Method and apparatus for gaming machines with a tournament play bonus feature

• US 20050148380A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Michael J., Cannon, Lee E., Guinn, Robert, Roemer, Mick D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,043,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming method and device includes a game, at least one non-qualifying outcome in the game, and at least one qualifying outcome in the game, wherein a player qualifies for a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the at least one qualifying outcome.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a game;

at least one non-qualifying outcome in the game; and

at least one qualifying outcome in the game, wherein a player qualifies for a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the at least one qualifying outcome.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes receiving a wager on the game.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the game is a primary game.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of non-qualifying outcomes.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the game is a slot game.

6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is a tournament symbol obtained on a payline.

7. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is a plurality of tournament symbols obtained on a payline.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the game is a card game.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the game is selected from the group of games consisting of games of chance, games of skill and combined games of chance and skill.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the tournament includes a game selected from the group of games consisting of games of chance, games of skill and combined games of chance and skill.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the tournament is selected from the group of tournaments consisting of a slot machine tournament, a poker tournament and a blackjack tournament.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of qualifying outcomes, wherein the player qualifies for the multi-player tournament when the player achieves one of the plurality of qualifying outcomes.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one qualifying outcome includes a combination of at least two outcomes in the game.

14. A method for providing a tournament entry in association with play of a gaming device, the method comprising the steps of:

(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 at least one qualifying outcome; and

(e) providing the tournament entry to the player achieving the at least one qualifying outcome for the tournament.

15. The method of claim 14, which includes the step of printing the tournament entry if the player achieves the at least one qualifying outcome.

16. The method of claim 14, which includes the step of selecting at least one future tournament.

17. The method of claim 14, which includes the step of providing an additional monetary award to the player when the player obtains the at least one qualifying outcome.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is adapted to be produced in a primary game.

19. 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.

20. The tournament of claim 19, wherein the tournament gaming devices are slot machines.

21. The tournament of claim 19, wherein the tournament gaming devices are card gaming machines.

22. A gaming device comprising:

a display device;

a plurality of reels;

a plurality of symbols on the plurality of reels including at least one tournament 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 at least one qualifying outcome.

23. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is the at least one tournament symbol displayed on a payline.

24. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is a plurality of tournament symbols displayed on a payline.

25. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the tournament is selected from the group of tournaments consisting of a slot machine tournament, a poker tournament, and a blackjack tournament.