Method and apparatus for playing a gambling game

Abstract

In a gambling game, there is 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 won when any of the possible winning events occur in the principal game, with 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.

1 - 15 . (cancelled)  
   
   
       16 . A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first game of chance;    providing a second game of chance which has the potential for achieving a prize award;    operating said first game of chance;    operating said second game of chance in conjunction with said first game of chance; and    awarding any prize achieved in said second game of chance.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said second game of chance is operated at the beginning of the first game of chance.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said second game of chance is a game having a plurality of differing prize indicia, a preset number of said prize indicia being displayed in the course of said second game through a random selection, and said prize award is achieved through a predetermined association of said prize indicia.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein there are a plurality of different prize awards.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said association is a match between a predetermined number of prize indicia.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16  including the further step of providing a mechanism for registering a wager input for a player, and further including the step of requiring a wager input being placed by a player before operating said first game of chance.  
   
   
       22 . A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first game of chance, said first game of chance is a slot game having a reel display with a plurality of reels having first game indicia thereon;    providing a second game of chance which has the potential for achieving a prize award, said second game of chance is a game having a plurality of differing prize indicia;    operating said first game of chance by displaying at least one randomly selected first game indicia for each reel of said plurality of reels in said reel display;    operating said second game of chance in conjunction with said first game of chance by displaying at least one randomly selected prize indicia; and    awarding any prize award achieved in said second game of chance.    
   
   
       23 . A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first game of chance;    providing a second game of chance which has the potential for achieving a prize award;    placing a wager;    operating said first game of chance;    operating said second game of chance in conjunction with said first game of chance provided said first wager is of at least a preset type; and    awarding any prize achieved in said second game of chance.    
   
   
       24 . A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first game of chance;    providing a second game of chance which has the potential for achieving a prize award;    placing a wager;    operating said first game of chance;    operating said second game of chance in conjunction with said first game of chance; and    awarding any prize achieved in said second game of chance.    
   
   
       25 . A game playing method, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first game of chance;    providing a second game of chance which has the potential for achieving a prize award;    operating said first game of chance;    operating said second game of chance in conjunction with said first game of chance; and    determining any prize that may be achieved in said second game of chance.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said second game of chance is operated at the beginning of the first game of chance.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said second game of chance is a game having a plurality of differing prize indicia, a preset number of said prize indicia being displayed in the course of said second game through a random selection, and said prize award is achieved through a pre-determined association of said prize indicia.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said association is a match between a predetermined number of prize indicia.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said first game of chance is a slot game having a reel display with a plurality of reels having first game indicia thereon, and wherein said step of providing said first game of chance includes a display of randomly selected first game indicia for each reel, and wherein said step of providing a second game of chance includes displaying said randomly selected prize indicia.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 25  including the further step of providing a mechanism for registering a wager input for a player, and further including the step of requiring a wager input being placed by a player before operating said first game of chance.  
   
   
       31 . A game playing apparatus, comprising: 
 a game display;    a first methodology operating a first game of chance and displaying said first game on said game display; and,    a second methodology operating a second game of chance and displaying said second game on said game display, said second game having the potential for achieving a prize award, wherein said second methodology operates said second game in conjunction with said first game, with a determination of any prize award that may be achieved in said second game.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said game display is a video monitor, and further including a CPU operating the apparatus including said video monitor according to a computer program, said computer program executing said first and second methodologies.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said second game of chance is operated at the beginning of the first game of chance.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said second game of chance is a game having a plurality of differing prize indicia, a preset number of said prize indicia being displayed in the course of said second game through a random selection, and said prize award is achieved through a predetermined association of said prize indicia.  
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said association is a match between a predetermined number of prize indicia.  
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein said first game of chance is a slot game having a reel display with a plurality of reels having first game indicia thereon, and said first game includes a display of randomly selected first game indicia for each reel, and wherein said step of providing a second game of chance includes displaying said randomly selected prize indicia.  
   
   
       37 . A gaming machine, comprising: 
 a display for displaying a first game of chance and a second game of chance, said first game of chance is played with a plurality of game elements and said second game of chance is played with a plurality of prize elements a wager input mechanism which registers a wager input by a player upon an outcome of the first game of chance, said wager includes registration of an amount bet;    an operating system including a methodology for play of said first game of chance wherein each of said game elements has a game indicia thereon, wherein a random selection mechanism randomly selects a subset of said plurality of game elements in play of said first game of chance;    said operating system also includes a methodology for play of said second game of chance wherein each of said prize elements has a prize indicia thereon, wherein said random selection mechanism randomly selects a subset of said plurality of prize elements in play of said second game of chance and each correlates to each of said subset of said plurality of game elements;    said methodology will determine an outcome of said first game of chance based upon combinations of said game indicia of said subset of said plurality of game elements and award any winnings, if any, per a pay table and said wager;    said methodology also determining an outcome of said second game of chance based upon combinations of said prize indicia of said subset of said plurality of prize elements and award a prize, if any, per a pay table of winning combinations.    
   
   
       38 . The gaming machine of  claim 37  wherein said gaming machine is a video gaming machine, said display is a video monitor, and said operating system includes a CPU with a program having said methodology as part of said program, said program further driving said display according to said program, said random selection mechanism comprises a random number generating routine.  
   
   
       39 . The gaming machine of  claim 38  wherein said plurality of game elements is a deck of cards.  
   
   
       40 . The gaming machine of  claim 37  where said gaming machine is a slot machine, said game elements are reels, said display is a window viewing said subset of said plurality of game elements.  
   
   
       41 . The gaming machine of  claim 37  wherein said second game of chance includes a bonus payout table.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 37  wherein said first game of chance is one of a plurality of games of chance.