Gaming system and method for offering simultaneous play of multiple games

Abstract

Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A gaming system comprising:
 at least one display device including a designated display device;   at least one input device;   at least one processor; and   at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to:
 (a) in association with a first window of the designated display device:
 (i) enable a player to place a wager on a play of a first game, 
 (ii) generate a first game outcome for the play of the first game, 
 (iii) display the generated first game outcome in the first window of the designated display device, 
 (iv) determine any award associated with the displayed first game outcome, and 
 
   (v) display any determined award; and
 (b) in association with a second window of the designated display device:
 (i) receive content transmitted from a web server, and 
 (ii) cause a web browser to display at least part of the received content in the second window of the designated display device. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the received content is associated with a play of a second game. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 2 , wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:
 cause the web browser to display a second game outcome in the second window of the designated display device, and   cause the web browser to display any award associated with the displayed second game outcome in the second window of the designated display device.   
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the received content includes at least one web page generated by the web server, said at least one web page associated with software executable by the web browser. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the received content includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: information associated with the first game, information associated with a gaming establishment, information associated with at least one gaming tournament, information associated with at least one entertainment event, information associated with at least one special event, advertising information, promotional information, and information associated with game play history of at least the first game. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:
 prior to receiving the content transmitted from the web server, display the first window of the designated display device having a first size, and   after receiving the content transmitted from the web server, display the first window of the designated display device having a second, different size.   
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to:
 prior to receiving the content transmitted from the web server, display the first window in a first area of the designated display device, and   after receiving the content transmitted from the web server, display the first window in a second, different area of the designated display device.   
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein said web server is remote from the at least one display device, the at least one input device, the at least one processor and the at least one memory device. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to simultaneously: (i) display at least one component of the first game in the first window of the designated display device and (ii) cause the web browser to display the at least part of the received content in the second window of the designated display device. 
     
     
         10 . A gaming system server comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to transmit content to a gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine is configured to: (i) display a play of a first wagering game in a first window of a display device of the gaming machine, and (ii) cause a web browser of the gaming machine to display at least part of the transmitted content in a second window of the display device of the gaming machine.   
     
     
         11 . The gaming system server of  claim 10 , wherein the transmitted content is associated with a play of a second game. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system server of  claim 10 , wherein the transmitted content includes at least one generated web page associated with software executable by the web browser of the gaming machine. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system server of  claim 10 , wherein the transmitted content includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: information associated with the first game, information associated with a gaming establishment, information associated with at least one gaming tournament, information associated with at least one entertainment event, information associated with at least one special event, advertising information, promotional information, and information associated with game play history of at least the first game. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
 (a) in association with a first window of a designated display device:
 (i) enabling a player to place a wager on a play of a first game, 
 (ii) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to generate a first game outcome for the play of the first game, 
 (iii) causing the designated display device to display the generated first game outcome in the first window, 
 (iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any award associated with the displayed first game outcome, and 
 (v) causing the designated display device to display any determined award; and 
   (b) in association with a second window of the designated display device:
 (i) receiving content transmitted from a web server, and 
 (ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause a web browser to display at least part of the received content in the second window of the designated display device. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the received content is associated with a play of a second game. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , which includes:
 causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause the web browser to display a second game outcome in the second window of the designated display device, and   causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause the web browser to display any award associated with the displayed second game outcome in the second window of the designated display device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the received content includes at least one web page generated by the web server, said at least one web page associated with software executable by the web browser. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the received content includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: information associated with the first game; information associated with a gaming establishment, information associated with at least one gaming tournament, information associated with at least one entertainment event, information associated with at least one special event, advertising information, promotional information, and information associated with game play history of at least the first game. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , which includes:
 prior to receiving the content transmitted from the web server, causing the designated display device to display the first window having a first size, and   after receiving the content transmitted from the web server, causing the designated display device to display the first window having a second, different size.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , which includes:
 prior to receiving the content transmitted from the web server, causing the designated display device to display the first window in a first area of the designated display device; and   after receiving the content transmitted from the web server, causing the designated display device to display the first window in a second, different area of the designated display device.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to simultaneously: (i) cause the designated display device to display at least one component of the first game in the first window, and (ii) cause the web browser to display the at least part of the received content in the second window of the designated display device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , which is operated through a data network. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the data network is an internet. 
     
     
         24 . A method of operating a gaming system server, said method comprising:
 causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to transmit content to a gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine is configured to: (i) display a play of a first wagering game in a first window of a display device of the gaming machine, and (ii) cause a web browser of the gaming machine to display at least part of the transmitted content in a second window of the display device of the gaming machine.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the transmitted content is associated with a play of a second game. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the transmitted content includes at least one generated web page associated with software executable by the web browser of the gaming machine. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the transmitted content includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: information associated with the first game, information associated with a gaming establishment, information associated with at least one gaming tournament, information associated with at least one entertainment event, information associated with at least one special event, advertising information, promotional information, and information associated with game play history of at least the first game. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , which is operated through a data network. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the data network is an internet.