System and Method for Providing Promotional Play of a Wagering Game

Abstract

A system and method of promoting play of a wagering game on an electronic gaming machine, such as bingo, which involves providing media, such as paper coupons, operatively associated with game play data for providing a preset amount of play of the wagering game to a prospective player, receiving the game play data in an electronic gaming machine, interpreting the game play data and actuating the wagering game for the preset amount of play, wherein the outcome of each of the preset amount of play of the wagering game is at least partially determined by the game play data.

1 . A method of promoting play of a wagering game on an electronic gaming machine, comprising the steps of:
 delivering media operatively associated with game play data configured for providing a preset amount of play of the wagering game to a prospective player;   receiving the game play data in an electronic gaming machine;   interpreting the game play data; and   actuating the wagering game for the preset amount of play, wherein the outcome of each of the preset amount of play of the wagering game is at least partially determined by the game play data.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the media comprises a paper coupon. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the game play data is operatively associated with indicia printed on the media. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the game play data comprises indicia printed on the media and configured to be interpretable by a media input device operatively associated with an electronic gaming machine. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering media further comprises transmitting the media to the prospective player using the Internet. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering media further comprises transmitting the media to a prospective player using wireless communication. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the game play data further comprises data indicating the preset amount of play to be actuated. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the preset amount of play comprises a number of rounds of the game. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the preset amount of play comprises a period of time. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wagering game is bingo and the game play data comprises a bingo card. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wagering game is poker and the game play data comprises partial hand information. 
   
   
       12 . A system for promoting play of a wagering game on an electronic gaming machine, comprising:
 media for providing a preset amount of promotional play of the wagering game, wherein the media is operatively associated with game play data including the preset amount of promotional play of the wagering game and partial game resolution data;   data input device configured for receiving data from the media;   
     data processing device for interpreting the game play data and actuating the wagering game for the preset amount of play in response to receiving the game play data, wherein the outcome of the preset amount of play of the wagering game is at least partially determined by the game play data. 
   
   
       13 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the media comprises a paper coupon. 
   
   
       14 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the media comprises a removable data storage device. 
   
   
       15 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the media comprises a card including a magnetic stripe disposed thereon. 
   
   
       16 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the game play data is operatively associated with indicia printed on the media. 
   
   
       17 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the data input device further comprises a media receiving port configured to engage the media therein. 
   
   
       18 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the data input device is configured to receive the game play data upon a physical interaction with the media. 
   
   
       19 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the game play data is operatively associated with a bar code printed on the media and the data input device includes a bar code reader therein. 
   
   
       20 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the game play data further comprises data indicating the preset amount of rounds of play to be actuated. 
   
   
       21 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the data processing device is mounted in an electronic gaming machine. 
   
   
       22 . A method of promoting play of a bingo-type wagering game on an electronic gaming machine, comprising the steps of:
 providing media redeemable for at least one round of promotional play of the bingo-type wagering game to a prospective player, wherein the media is operatively associated with game play data including partial game resolution data comprising one or more bingo cards for use with the bingo-type wagering game;   receiving the game play data in an electronic gaming machine;   interpreting the game play data; and   actuating the wagering game for the round of promotional play, wherein the outcome of the promotional play is at least partially resolved by using the one or more bingo cards.   
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the media comprises a paper coupon with machine-readable indicia printed thereon. 
   
   
       24 . An electronic gaming machine for providing a wagering game, comprising:
 a display;   a player interface;   data input device configured for engaging media, wherein the media is operatively associated with game play data relating to a preset amount of promotional play of the wagering game and partial game resolution data; and   a processor for facilitating the operation of the wagering game on the electronic gaming machine, wherein the processor is further configured for interpreting the game play data and game resolution data, actuating the wagering game for the preset amount of promotional play in response to receiving the game play data, and determining the outcome of the preset amount of play of the wagering game using the partial game resolution data.   
   
   
       25 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 24 , further comprising a data output device configured for providing media to a player which is operatively associated with the substantially same game play data of media engaged by the data input device.