Tournament gaming system

1. A network gaming system, comprising:

a server having a plurality of regular games for selection by players of the gaming system, wherein the plurality of regular games are non-tournament games, and a plurality of tournament games for play by the players of the gaming system;

a plurality of gaming devices each in communication with the server, each gaming device is configured to:

provide game play of a selected regular game upon receipt of a selection of the selected regular game from the plurality of regular games by a player,

enter the player into a first tournament game upon receipt of a first tournament wager by the player, and enter the player into a second tournament game upon receipt of a second tournament wager, wherein the first tournament game and the second tournament games are part of distinct first and second tournaments, the first tournament and the second tournament are simultaneously conducted, thereby allowing the player to simultaneously participate in the first and second tournament games, and

present the player an option of entering a full tournament mode, wherein game play of the selected regular dame is suspended and dame play of the first tournament game and the second tournament game continues while in full tournament mode, and wherein game play of the regular game, the first tournament game, and the second tournament game continues when not in full tournament mode; and

a payout system to award a regular game winning player a regular prize, and to award a tournament winning player a tournament prize.

2. The network gaming system of claim 1 , wherein each gaming device communicates with the server to announce tournament starts, to monitor play of each tournament player, and to display standings of each tournament player.

3. The network gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the server schedules plural overlapping tournaments each having a selected period of play.

4. The network gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the server generates plural tournaments, with a master tournament comprising a group of plural tournaments and having a master tournament winner based on a selected criteria.

5. The network gaming system of claim 1 , wherein upon receipt of an indication that the player elects to enter the full tournament mode:

the gaming device suspends receipt of the regular wager during tournament play; and

the payout system suspends awarding of the regular prize.

6. The network gaming system of claim 1 , wherein upon receipt of a selected amount of tournament wagers, the gaming device offers the tournament player an option to suspend regular wagers and forfeit regular prizes during tournament play.

7. The network gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the gaming device requires the tournament player to enter personal identifying information which is communicated to the server.

8. The network gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the server permits tournament play upon receipt of tournament wagers by a predetermined number of gaming devices.

9. The network gaming system of claim 1 , wherein:

upon receipt of tournament wagers placed by a number of actual tournament players which is less than a selected minimum number of gaming devices, the server permits tournament play by including a number of virtual players, which when added to the number of actual tournament players equals the selected minimum number of gaming machines;

wagers and plays of each virtual player are determined by random number generation; and

virtual player prizes are retained by the server.

10. A method of conducting tournament gameplay comprising:

offering a plurality of regular games for selection on a plurality of gaming devices;

offering a plurality of tournament games for selection on the plurality of gaming devices, the plurality of tournament games comprising a first tournament game and a second tournament game, wherein the first tournament game and the second tournament game are part of distinct first and second tournaments;

providing game play of a selected regular game on a gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices in response to receiving a regular wager on the gaming device;

providing game play of the first tournament game on the gaming device in response to receiving a first tournament wager on the gaming device;

simultaneously providing game play of the second tournament game on the gaming device in response to receiving a second tournament wager on the respective gaming device;

presenting an option of entering a full tournament mode via a display of the gaming device, wherein game play of the selected regular game is suspended and game play of the first tournament game and the second tournament game continues while in full tournament mode, and wherein game play of the regular game, the first tournament game, and the second tournament game continues when not in full tournament mode;

awarding, from a game controller, a regular prize to a winner of the selected regular game;

awarding, from a tournament controller, a first tournament prize to a winner of the first tournament game; and

awarding, from the tournament controller, a second tournament prize to a winner of the second tournament game.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising scheduling the plural tournament games with start times spaced for overlapping simultaneous play of at least two of the plural tournament games.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

tracking gameplay factors; and

using tracked gameplay factors to determine the winners of the first and second tournament games.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the gameplay factors comprise at least one of the group comprising:

selected gaming events;

a total amount of first and second tournament wagers received during the respective first and second tournament games; and

a total amount of first and second tournament prizes received during the respective first and second selected tournament games.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising grouping tournament players into different tournament games based on game criteria.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the game criteria comprises at least one of the group comprising:

minimum wager denomination;

a selected pay table used for at least one of the selected regular game, the first tournament game, and the second tournament game; and

a start time of the first and second tournament games.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

counting a number of players entered in a selected tournament game; and

when the counted number of players equals or exceeds a minimum number of players, starting play of the selected tournament game.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

counting a number of actual players entered in a selected tournament game;

when the counted number of players is less than a minimum number of players, creating a number of virtual players which, when added to the number of actual players, equals the minimum number of players; and

randomly generating a play result for each of the virtual players.

18. A network gaming system, comprising:

gaming means for providing game play of a regular game of chance;

tournament means for simultaneously providing game play of a plurality of tournaments comprising, the plurality of tournaments including a first tournament game and a second tournament game, wherein the first and second tournament games are part of distinct first and second tournaments;

controller means for simultaneously conducting the plurality of tournaments;

display means for presenting players an option of entering a full tournament mode on a gaming device, wherein game play of the regular game is suspended and game play of the first tournament game and the second tournament game continues while in full tournament mode, and wherein game play of the regular game, the first tournament game, and the second tournament game continues when not in full tournament mode; and

payout means for awarding a regular prize to a regular game winner, and a tournament prize to a tournament winner.

19. The network gaming system of claim 18 , further comprising:

(A) counting means for counting a number of actual players entered in a selected tournament;

(B) determining means for determining whether the counted number of actual players meets or exceeds a minimum number;

(C) virtual means for creating a number of virtual players which when added to the number of actual players meets the minimum number; and

(D) means for generating random play results for each of the virtual players.

20. The network gaming system of claim 19 , further comprising: means for removing virtual players as new registered players are added to minimize the number of virtual players while maintaining the minimum number of players in the tournament.

21. The network gaming system of claim 18 , further comprising:

tracking means for monitoring and storing play factors for each player entered in at least one of the plural tournaments; and

calculating means for designating the tournament prize in response to play factors for each of the entered players.

22. The network gaming system of claim 18 , further comprising means for entering full tournament mode, comprising:

means for suspending regular waging on the regular game of chance; and

means for suspending awarding of regular prizes.

23. The network gaming system of claim 18 , further comprising:

means for grouping players by game factors into two or more groups each playing one of the plural tournaments; and

calculating means for designating the tournament prize in response to game factors for each gaming means played by entered players.