Method and apparatus by which a player can win wagers on other games or events

• US 20020177483A1
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,786,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A method of gaming and related gaming devices and systems. A base, or primary game is employed wherein qualification for an additional feature event is based upon one or more predetermined activities associated with the primary game. The primary game may include a slot machine type game, video poker, or other electronic or electro mechanical type gaming machines. The feature event wagering opportunity for which qualification is sought to be earned by a player may include a live contest, a re-enacted live contest, or what is termed herein a future feature contest. Banks of machines may be networked for qualified participation in the feature event and such networking may include the linking of machines at remote locations and even the inclusion of gaming conducted via the Internet.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a gaming activity comprising:

providing a player with an opportunity to place a wager on a first game of chance;

generating a random outcome from play of the first game of chance; and

qualifying the player for at least one opportunity for an award from at least one feature event comprising at least one of a live contest, a re-enacted live contest, and a future feature contest, the qualification for the opportunity being based at least in part responsive to a predetermined activity associated with play of the first game.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising exhibiting the feature event on a display screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein qualifying the player for at least one opportunity further comprises qualifying the player for multiple opportunities for an award.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising permitting the player to enhance the at least one opportunity for an award through continued play of the first game of chance subsequent to qualification of the player and prior to the feature event.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one feature event comprises a plurality of feature events.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising allowing the player to defer the at least one opportunity for an award from a sooner in time feature event to a later occurring feature event of the plurality of feature events.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising activating each feature event in the plurality of feature events at predetermined time intervals.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising operatively networking together a plurality of gaming units configured for play of the first game and qualifying a plurality of players at gaming units of the plurality for the at least one opportunity for an award from the at least one feature event through at least one predetermined activity at individual gaming units of the plurality.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising activating the feature event upon qualification of a predetermined number of the plurality of players.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring at least one award from the feature event as a pari-mutuel award.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein networking the plurality of gaming units further includes networking a plurality of gaming units which are operated in at least two mutually remote locations.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising representing players at each of the at least two mutually remote locations with at least one contestant in the feature event identified with the location.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein qualifying the plurality of players for the at least one opportunity for an award from the at least one event comprises associating each of the plurality of players to wager on the at least one contestant representing the location at which each player'"'"'s respective gaming unit is located.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising collecting revenue from the plurality of first gaming units and sharing the revenue among the at least two mutually remote locations.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying the at least one feature event on at least one display screen which is separate from the gaming units of the plurality.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring the at least one event as a race including a plurality of race contestants.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one opportunity for an award from the at least one feature event further comprises allowing the player to select at least one of the plurality of race contestants.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one opportunity for an award from the at least one feature event further comprises allowing the player to select multiple race contestants of the plurality of race contestants.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one opportunity for an award from the at least one feature event further includes allowing the player to select an order of finish of the multiple race contestants.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the at least one feature event at a predetermined time.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the at least one feature event responsive to a predetermined outcome of the first game.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the at least one feature event responsive a predetermined sustained level of wager, rapidity of wager or cumulative level of multiple wagers placed on play of the first game.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing a qualified player to place a monetary wager on the at least one feature event independent of continued play of the first game.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined activity for qualification for an opportunity for an award from the at least one feature event includes at least one selected outcome from a plurality of outcomes of the first game.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined activity for qualification for an opportunity for an award from the at least one feature event includes placing a wager of predetermined value on the first game.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined activity for qualification for an opportunity for award from the at least one feature event includes placing a wager of any amount on the first game.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein qualification for at least one opportunity for an award includes providing an opportunity for a player to place a wager remotely via a personal computer.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising enabling the personal computer for game play, exercising the at least one opportunity and display of the at least one feature event via the Internet.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising exhibiting the feature event on a display screen.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising locating the display screen separate from the gaming unit.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein qualifying for opportunity for an award from the feature event further comprises qualifying for an opportunity to place multiple wagers on the event.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising enhancing the opportunity for an award from the feature event through continued play of the game on the gaming unit prior to the feature event.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the feature event comprises a plurality of feature events, each feature event comprising at least one of a live contest, a re-enacted live contest, and a future feature contest.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising selecting an event of the plurality of features events in which to exercise the opportunity.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein qualifying for an opportunity for an award includes qualifying for a pari-mutuel type award.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the feature event further comprises a race including a plurality of race contestants.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising selecting at least one of the plurality of race contestants.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising selecting multiple race contestants of the plurality of contestants.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising selecting an order of finish of the multiple race contestants.

