Gaming system and method for offering simultaneous play of multiple games

• US 9,501,901 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2013
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cannon, Lee E., O'Donovan, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Seng H
• Application Number:
  US13/972,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20130337915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• 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 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• 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

Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

at least one display device including a designated display device supported by the housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, the plurality of input devices including an acceptor;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to;

(a) if a physical item associated with a monetary value is received by the acceptor, establish a credit balance for a player based at least in part on the monetary value;

(b) in association with a first window of the designated display device;

(i) if an actuation of a wager button is received, place a wager on a play of a first game, the credit balance being decreasable by the wager;

(ii) generate an outcome for said play of the first game;

(iii) display the generated outcome for said play of the first game in the first window of the designated display device;

(iv) determine any award associated with the displayed outcome of said play of the first game; and

(v) display any determined award, the credit balance being increasable by any determined award; and

(c) display information associated with a tournament in which the player is participating in a second different window of the designated display device, said displayed information including first information of at least one competing tournament game outcome generated for at least one play of at least one tournament game played by at least one other player participating in the tournament, wherein the first information is displayed independent of any player input to cause said first information to be displayed and each of the players participating in the tournament are competing against each other for a tournament award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the plurality of input devices to enable the player to enroll in the tournament via the second window.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when the tournament is in progress, the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display the information associated with the tournament by displaying one or more plays of a tournament game played by the player.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the plurality of input devices to enable the player to invite one or more other players of one or more other gaming systems to join the tournament.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide (b) and (c) concurrently.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the second window is graphically distinct from the first window.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the second window is graphically distinct from the first window in that the second window is one selected from the group consisting of:

(a) of a different size than the first window, (b) of a different screen illumination intensity than the first window, (c) of a different shape than the first window, (d) of a different color than the first window, and (e) outlined by a different border than the first window.

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

(a) if a physical item associated with a monetary value is received by an acceptor of the gaming system, causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to establish a credit balance for a player based at least in part on the monetary value;

(b) in association with a first window of a designated display device;

(i) if an actuation of a wager button is received, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to place a wager on a play of a first game, the credit balance being decreasable by the wager;

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate an outcome for said play of the first game;

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the designated display device to display the generated outcome for said play of the first game in the first window of the designated display device;

(iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any award associated with the displayed outcome of said play of the first game; and

(v) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the designated display device to display any determined award, the credit balance being increasable by any determined award; and

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the designated display device to display information associated with a tournament in which the player is participating in a second different window of the designated display device, said displayed information including first information of at least one competing tournament game outcome generated for at least one play of at least one tournament game played by at least one other player participating in the tournament, wherein the first information is displayed independent of any player input to cause said first information to be displayed and each of the players participating in the tournament are competing against each other for a tournament award.

9. The method of claim 8, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to enroll in the tournament via the second window.

10. The method of claim 8, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the designated display device to, when the tournament is in progress, display the information associated with the tournament by displaying one or more plays of a tournament game played by the player.

11. The method of claim 8, which includes enabling the player to invite one or more other players of one or more other gaming systems to join the tournament.

12. The method of claim 8, which includes providing (b) and (c) concurrently.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the second window is graphically distinct from the first window.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second window is graphically distinct from the first window in that the second window is one selected from the group consisting of:

(a) of a different size than the first window, (b) of a different screen illumination intensity than the first window, (c) of a different shape than the first window, (d) of a different color than the first window, and (e) outlined by a different border than the first window.

15. The method of claim 8, which is provided through a data network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data network is an internet.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) if a physical item associated with a monetary value is received by an acceptor, establish a credit balance for a player based at least in part on the monetary value;

(b) in association with a first window of a designated display device;

(i) if an actuation of a wager button is received, place a wager on a play of a first game, the credit balance being decreasable by the wager;

(ii) generate an outcome for said play of the first game;

(iii) cause the designated display device to display the generated outcome for said play of the first game in the first window of the designated display device;

(iv) determine any award associated with the displayed outcome of said play of the first game; and

(v) cause the designated display device to display any determined award, the credit balance being increasable by any determined award; and

(c) cause the designated display device to display information associated with a tournament in which the player is participating in a second different window of the designated display device, said displayed information including first information of at least one competing tournament game outcome generated for at least one play of at least one tournament game played by at least one other player participating in the tournament, wherein the first information is displayed independent of any player input to cause said first information to be displayed and each of the players participating in the tournament are competing against each other for a tournament award.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with at least one input device to enable the player to enroll in the tournament via the second window.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein when the tournament is in progress, the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause the designated display device to display the information associated with the tournament by displaying one or more plays of a tournament game played by the player.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with at least one input device to enable the player to invite one or more other players of one or more other gaming systems to join the tournament.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide (b) and (c) concurrently.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the second window is graphically distinct from the first window.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the second window is graphically distinct from the first window in that the second window is one selected from the group consisting of:

(a) of a different size than the first window, (b) of a different screen illumination intensity than the first window, (c) of a different shape than the first window, (d) of a different color than the first window, and (e) outlined by a different border than the first window.