Wagering game with secondary prize feature

• US 20070054729A1
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Hornik, Jeremy, Ryan, Chad
• Application Number:
  US11/516,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20070054729A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A method for conducting a wagering game is disclosed. The method comprises displaying a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to indicate a randomly selected outcome. A player is awarded a primary payoff based on the plurality of symbol-bearing objects meeting a predetermined criterion. The player is awarded at least one secondary prize opportunity in response to a second predetermined criterion.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a wagering game comprising:

displaying a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to indicate a randomly selected outcome;

awarding a player a primary payoff based on the plurality of symbol-bearing objects meeting a predetermined criterion; and

awarding the player at least one secondary prize opportunity in response to a second predetermined criterion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary payoff is based on an award value contained within a pay table.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined criterion is an outcome in which the player does not receive the primary payoff.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary prize opportunity is at least one sweepstakes entry.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one sweepstakes entry is electronically sent to and stored in an external system.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the act of identifying the player by receiving a card, a personal identification password, or a biometric marker from the player.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the wagering game is conducted on a gaming machine having a ticket printer, the at least one sweepstakes entry being a ticket, the ticket being dispensed from the ticket printer of the gaming machine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary prize opportunity is at least one point awarded on a point-based system, wherein a predetermined number of points may be exchanged for at least one of a bonus opportunity or prize.

9. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to perform the method of claim 1.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the symbol-bearing objects include cards from a deck of cards.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the symbol-bearing objects include symbols on a plurality of reels.

12. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to form a first user-playable hand;

providing the ability to hold, via player selection, none or more of the provided symbol-bearing objects from the first user-playable hand;

replacing each of the non-held symbol-bearing objects with a replacement symbol-bearing object to form a second user-playable hand;

determining whether to award the player a primary payoff based on a ranking of the second user-playable hand in response to the second user-playable hand meeting a predetermined criterion; and

awarding the player at least one secondary prize opportunity when the second user-playable hand meets a second predetermined criterion.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one secondary prize opportunity is at least one sweepstakes entry electronically sent to and stored in an external system.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the act of identifying the player by receiving a card from the player.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the gaming machine comprises a ticket printer, and wherein the secondary prize opportunity is at least one sweepstakes entry, the at least one sweepstakes entry being a ticket, the ticket being dispensed from the ticket printer of the gaming machine.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

automatically denoting which if any of the plurality of symbol-bearing objects in the first user-playable hand are to be held in accord with a pre-defined poker strategy selected by the player.

17. A gaming system capable of conducting a wagering game, the system comprising:

at least one display for displaying a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to indicate a randomly selected outcome;

an input device coupled to the at least one display; and

a controller coupled to the at least one display and to the input device, the controller being operative to (i) award a player a primary payoff in response to the randomly selected outcome meeting a first predetermined criterion, and (ii) award the player a secondary prize opportunity in response to the symbol-bearing objects meeting a second predetermined criterion.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the primary payoff is based on an award value contained within a pay table.

19. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the controller, the display, and the input device are located within a gaming machine.

20. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the controller is located remotely from a gaming machine that includes the display and the input device.

21. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the at least one secondary prize opportunity is at least one sweepstakes entry.