Method and apparatus for gaming machines with a tournament play bonus feature

• US 8,043,157 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Guinn, Robert, Roemer, Mick D., Mitchell, Michael J., Cannon, Lee E.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US11/055,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,448 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463 26- 28, 463/25, 463/9
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming method and device includes a game, at least one non-qualifying outcome in the game, and at least one qualifying outcome in the game, wherein a player qualifies for a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the at least one qualifying outcome.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of multi-game machines configured to provide a player with an option to play different types of primary games and an associated tournament game;

at least one non-qualifying outcome in a primary game; and

at least one qualifying outcome in a primary game, wherein a player qualifies to play the tournament game in a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the at least one qualifying outcome, the multi-player tournament being funded by a percentage of the amount wagered in play of a primary game without the need for a separate tournament entry fee and wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is the accumulation of a sufficient number of tournament entry points which is dependent upon the type of primary game being played such that the play of one type of primary game would not be more likely to result in the at least one qualifying outcome than the play of another, different type of primary game.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, which includes receiving a wager on the primary game.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, which includes a plurality of non-qualifying outcomes.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a primary game is a slot game.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is a tournament symbol obtained on a payline.

6. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is a plurality of tournament symbols obtained on a payline.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a primary game is a card game.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a primary game is selected from the group of games consisting of games of chance, games of skill and combined games of chance and skill.

9. The gamine system of claim 1, wherein the tournament game includes a game selected from the group of games consisting of games of chance, games of skill and combined games of chance and skill.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the tournament is selected from the group of tournaments consisting of a slot machine tournament, a poker tournament and a blackjack tournament.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, which includes a plurality of qualifying outcomes, wherein the player qualifies for the multi-player tournament when the player achieves one of the plurality of qualifying outcomes.

12. A method for providing a tournament entry in association with play of a gaming device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a controller configured to cause a display of a primary game and a tournament game for play of either the primary game or the tournament game at a plurality of gaming devices wherein the gaming devices are linked to each other and the controller over a gaming network in a tournament session and wherein the gaming devices are multi-game machines which provide a player with an option to play different types of primary games;

(b) storing at least one non-qualifying outcome of each primary game within the controller;

(c) storing at least one qualifying outcome of each primary game within the controller;

(d) randomly producing the at least one qualifying outcome of a primary game wherein the at least one qualifying outcome of a primary game is dependent upon the type of primary game being played such that the play of one type of primary game would not be more likely to result in the at least one qualifying outcome than the play of another, different type of primary game;

(e) providing the tournament entry for the play of a tournament game in a tournament session at a gaming device to a player achieving the at least one qualifying outcome of a primary game such that the gaming device is converted for tournament play; and

(f) providing the player when initially achieving the at least one qualifying outcome with an option to defer entry into a tournament for play of a tournament game to a future tournament session.

13. The method of claim 12, which includes the step of printing the tournament entry if the player achieves the at least one qualifying outcome.

14. The method of claim 12, which includes the step of selecting at least one future tournament.

15. The method of claim 12, which includes the step of providing an additional monetary award to the player when the player obtains the at least one qualifying outcome.

16. A tournament comprising:

a plurality of tournament gaming devices linked over a gaming network and adapted to be played by a plurality of contestants, the plurality of tournament gaming devices configured to provide a contestant with an option to play multiple primary games of different types and an associated tournament game, said contestants qualifying to participate in said tournament to play the tournament game by achieving a qualifying outcome of a primary game on one of a plurality of tournament gaming devices wherein said qualifying outcome is dependent upon the type of primary game being played, such that the play of one type of primary game would not be more likely to result in said qualifying outcome than the play of another, different type of primary game, each said qualifying tournament gaming device capable of producing said qualifying outcome and a plurality of non-qualifying outcomes of a primary game; and

at least one prize awarded to one of the contestants which play the linked tournament gaming devices wherein the tournament is funded by a percentage of the amount wagered during play of a primary game on the linked tournament gaming devices without the need for a separate tournament entry fee.

17. The tournament of claim 16, wherein the tournament game is selected from the group of tournament games consisting of a slot machine tournament, a poker tournament, and a blackjack tournament.