player to redeem prize points at any time for cash or prizes.   
   
   
       52 . A method for operating games and contests, whereby the excitement of participating in traditional games of chance, gambling style games and sport event outcome contests can be realistically emulated, without requiring participants to stake or risk anything of value, other than the personal efforts of the participants in playing the games or participating in the contests or in obtaining access to the Internet or in going to brick and mortar sites where participation in the games and contests is possible, the method comprising:
 registering at least two players;   establishing a prize account, a play account and a house account for each of said two players;   assigning points having no value to the play account of each of said two players;   enabling each of said two players to use points in the player's play account to play such games and participate in such contests;   exposing said at least two players to advertising during game play and contest participation;   transferring an amount of points from the play account of the losing player into his prize account equal in number to the points “lost” by such player;   assigning to the house account of the winning player an amount of points equal to the number of play points “lost” by the losing player;   assigning to the prize and play accounts of the winning player the prize and play points that would have been given to the losing player for the advertising seen during the game and/or contest; and   enabling each player to redeem points in the player's prize account for cash or prizes.   
   
   
       53 . A system for operating games and contests, whereby the excitement of participating in traditional games of chance, gambling style games and sport event outcome contests can be realistically emulated, without requiring participants to stake or risk anything of value, other than the personal efforts of the participants in playing the games or participating in the contests or in obtaining access to the Internet or in going to brick and mortar sites where participation in the games and contests is possible, the system comprising:
 means for registering at least two players;   means for establishing a prize account, a play account and a house account for each of said two players;   means for assigning points having no value to the play account of each of said two players;   means for enabling each of said two players to use points in the player's play account to play such games and participate in such contests;   means for exposing said at least two players to advertising during game play and contest participation;   means for transferring an amount of points from the play account of the losing player into his prize account equal in number to the points “lost” by such player;   means for assigning to the house account of the winning player an amount of points equal to the number of play points “lost” by the losing player;   means for assigning to the prize and play accounts of the winning player the prize and play points that would have been given to the losing player for the advertising seen during the game and/or contest; and   means for enabling each player to redeem points in the player's prize account for cash or prizes.   
   
   
       54 . A method of affording a player the opportunity to experience the excitement of participating in traditional games of chance, gambling style games and sport event outcome contests, including the thrill of amassing point “winnings,” or the agony of suffering point “losses,” with absolutely no risk of experiencing the financial devastation of real money gaming or contests, the method comprising:
 registering a player;   exposing the player to advertising;   establishing a point system that gives points to the player;   enabling the player to play with points given to him;   enabling the player to win additional points;   enabling the player to lose the points he has been given and he has won;   precluding the player from putting anything of his own of value “at risk;”   enabling the player to redeem the points he has been given and has won for cash or merchandise; and   causing the player's loss of all of his points to impact his ability to continue to play.