System gaming

• US 8,622,801 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• 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: Kelly, Bryan M., Crowder, Robert W. Jr., Lockard, Dennis, Luciano, Robert A. Jr., Tallcott, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsu, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US13/328,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20120088572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/31, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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 casino gaming system, comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device enabling play of a base game and including a secondary display device having a secondary bonus game displayed thereon, wherein at least a first gaming device enables play of a first base game that has a first theoretical payout percentage, and wherein at least a second gaming device enables play of a second base game that has a second theoretical payout percentage; and

a promotional credit accrual engine;

wherein the engine accrues promotional credits in response to amounts of base game wagering;

wherein the play of the secondary bonus game is activate-able using the accrued promotional credits, wherein the secondary bonus game is a tournament game and awards a tournament prize to at least one tournament winner, and wherein calculation of each tournament score uses the theoretical payout percentage from each respective base game.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the secondary bonus game is player funded.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the secondary bonus game is promotionally funded.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the funding for the activation of the secondary bonus game is player-determined.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the funding for the activation of the secondary bonus game follows a hierarchy of ordering rules.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming system further comprises at least one server.

2. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines each capable of playing a base game and including a player tracking user interface operatively coupled to the gaming machine, wherein each player tracking user interface is capable of playing a plurality of secondary games, wherein at least a first gaming machine enables play of a first base game that has a first theoretical payout percentage, and wherein at least a second gaming machine enables play of a second base game that has a second theoretical payout percentage;

wherein the secondary game is a tournament game and awards a tournament prize to at least one tournament winner, wherein calculation of each tournament score uses the theoretical payout percentage from each respective base game;

wherein the activation is funded using player funds or promotional funds.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the secondary game is player funded.

4. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the secondary game is promotionally funded.

5. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the funding for the activation of the second game is player-determined.

6. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the funding for the activation of the second game follows a hierarchy of ordering rules.

7. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the gaming system further comprises at least one server.