Gaming device providing tournament entries
First Claim
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1. A gaming device comprising:
- a primary game;
at least one non-qualifying outcome in the primary game;
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, wherein the tournament is selected by the player from a plurality of different tournaments; and
a paytable for said primary game, said paytable including;
(a) a first average payout percentage greater than zero and less than one-hundred which accounts for all of the non-qualifying outcomes in the primary game, and (b) a second average payout percentage greater than zero and less than one-hundred which accounts for at least a portion of a value guaranteed to be won in said tournament, wherein the second average payout percentage is at least in part based on;
(i) a fixed total number of gaming devices which each can provide a qualifying outcome for the tournament, (ii) a number of days between at least two sequential tournaments, (iii) an estimated average number of games played per gaming device per day, and (iv) an estimated average bet in monetary units per game played.
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Abstract
A gaming device which enables a player to enter a tournament based on an 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.
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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;
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, wherein the tournament is selected by the player from a plurality of different tournaments; and
a paytable for said primary game, said paytable including;
(a) a first average payout percentage greater than zero and less than one-hundred which accounts for all of the non-qualifying outcomes in the primary game, and (b) a second average payout percentage greater than zero and less than one-hundred which accounts for at least a portion of a value guaranteed to be won in said tournament, wherein the second average payout percentage is at least in part based on;
(i) a fixed total number of gaming devices which each can provide a qualifying outcome for the tournament, (ii) a number of days between at least two sequential tournaments, (iii) an estimated average number of games played per gaming device per day, and (iv) an estimated average bet in monetary units per game played. - 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 primary game;
a triggering event in the primary game;
a bonus game triggered by said triggering event;
at least one non-qualifying outcome in the bonus game;
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, wherein the tournament is selected by the player from a plurality of different tournaments; and
a paytable for said primary game and said bonus game, said paytable including (a) a first average payout percentage greater than zero and less than one-hundred which accounts for all winning outcomes in the primary game and non-qualifying outcomes in the bonus game, and (b) a second average payout percentage greater than zero and less than one-hundred which accounts for at least a portion of a value guaranteed to be won in said tournament, wherein the second average payout percentage is at least in part based on;
(i) a fixed total number of gaming devices which each can provide a qualifying outcome for the tournament, (ii) a number of days between at least two sequential tournaments, (iii) an estimated average number of games played per gaming device per day, and (iv) an estimated average bet in monetary units per game played. - 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 wherein the tournament is selected by the player from a plurality of different tournaments, and wherein a paytable including a first average payout percentage greater than zero and less than one hundred accounts for each said non-qualifying outcome and a second average payout percentage greater than zero and less than one hundred accounts for a value guaranteed to be won in said tournament, wherein the second average payout percentage is at least in part based on;
(i) a fixed total number of gaming devices which each can provide a qualifying outcome for the tournament, (ii) a number of days between at least two sequential tournaments, (iii) an estimated average number of games played per gaming device per day, and (iv) an estimated average bet in monetary units per game played. - 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 which enables the player to select said tournament from a plurality of different tournaments, 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, wherein each said gaming device has a paytable having a first average payout percentage greater than zero and less than one hundred which accounts for the plurality of non-qualifying outcomes and a second average payout percentage greater than zero and less than one hundred which accounts for a value guaranteed to be won in the tournament, wherein the second average payout percentage is at least in part based on(i) a fixed total number of gaming devices which each can provide a qualifying outcome for the tournament, (ii) a number of days between at least two sequential tournaments, (iii) an estimated average number of games played per gaming device per day, and (iv) an estimated average bet in monetary units per game played. - 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 which enables the player to select said tournament from a plurality of different tournaments, 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 primary game;
a plurality of reels in said primary game;
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 at least one qualifying outcome involving the plurality of symbols, wherein a player qualifies for a tournament when the player achieves the qualifying outcome and wherein the tournament is selected by the player from a plurality of different tournaments; and
a paytable for said primary game, said paytable including (a) a first average payout percentage greater than zero and less than one-hundred which accounts for all of the non-qualifying outcomes, and (b) a second average payout percentage greater than zero and less than one-hundred which accounts for at least a portion of a value guaranteed to be won in said tournament, wherein the second average payout percentage is at least in part based on;
(i) a fixed total number of gaming devices which each can provide a qualifying outcome for the tournament, (ii) a number of days between at least two sequential tournaments, (iii) an estimated average number of games played per gaming device per day, and (iv) an estimated average bet in monetary units per game played. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeIGT (International Game Technology)
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Original AssigneeIGT (International Game Technology)
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InventorsLowell, Denise C., Chilton, Ward W., Baerlocher, Anthony J.
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Application NumberUS10/926,811Publication NumberTime in Patent OfficeDaysField of SearchUS Class Current463/20CPC Class CodesG07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or...G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete...
