GAMING SYSTEM HAVING BONUS AWARDS ENTERED INTO TOURNAMENT FEATURES

• US 20100120522A1
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Englman, Allon G., Vann, Jamie W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,449,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A gaming system for executing multi-mode bonus events comprises a wager input device, a primary display for displaying a primary wagering game and a bonus event, and at least one controller. The controller is operative to (i) detect receipt of a wager from a player of the gaming terminal, (ii) in response to the occurrence of a triggering event, initiate a bonus event, (iii) detect a selection between a standard bonus mode of operation and a tournament bonus mode of operation, (iv) if the standard bonus mode is selected, execute the bonus event on the primary display and provide any awards earned therein to the player, (v) if the tournament bonus mode is selected, execute the bonus event on the primary display and generate a tournament score for the player, and (vi) enter the player'"'"'s tournament score into at least one tournament.

Claims

1. A gaming system for executing multi-mode bonus events comprising:

a wager input device;

a primary display for displaying a primary wagering game and a bonus event; and

at least one controller operative to;

(i) detect receipt of a wager from a player of the gaming terminal;

(ii) in response to the occurrence of a triggering event, initiate a bonus event;

(iii) detect a selection between a standard bonus mode of operation and a tournament bonus mode of operation;

(iv) if the standard bonus mode is selected, execute the bonus event on the primary display and provide any awards earned therein to the player;

(v) if the tournament bonus mode is selected, execute the bonus event on the primary display and generate a tournament score for the player; and

(vi) enter the player'"'"'s tournament score into at least one tournament.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is further operative to collect a tournament fee from the player in response to the tournament bonus mode being selected.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the tournament fee is dependent upon the tournament score generated in the bonus event in tournament bonus mode.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the tournament score comprises an amount of points equal to a credit amount which would have been earned had the bonus event been executed in a standard bonus mode.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative to close entry into the tournament after a predetermined number of tournament scores are entered.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operative to close entry into the tournament after expiration of a period of time during which tournament entries are open for collection.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the tournament score equals a total credit amount earned by the player in the bonus event.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the tournament score is derived by cross-referencing a total credit amount earned by the player in the bonus event in a tournament points derivation table.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the tournament score is calculated based upon a total credit amount earned by the player in the bonus event and a volatility of the bonus event.

10. A method of executing a bonus-event-outcome tournament comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

displaying a primary wagering game;

upon the occurrence of a triggering event, initiating a bonus event;

detecting a selection between a standard bonus mode of operation and a tournament bonus mode of operation;

if the standard bonus mode is selected, executing and displaying the bonus event and providing any awards earned therein to the player;

if the tournament bonus mode is selected, executing and displaying the bonus event and generating a tournament score for the player; and

entering the player'"'"'s tournament score into at least one tournament.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising collecting a tournament fee from the player in response to the tournament bonus mode being selected.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tournament fee comprises a predetermined number of credits.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the tournament fee comprises a percentage of the tournament score.

14. A gaming system having bonus awards entered into tournament features, comprising:

a wager input device;

a first gaming terminal comprising a first display for displaying a first wagering game and a first bonus event;

a second gaming terminal comprising at least a second display for displaying a second wagering game and a second bonus event;

a tournament server in communication with the first and second gaming devices; and

at least one controller operative to;

(i) detect that each of the first and second gaming terminals is operating in a tournament bonus mode;

(ii) activate a tournament for a predetermined time period;

(iii) receive a first tournament entry comprising a first tournament score earned by a first player in the first bonus event;

(iv) receive a second tournament entry comprising a second tournament score earned by a second player in the second bonus event;

(v) analyze the first tournament score, the second tournament score, and any other tournament scores received to determine a finishing order and prize pool; and

(vi) award to at least one player a tournament bonus award, the tournament bonus award dependent upon the at least one player'"'"'s position in the finishing order.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further operative to communicate the finishing order to the first player, the second player, and any additional players participating in the tournament.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, further comprising a casino customer service facility in communication with the tournament server, wherein the finishing order is communicated to the first player, the second player and any additional player participating in the tournament via the casino customer service facility.

17. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further operative to display results of the active tournament on a third display in communication with the tournament server.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the third display comprises one of a home computer, a mobile device, a PDA, a laptop computer, a work computer, a handheld gaming device, and a community display.

19. A method of conducting a bonus-award-entry tournament comprising:

identifying participants in a tournament by receiving a player identifier from each such participant;

receiving from each participant in the tournament at least one wager to play a respective wagering game;

generating a tournament score for each participant comprising a total number of points earned by such player in a bonus event triggered during play of the wagering game;

receiving each participant'"'"'s tournament score; and

associating each participant'"'"'s tournament score with such participant'"'"'s player identifier and storing both such tournament score and identifier in memory.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising collecting a tournament fee from each participant.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining whether or not each participant'"'"'s tournament score is less than a minimum threshold tournament score.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising awarding a participant a credit award equal to such participant'"'"'s tournament score if such participant'"'"'s tournament score is less than the minimum threshold tournament score.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising refunding a participant the tournament fee if such player'"'"'s tournament score is less than the minimum threshold tournament score.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining a finishing order of the participants in the tournament by ordering each participants'"'"' tournament score from largest to smallest.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising awarding a portion of the participants a tournament bonus award based in part on the finishing order.