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

• US 9,165,429 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• 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:
  US14/195,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20140179417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• 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 gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

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

(a) determine at least one first qualification criterion for a first tournament, the at least one first qualification based on primary game play separate from play of the first tournament;

(b) determine at least one second qualification criterion for a second tournament, the at least one second qualification criterion being based on primary game play separate from play of the second tournament, wherein the at least one first qualification criterion and the at least one second qualification criterion are different and the first tournament and the second tournament are different;

(c) upon an occurrence of a first triggering event;

(i) determine a first plurality of players based at least in part on the at least one first qualification criterion;

(ii) qualify each of the first plurality of players to play in the first tournament;

(iii) for each of the first plurality of qualified players, enable said player to participate in the first tournament using one of a first plurality of different gaming machines, each gaming machine of the first plurality of gaming machines including;

a housing, a display device supported by the housing and configured to display the first tournament, an acceptor supported by the housing and configured to receive and identify a physical item that indicates a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance, a cashout device supported by the housing and actuatable to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance, a processor, and a memory device; and

(iv) provide the first tournament; and

(d) upon an occurrence of a second triggering event;

(i) determine a second plurality of players based at least in part on the at least one second qualification criterion;

(ii) qualify each of the second plurality of players to play in the second tournament;

(iii) for each of the second plurality of qualified players, enable said player to participate in the second tournament using one of a second plurality of different gaming machines, each gaming machine of the second plurality of gaming machines including;

a housing, a display device supported by the housing and configured to display the first tournament, an acceptor supported by the housing and configured to receive and identify a physical item that indicates a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance, a cashout device supported by the housing and actuatable to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance, a processor, and a memory device; and

(iv) provide the second tournament.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

(a) for the first tournament;

(i) determine one or more winning players of the first tournament; and

(ii) for each of the one or more winning players of the first tournament, determine at least a portion of a first award pool to provide to said winning player; and

(b) for the second tournament;

(i) determine one or more winning players of the second tournament; and

(ii) for each of the one or more winning players of the second tournament, determine at least a portion of a second award pool to provide to said winning player, the second award pool being greater than the first award pool.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first qualification criterion is met at least in part by a player accumulating at least a first designated quantity of tournament entry points and the at least one second qualification criterion is met at least in part by a player accumulating at least a second designated quantity of tournament entry points, wherein the second designated quantity of tournament entry points is greater than the first designated quantity of tournament entry points.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein one or more tournament entry points can be accumulated through primary game play different than play of the first tournament and the second tournament.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first triggering event and the second triggering event occurs based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

expiration of a predetermined period of time;

a predetermined schedule;

a designated quantity of players choosing to participate in one of the tournaments; and

a random determination.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second plurality of qualified players is not included in the first plurality of qualified players.

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

(a) causing a processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine at least one first qualification criterion for a first tournament, the at least one first qualification based on primary game play separate from play of the first tournament;

(b) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine at least one second qualification criterion for a second tournament, the at least one second qualification being based on primary game play separate from play of the second tournament, wherein the at least one first qualification criterion and the at least one second qualification criterion are different and the first tournament and the second tournament are different;

(c) upon an occurrence of a first triggering event;

(i) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a first plurality of players based at least in part on the at least one first qualification criterion;

(ii) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to qualify each of the first plurality of players to play in the first tournament;

(iii) for each of the first plurality of qualified players, enabling said player to participate in the first tournament using one of a first plurality of different gaming machines, each gaming machine of the first plurality of gaming machines including;

a housing, a display device supported by the housing and configured to display the first tournament, an acceptor supported by the housing and configured to receive and identify a physical item that indicates a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance, a cashout device supported by the housing and actuatable to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance, a processor, and a memory device; and

(iv) providing the first tournament; and

(d) upon an occurrence of a second triggering event;

(i) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a second plurality of players based at least in part on the at least one second qualification criterion;

(ii) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to qualify each of the second plurality of players to play in the second tournament using one of a second plurality of different gaming machines, each gaming machine of the second plurality of gaming machines including;

a housing, a display device supported by the housing and configured to display the first tournament, an acceptor supported by the housing and configured to receive and identify a physical item that indicates a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance, a cashout device supported by the housing and actuatable to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance, a processor, and a memory device;

(iii) for each of the second plurality of qualified players, enabling said player to participate in the second tournament; and

(iv) providing the second tournament.

