Gaming system and method for providing team play benefits
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:
- at least one input device;
a payment acceptor;
at least one display device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;
responsive to a physical item being received via the payment acceptor and securely retained in a housing associated with the payment acceptor, modify a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,for the play of the game;
determine a game outcome,cause the at least one display device to display the determined game outcome,determine any game award associated with the determined game outcome, andcause the at least one display device to display any determined game award,independent of any wager amount placed on any play of any game and independent of any determined game outcome for any play of any game, determine if a team triggering event occurs,responsive to the determination being that the team triggering event occurs and a player is associated with a team, enable the player to access at least one team benefit comprising unlocking a locked feature,responsive to the determination being that the team triggering event occurs and the player is not associated with any teams, not enable the player to access the at least one team benefit, andresponsive to a cashout input being received, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming system and method which forms, tracks and maintains one or more groups, teams or pools of players. Each group, team or pool includes one or more players (i.e., team members). A player'"'"'s participation or involvement with the group or team enables the player to access one or more benefits otherwise not available to players unaffiliated with the group or team. That is, based on a player'"'"'s association with a formed group or team, the gaming system provides the player with one or more benefits, such as an award, an opportunity to win an award, or a modified probability of winning an award.
433 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:
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at least one input device; a payment acceptor; at least one display device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to; responsive to a physical item being received via the payment acceptor and securely retained in a housing associated with the payment acceptor, modify a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, for the play of the game; determine a game outcome, cause the at least one display device to display the determined game outcome, determine any game award associated with the determined game outcome, and cause the at least one display device to display any determined game award, independent of any wager amount placed on any play of any game and independent of any determined game outcome for any play of any game, determine if a team triggering event occurs, responsive to the determination being that the team triggering event occurs and a player is associated with a team, enable the player to access at least one team benefit comprising unlocking a locked feature, responsive to the determination being that the team triggering event occurs and the player is not associated with any teams, not enable the player to access the at least one team benefit, and responsive to a cashout input being received, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A gaming system server comprising:
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at least one processor; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to; for a play of a game; determine a game outcome, communicate data which results in a display device displaying the determined game outcome, determine any game award associated with the determined game outcome, and communicate data which results in the display device displaying any determined game award, independent of any wager amount placed on any play of any game and independent of any determined game outcome for any play of any game, determine if a team triggering event occurs, responsive to the determination being that the team triggering event occurs and a player is associated with a team, enable the player to access at least one team benefit comprising unlocking a locked feature, and responsive to the determination being that the team triggering event occurs and the player is not associated with any teams, not enable the player to access the at least one team benefit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
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for a play of a game; determining, by a processor, a game outcome, displaying, by a display device, the determined game outcome, determining, by the processor, any game award associated with the determined game outcome, and displaying, by the display device, any determined game award, independent of any wager amount placed on any play of any game and independent of any determined game outcome for any play of any game, determining, by the processor, if a team triggering event occurs, responsive to the determination being that the team triggering event occurs and a player is associated with a team, enabling the player to access at least one team benefit comprising unlocking a locked feature, and responsive to the determination being that the team triggering event occurs and the player is not associated with any teams, not enabling the player to access the at least one team benefit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification