Gaming system and method employing event eligibility-based equity for a wagering game

• US 8,979,637 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mastropietro, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US12/918,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20110009187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,325 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• 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 system and method for conducting a wagering game includes providing a first event eligibility-based equity relative to a first wagering game and converting the first event eligibility-based equity to an exchange medium. The exchange medium may be cash or a second event eligibility-based equity relative to a second wagering game. The first event eligibility-equity may be stored for later use on the first wagering game.

Claims

1. A gaming system primarily dedicated to playing casino wagering games comprising:

a first gaming cabinet for housing components associated with a first casino wagering game;

a first electronic display device disposed on the first gaming cabinet;

a first electronic input device disposed on the first gaming cabinet, the electronic input device configured to receive a physical input from a player to initiate the first casino wagering game and transform the input into an electronic data signal;

a first random element generator configured to generate one or more random elements; and

a first set of one or more controllers configured to;

initiate the first casino wagering game in response to the electronic data signal from the electronic input device,

determine an outcome of the first casino wagering game based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements;

direct the first electronic display device to display the outcome; and

award a first event eligibility-based equity based on playing the first casino wagering game and achieving a winning outcome, the first event eligibility-based equity allowing a player to be eligible for a bonus event in the first casino wagering game if the first event eligibility-based equity is activated;

a converter system coupled to the first set of one or more controllers for changing the first event eligibility-based equity to a non-cash exchange medium if the first event eligibility-based equity is not activated in the first wagering game, the exchange medium allowing conversion to a second event eligibility-based equity for a second casino wagering game; and

a second gaming cabinet for housing components associated with the second casino wagering game;

a second electronic display device disposed on the second gaming cabinet;

a second electronic input device disposed on the second gaming cabinet, the electronic input device configured to receive a physical input from a player to initiate the second casino wagering game and transform the input into an electronic data signal;

a second random element generator configured to generate one or more random elements; and

a second set of one or more controllers configured to;

initiate the second casino wagering game in response to the electronic data signal from the second electronic input device,

determine an outcome of the second casino wagering game based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements;

direct the second electronic display device to display the outcome; and

accept the second event eligibility-based equity to allow a player to be eligible for a bonus event in the second casino wagering game if the player plays the second casino wagering game and the second event eligibility-based equity is activated in the second casino wagering game.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the converter system changes the first event eligibility equity to a second exchange medium, wherein the second exchange medium is cash.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the converter system changes the first event eligibility-based equity to a second exchange medium, wherein the second exchange medium is a credit related to the first event eligibility-based equity and usable for playing the first wagering game.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising a player information device for using the second event eligibility-based equity in playing the second wagering game.

5. The gaming system of claim 4 wherein the player information device is a smart card.

6. The gaming system of claim 4 wherein the first event eligibility-based equity is a first time slice of eligibility for the first wagering game, the first time slice of eligibility allowing a player to be eligible for the first bonus event for the duration of the first time slice, when activated by the player playing the first wagering game by inputting the wager;

and wherein the second event eligibility-based equity is a second time slice of eligibility for the second wagering game activated by the player playing the second wagering game by inputting the wager, the second time slice of eligibility allowing the player to be eligible for the second bonus in the second wagering game for the duration of the second time slice.

7. The gaming system of claim 4 wherein the player information device is a server in communication with the first and second wagering games.

8. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the first event eligibility-based equity is obtained through playing the first wagering game.

9. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the first event eligibility-based equity is purchased by a player.

10. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the first event eligibility-based equity is an entry in a lottery.

11. A method of employing a first event eligibility-based equity on a gaming system including a first gaming cabinet, a first random element generator, a first set of one or more controllers, a first electronic display device, and a first electronic input device, the first electronic display device and the first electronic input device disposed on the first gaming cabinet, a second gaming cabinet, a second random element generator, a second set of one or more controllers, a second electronic display device, and a second electronic input device, the second electronic display device and the second electronic input device disposed on the second gaming cabinet, and an exchange medium converter, the method comprising:

generating one or more random elements with the first random element generator;

receiving, via a physical input to the first electronic input device, a wager input to initiate a first casino wagering game;

determining, by one of the set of one or more controllers, an outcome of the first casino wagering game based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements;