8. The method of claim 7, which includes causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:

(a) for the first tournament;

(i) determine one or more winning players of the first tournament; and

(ii) for each of the one or more winning players of the first tournament, determine at least a portion of a first award pool to provide to said winning player; and

(b) for the second tournament;

(i) determine one or more winning players of the second tournament; and

(ii) for each of the one or more winning players of the second tournament, determine at least a portion of a second award pool to provide to said winning player, the second award pool being greater than the first award pool.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one first qualification criterion is met at least in part by a player accumulating at least a first designated quantity of tournament entry points and the at least one second qualification criterion is met at least in part by a player accumulating at least a second designated quantity of tournament entry points, wherein the second designated quantity of tournament entry points is greater than the first designated quantity of tournament entry points.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein one or more tournament entry points can be accumulated through primary game play different than play of the first tournament and the second tournament.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first triggering event and the second triggering event occurs based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

expiration of a predetermined period of time;

a predetermined schedule;

a designated quantity of players choosing to participate in one of the tournaments; and

a random determination.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the second plurality of qualified players is not included in the first plurality of qualified players.

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

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the data network is an internet.

15. A gaming system comprising:

a central controller; and

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including;

a housing,

a display device supported by the housing,

an acceptor supported by the housing and configured to receive and identify a physical item that indicates a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance,

a cashout device supported by the housing and actuatable to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance,

a processor, and

a memory device,

wherein the central controller operates with the plurality of gaming machines to;

(a) determine at least one first qualification criterion for a first tournament, the at least one first qualification being based on primary game play separate from play of the first tournament;

(b) determine at least one second qualification criterion for a second tournament, the at least one second qualification being based on primary game play separate from play of the second tournament, wherein the at least one first qualification criterion and the at least one second qualification criterion are different and the first tournament and the second tournament are different;

(c) upon an occurrence of a first triggering event;

(i) determine a first plurality of players of a first plurality of the gaming machines based at least in part on the at least one first qualification criterion;

(ii) qualify each of the first plurality of players to play in the first tournament;

(iii) for each of the first plurality of qualified players, enable said player to participate in the first tournament using said player'"'"'s gaming machine; and

(iv) provide the first tournament; and

(d) upon an occurrence of a second triggering event;

(i) determine a second plurality of players of a second plurality of the gaming machines based at least in part on the at least one second qualification criterion;

(ii) qualify each of the second plurality of players to play in the second tournament;

(iii) for each of the second plurality of qualified players, enable said player to participate in the second tournament using said player'"'"'s gaming machine; and

(iv) provide the second tournament.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the central controller operates with the plurality of gaming machines to:

(a) for the first tournament;

(i) determine one or more winning players of the first tournament; and

(ii) for each of the one or more winning players of the first tournament, determine at least a portion of a first award pool to provide to said winning player; and

(b) for the second tournament;

(i) determine one or more winning players of the second tournament; and

(ii) for each of the one or more winning players of the second tournament, determine at least a portion of a second award pool to provide to said winning player, the second award pool being greater than the first award pool.

17. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the at least one first qualification criterion is met at least in part by a player accumulating at least a first designated quantity of tournament entry points and the at least one second qualification criterion is met at least in part by a player accumulating at least a second designated quantity of tournament entry points, wherein the second designated quantity of tournament entry points is greater than the first designated quantity of tournament entry points.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein one or more tournament entry points can be accumulated through primary game play different than play of the first tournament and the second tournament.

19. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first triggering event and the second triggering event occurs based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

expiration of a predetermined period of time;

a predetermined schedule;

a designated quantity of players choosing to participate in one of the tournaments; and

a random determination.

20. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the second plurality of qualified players is not included in the first plurality of qualified players.

21. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

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

(a) determine at least one first qualification criterion for a first tournament;

(b) determine at least one second qualification criterion for a second tournament, wherein the at least one first qualification criterion and the at least one second qualification criterion are different and the first tournament and the second tournament are different;

(c) upon an occurrence of a first triggering event;

(i) determine a first plurality of players based at least in part on the at least one first qualification criterion;

(ii) qualify each of the first plurality of players to play in the first tournament;

(iii) for each of the first plurality of qualified players, enable said player to participate in the first tournament using one of a first plurality of different gaming machines, each gaming machine of the first plurality of gaming machines including;

a housing, a display device supported by the housing and configured to display the first tournament, an acceptor supported by the housing and configured to receive and identify a physical item that indicates a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance, a cashout device supported by the housing and actuatable to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance, a processor, and a memory device; and

