Gaming device having main game activating a bonus event

• US 7,011,581 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Tarantino, Elia Rocco, Cole, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blau, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Dolores R.
• Application Number:
  US10/316,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/13
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A game and gaming apparatus include a main game and a bonus game. A player is entitled to participate in the bonus game without an additional wager beyond that required to play the main game. Winning outcomes of the main game determine the indicia used to play the bonus game. In one embodiment upon a winning outcome of the main game, an indicia, such as an image of a winning amount, is transferred to the bonus game. In another embodiment, the bonus event includes categories associated with winning outcomes of the main game, the categories activated based upon wins of the main game. In one embodiment, the main game is a game of video poker. Winning hands are associated with or activate positions of the bonus game. Play of the bonus game comprises selection of at least one of the indicia or positions/categories which have been activated.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game comprising the steps of:

accepting a wager;

presenting a main game including the step of displaying at least a first set of cards to generate a main game hand;

determining the outcome of said main game comprising comparing said main game hand to a set of predetermined winning hands;

if said main game hand is a predetermined winning hand, awarding said player a winning amount and additionally displaying an indicia representing said winning amount; and

playing a bonus event using said displayed indicia and awarding said player said winning amount represented by said displayed indicia.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said presenting step comprises displaying a first set of five cards, accepting an election to hold none, one or more of said cards, and replacing each non-held card to create a five card main game hand.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of displaying an indicia comprises displaying said winning awarded to said player in a bonus area.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of using said displayed indicia comprises randomly selecting one of said displayed indicia.

5. A method of playing a game comprising the steps of:

accepting a wager;

presenting a main game including the step of displaying at least a first set of cards to generate a main game hand;

determining the outcome of said main game comprising comparing said main game hand to a set of predetermined winning hands;

if said main game hand is a predetermined winning hand, awarding said player a winning amount and activating at least one area of a bonus event having a plurality of areas;

playing said bonus event by randomly selecting at least one of said activated areas of said bonus event; and

paying said player a winning amount corresponding to said selected activated area as a result of playing said bonus event.

6. The method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said main game is a game of video poker.

7. The method in accordance with claim 5 wherein each of said areas of said bonus event is associated with at least one winning hand, and wherein said step of activating comprises activating at least one area associated with a winning hand received while playing said main game.

8. A method of playing a game comprising the steps of:

accepting a wager;

presenting a main game using a plurality of indicia;

determining if the outcome of said main game is a winning outcome;

awarding an award if said outcome of said main game is a winning outcome;

providing a bonus event having a plurality of categories, each category associated with one or more possible winning outcomes of said main game;

if said winning outcome of said main game corresponds to one of said categories of said bonus event, activating one or more of said corresponding categories; and

playing said bonus event by randomly selecting at least one of said activated categories of said bonus event.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said main game is a slot type game in which indicia are randomly displayed and said outcome of said main game is determined by the indicia which are displayed, and wherein said areas of said main game are associated with indicia used to play said main game.

10. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said main game is a game of video poker using card indicia and said winning outcomes comprise card hands.

11. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of activating comprises illuminating said one or more categories.

12. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of activating comprises posting a winning amount to said category.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said winning amount comprises said award awarded as a result of receiving said winning outcome while playing said main game.

14. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein at least one of said categories of said bonus event is a win all category and said category is activated at all times and wherein if said category is selected in the play of said bonus event a bonus award is awarded which totals the amount of all awards associated with all activated categories.

15. The method in accordance with claim 8 including allocating at least a portion of a wager to a progressive pool and wherein at least one of said categories of said bonus event is a progressive win category and said category is activated at all times and wherein if said category is selected in the play of said bonus event said progressive pool amount is awarded.