displaying the outcome on the first electronic display device;

providing the first event eligibility-based equity in response to a winning outcome of the first casino wagering game, the first event eligibility-based equity allowing a player to be eligible for a bonus event in the first casino wagering game if the first event eligibility-based equity is activated;

converting the first event eligibility-based equity to a non-cash exchange medium via the exchange medium converter if the first event eligibility-based equity is not activated in the first casino wagering game, the exchange medium allowing conversion to a second event eligibility-based equity for a second casino wagering game;

generating one or more random elements with the second random element generator;

receiving, via a physical input to the second electronic input device, a wager input to initiate the second casino wagering game;

determining, by one of the second set of one or more controllers, an outcome of the second casino wagering game based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements;

displaying the outcome on the second electronic display device; and

accepting the second event eligibility-based equity allowing a player to be eligible for a bonus event in the second casino wagering game if the player plays the second casino wagering game and the second event eligibility-based equity is activated in the second casino wagering game.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first event eligibility-based equity is an entry in a lottery.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first event eligibility-based equity is a first time slice of eligibility for the first wagering game.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the second event eligibility-based equity is a second time slice of eligibility for the second wagering game.

15. A gaming system primarily dedicated to playing casino wagering games comprising:

a first gaming terminal offering a first casino wagering game with a special event, the first gaming terminal including;

a first gaming cabinet for housing components associated with the first casino wagering game;

a first electronic display device disposed on the first gaming cabinet;

a first electronic input device disposed on the first gaming cabinet, the electronic input device configured to receive a physical input from a player to initiate the first casino wagering game and transform the input into an electronic data signal;

one or more processors for providing a first event eligibility-based equity in response to a winning outcome of the first casino wagering game, the event eligibility equity allowing a player to be eligible for the special event of the first casino wagering game if the first event eligibility-based equity is activated;

means for converting the first event eligibility-based equity if the first event eligibility-based equity is not activated in the first wagering game, the means for converting further allowing converting the first even eligibility-based equity to a second event eligibility-based equity relative to a second casino wagering game; and

a second gaming terminal offering a casino wagering game, the second gaming terminal including;

a second gaming cabinet for housing components associated with the second casino wagering game;

a second electronic display device disposed on the second gaming cabinet;

a second electronic input device disposed on the second gaming cabinet, the electronic input device configured to receive a physical input from a player to initiate the second casino wagering game and transform the input into an electronic data signal, the second event eligibility-based equity allowing a player to be eligible for a bonus event in the second casino wagering game if the player plays the second casino wagering game and the second event eligibility-based equity is activated in the second casino wagering game.

16. The gaming system of claim 15 wherein the first event eligibility-based equity is a time slice of eligibility for playing a bonus game in the first wagering game.

17. The gaming system of claim 16 wherein the second event eligibility-based equity is an entry in a lottery of the second wagering game.

18. The gaming system of claim 16 wherein the second event eligibility-based equity is a time slice of eligibility for playing a bonus game in the second wagering game.

19. One or more non-transitory, computer readable storage media encoded with instructions for directing a gaming system to perform a method comprising:

storing a first event eligibility-based equity awarded from a winning outcome of a first wagering game, the first event eligibility-based equity allowing a player to be eligible for a bonus event in the first wagering game if the first event eligibility-based equity is activated; and

converting the first event eligibility-based equity to a non-cash exchange medium if the first event eligibility-based equity is not activated in the first wagering game, the exchange medium allowing conversion to a second event eligibility-based equity for a second wagering game, the second event eligibility-based equity allowing a player to be eligible for a bonus event in the second wagering game if the player plays the second wagering game and the second event eligibility-based equity is activated in the second wagering game.

20. The storage media of claim 19 wherein the first event eligibility-based equity is a first time slice of the first wagering game, the first time slice of eligibility allowing a player to be eligible for the first bonus event for the duration of the first time slice, when activated by the player playing the first wagering game by inputting the wager and the second event eligibility-based equity is a second time slice of the second wagering game activated by the player playing the second wagering game by inputting a wager, the second time slice of eligibility allowing the player to be eligible for the second bonus in the second wagering game for the duration of the second time slice.