Method and apparatus for playing a gambling game

Abstract

In a gambling game a collateral gambling game which can be won by players on at least one specific event occurring in the principal game, the collateral game being separate from the principal game but one when any of the possible winning events occur in the principal game, the payment to the player being calculated from the total value available for the game divided by the total number of players who bet on the specific winning event. The game gives a possibility for a large number of players to share in the success of a single player who has successfully won the main game. It may be used with various types of games including those using electronic gaming machines.

I claim  
     
         1 . In a gambling game where there may be a number of events one of which can lead to a winning result type, a collateral game which can be entered by players of the game in respect of selecting the winning result type characterised in that on a winning result all players of the collateral game which have selected the result type are paid a share of the available amount for that result type which payment depends on the amount invested by the individual player and the total amount invested by players in the collateral game since there has last been a winning result of that result type.  
     
     
         2 . In a gambling game where there may be a number of events selected ones of which can lead to a winning result, a collateral game which can be entered by players selecting at least one of the winnings result types characterised in that where a or the selected result type is achieved, all players who had selected that result type are paid a share of the available amount for that result type which payment depends on the amount invested by the individual player and the total amount invested by players in the collateral game since there has last been a winning result of that result type.  
     
     
         3 . A gambling game as claimed in either  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the players in the collateral game make a payment to select the or each selected result types.  
     
     
         4 . A gambling game as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the total amount invested for the or each winning result is adjusted by subtracting a house hold prior to making the division by the number of players in the game who had selected the result type.  
     
     
         5 . A gambling game as claimed in  claim 4  wherein a seeding amount is provided for the payment(s) for the collateral game and if the hold for the collateral game is greater than the seeding amount, when there is a winning event, then at least part of the excess is carried forward for a later play and, if necessary, an amount to make up the seeding amount is added to the pool in the later play.  
     
     
         6 . A gambling game as claimed in  claim 5  wherein part of the hold is used to repay seeding money which has been provided.  
     
     
         7 . A gambling game as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the game is Keno and wherein the collateral game is based on the selection of a divisional prize to be won in the game.  
     
     
         8 . A gambling game as claimed in  claim 6  wherein there can be a number of separate jackpots for the collateral game each relating to a separate division of the Keno game which jackpots can selectively be entered by the players of the collateral game so that if there is a winning result in the game, the jackpot for the specific division in which the winning result lies is divided between those players of the collateral game who have selected the particular division.  
     
     
         9 . In a gambling game where there may be a number of events one of which can lead to a winning result type, a collateral game which can be entered by players of the game in respect of selecting a parameter associated with the winning result type characterised in that on a winning result all players of the collateral game which have selected the parameter associated with the result type are paid a share of the available amount for that parameter of the result type which payment depends on the amount invested by the individual player and the total amount invested by players in the collateral game since there has last been a winning result in which the parameter has been selected.  
     
     
         10 . A game as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the parameter is the number of players of the game who have won the particular result type.  
     
     
         11 . A game as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the game is a “Bingo” type game and wherein the parameter is the number of symbols used before there is a winner of the game.  
     
     
         12 . A game as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the game and the collateral game are provided on an electronic gaming machine.  
     
     
         13 . A game as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the collateral game is linked across a number of electronic gaming machines and a successful result of the collateral game is achieved on any one of the linked machines having a result which will provide a result which would provide a winning result in the collateral game.  
     
     
         14 . A game as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the entry into the collateral game is based on a number of discrete plays of the game.  
     
     
         15 . A game as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  13  wherein the entry into the collateral game is time based and can lead to an winning entry on any play of the game which occurs during that time.