TOURNAMENT GAMING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20090104960A1
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M., Lockard, Dennis, Tallcott, Jeffrey C., Patel, Pravinkumar, Larsen, Joshua D., Green, Anthony E., Allen, Jeffrey L., Crowder, Robert W. JR., Link, John E., Reddy, Mettu R., Vemuri, Sudheer, Barton, Christopher D., Soliterman, Gennady, Scott, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,512,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to gaming systems, gaming devices, and methods for presenting tournament games. According to one method, a player tracking card is received at a gaming device. Tournament entry points are incremented as the base game is played. In one embodiment, tournament entry points are based on a predetermined percentage of a player'"'"'s wager for base game play. The player is presented with one or more tournament games for play when the player has accumulated a sufficient number of tournament entry points. A tournament game selected by the player is initiated on a secondary display of the gaming device. In one embodiment, the secondary device has an embedded processor that is separate and distinct from a main processor of the gaming device. Once the tournament game is initiated, the player is presented with the option to have the tournament game automatically played. Accordingly, a player is able to play the base game while the tournament game is automatically played on the secondary display.

Claims

1. A method for enabling casino-based tournament gaming, the method comprising:

receiving player tracking card at a gaming device;

incrementing tournament entry points based on a predetermined percentage of a player'"'"'s wager for base game play;

presenting the player with one or more tournament games for play;

initiating a tournament game selected by the player on a secondary display of the gaming device, the secondary device having an embedded processor that is separate and distinct from a main processor of the gaming device;

receiving player input to automatically play the tournament game; and

continuing to receive player wagers for base game play while the tournament game is automatically played on the secondary display.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically finishing play of the tournament game after play of the base game has ended or after removal of the player tracking card.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a final score of the tournament game to a tournament server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a final score of the tournament game on a tournament display.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving player input to establish a player alias after receiving the player tracking card at the gaming device.

6. A method for enabling casino-based tournament gaming, the method comprising:

receiving player input establishing a player alias that is associated with a player account;

incrementing tournament entry points based on a predetermined percentage of a player'"'"'s wager for base game play;

initiating a tournament game in response to player input; and

receiving player input continuing play of base game play on a main display of the gaming device while the tournament game is concurrently played on a secondary display of the gaming device, the secondary device having an embedded processor that is separate and distinct from a main processor of the gaming device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving player input to establish one or more additional player aliases; and

receiving player input ranking the player aliases.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting a final score of the tournament game to a tournament server.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

presenting a final score of the tournament game on the gaming device; and

displaying the final score of the tournament game and the player alias on a leader board that is presented on a tournament display, wherein the tournament display is separate and distinct from the gaming device.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising presenting an award corresponding to each winning position on the leader board.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving player input to automatically play the tournament game.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising automatically finishing play of the tournament game after play of the base game has ended or after removal of the player tracking card.

13. A method of presenting a tournament game on a gaming device, the method comprising:

initiating play of a base game on a main display of a gaming device;

determining player eligibility for playing a tournament game;

prompting an eligible player to select a tournament game for play; and

presenting the tournament game on a secondary display of the gaming device in response to player input, wherein the tournament game and the base game are playable simultaneously.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting a player'"'"'s score for the tournament game to a tournament game server.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

distributing the player'"'"'s score from the tournament server to one or more tournament displays; and

displaying the player'"'"'s score on one or more tournament displays.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising presenting an award corresponding to each winning position of the tournament game.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein player eligibility is based on player account information received from the player.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the secondary display includes an embedded processor that is distinct and separate from a main processor of the gaming device.