Gaming system and method providing a group bonus event for liked gaming devices

• US 9,142,094 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Zielinski, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US14/089,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20140087856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• 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 gaming system and method provides a competitive group bonus event for a plurality of players playing at linked gaming devices. Upon activation of the group bonus event, a first one of the players playing at one of the gaming devices can challenge one or more other players to participate in the group bonus event. Players who accept the challenge agree to compete for one or more awards associated with the group bonus event. The players play the primary games of their respective gaming devices independently of the group bonus event. The first player to trigger a bonus game on his or her gaming device wins the group bonus event and is provided with an award. The winner of the group bonus event additionally has the opportunity to play the triggered bonus game.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to receive, from a first one of a plurality of gaming devices each including an acceptor and a validator, a request from a first player of said first gaming device to challenge at least one player of at least one other one of the gaming devices to participate in a group competition;

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each challenged player, cause the gaming device of said challenged player to present the first player'"'"'s challenge to said challenged player and to enable said challenged player to accept or decline the first player'"'"'s challenge;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each challenged player, determine whether said challenged player accepts the first player'"'"'s challenge; and

(d) if any of the at least one challenged player accepts the first player'"'"'s challenge, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(i) initiate the group competition, wherein the first player and any challenged player who accepted the first player'"'"'s challenge can play a primary wagering game during the group competition following;

(1) receipt by an acceptor of the gaming machine of said player of a physical item associated with a monetary value, (2) identification by a validator of the gaming machine of said player of the received physical item, and (3) establishment of a credit balance for said player based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item;

(ii) for each of one or more plays of the primary wagering game during the group competition, increase an accumulated value pool associated with the group competition; and

(iii) when a secondary game triggering event occurs in association with one of the gaming devices participating in the group competition;

(A) indicate that the player of said gaming device is a winner of the group competition,

(B) cause the player of said gaming device to be provided with a group competition award based on the accumulated value pool, and

(C) enable the player of said gaming device to play a secondary game associated with said secondary game triggering event.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a group of players from which the first player may select the at least one challenged player.

3. The method of claim 2, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the group of players based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a status of the first player in a player tracking system, (b) a wager level of the first player, and (c) a likelihood of the first player winning the group competition.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each of the one or more plays of the primary wagering game during the group competition, increase the accumulated value pool by allocating a portion of a wager placed on said play of the primary wagering game to the accumulated value pool.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each of the one or more plays of the primary wagering game during the group competition, increase the accumulated value pool by allocating a secondary wager placed on said play of the primary wagering game to the accumulated value pool, the secondary wager being in addition to a primary wager placed on said play of the primary wagering game.

6. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause each of the gaming devices participating in the group competition to display the accumulated value pool.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary game triggering event occurs in association with play of the primary wagering game.

8. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to receive the request from the first player of the first gaming device after an occurrence of a group competition activation event.

9. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for the first player and any challenged player who accepted the first player'"'"'s challenge, determine said player'"'"'s likelihood of winning the group competition based on one of:

(a) a rate of primary wagering game play of said player during the group competition, and (b) a wager level of said player in the primary wagering game during the group competition.

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

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data network is an internet.

12. A gaming system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

(a) receive, from a first one of a plurality of gaming devices each including an acceptor and a validator, a request from a first player of said first gaming device to challenge at least one player of at least one other one of the gaming devices to participate in a group competition;

(b) for each challenged player, cause the gaming device of said challenged player to present the first player'"'"'s challenge to said challenged player and to enable said challenged player to accept or decline the first player'"'"'s challenge;

(c) for each challenged player, determine whether said challenged player accepts the first player'"'"'s challenge; and

(d) if any of the at least one challenged player accepts the first player'"'"'s challenge;

(i) initiate the group competition, wherein the first player and any challenged player who accepted the first player'"'"'s challenge can play a primary wagering game during the group competition following;

(1) receipt by an acceptor of the gaming machine of said player of a physical item associated with a monetary value, (2) identification by a validator of the gaming machine of said player of the received physical item, and (3) establishment of a credit balance for said player based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item;

(ii) for each of one or more plays of the primary wagering game during the group competition, increase an accumulated value pool associated with the group competition; and

(iii) when a secondary game triggering event occurs in association with one of the gaming devices participating in the group competition;

(A) indicate that the player of said gaming device is a winner of the group competition,

(B) cause the player of said gaming device to be provided with a group competition award based on the accumulated value pool, and

(C) enable the player of said gaming device to play a secondary game associated with said secondary game triggering event.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine a group of players from which the first player may select the at least one challenged player.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the group of players based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a status of the first player in a player tracking system, (b) a wager level of the first player, and (c) a likelihood of the first player winning the group competition.

15. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, for each of the one or more plays of the primary wagering game during the group competition, increase the accumulated value pool by allocating a portion of a wager placed on said play of the primary wagering game to the accumulated value pool.

16. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, for each of the one or more plays of the primary wagering game during the group competition, increase the accumulated value pool by allocating a secondary wager placed on said play of the primary wagering game to the accumulated value pool, the secondary wager being in addition to a primary wager placed on said play of the primary wagering game.

17. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause each of the gaming devices participating in the group competition to display the accumulated value pool.

18. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the secondary game triggering event occurs in association with play of the primary wagering game.

19. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to receive the request from the first player of the first gaming device after an occurrence of a group competition activation event.

20. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, for the first player and any challenged player who accepted the first player'"'"'s challenge, determine said player'"'"'s likelihood of winning the group competition based on one of:

(a) a rate of primary wagering game play of said player during the group competition, and (b) a wager level of said player in the primary wagering game during the group competition.