Gaming systems and methods for eligibility rewards in group play

Abstract

Systems and methods for a gaming activity involving a plurality of gaming devices and at least one server. Players each earn points when they bet. But, points are deducted from each player over time, to maintain the incentive to place bets quickly. Players who have points are each eligible to play in a group bonus event, if one is triggered. When a group bonus event is triggered, it results in a player winning a prize. The amount of that prize is adjusted up or down, depending on the number of points that particular player has accumulated. Thus, faster betting is rewarded with eligibility to win a larger prize.

1 . A method of operating a system for playing games, the system involving multiple end-user computing devices, the method comprising:
 maintaining, using a processor, an accounting of bonus eligibility units, wherein a number of bonus eligibility units is adjusted according to an occurrence of at least one particular event; and   crediting, using the processor, an amount of a prize that was won as a result of a game or event between multiple end-user computing devices, wherein the amount credited is based at least in part on a base prize amount multiplied by the number of bonus eligibility units or a fraction of a base prize amount determined by the number of bonus eligibility units.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of bonus eligibility units is adjusted when a wager is placed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of bonus eligibility units is adjusted at particular time intervals. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of bonus eligibility units is adjusted such that the amount credited is increased if wagers are placed faster. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount credited is based at least in part on a base prize amount multiplied by the number of bonus eligibility units. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of bonus eligibility units is limited to a maximum unit amount or a minimum unit amount. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first end-user computing device is eligible to play in the game between the multiple end-user computing devices only if a number of bonus eligibility units associated with the first end-user computing device is above a particular minimum eligibility amount or below a particular maximum eligibility amount. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a game or event that is not between multiple end-user computing devices.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prize is a progressive jackpot. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an amount of the prize that is not credited is added to a future prize for a future game or event between multiple end-user computing devices. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 outputting the number of bonus eligibility units.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one end-user computing device interfaces with a server of the system through the Internet 
     
     
         13 . A gaming system for playing games, comprising
 a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device configured to:
 maintain an accounting of bonus eligibility units, wherein a number of bonus eligibility units is adjusted according to an occurrence of at least one particular event; and 
 credit an amount of a prize that was won as a result of a game or event between multiple end-user gaming devices, wherein the amount credited is based at least in part on a base prize amount multiplied by the number of bonus eligibility units or a fraction of a base prize amount determined by the number of bonus eligibility units. 
   
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the number of bonus eligibility units is adjusted when a wager is placed. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the number of bonus eligibility units is adjusted at particular time intervals. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the number of bonus eligibility units is adjusted such that the amount credited is increased if wagers are placed faster. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the amount credited is based at least in part on a base prize amount multiplied by the number of bonus eligibility units. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the number of bonus eligibility units is limited to a maximum unit amount or a minimum unit amount. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein a first gaming device is eligible to play in the game between the multiple end-user gaming devices only if a number of bonus eligibility units associated with the first gaming device is above a particular minimum eligibility amount or below a particular maximum eligibility amount. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , each of the plurality of gaming devices further configured to:
 provide a game or event that is not between multiple end-user gaming devices.   
     
     
         21 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the prize is a progressive jackpot. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein an amount of the prize that is not credited is added to a future prize for a future game or event between multiple end-user gaming devices. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , each of the plurality of gaming devices further configured to:
 output the number of bonus eligibility units.   
     
     
         24 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein at least one end-user gaming device interfaces with a server of the system through the Internet. 
     
     
         25 . A method of operating a system for playing games, the system involving multiple end-user devices, the method comprising:
 maintaining, using a processor, an accounting of units, wherein a number of units is adjusted according to an occurrence of one or more particular events, and wherein the one or more particular events include passage of an amount of time; and   crediting, using the processor, an amount of a prize that was won as a result of a game or event between multiple end-user devices, wherein the amount credited is based at least in part on the number of units;   wherein a first end-user device participates in the game between the multiple end-user devices only if a number of units associated with the first end-user device is above a particular minimum eligibility amount or below a particular maximum eligibility amount.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the number of units is adjusted when a wager is placed. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the number of units is adjusted at particular time intervals. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the number of units is adjusted such that the amount credited is increased if wagers are placed faster. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the amount credited is based at least in part on a base prize amount multiplied by the number of units. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the number of units is limited to a maximum unit amount or a minimum unit amount. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 providing a game or event that is not between multiple end-user devices.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the prize is a progressive jackpot. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein an amount of the prize that is not credited is added to a future prize for a future game or event between multiple end-user devices. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 outputting the number of units.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein at least one end-user device interfaces with a server of the system through the Internet. 
     
     
         36 . A gaming system for a gaming activity, comprising:
 a plurality of gaming devices; each gaming device configured to:   monitor a speed at which a player-user places bets, including   maintain an accounting of points;   award at least one awarded point when a bet is placed;   deduct at least one deducted points at predetermined intervals of time;   determine whether to participate in a group play event, wherein the gaming device participates in the group play event only if a number of the points is above a particular minimum eligibility amount or below a particular maximum eligibility amount; and   award a prize to the player-user of the gaming device if the player-user is a winner of the group play event, wherein the amount of the prize is adjusted up or down depending on the number of the points, such that faster betting is rewarded with a larger prize; and
 at least one server configured to provide the group play event.