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

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines configured to provide a player with an option to play a primary game and an associated tournament game;

at least one non-qualifying outcome in the primary game;

at least one qualifying outcome in the primary game, wherein a player qualifies to play the tournament game in a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the at least one qualifying outcome; and

wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is an accumulation of a sufficient number of tournament entry points such that the player is able to accrue tournament entry points beyond an initial first-tier tournament in order to opt out of the first-tier tournament and qualify for play of a second-tier tournament which requires a greater tournament entry point total for entry and which offers a larger award than the initial first-tier tournament.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine is configured to receive a wager on the primary game.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 , which includes a plurality of non-qualifying outcomes.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the primary game is a slot game.

5. The gaming system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is a tournament symbol obtained on a payline.

6. The gaming system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is a plurality of tournament symbols obtained on a payline.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the primary game is a card game.

8. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the primary game is selected from the group of games consisting of games of chance, games of skill and combined games of chance and skill.

9. The gamine system of claim 1 , wherein the tournament game includes a game selected from the group of games consisting of games of chance, games of skill and combined games of chance and skill.

10. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the tournament is selected from the group of tournaments consisting of a slot machine tournament, a poker tournament and a blackjack tournament.

11. The gaming system of claim 1 , which includes a plurality of qualifying outcomes, wherein the player qualifies for the tournament when the player achieves one of the plurality of qualifying outcomes.

12. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines configured to provide a first player with an option to play a primary game and an associated tournament game;

at least one non-qualifying outcome in the primary game;

at least one qualifying outcome in the primary game, wherein the first player qualifies to play the tournament game in a multi-player tournament when the first player achieves the at least one qualifying outcome and the at least one qualifying outcome being the accumulation of a sufficient number of tournament entry points;

wherein the first player is allowed to accumulate excess tournament entry points for play of a multi-player tournament to be held in the future; and

wherein the excess tournament entry points may be transferred to a second player if the first player does not enter the multi-player tournament.

13. The gaming system of claim 12 , wherein the primary game is a slot game.

14. The gaming system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is a tournament symbol obtained on a payline.

15. The gaming system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one qualifying outcome is a plurality of tournament symbols obtained on a payline.

16. A method for providing a tournament entry in association with play of a gaming device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) causing a display of a primary game and a tournament game for play of either the primary game or the tournament game at a plurality of gaming devices wherein the gaming devices are linked to each other and a controller over a gaming network in a tournament session;

(b) storing at least one non-qualifying outcome of the primary game within the controller;

(c) storing at least one qualifying outcome of the primary game within the controller;

(d) randomly producing the at least one qualifying outcome of the primary game;

(e) providing a tournament entry for the play of the tournament game in a tournament session at a gaming device to a player achieving the at least one qualifying outcome of the primary game such that the gaming device is converted for tournament play; and

(f) providing the player when initially achieving the at least one qualifying outcome with an option to accrue tournament entry points beyond an initial first-tier tournament in order to opt out of the first-tier tournament and qualify for play of a second-tier tournament which requires a greater tournament entry point total for entry and which offers a larger award than the initial first-tier tournament.

17. The method of claim 16 , which includes the step of printing the tournament entry if the player achieves the at least one qualifying outcome.

18. The method of claim 16 , which includes the step of selecting at least one future tournament.

19. The method of claim 16 , which includes the step of providing an additional monetary award to the player when the player obtains the at least one qualifying outcome.

20. A method for providing a tournament entry in association with play of a gaming device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) causing a display of a primary game and a tournament game for play of either the primary game or the tournament game at a plurality of gaming devices wherein the gaming devices are linked to each other and a controller over a gaming network in a tournament session;

(b) storing at least one non-qualifying outcome of the primary game within the controller;

(c) storing at least one qualifying outcome of the primary game within the controller;

(d) randomly producing the at least one qualifying outcome of the primary game;

(e) providing a tournament entry for the play of the tournament game in a tournament session at a gaming device to a first player achieving the at least one qualifying outcome of the primary game such that the gaming device is converted for tournament play; and

(f) providing the first player when initially achieving the at least one qualifying outcome, in which the at least one qualifying outcome is the accumulation of a sufficient number of tournament entry points, with an option to accumulate excess tournament entry points for play of a multi-player tournament to be held in the future and transfer the excess tournament entry points to a second player if the first player does not enter the multi-player tournament.