Granted Patent B2

US 8,506,394 · App. 12/268,331 · Granted Aug 13, 2013

Abstract

Claims (28)

1. A method of presenting a tournament game on a gaming device, the method comprising:

providing a base game in a normal, non-tournament mode;

determining whether a player is eligible to play a tournament game;

prompting the player to select multiple tournament games from a list of two or more available tournament games while the base game is active in the normal, non-tournament mode, wherein the player selects the multiple tournament games from the list of two or more tournament games for immediate initiation of tournament game play on demand, and wherein the tournament games are separate from the base game;

continuing to receive player wagers for base game play while the tournament games are played;

reconfiguring the gaming device from the normal mode to a tournament mode for the tournament games selected by the player;

processing game play in the tournament mode using a processor and creating a final tournament score for the player; and

reconfiguring the gaming device back into normal mode at the conclusion of the tournament games.

2. The method of claim 1 , issuing a tournament score receipt at the conclusion of tournament games.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a final score of the tournament games to a tournament server.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting a final score of the tournament games on one or more tournament displays.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting an award corresponding to each winning position of the tournament games at a conclusion of the tournament games.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein player eligibility is based on player account information received from the player.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein player eligibility is based on a number of tournament entry points accrued by the player during play of the base game.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein player eligibility is based on receiving a tournament entry voucher.

9. A method of presenting a tournament game on a gaming device, the method comprising:

registering a player for a tournament gaming session,

issuing and associating a tournament voucher to the player, wherein the tournament voucher includes entry into the tournament gaming session;

receiving tournament entry information at a gaming machine capable of presenting two or more tournament games while a base game is active in a normal, non-tournament mode, wherein the player selects multiple tournament games from two or more tournament games for immediate initiation of tournament game play on demand, and wherein the tournament games are separate from the base game;

continuing to receive player wagers for base game play while the tournament games are played;

reconfiguring the gaming device into a tournament mode in response to receiving the tournament voucher;

initiating the tournament games using a processor and accumulating a tournament score; and

issuing a tournament score receipt at the conclusion of the tournament games.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising presenting an award corresponding to each winning position of the tournament games at a conclusion of the tournament games.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising returning the gaming machine back to a normal gaming mode at the conclusion of tournament play.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising displaying player-specific and session-specific tournament information on a gaming machine display in response to receiving tournament entry information.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving tournament entry information further comprises receiving the tournament voucher in a gaming machine bill/ticket acceptor.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving tournament entry information further comprises receiving the tournament entry information via a touchscreen input device, a keypad, keyboard, mouse, stylus, or wireless message.

Assignments (9)