System gaming

• US 8,678,901 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• 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 W., Luciano, Robert A. Jr., Tallcott, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US11/470,605
• Time in Patent Office: 2,757 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A method 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 method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

enabling, using a processor, play of a first game on a gaming machine;

enabling, using a separate processor, play of a bonus second game on a player tracking user interface that is operatively coupled to the gaming machine, wherein the gaming system enables a player to choose which bonus second game to play out of a plurality of bonus second games independent of player ranking and bonus level, wherein each of the plurality of bonus second games may be immediately initiated on demand, and wherein once the player chooses the bonus second game to play on demand, the chosen bonus second game is immediately presented to the player on the player tracking user interface using the separate processor;

earning bonus game credits as a percentage of base game wagers; and

modifying, using the separate processor, a bonus second game pay table using the separate processor of the player tracking user interface based upon the amount of earned bonus game credits.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein bonus game credits are deducted upon bonus game being played.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein bonus game credits are only expendable on bonus second games playable on the player tracking user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the bonus second game is played concurrently with the base game.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the bonus second game is chosen by the player while the base game is being played.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the bonus second game is activated by a player on demand.

4. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

enabling, using a processor, play of a first game on a gaming machine;

enabling, using a separate processor, play of a bonus second game on a player tracking user interface that is operatively coupled to the gaming machine, wherein the gaming system enables a player to choose which bonus second game to play out of a plurality of bonus second games independent of player ranking and bonus level, wherein each of the plurality of bonus second games may be immediately initiated on demand, wherein once the player chooses the bonus second game to play on demand, the chosen bonus second game is immediately presented to the player on the player tracking user interface using the separate processor, and wherein the gaming system enables the player to choose when the chosen bonus second game is activated for game play;

earning bonus points as a percentage of base game wagers; and

modifying, using the separate processor, a bonus second game pay table using the separate processor of the player tracking user interface based upon the amount of earned bonus points;

wherein the chosen bonus second game is a tournament game on demand, and wherein the tournament game on demand is accessible by the player throughout the life of the tournament.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the bonus points are deducted upon bonus game being played.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein bonus points are only expendable on bonus second games playable on the player tracking user interface.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the bonus second game is played concurrently with the base game.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the bonus second game is chosen by the player while the base game is being played.