Gaming device providing tournament entries
First Claim
1. A gaming device comprising:
- a primary game;
at least one non-qualifying outcome in the primary game; and
at least one qualifying outcome in the primary game, wherein a player qualifies for a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the qualifying outcome.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a gaming device which enables a player to enter a tournament based on a qualifying outcome achieved on the gaming device. In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a set of reels including at least one qualification symbol. If at least one qualification symbol is displayed within a display device of the gaming device, the player qualifies for a tournament to be played at a later time. The tournament is preferably a slot machine tournament. One or more prizes are awarded at the tournament, including high value items such as cars and motorcycles as well as lower valued items such as hats, T-shirts, jackets, memorabilia and other merchandise. In this regard, the tournament provides convenience to a casino as far as prize acquisition, distribution and record keeping are concerned because prizes are awarded at one specific event instead of on sporadic occasions. The payout percentages of the gaming devices providing entry into the tournament are set relative to a cost of the tournament.
326 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A gaming device comprising:
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a primary game;
at least one non-qualifying outcome in the primary game; and
at least one qualifying outcome in the primary game, wherein a player qualifies for a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the qualifying outcome. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A gaming device comprising:
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a bonus game;
at least one non-qualifying outcome in the bonus game; and
at least one qualifying outcome in the bonus game, wherein a player qualifies for a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the qualifying outcome. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for providing a tournament entry in association with play of a gaming device, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a controller;
(b) storing at least one non-qualifying outcome within the controller;
(c) storing at least one qualifying outcome within the controller;
(d) randomly producing the qualifying outcome; and
(e) providing the tournament entry to the player achieving the qualifying outcome for the tournament. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A tournament comprising:
- a plurality of tournament gaming devices adapted to be played by a plurality of contestants, said contestants qualifying to participate in said tournament by achieving a qualifying outcome on one of a plurality of qualifying gaming devices, each said qualifying gaming devices capable of producing said qualifying outcome and a plurality of non-qualifying outcomes; and
at least one prize awarded to one of the contestants which play the tournament gaming devices. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
- a plurality of tournament gaming devices adapted to be played by a plurality of contestants, said contestants qualifying to participate in said tournament by achieving a qualifying outcome on one of a plurality of qualifying gaming devices, each said qualifying gaming devices capable of producing said qualifying outcome and a plurality of non-qualifying outcomes; and
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43. A gaming device comprising:
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a display device;
a plurality of reels;
a plurality of symbols on the plurality of reels including at least one qualification symbol on at least one of the reels;
at least one non-qualifying outcome involving the plurality of symbols; and
and at least one qualifying outcome involving the plurality of symbols, wherein a player qualifies for a tournament when the player achieves the qualifying outcome. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification