GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATED CASINO-STYLE TABLE TOURNAMENTS

• US 20090280904A1
• Filed: 05/07/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Nicely, Mark C., Richards, Timothy B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,641,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A gaming system and method that enables players to sequentially wager in a casino-style table tournament on gaming machines. The gaming system provides real-time wagering information and bankroll information of each player to the other players of the tournament so that players may determine their wagers based on what other players wager. The gaming system enables players to make one or more secret wagers during the tournament that are not immediately indicated or displayed to other players to try to gain an advantage in the tournament. All normal wagers are displayed to the players in real-time but the secret wagers are not displayed to players until after the close of wagering creating excitement in the tournament.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one controller; and

a plurality of groups of gaming machines, each group including a plurality of gaming machines and each gaming machine including at least one display device and at least one input device, wherein each gaming machine is configured to communicate with the at least one controller, said at least one controller and said gaming machines configured for each group of gaming machines for play of a table tournament to;

(a) display a number of tournament credits for each player;

(b) enable a first player of a first one of the gaming machines to place at least one wager for a tournament game using the provided tournament credits;

(c) sequentially enable each of the other players at the gaming machines to place wagers for the tournament game using the provided tournament credits;

(d) simultaneously determine and display a same tournament game outcome for each of the players;

(e) for each player, determine a number of tournament credits based at least in part on said player'"'"'s placed wager and said tournament game outcome;

(f) display tournament rankings of players, wherein said rankings are based on the number of tournament credits of each of the players; and

(g) repeat (b) to (f) a predetermined number of times for each player with tournament credits remaining,

wherein players at different groups of gaming machines may place wagers simultaneously.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each group of gaming machines is associated with a different gaming table.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the tournament game is selected from the group consisting of:

roulette, baccarat, pai gow poker, sic bo, pai gow tiles and craps.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable each of the players to place at least one wager that is not indicated to other players until wagering is closed for that tournament game.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable the players to place pattern wagers.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable players to wager non-tournament credits on at least one non-tournament game.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable players to wager non-tournament credits on said at least one tournament game.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable players to wager non-tournament credits on said at least one aspect of the table tournament.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured to display the overall tournament rankings.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to display a sum of the tournament credits of each player after the display of the single tournament game outcome for each of the players for a plurality of tournament games.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to display the determined tournament credits of each player after the display of the same tournament game outcome for each of the players for a plurality of tournament games.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to determine a tournament winner.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to display a tournament award to the tournament winner.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein said tournament award is selected from one of the group consisting of a monetary award, a physical award, an entry into a next round of the table tournament, an entry into another tournament, a number of tournament credits and a number of non-tournament credits.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable a plurality of players to place player to player wagers using non-tournament credits.

16. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable a plurality of players to place player to player wagers using tournament credits.

17. A gaming system comprising:

at least one controller;

a gaming table including a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine configured to communicate with the at least one controller;

said at least one controller and said gaming machines configured for said table of gaming machines during play of a table tournament to;

(a) provide each player of one of the gaming machines a number of tournament credits;

(b) enable a first one of the players to place at least one wager on a tournament game using the provided tournament credits;

(c) display the first player'"'"'s wager;

(d) enable the other players at the other gaming machines to place at least one wager on the tournament game using the provided tournament credits;

(e) enable at least one player to make a designated number of secret wagers using the provided tournament credits, wherein said secret wagers are not indicated to the other players until after the wagering for that tournament game is over, wherein the designated number is at least one;

(f) determine and provide a tournament game outcome; and

(g) cause an award to be provided to at least one of the players.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the tournament game is a roulette game that includes a virtual roulette wheel.

19. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the tournament game is selected from the group consisting of roulette, baccarat, pai gow poker, sic bo, pai gow tiles and craps.

20. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the designated number of secret wagers for a plurality of the players is different.

21. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for play of the table tournament to enable said at least one player to inform at least one other player of the secret wager made.

22. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the secret wagers may include wagers on another player'"'"'s tournament game.

23. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for said table of gaming machines during play of the table tournament to enable the players to place pattern wagers.

24. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for said table of gaming machines during play of the table tournament to enable the players to wager non-tournament credits on at least one non-tournament game.

25. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for said table of gaming machines during play of the table tournament to enable the players to wager non-tournament credits on said at least one tournament game.

26. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the at least one controller is configured to randomly assign players to tables.

27. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for said table of gaming machines during play of the table tournament to repeat (b) to (f) a predetermined number of times.

28. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for said table of gaming machines during play of the table tournament to enable a plurality of players to place player to player wagers using non-tournament credits.

29. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for said table of gaming machines during play of the table tournament to enable a plurality of players to place player to player wagers using tournament credits.

30. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for said table of gaming machines during play of the table tournament to enable players to place the secret wagers at a different time than a time of placement of the tournament wagers.

31. A gaming system comprising:

at least one controller;

at least one display device; and

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine configured to communicate with the at least one controller;

said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines configured during play of a table tournament to;

(a) enable a tournament player at one of the gaming machines to place a wager on the tournament game using the provided tournament credits;

(b) display said tournament player'"'"'s wager;

(c) enable another tournament player at another gaming machine to place a wager on the tournament game using the provided tournament cred its;

(d) display said other player'"'"'s wager;

(e) repeat (a) to (d) for a designated number of tournament players;

(f) determine a same tournament game outcome for each of the tournament players;

(g) indicate the determined tournament game outcome to the tournament players; and

(h) determine and display how many tournament credits each of the players have.

32. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured during play of the table tournament to enable non-tournament players to wager non-tournament credits on the at least one tournament game of said table tournament.

33. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured during play of the table tournament to enable non-tournament players to wager non-tournament credits on at least one aspect of said table tournament.

34. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured during play of the table tournament to enable tournament players to wager non-tournament credits on the at least one tournament game of said tournament.

35. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured during play of the table tournament to enable tournament players to wager non-tournament credits on at least one aspect of said table tournament.

36. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured to provide a plurality of players designated numbers of secret wagers to use during the table tournament.

37. The gaming system of claim 36, wherein the designated number of secret wagers provided to each of a plurality of the tournament players is different.

38. The gaming system of claim 36, wherein the secret wagers may include wagers on another player'"'"'s tournament game.

39. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured during play of the table tournament to provide secret wagers to players based upon tournament game outcomes or tournament round events.

40. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the tournament game is selected from the group consisting of roulette, baccarat, pai gow poker, sic bo, pai gow tiles and craps.

41. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured during play of the table tournament to enable the tournament players to place pattern wagers.

42. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured for play of the table tournament to award secret wagers to tournament players based upon game and tournament round events.

43. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured for play of the table tournament to enable tournament players to wager non-tournament credits on at least one non-tournament game.

44. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the at least one controller is configured to randomly assign tournament players to tables.

45. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured for play of the table tournament to display rankings of the tournament players, wherein said rankings are based on numbers of tournament credits each of the players have.

46. The gaming system of claim 31 wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured for play of the table tournament to display potential bankrolls of the tournament players.

47. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured for play of the table tournament to display potential bankrolls of the tournament players and the likelihood of one or more tournament game outcomes occurring.

48. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein said at least one controller, said at least one display device and said gaming machines are configured for play of the table tournament to repeat (e) to (h) a predetermined number of times.

49. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the at least one display device is remote from the gaming machines.

50. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the at least one display device is part of at least one of the gaming machines.

51. A gaming system comprising:

at least one controller; and

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine configured to communicate with the at least one controller, said at least one controller machines and said gaming machines configured for play of a table tournament to;

(a) provide each player a number of tournament credits;

(b) enable a first player of one of the gaming machines to place at least one wager for a tournament game using the provided tournament credits;

(c) enable the other players at the gaming machines to place wagers for the tournament game using the provided tournament credits;

(d) enable the players to wager non-tournament credits on the tournament game;

(e) determine a same tournament game outcome for each of the players;

(f) for each player, display a first tournament game result including any tournament credits won by the player based on said tournament game outcome; and

(g) for each player that wagered non-tournament credits, display a second tournament game result including any non-tournament credits won by the player based on said tournament game outcome.

52. The gaming system of claim 51, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for the play of the table tournament to enable each of the players to place at least one secret wager on the tournament game that is not indicated to other players.

53. The gaming system claim 51, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for the play of the table tournament to enable the players to place pattern wagers.

54. The gaming system of claim 51, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for the play of the table tournament to wager non-tournament credits on said tournament game.

55. The gaming system of claim 51, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for the play of the table tournament to enable tournament players to wager on an aspect of the table tournament using non-tournament credits.

56. The gaming system of claim 51, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for the play of the table tournament to award secret wagers to players based upon tournament game outcome or tournament round events.

57. The gaming system of claim 51, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for the play of the table tournament to wager non-tournament credits on at least one non-tournament game.

58. The gaming system of claim 51, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for the play of the table tournament to repeat (b) to (g) a predetermined number of times.

59. A gaming system comprising:

at least one controller; and

a plurality of groups of gaming machines, each group including a plurality of gaming machines and each gaming machine configured to communicate with the at least one controller, said at least one controller and said gaming machines configured for each group of gaming machines for play of a table tournament to;

(a) display a number of tournament credits for each player;

(b) enable a first player of a first one of the gaming machines to place at least one wager for a tournament game using the provided tournament credits;

(c) sequentially enable each of the other players at the gaming machines to place wagers for the tournament game using the provided tournament credits;

(d) simultaneously determine and display a same tournament game outcome for each of the players;

(e) determine a tournament number of credits for each player for said tournament game;

(f) display rankings of players based at least in part on said determined number of tournament credits; and

(g) repeat (b) to (f) for each player with credits remaining,

wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for play of the table tournament to determine a plurality of said players of said gaming machines to advance to a next round of the table tournament, wherein said plurality of players are determined independently from the groups of gaming machines.

60. The gaming system of claim 59, wherein each group of gaming machines is associated with a different gaming table.

61. The gaming system of claim 59, wherein the tournament game is selected from the group consisting of:

roulette, baccarat, pai gow poker, sic bo, pai gow tiles and craps.

62. The gaming system of claim 59, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable each of the players to place at least one wager that is not indicated to other players until wagering is closed for that tournament game.

63. The gaming system of claim 59, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable the players to place pattern wagers.

64. The gaming system of claim 59, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable players to wager non-tournament credits on at least one non-tournament game.

65. The gaming system of claim 59, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable players to wager non-tournament credits on said at least one tournament game.

66. The gaming system of claim 59, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable players to wager non-tournament credits on said at least one aspect of the table tournament.

67. The gaming system of claim 59, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to display a sum of the tournament credits of each player after the display of the single tournament game outcome for each of the players for a plurality of tournament games.

68. The gaming system of claim 59, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to display the determined tournament credits of each player after the display of the same tournament game outcome for each of the players for a plurality of tournament games.

69. The gaming system of claim 59, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to determine a tournament winner.

70. The gaming system of claim 69, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to display a tournament award to the tournament winner.

71. The gaming system of claim 70, wherein said tournament award is selected from one of the group consisting of a monetary award, a physical award, an entry into a next round of the table tournament, an entry into another tournament, a number of tournament credits and a number of non-tournament credits.

72. The gaming system of claim 59, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable a plurality of players to place player to player wagers using non-tournament credits.

73. The gaming system of claim 59, wherein said at least one controller and said gaming machines are configured for each group of gaming machines for play of the table tournament to enable a plurality of players to place player to player wagers using tournament credits.