Player gaming console, gaming machine, networked gaming system

• US 9,098,964 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ROSS A
• Application Number:
  US12/264,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,465 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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

Abstract

Games, networked gaming systems, gaming machines and methods are disclosed that provide various player-centric games and rewards the casino patrons, as well as systems games, rewards, and tournaments to the casino patrons.

Claims

1. A networked gaming system, comprising:

a physical game network, wherein the physical game network connect various components of the networked gaming system;

one or more player console devices connected to the physical game network, each player console device having a base game display and a base game processor, wherein a player console device presents on the base game display, via the base game processor, one or more base games to a player, and each player console device including a secondary device having a secondary display and a secondary processor, the secondary device being operatively associated with the player console device;

a system gaming server connected to the one or more player console devices via the physical game network, the server gaming server having a server processor, wherein the system gaming server administrates, via the server processor, one or more bonus games at one or more player console devices; and

an activation system for recognizing at least one trigger that causes the system gaming server, via the server processor, to offer a bonus gaming opportunity to a player at one or more console player console devices;

wherein upon initiation by the activation system, a player console device presents, via the server processor, a bonus game to a player administrated by the system game server, wherein the bonus game includes a set of thresholds achievable by play of the base game, and wherein upon each of the thresholds being met, the presented bonus game is enabled for game play by the player;

wherein upon achieving one of the thresholds in the base game, a face down playing card is generated in the bonus game, wherein upon achieving all of the thresholds in the base game, a full hand of face down playing cards is generated in the bonus game;

wherein the playing cards are shown face up once the bonus game is fully initiated by the player, and wherein an award is provided based on any winning hands associated with a paytable.

2. The networked gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus game includes a bingo game with a set of bingo cards, the set of bingo cards being initially covered;

wherein upon achieving one of the thresholds, one or more of the bingo cards is partially uncovered;

wherein upon achieving all of the thresholds, all of the bingo cards are uncovered;

wherein a set of bingo card numbers on each of the bingo cards is determined and illuminated;

wherein the bingo game includes a set of selectable numbers, a subset of the selectable numbers being selected and corresponding locations on the bingo cards being designated;

wherein in the event that one or more sets of bingo card numbers are matched by the subset of the selectable numbers, then an award is provided.

3. The networked gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a player information system, wherein the player information system identifies the bonus game available and information for the player to activate the game.

4. The networked gaming system as in claim 3, the bonus game comprising a bingo game, wherein the player informational system provides information about the awards associated with each bingo card, and wherein potential awards comprise player points for one or more identified winning bingo cards and comprise a monetary amount for other identified of the winning bingo cards.

5. The networked gaming system of claim 3, the gaming apparatus main display including a player information system, causing the player information system to be provided to the player, the bonus game comprising a poker game;

the player information system providing information about requirements to activate the bonus game and further providing information about the awards associated with each winning hand of cards;

the awards comprising either player point or monetary values or a combination thereof depending upon the winning hand of cards.

6. The networked gaming system of claim 1, a partially appearing face down playing card appearing and associable with a player progress towards a achieving a threshold, the partially appearing playing card being complete upon the player achieving the threshold.

7. The networked gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a determination system, wherein the determination system provides information about an outcome of bonus game play, and wherein in the event of a winning result, the determination system includes an award distribution system that enables one or more players to receive an award.

8. The networked gaming system of claim 7, wherein the award distribution system includes a player identification system that enables player identification, a withdrawal system that enables a player to withdraw a portion of a player'"'"'s winnings, and a status system that presents player information on the status of a withdrawal.

9. The networked gaming system of claim 1, further comprising an advertising system, the advertising system including information about game play and potential awards.

10. A networked gaming system, comprising:

a physical game network, wherein the physical game network connect various components of the networked gaming system;

one or more player console devices connected to the physical game network, each player console device having a base game display and a base game processor, wherein a player console device presents on the base game display, via the base game processor, one or more base games to a player, and each player console device including a secondary device having a secondary display and a secondary processor, the secondary device being operatively associated with the player console device;

a system gaming server connected to the one or more player console devices via the physical game network, the server gaming server having a server processor, wherein the system gaming server administrates, via the server processor, one or more bonus games at one or more player console devices; and

an activation system for recognizing at least one trigger that causes the system gaming server, via the server processor, to offer a bonus gaming opportunity to a player at one or more console player console devices;

wherein a player console device includes a rewards level accumulator to apprise a player, via the game processor, as to a level that the player has achieved including player eligibility; and

a game initiator component that enables a player to initiate a bonus game immediately after the player becomes eligible to play the bonus game;

wherein upon achieving one of the thresholds in the base game, a face down playing card is generated in the bonus game, wherein upon achieving all of the thresholds in the base game, a full hand of face down playing cards is generated in the bonus game;

wherein the playing cards are shown face up once the bonus game is fully initiated by the player, and wherein an award is provided based on any winning hands associated with a paytable.

11. The networked gaming system of claim 10, including a game eligibility illuminator for providing an indication of progress towards eligibility for the bonus game.

12. The networked gaming system of claim 11, the game eligibility illuminator including one or more light sections illuminating upon a playing threshold being achieved by a player;

upon each light section being illuminated, the game initiator component being illuminated and enabling the player to play the bonus game.

13. The networked gaming system of claim 10, the reward level accumulator indicating the level achieved by a player, the level determining a paytable associated with the bonus game.

14. The networked gaming system of claim 10, wherein the bonus game is a bingo game.

15. The networked gaming system of claim 10, further comprising a pre-bonus game for providing a rewards level and bonus game eligibility information, wherein the rewards level corresponds to a wagering level of the player, and wherein the bonus game eligibility corresponds to a frequency of a primary game play.