# US 2008/0188312 A1 · Tournament gaming system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0188312 A1 - Document ID: US20080188312A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/027,939 - Filed: 2008-02-07 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-07 - Assignees: Atlantic City Cion & Slot Service Company, Inc. - Inventors: Jerald C. Seelig; Lawrence M. Henshaw - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080188312A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/3262: {Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played} - G07F 17/32: for games, toys, sports, or amusements - G07F 17/3276: {wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A network gaming system and method including a server having plural regular games for selection, and plural tournament games for plural players. The system also has plural gaming devices each in communication with the server to conduct a selected regular game upon receipt of a regular wager, and to enter a first tournament game upon receipt of a first tournament wager, and to simultaneously enter a second tournament game upon receipt of a second tournament wager. The system also has a payout system to award a regular game winning player a regular prize, and to award a tournament winning player a tournament prize. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A network gaming system, comprising: (A) a server having plural regular games for selection, and plural tournament games for plural players; (B) plural gaming devices each in communication with the server to conduct a selected regular game upon receipt of a regular wager, to enter a first tournament game upon receipt of a first tournament wager, and to simultaneously enter a second tournament game upon receipt of a second tournament wager; and (C) a payout system to award a regular game winning player a regular prize, and to award a tournament winning player a tournament prize. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The network gaming system of claim 1, wherein the server schedules plural overlapping tournaments each having a selected period of play. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The network gaming system of claim 1, wherein upon receipt of the tournament wager: (A) the gaming device suspends receipt of the regular wager during tournament play; and (B) the payout system suspends awarding of the regular prize. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The network gaming system of claim 1, wherein: (A) 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; (B) wagers and plays of each virtual player are determined by random number generation; and (C) virtual player prizes are retained by the server. ### Claim 10 A method of conducting tournament gameplay not necessarily in the order shown comprising: (A) offering plural regular games for selection; (B) offering plural tournament games for selection; (C) conducting a selected regular game in response to receiving a regular wager; (D) conducting a first selected tournament game in response to receiving a first tournament wager; (E) conducting a second selected tournament game in response to receiving a second tournament wager simultaneously with the first selected tournament game; (F) awarding a regular prize to a winner of the selected regular game; (G) awarding a first tournament prize to a winner of the first selected tournament game; and (H) awarding a second tournament prize to a winner of the second selected tournament game. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: (A) tracking gameplay factors; and (B) using tracked gameplay factors to determine the winners of the first and second selected in the tournament games. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the gameplay factors comprise at least one of the group comprising: (A) selected gaming events; (B) a total amount of first and second tournament wagers received during the respective first and second selected tournament games; and (C) a total amount of first and second tournament prizes received during the respective first and second selected tournament games. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising grouping tournament players into different tournament games based on game criteria. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the game criteria comprises at least one of the group comprising: (A) minimum wager denomination; (B) a selected pay table used for at least one of the selected regular game, the first selected tournament game, and the second selected tournament game; and (C) a start time of the first and second selected in the tournament games. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: (A) counting a number of players entered in a selected tournament game; and (B) when the counted number of players equals or exceeds a minimum number of players, starting play of the selected tournament game. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: (A) counting a number of actual players entered in a selected tournament game; (B) 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 (C) randomly generating a play result for each of the virtual players. ### Claim 18 A network gaming system, comprising: (A) gaming means for playing a regular game of chance; (B) tournament means for entering plural tournaments; (C) controller means for simultaneously conducting the plural tournaments; and (D) payout means for awarding a regular prize to a regular game winner, and a tournament prize to a tournament winner. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The network gaming system of claim 19, further comprising: (B) 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. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The network gaming system of claim 18, further comprising: (A) tracking means for monitoring and storing play factors for each player entered in at least one of the plural tournaments; and (B) calculating means for designating the tournament prize in response to play factors for each of the entered players. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The network gaming system of claim 18, further comprising means for entering full tournament mode, comprising: (A) means for suspending regular waging on the regular game of chance; and (B) means for suspending awarding of regular prizes. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The network gaming system of claim 18, further comprising: (A) means for grouping players by game factors into two or more groups each playing one of the plural tournaments; and (B) calculating means for designating the tournament prize in response to game factors for each gaming means played by entered players.