METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LINKED PLAY GAMING

• US 20060211480A1
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel E. Tedesco, Geoffrey M. Gelman, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Stephen C. Tulley, Steven M. Santisi
• Original Assignee: Daniel E. Tedesco, Geoffrey M. Gelman, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Stephen C. Tulley, Steven M. Santisi
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Tulley, Stephen C., Santisi, Steven M., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S.
• Application Number:
  US11/422,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20060211480A1
• 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 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

The invention includes a system and method for providing linked play via gaming and other devices. In some embodiments, a casino server registers a group for linked play and a group objective and format are established. The linked play commences according to the group format on the gaming devices while the casino server, or another device, concurrently facilitates interaction between the group members operating the gaming devices. The linked play is terminated according to the group format and a determination is made by the casino server whether the group objective has been achieved. Prizes are awarded via the gaming devices if the group objective was achieved.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at least one outcome from each of a plurality of gaming devices, wherein each gaming device is associated with at least one player;

deriving a group outcome based upon the outcomes; and

providing a payout if the group outcome is a winning outcome.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the players are associated with each other.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the payout is provided to at least one of the players.

4-81. -81. (canceled)