41. The method of claim 29, further comprising placing a wager on the feature event independent of any wager on play of the game.

42. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined activity for qualification for wagering on the event includes a predetermined outcome of the gaming unit.

43. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined activity for qualification for wagering on the event includes a wager with the gaming unit of a predetermined value.

44. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined activity for qualification for an opportunity for an award from the feature event includes placing a wager of any amount for play of the game on the gaming unit.

45. The method of claim 29, wherein placing a wager on the gaming unit includes placing a wager via a personal computer employed as at least a part of the gaming unit.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising enabling the personal computer for play of the game, exercising the opportunity and display of the feature event via the Internet.

48. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the at least one gaming unit includes a microprocessor for generating randomly the outcome.

49. The gaming system of claim 48, wherein the microprocessor comprises a random number generator.

50. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the at least one gaming unit comprises a plurality of gaming units networked together, each of the plurality of gaming units being at least intermittently operatively coupled to the at least one feature event gaming unit.

51. The gaming system of claim 50, wherein the at least one display of the at least one feature event gaming unit includes a plurality of displays and wherein each of the plurality of gaming units is coupled to at least one of the plurality of displays.

52. The gaming system of claim 51, wherein the plurality of displays are networked and configured to exhibit the at least one feature event simultaneously.

53. The gaming system of claim 50, wherein the at least one display is separate from and viewable from the plurality of gaming units.

54. The gaming system of claim 50, wherein the plurality of networked gaming units includes at least one gaming unit located at each of at least two mutually remote locations.

55. The gaming system of claim 54, wherein the at least one feature event gaming unit comprises at least one display screen located at each of the at least two mutually remote locations.

56. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the at least one gaming unit comprises, at least in part, a personal computer.

57. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein the personal computer is operatively coupled to the at least one feature event gaming unit via the Internet.

58. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the predetermined activity includes obtaining at least one outcome of the first gaming unit.

59. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the predetermined activity includes a receipt of a wager by the first gaming unit of a predetermined value.

60. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the predetermined activity includes receipt of a wager of any amount by the first gaming unit.

29. A method of conducting a game of chance comprising:

placing a wager for play of a game on a gaming unit configured to randomly generate an outcome of a plurality of outcomes; and

qualifying for an opportunity for an award from a feature event responsive at least in part to a predetermined activity associated with play of the game on the gaming unit, the feature event comprising at least one of a live contest, a re-enacted live contest, and a future feature contest.

47. A gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming unit configured to generate randomly an outcome of a plurality of random outcomes; and

at least one feature event gaming unit operatively coupled to the at least one gaming unit and including at least one display screen configured to exhibit at least one feature event conducted at least in part in association with the at least one feature event gaming unit, the at least one feature event comprising at least one of a live contest, a re-enacted live contest, and a future feature contest, the at least one gaming unit being configured such that an opportunity for an award from the at least one feature event is provided responsive at least in part to a predetermined activity associated with the at least one gaming unit.

61. A gaming device comprising:

a first gaming unit including a random number generator for selecting a random combination of indicia for play of a game;

an event display electronically coupled with the first gaming unit, the event display configured to exhibit a feature event comprising at least one of a live contest, a re-enacted live contest, and a future feature contest, the first gaming unit being configured to qualify a player for an opportunity for an award from the event responsive at least in part to occurrence of a predetermined activity associated with the first gaming unit.

62. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the random number generator comprises a microprocessor.

63. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the first gaming unit is configured to be networked with at least one other first gaming unit.

64. The gaming device of claim 63, wherein the event display is configured to be electronically coupled with a plurality of first gaming units.

65. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the first gaming unit is configured to be networked with at least one other first gaming unit and wherein the first gaming unit and the at least one other first gaming unit are located in at least two mutually remote locations.

66. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the event display is configured to be electronically coupled with a plurality of first gaming units.

67. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the first gaming unit and the event display are configured to be networked with a plurality of first gaming units and a plurality of event displays such that each of the plurality of event displays will exhibit the feature event simultaneously.

68. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the event display and the first gaming unit are mutually remotely located.

69. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the first gaming unit comprises a personal computer.

70. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the event display comprises a personal computer.

71. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the event display is configured to exhibit the feature event through receipt of a transmission thereof via the Internet.

72. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the predetermined activity includes a selected combination of indicia generated by the first gaming unit.

73. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the predetermined activity includes a wager with the first gaming unit of a predetermined value.

74. The gaming device of claim 61, wherein the predetermined activity includes a wager of any amount with the first gaming unit.