Method for distributing promotional offers using an electronic game application

Abstract

Methods are provided that allow promotional offers to be distributed through the play of an electronic game application. The method may include use of a handheld device, location-based targeting of offers such as deals, advertisements, and coupons, and offer prioritization based on user playing history. The method may involve a server through which offers are distributed. The method may include receiving requests from sponsors to create promotional offers. In some embodiments, the use of rank in a high score database may help determine which players receive a prize.

1 . A method for differentially distributing promotional offers, comprising:
 a. receiving a request for currently available potential offers for a user;   b. transmitting a list of potential offers from vendors based on location data for the user's account or device, wherein at least one of the potential offers from at least one of the vendors has a game associated with it, the play of which allows for a score to be determined that affects the offer to be made;   c. determining or receiving a resulting score for the user's play of such game; and   d. giving a currently available potential offer to the user wherein the offer given is dependent at least in part on the rank of the user's score in comparison to other users' scores in the play of such game.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which said transmitting includes at least two potential offers, each from different vendors, and each having a game associated with it, the play of which allows for a score to be determined that affects the offer to be made. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , which additionally includes the step of giving a delayed offer after a delay. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , in which said transmitting step comprises including category information for at least one of the potential offers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , in which said transmitting step comprises including information based on the user's playing history. 
     
     
         6 . A method for accepting promotional offers for distribution comprising:
 a. receiving a request from a sponsor to create a promotional offer;   b. storing in a database
 (1) timing information, 
 (2) location information, 
 (3) a selection of one or more games suitable for play by one requesting a promotional offer, and 
 (4) offer information, 
 all related to the promotional offer; and 
   c. distributing a promotional offer using data from each category stored in said storing step.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said storing of the offer information comprises,
 storing the offer information to include one offer to be given to game players who do not meet a performance bar, and a separate, second offer to be given only to game players who meet a performance bar.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said storing of the offer information comprises,
 storing the offer information to include one offer to be given to game players who do not meet a performance bar, and a separate, second offer to be given only to game players dependent on their rank relative to other game players.   
     
     
         9 . A method for providing a promotional offer to a user, comprising:
 a. receiving a list of currently available potential offers from a server;   b. presenting a location-filtered list of currently available potential offers to a user;   c. receiving a selection of a currently available potential offer from the user;   d. presenting a game to the user based on the selection;   e. transmitting a score of the user in the game to a server;   f. receiving an activated offer from the server, wherein the choice of the activated offer is based at least in part on the score; and   g. presenting the activated offer to the user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said presenting a location-filtered list takes place through a touchscreen display on a mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said mobile device is a cellular phone. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said presenting a location-filtered list takes place on a map display. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the choice of the activated offer is determined by whether or not the user had the highest score. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said presenting a game step comprises presenting a slot-machine-style game. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said presenting a game step comprises presenting a spinning-wheel-style game. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said presenting a game step comprises presenting a scratch-and-win-style game. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said receiving an activated offer step comprises receiving a delayed offer after the game has been concluded. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the location-filtered list is filtered or sorted based on the user's playing history. 
     
     
         19 . A method for accepting promotional offers for distribution comprising:
 a. receiving a request from a sponsor to create a promotional offer;   b. storing in a database information related to the promotional offer;   c. distributing an activated promotional offer to a user based on a result of gameplay;   d. receiving a request for redemption of the activated promotional offer from a vendor terminal;   e. processing redemption of the activated promotional offer; and   f. responsive to the redemption, billing a charge to the sponsor.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said billing a charge to the sponsor responsive to the redemption comprises the majority of the charges billed to the sponsor for the distribution of offers. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said billing a charge to the sponsor responsive to the redemption comprises the entirety of the charges billed to the sponsor for the distribution of offers. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein in said receiving the request for redemption comprises receiving a request for less than the full value of the activated promotional offer, and a portion of the balance is retained for subsequent redemption.