SYSTEM GAMING

• US 20110281654A1
• Filed: 06/10/2011
• Published: 11/17/2011
• 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: Luciano, Robert A. JR., Kelly, Bryan M., Tallcott, Jeffrey C., Crowder, Robert W. JR., Lockard, Dennis W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,622,806 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 providing an instant-close tournament such that an actual player is always the last player to enter the tournament, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the instant-close tournament has a number of player spots;

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, wherein the tournament controller is configured to execute the tournament; and

a tournament history table that stores previous tournament information for a plurality of previous players in the tournament, wherein the previous tournament information is selected by the tournament controller to configure one or more simulated players in the tournament to fill each player spot in the tournament, except for a final player spot that is filled by the actual player, thereby ensuring that the actual player is the last player to enter and join the tournament.

2. A system for providing an instant-close tournament, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the instant-close tournament has a number of player spots;

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, wherein the tournament controller is configured to execute the tournament; and

a tournament history table that stores previous tournament information for a plurality of previous players in the tournament, wherein the previous tournament information is selected by the tournament controller to configure one or more simulated players in the tournament to fill in multiple player spots in the tournament to conclude the tournament more quickly.

3. A system for providing an instant-close tournament such that an actual player is always the last player to enter the tournament, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines;

a communication link connecting the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the instant-close tournament has a number of player spots;

a tournament controller connected to the communication link, wherein the tournament controller is configured to execute the tournament; and

a tournament history table that stores previous tournament information for a plurality of previous players in the tournament, wherein the previous tournament information is selected by the tournament controller to configure one or more simulated players in the tournament to fill each player spot in the tournament, except for a final player spot that is filled by the actual player, thereby ensuring that the actual player is the last player to enter and join the tournament, wherein the tournament is displayed in a player tracking user interface that is embedded in the casino gaming machine.