| Method of operating a gaming machine with a secondary lottery -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method of operating a gaming machine with a secondary lotteryRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance ApplicationMethod of operating a gaming machine with a secondary lottery description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070191084, Method of operating a gaming machine with a secondary lottery. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/636,828, filed Aug. 6, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/553,915, filed Apr. 20, 2000 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,001 on Aug. 12, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/439,934, filed on Nov. 12, 1999 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,047 on Dec. 2, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/298,604 filed on Apr. 23, 1999, now abandoned, all of which are incorporated herein by this reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to methods for playing of wagering games. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods for playing a game which offers a secondary game award consisting of a lottery ticket of indeterminate value. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Casino games are constantly seeking new and innovative award mechanisms to attract additional wagering activity. Gaming machines typically have bonus awards and bonus rounds; progressive jackpots are accumulated for all machines in a designated group, in a given casino, in a given town; casinos are offering bonus awards to all players actively gambling at the point in time that a jackpot is won. The tradeoff with such bonuses is to provide incentives which maximally incent play, at minimal incremental cost. [0004] Traditional gaming machine play typically involves wagering on the spin of a mechanical or video-simulated reel or the simulated deal of cards. Player decision making need not be involved, other than the decision to play. In cases where no skill is involved, the outcome is based solely upon chance. Even where skill may be involved, chance is still a dominant factor in results achieved. [0005] The awarding of prizes in a multi-machine environment using methods such as progressive jackpots is a known practice in casinos today. Such multi-machine implementations do not take full advantage of the potential created by the collective play of a plurality of gaming machines. In most cases, only minimal player interest is garnered by the additional potential award, and the amount of additional interest is directly related to the size and likelihood of winning the proferred award. [0006] Additionally, the progressive jackpots offering the large awards which do attract attention typically involve traditional computer-controlled slot machines, which, although popular, do not involve a substantial skill element. [0007] Furthermore, while traditional single gaming machine play is a solitary activity, jackpots create competition between players, but not against the house. If one player wins a jackpot, the other players know that one of them lost the jackpot. There is no spirit of camaraderie, of playing against a common opponent, namely the monolithic, impersonal, house. The implementation of such "common enemy" gaming would be more socially interactive, and would facilitate a fun gaming dynamic. [0008] There is thus a need for a secondary bonus award for gaming machines which award participation in a lottery-style event where the mechanics of the award procedure do not guarantee a winner, but rather select of winning entry of the possible entries, rather than the actual entries. By selecting from potential entries rather than actual entries, the expected value of the bonus is reduced in accordance with the number of entries issued, a reflection of the marketing impact gained. Furthermore, as players are aware that the house will keep the lottery pool in many cases, i.e. not award the pool if the selected entry has not been issued, the lottery is no longer a "zero sum game" where one player can win only if another loses. Now, the winner is likely taking the award away from the house. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The current invention is a method of playing games of chance in a multi-player environment. In this invention, at least one individual game of chance is conducted to produce an outcome. If the outcome of the game does not meet one of a predetermined set of results, the game is ended. If the outcome of the game does meet one of a predetermined set of results, at least one lottery entry is issued to the player. Each lottery entry is described by a lottery entry identifier and, optionally, an indication of the lottery game to which it applies. [0010] On a preset schedule, a lottery selection is performed. In the lottery selection, a pool of potential lottery entries are defined. The pool includes potential lottery entries, without regard to whether the lottery entry corresponding to the potential lottery entry has actually been issued. A lottery award amount is provided. A lottery entry is selected from the pool of potential lottery entries, and if the selected lottery entry has been issued, at least a portion of the lottery award amount is issued to any player holding the lottery entry selected. If the selected lottery entry has not been issued, the lottery award is retained. Optionally, lottery selection may select from a pool of potential lottery entry identifiers rather than potential lottery entries, and lottery awards may be issued to players holding lottery entries with lottery entry identifiers matching at least a designated portion of the winning entry selected. The lottery selection may be conducted across a single property, multiple properties, or a geographic region. The lottery selection may be conducted by a game operator, a state lottery operator, or a national lottery operator and the lottery selection may be integrated into a state or national lottery. [0011] Lottery entry identifiers may be generated upon issuance or in advance. If generated upon issuance, they may be randomly generated or player-selected. Lottery entry identifiers may be alphanumeric, alphabetic, numeric, symbolic, or may reflect a combination of such sets of indicia or characters. Lottery entries may be generated directly by the gaming machine conducting the game of chance. [0012] The game of chance could be a base game or could be a supplemental, bonus, or secondary game to a base game. The game of chance being played may include multiple rounds to be completed and the lottery entries may be issued based upon the results of two or more rounds. The game of chance may be video poker, may be a game using a set of indicia and conducted in one or more rounds where the outcome is based on a comparison between two or more indicia, e.g. a dice game, a card comparison game (such as a game in which a player wins by selecting a card that outranks a randomly selected card), a war-type game, a match-type game, or the like, may be a reel slot game using reel symbols where the outcome is based upon a reel symbol combinations, or may be any other game of chance. Additionally, it is noted that the game of chance need not be a "base game" but could be a bonus game or any other game, round, or stage conducted in the course of a game of chance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer-controlled slot machine, in accordance with one embodiment of the gaming system of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of four computer-controlled slot machines assembled in a bar table according to another embodiment of the present invention for single or simultaneous multiple user play; [0015] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a local area network of computer-controlled slot machines, according to the present invention for progressive gaming activity; [0016] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a wide area network of computer-controlled slot machines, according to the present invention for progressive gaming activity; [0017] FIG. 5A is a diagram of a touch-sensitive display of a computer-controlled slot machine, in accordance with one embodiment of the gaming method of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 5B is a diagram of a touch-sensitive display of a computer-controlled slot machine, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the gaming method of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the microprocessor-controlled computer and the computer program which facilitate game play according to one embodiment of the present invention; Continue reading about Method of operating a gaming machine with a secondary lottery... Full patent description for Method of operating a gaming machine with a secondary lottery Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method of operating a gaming machine with a secondary lottery patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method of operating a gaming machine with a secondary lottery or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Card game based on results from a sporting event Next Patent Application: Perpetual lottery system Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method of operating a gaming machine with a secondary lottery patent info. 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