AFFILIATED GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130029745A1
• Filed: 03/14/2011
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M., Crowder, Robert W. Jr., Lockard, Dennis W., Luciano, Robert A. Jr., Tallcott, Jeffrey C.
• Application Number:
  US13/047,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20130029745A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A system and method for providing a secondary gaming feature across affiliated properties, which includes enabling secondary game elements based upon based upon the wagering activity of the player at a base game. When the elements have been enabled a winning or losing outcome for the secondary game may be derived. In certain embodiments the player may select from one or more secondary games. The player may wager upon the secondary game using promotional funds. The secondary game may be a progressive game whose prize is funded based upon player wagering activity.

Claims

1. A system method for providing a progressive game feature among affiliated venues each venue including a plurality of gaming device, each gaming device client including apparatus for accepting a wager of base game funds to play a base game, said system comprising:

a system interface device associated with each gaming device, said system interface device including an associated display for the play of a secondary game and an input device, said secondary game producing winning and losing outcomes;

a communication network to provide communication between said interface devices and a host server;

a data structure accessible to said host server and storing player account data including data corresponding to an amount of promotional funds,

said interface devices including apparatus to cause said host server to associate a player of a gaming device with said player'"'"'s account said host server configured to award promotional funds to a player account related to the player'"'"'s play of said base game;

one or both of said server and interface device further configured to (i) activate said secondary game having a plurality of game elements, enablement of said elements providing for a secondary game winning or losing outcome to be generated and displayed at said associate display, (ii) based upon wagers for said base game, enable said game elements toward rendition of said winning or losing outcome and (iii) issue an award to player who obtains a secondary game winning outcome.

2. The system of claim 1 comprising one or both of said server and interface device configured to activate a poker-based secondary game including a display of playing cards and based upon wagers for said base game revealing playing cards to complete a poker holding winning or losing outcome.

3. The system of claim 1 comprising one or both of said server and interface device configured to activate a Bingo-based secondary game including a display of at least one Bingo card and based upon wagers for said base game revealing Bingo balls, compare said revealed Bingo balls to said Bingo card and if a predetermined winning pattern is obtained issue an award.

4. The system of claim 1 comprising said interface device configured to enable the player to apply promotional funds from their said player account to activate said secondary game elements.

5. The system of claim 1 comprising said interface device is configured to enable the player to select from a plurality of secondary games.

6. The system of claim 1 comprising said interface device configured to enable said player to debit funds from their corresponding promotional account to wager upon the outcome of said secondary game.

7. The system of claim 1 comprising said secondary game includes a progressive prize funded by a percentage of said base game wagers.

8. The system of claim 1 comprising said secondary game includes graphic images associated with said affiliated venues.

9. An improved system for providing bonus opportunities to players at affiliated venues, each venue including a plurality of gaming devices adapted to accept one or more base wagers and produce base game outcomes, said improvement comprising:

a player tracking host server and associated data structure storing for each of a plurality of players player account information including an amount of promotional funds;

a communication network;

at each gaming device a system interface device in communication with said host server and gaming device client to provide to said host server data corresponding to at least base wager activity of the player, one of said server and interface device configured to increase the amount of promotional funds in a player'"'"'s account based upon said base game wager activity;

a system gaming server in communication with said network and host server, one or both of said system gaming server and interface device controlling a display and configured to (i) activate said secondary game having a plurality or game elements, activation of said elements providing for a system game winning or losing outcome to be generated and displayed at said display, (ii) based upon wagers for said base game activate said elements until said winning or losing outcome is obtained and (iii) issue an award to player for a secondary game winning outcome.

10. The improved system of claim 9 comprising one or both of said system gaming server and interface device are configured to activate said elements during continued play by a player of said gaming device.

11. The improved system of claim 9 comprising said secondary game includes a progressive prize funded by a percentage of said base game wagers.

12. An improved method for providing bonus opportunities to players at affiliated venues, each venue including a plurality of gaming devices adapted to accept one or more base wagers and produce base game outcomes, said improvement comprising:

providing for the storage for each of a plurality of players player account information including an amount of promotional funds in a data structure;

locating at each gaming device a system interface device and enabling said devices to communicate with said data structure and gaming device to provide to said data structure data corresponding to at least base wager activity of the player at the gaming device to adjust the amount of promotional funds in a player'"'"'s account based upon said base game wagers;

including a system gaming server in communication with said network and data structure and configuring one or both of said system gaming server and interface device to (i) activate said secondary game having a plurality or game elements, activation of said elements generating a system game winning or losing outcome and displaying said outcome at a display, (ii) based upon wagers for said base game activating said elements until said winning or losing outcome is obtained and (iii) issuing an award to player obtaining a winning outcome.