Method of operating a gaming machine with a secondary lottery

Abstract

This gaming machine and method includes both individual and multi-player lottery aspects. Players play individual wagering games for individualized results. In addition, upon achievement of a set of at least one predesignated result within such wagering individual game, a player receives an entry into a lottery drawing. For example, in one embodiment, where the underlying individual game is a dice game, players achieve an aggregate score which, if high enough, entitles a player to receive a lottery entry. At a predetermined point, a lottery drawing is held, selecting a winner from among the potential lottery entries, regardless of whether such entry has been distributed or not. If such entry has been distributed, the lottery prize is awarded. If not, the lottery prize is not awarded.

1 . A method of playing games of chance in a multi-player environment comprising: 
 conducting at least one individual game of chance to produce an outcome;    determining if said outcome of said game meets one of a predetermined set of results;    ending said game if said outcome of said game does not meet said predetermined set of results;    issuing to said player at least one lottery entry if said outcome of said game meets any of said predetermined set of results; and    conducting a lottery selection upon a preset schedule, said lottery selection comprising: 
 providing a lottery award amount;  
 defining a pool of potential lottery entries for said lottery selection, independent of whether said lottery entries have actually been issued;  
 selecting a lottery entry from said pool of potential lottery entries;  
 if said selected lottery entry has been issued, issuing at least a portion of said lottery award amount to a player holding the lottery entry selected; and  
 if said selected lottery entry has not been issued, retaining said lottery award.  
   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said lottery entries and potential lottery entries each include an identifier, and said lottery award is issued to a player holding a lottery entry with an identifier matching at least a portion of said selected entry.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said identifier for said issued lottery entries are generated upon issuance.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said identifier is a randomly generated alpha-numeric identifier.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said identifier is a player-selected alpha-numeric identifier.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said game of chance is conducted at a gaming machine and said lottery entries are issued electronically by said gaming machine.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said game of chance includes multiple rounds to be completed and said lottery entry is issued upon an outcome comprising completion of two or more rounds.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said game of chance is poker using playing cards where said outcome is produced as a final hand of playing cards.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said game of chance is a game using indicia conducted in one or more rounds where said outcome is produced as a comparison between two or more indicia.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said game of chance is a reel slot game using reel symbols where said outcome is produced as a reel symbol combination.  
   
   
       11 . A method of playing games of chance in a multi-player environment comprising: 
 conducting at least one individual game of chance having at least one round, said game of chance producing an outcome;    determining if said outcome of said game meets one of a predetermined set of results;    ending said game if said outcome of said game does not meet said predetermined set of results;    issuing to said player at least one lottery entry if said outcome of said game meets any of said predetermined set of results, said lottery entry including an identifier; and    conducting a lottery selection upon a preset schedule, said lottery selection comprising: 
 providing a lottery award amount;  
 defining a pool of potential lottery entry identifiers for said lottery selection, independent of whether said potential lottery entry identifiers match identifiers on lottery entries that have actually been issued;  
 selecting an identifier from said pool of potential lottery entry identifiers according to a predetermined random selection method;  
 if said selected identifier matches an identifier on a lottery entry that has been issued, awarding at least a portion of said lottery award to the player holding a lottery entry with an identifier matching said selected identifier; and  
 if said selected identifier does not match an identifier on a lottery entry that has been issued, retaining said lottery award.  
   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said identifiers on said lottery entries are generated upon issuance.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said identifier is a randomly generated alpha-numeric identifier.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said identifier is a player-selected alpha-numeric identifier.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein a portion of said lottery award is issued to a player with an issued lottery entry if the selected identifier matches less than the entirety of an identifier on an issued lottery entry.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said game of chance is conducted at a gaming machine and said lottery entries are issued electronically by said gaming machine.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said game of chance includes multiple rounds to be completed and said lottery entry is issued upon an outcome comprising completion of two or more rounds.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said game of chance is poker using playing cards where said outcome is produced as a final hand of playing cards.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said game of chance is a game using indicia conducted in one or more rounds where said outcome is produced as a comparison between two or more indicia.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said game of chance is a reel slot game using reel symbols where said outcome is produced as a reel symbol combination.