METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GAMING MACHINES WITH A TOURNAMENT PLAY BONUS FEATURE
First Claim
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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;
(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; 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; and
(iv) provide the second tournament.
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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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
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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; 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; and (iv) provide the second tournament. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
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(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; 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; and (iv) providing the second tournament. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A gaming system comprising:
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a central controller; and a plurality of gaming machines, 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 players 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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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16. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the central controller operates with the plurality of gaming machines to:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification