Gaming device providing tournament entries

Abstract

The present invention provides a gaming device which enables a player to enter a tournament based on a qualifying outcome achieved on the gaming device. In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a set of reels including at least one qualification symbol. If at least one qualification symbol is displayed within a display device of the gaming device, the player qualifies for a tournament to be played at a later time. The tournament is preferably a slot machine tournament. One or more prizes are awarded at the tournament, including high value items such as cars and motorcycles as well as lower valued items such as hats, T-shirts, jackets, memorabilia and other merchandise. In this regard, the tournament provides convenience to a casino as far as prize acquisition, distribution and record keeping are concerned because prizes are awarded at one specific event instead of on sporadic occasions. The payout percentages of the gaming devices providing entry into the tournament are set relative to a cost of the tournament.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:  
     
         1 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a primary game;    at least one non-qualifying outcome in the primary game; and    at least one qualifying outcome in the primary game, wherein a player qualifies for a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the qualifying outcome.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the primary game is a slot game.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , wherein the qualifying outcome is a qualification symbol obtained on an active payline.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , wherein the qualifying outcome is a plurality of qualification symbols obtained on an active payline.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming device of  claim 2 , wherein the qualifying outcome is a plurality of qualification symbols displayed within a display device in a scattered arrangement.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , which includes a plurality of non-qualifying outcomes.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the primary game is a video poker game.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the qualifying outcome is a predetermined winning combination of a plurality of cards in said video poker game.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , which includes a qualification symbol, and wherein the qualifying outcome is a winning combination of a plurality of said cards in combination with said qualification symbol.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the primary game is a video blackjack game.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the primary game is a video keno game.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the tournament is selected from the group consisting of: a slot machine tournament; a poker tournament; a blackjack tournament; a keno tournament; a raffle; and a lottery.  
     
     
         13 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , including a payout percentage, said payout percentage set relative to a cost of the tournament.  
     
     
         14 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein a minimum wager in the primary game is required to qualify for the tournament.  
     
     
         15 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , which includes a printer for printing a tournament entry when the qualifying outcome is achieved by the player.  
     
     
         16 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein a hand-pay state is entered when the qualifying outcome is achieved by the player.  
     
     
         17 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , which includes a plurality of qualifying outcomes, wherein the player qualifies for the multi-player tournament when the player achieves one of the qualifying outcomes.  
     
     
         18 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the qualifying outcome includes a combination of at least two predetermined outcomes in the primary game.  
     
     
         19 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a bonus game;    at least one non-qualifying outcome in the bonus game; and    at least one qualifying outcome in the bonus game, wherein a player qualifies for a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the qualifying outcome.    
     
     
         20 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , which includes a plurality of non-qualifying outcomes.  
     
     
         21 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein the bonus game is a slot game.  
     
     
         22 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein the bonus game is a video poker game.  
     
     
         23 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein the bonus game is a video blackjack game.  
     
     
         24 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein the bonus game is a video keno game.  
     
     
         25 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein the tournament is selected from the group consisting of: a slot machine tournament; a poker tournament; a blackjack tournament; a keno tournament; a raffle; and a lottery.  
     
     
         26 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein a minimum wager is required to qualify for the tournament.  
     
     
         27 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , which includes a printer for printing a tournament entry when the qualifying outcome is achieved by the player.  
     
     
         28 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein a hand-pay state is entered when the qualifying outcome is achieved by the player.  
     
     
         29 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein the qualifying outcome includes a combination of at least two combinations of outcomes in the primary game.  
     
     
         30 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein the bonus game includes a plurality of player selectable selections and wherein the qualifying outcome is associated with at least one selection.  
     
     
         31 . The gaming device of  claim 19 , wherein the bonus game includes a player offer acceptance type game and the qualifying outcome is associated with one of a plurality of offers made to the player.  
     
     
         32 . A method for providing a tournament entry in association with play of a gaming device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a controller;    (b) storing at least one non-qualifying outcome within the controller;    (c) storing at least one qualifying outcome within the controller;    (d) randomly producing the qualifying outcome; and    (e) providing the tournament entry to the player achieving the qualifying outcome for the tournament.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , which includes the step of printing the tournament entry when the player achieves the qualifying outcome.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , which includes the step of selecting at least one tournament to be held on a predetermined day in the future.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , which includes the step of providing an additional monetary award to the player when the player obtains the qualifying outcome.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , which includes the step of setting a payout percentage for the gaming device based on a cost of the tournament.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the qualifying outcome is adapted to be produced in a primary game.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the qualifying outcome is adapted to be produced in a bonus game.  
     
     
         39 . A tournament comprising: a plurality of tournament gaming devices adapted to be played by a plurality of contestants, said contestants qualifying to participate in said tournament by achieving a qualifying outcome on one of a plurality of qualifying gaming devices, each said qualifying gaming devices capable of producing said qualifying outcome and a plurality of non-qualifying outcomes; and at least one prize awarded to one of the contestants which play the tournament gaming devices.  
     
     
         40 . The tournament of  claim 39 , wherein the tournament gaming devices are slot machines.  
     
     
         41 . The tournament of  claim 39 , wherein the tournament gaming devices are video poker gaming machines.  
     
     
         42 . The tournament of  claim 39 , wherein a theme of the tournament is related to the theme of the qualifying gaming devices.  
     
     
         43 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a display device;    a plurality of reels;    a plurality of symbols on the plurality of reels including at least one qualification symbol on at least one of the reels;    at least one non-qualifying outcome involving the plurality of symbols; and    and at least one qualifying outcome involving the plurality of symbols, wherein a player qualifies for a tournament when the player achieves the qualifying outcome.    
     
     
         44 . The gaming device of  claim 43 , wherein the qualifying outcome is at least one qualifying symbol displayed on an active payline.  
     
     
         45 . The gaming device of  claim 43 , wherein the qualifying outcome is a plurality of qualification symbols displayed on an active payline.  
     
     
         46 . The gaming device of  claim 43 , wherein the qualifying outcome is a plurality of qualification symbols displayed within a display device in a scattered arrangement.  
     
     
         47 . The gaming device of  claim 43 , wherein the tournament is selected from the group consisting of: a slot machine tournament; a poker tournament; a blackjack tournament; a keno tournament; a raffle; and a lottery.  
     
     
         48 . The gaming device of  claim 43 , which includes a payout percentage which accounts for a cost of the tournament.