(iv) provide the first tournament; and

(d) upon an occurrence of a second triggering event;

(i) determine a second plurality of players based at least in part on the at least one second qualification criterion;

(ii) qualify each of the second plurality of players to play in the second tournament;

(iii) for each of the second plurality of qualified players, enable said player to participate in the second tournament using one of a second plurality of different gaming machines, each gaming machine of the second plurality of gaming machines including;

a housing, a display device supported by the housing and configured to display the first tournament, an acceptor supported by the housing and configured to receive and identify a physical item that indicates a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance, a cashout device supported by the housing and actuatable to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance, a processor, and a memory device; and

(iv) provide the second tournament,

wherein at least one of the first triggering event and the second triggering event occurs based on at least one selected from the group consisting of;

expiration of a predetermined period of time;

a predetermined schedule;

a designated quantity of players choosing to participate in one of the tournaments; and

a random determination.

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

(a) causing a processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine at least one first qualification criterion for a first tournament;

(b) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine at least one second qualification criterion for a second tournament, wherein the at least one first qualification criterion and the at least one second qualification criterion are different and the first tournament and the second tournament are different;

(c) upon an occurrence of a first triggering event;

(i) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a first plurality of players based at least in part on the at least one first qualification criterion;

(ii) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to qualify each of the first plurality of players to play in the first tournament;

(iii) for each of the first plurality of qualified players, enabling said player to participate in the first tournament using one of a first plurality of different gaming machines, each gaming machine of the first plurality of gaming machines including;

a housing, a display device supported by the housing and configured to display the first tournament, an acceptor supported by the housing and configured to receive and identify a physical item that indicates a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance, a cashout device supported by the housing and actuatable to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance, a processor, and a memory device; and

(iv) providing the first tournament; and

(d) upon an occurrence of a second triggering event;

(i) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a second plurality of players based at least in part on the at least one second qualification criterion;

(ii) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to qualify each of the second plurality of players to play in the second tournament;

(iii) for each of the second plurality of qualified players, enabling said player to participate in the second tournament using one of a second plurality of different gaming machines, each gaming machine of the first plurality of gaming machines including;

a housing, a display device supported by the housing and configured to display the first tournament, an acceptor supported by the housing and configured to receive and identify a physical item that indicates a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance, a cashout device supported by the housing and actuatable to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance, a processor, and a memory device; and

(iv) providing the second tournament,

wherein at least one of the first triggering event and the second triggering event occurs based on at least one selected from the group consisting of;

expiration of a predetermined period of time;

a predetermined schedule;

a designated quantity of players choosing to participate in one of the tournaments; and

a random determination.

23. A gaming system comprising:

a central controller; and

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including;

a housing,

a display device supported by the housing,

an acceptor supported by the housing and configured to receive and identify a physical item that indicates a monetary value to facilitate establishing a credit balance,

a cashout device supported by the housing and actuatable to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance,

a processor, and

a memory device,

wherein the central controller operates with the plurality of gaming machines to;

(a) determine at least one first qualification criterion for a first tournament;

(b) determine at least one second qualification criterion for a second tournament, wherein the at least one first qualification criterion and the at least one second qualification criterion are different and the first tournament and the second tournament are different;

(c) upon an occurrence of a first triggering event;

(i) determine a first plurality of players of a first plurality of the gaming machines based at least in part on the at least one first qualification criterion;

(ii) qualify each of the first plurality of players to play in the first tournament;

(iii) for each of the first plurality of qualified players, enable said player to participate in the first tournament using said player'"'"'s gaming machine; and

(iv) provide the first tournament; and

(d) upon an occurrence of a second triggering event;

(i) determine a second plurality of players of a second plurality of the gaming machines based at least in part on the at least one second qualification criterion;

(ii) qualify each of the second plurality of players to play in the second tournament;

(iii) for each of the second plurality of qualified players, enable said player to participate in the second tournament using said player'"'"'s gaming machine; and

(iv) provide the second tournament,

wherein at least one of the first triggering event and the second triggering event occurs based on at least one selected from the group consisting of;

expiration of a predetermined period of time;

a predetermined schedule;

a designated quantity of players choosing to participate in one of the tournaments; and

a random determination.