SYSTEM GAMING

• US 20110269549A1
• Filed: 06/10/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert A. JR., Kelly, Bryan M., Tallcott, Jeffrey C., Crowder, Robert W. JR., Lockard, Dennis W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,662,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• 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

A system provides a player tracking system and system gaming apparatus for playing non-base games by funding the credit side of a gaming cycle. The system further includes at least one gaming device having a base game. The player tracking system and system gaming apparatus includes a player tracking user interface. The player tracking user interface provides a player with an opportunity to select and play a non-base game that may be promotional-funded or player-funded.

Claims

1. A system for enabling casino tournament gaming, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine enables play of a base game, wherein a first base game has a first set of parameters and a second base game has a second set of parameters, and wherein the first set of parameters differs from the second set of parameters;

a plurality of game monitoring units associated with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each game-monitoring unit monitors corresponding base game play data;

a plurality of player tracking display device, wherein each player tracking display device is associated with a corresponding gaming machine;

a tournament controller in communication with the gaming machines; and

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines;

wherein each gaming machine base game play data is converted into a normalized tournament score that is designed to substantially equalize differences resulting from the base games that have differing sets of parameters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the normalization of the tournament score includes normalizing for player wager amounts.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the normalized tournament scores are grouped and ranked.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the ranked tournament scores are displayed on the player tracking display device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one highest ranked player wins a tournament prize.

6. A system for enabling dynamic-grouped competitive gaming, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine enable play of a base game, wherein a first base game has a first set of parameters and a second base game has a second set of parameters, and wherein the first set of parameters differs from the second set of parameters;

a plurality of game monitoring units associated with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein each game-monitoring unit monitors corresponding base game play data;

a plurality of player tracking display device, wherein each player tracking display device is associated with a corresponding gaming machine;

a dynamic-grouping game controller in communication with the gaming machines; and

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines;

wherein each gaming machine base game play data is converted into a normalized dynamic-grouped game score that is designed to substantially equalize differences resulting from the base games that have differing sets of parameters; and

wherein the normalized dynamic-grouped game scores are ranked.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the normalization of the tournament score includes normalizing for player wager amounts.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the normalized dynamic-grouped game scores are grouped and ranked.