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

• US 9,111,416 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E., Roemer, Mick D., Guinn, Robert, Mitchell, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US14/079,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20140066186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) causing a processor to execute a plurality of instructions to, for each of a plurality of gaming devices configured to operate a primary game, following receipt, via an acceptor of said gaming device, of a first physical item associated with a first monetary value;

identification of the received first physical item; and

establishment of a credit balance for the player based at least in part on the first monetary value associated with the received and identified first physical item, track game play of a player of said gaming device, said game play being initiated following an actuation of a wager button of said gaming device;

(b) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each of the gaming devices, accumulate at least one point for the player of said gaming device upon an occurrence of a point accumulation event;

(c) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each player who has accumulated at least a designated quantity of points during a designated period prior to an occurrence of a secondary game initiation event, qualify said player for participation in a secondary game; and

(d) upon the occurrence of the secondary game initiation event, causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(i) for each qualified player, enter said qualified player in the secondary game, wherein the primary game and the secondary game are different types of games;

(ii) cause a secondary game display device to display an outcome of the secondary game;

(iii) determine one or more winning players of the secondary game based on the displayed outcome of the secondary game; and

(iv) for each winning player, cause an award to be provided to said winning player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the point accumulation event is associated with play of the primary game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary game is a pari-mutual game, and which includes, upon the occurrence of the secondary game initiation event, causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:

(A) for each qualified player, receive a selection of one of a plurality of different entrants from said qualified player;

(B) determine an outcome of the secondary game by determining a winning entrant; and

(C) determine the one or more winning players by determining which qualified players selected the winning entrant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the award includes one or more credits usable for play of the primary game.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated period is a period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, for each winning player, the award is a portion of a predetermined award pool.

7. The method of claim 1, which is provided through a data network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data network is an internet.

9. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

(a) a housing;

(b) a gaming device processor;

(c) a gaming device display device supported by the housing;

(d) a plurality of gaming device input devices supported by the housing, the plurality of gaming device input devices including an acceptor; and

(e) a gaming device memory device storing a gaming device plurality of instructions which, when executed by the gaming device processor, cause the gaming device processor to operate with the gaming device display device and the plurality of gaming device input devices to;

(i) if a first physical item associated with a first monetary value is received via the acceptor, identify the received first physical item and establish a credit balance based at least in part on the first monetary value associated with the received and identified first physical item;

(ii) if an actuation of a wager button is received, display a play of a primary game including a randomly determined primary game outcome; and

(iii) if an actuation of a cashout button is received, initiate a payment associated with the credit balance

a secondary game display device; and

a secondary game controller including;

(a) a controller processor; and

(b) a controller memory device storing a controller plurality of instructions which, when executed by the controller processor, cause the controller processor to;

(i) for each of the gaming devices, accumulate at least one point for a player of said gaming device upon an occurrence of a point accumulation event;

(ii) for each player who has accumulated at least a designated quantity of points during a designated period prior to an occurrence of a secondary game initiation event, qualify said player for participation in a secondary game; and

(iii) upon the occurrence of the secondary game initiation event;

(A) for each qualified player, enter said qualified player in the secondary game, wherein the primary game and the secondary game are different types of games;

(B) cause the secondary game display device to display an outcome of the secondary game;

(C) determine one or more winning players of the secondary game based on the displayed outcome of the secondary game; and

(D) for each winning player, cause an award to be provided to said winning player.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the point accumulation event is associated with play of the primary game.

11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the secondary game is a pari-mutuel game, and the controller plurality of instructions, when executed by the controller processor, cause the controller processor to:

(A) for each qualified player, receive a selection of one of a plurality of different entrants from said qualified player;

(B) determine an outcome of the secondary game by determining a winning entrant; and

(C) determine the one or more winning players by determining which qualified players selected the winning entrant.

12. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the award includes one or more credits usable for play of the primary game.

13. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the designated period is a period of time.

14. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein, for each winning player, the award is a portion of a predetermined award pool.

15. A secondary game controller comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

(a) for each of a plurality of gaming devices configured to operate a primary game, following receipt, via an acceptor of said gaming device, of a first physical item associated with a first monetary value;

identification of the received first physical item; and

establishment of a credit balance for the player based at least in part on the first monetary value associated with the received and identified first physical item, accumulate at least one point for a player of said gaming device upon an occurrence of a point accumulation event;

(b) for each player who has accumulated at least a designated quantity of points during a designated period prior to an occurrence of a secondary game initiation event, qualify said player for participation in a secondary game; and

(c) upon the occurrence of the secondary game initiation event;

(i) for each qualified player, enter said qualified player in the secondary game, wherein the primary game and the secondary game are different types of games;

(ii) cause a secondary game display device to display an outcome of the secondary game;

(iii) determine one or more winning players of the secondary game based on the displayed outcome of the secondary game; and

(iv) for each winning player, cause an award to be provided to said winning player.

16. The secondary game controller of claim 15, wherein the point accumulation event is associated with play of the primary game.

17. The secondary game controller of claim 15, wherein the secondary game is a pari-mutuel game, and the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

(A) for each qualified player, receive a selection of one of a plurality of different entrants from said qualified player;

(B) determine an outcome of the secondary game by determining a winning entrant; and

(C) determine the one or more winning players by determining which qualified players selected the winning entrant.

18. The secondary game controller of claim 15, wherein the award includes one or more credits usable for play of the primary game.

19. The secondary game controller of claim 15, wherein the designated period is a period of time.

20. The secondary game controller of claim 15, wherein, for each winning player, the award is a portion of a predetermined award pool.