Systems and methods for playing a game of chance with a plurality of prizes

Abstract

Systems and methods enable players to play a game of chance. A system includes a computer configured to provide a game of chance in which a plurality of prizes are able to be won by matching player indicia to randomly determined house indicia, wherein the plurality of prizes includes at least one gaming device specific player prize, at least one progressive prize, and at least one pari-mutuel prize. A first gaming device enables a first player to win at least one gaming device specific first player prize, the at least one progressive prize, and the at least one pari-mutuel prize. At least one second gaming device enables at least one second player to win at least one gaming device specific second player prize, the at least one progressive prize, and the at least one pari-mutuel prize, but not the at least one gaming device specific first player prize.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a computer configured to provide a game of chance in which a plurality of prizes are able to be won by matching player indicia to randomly determined house indicia, wherein the plurality of prizes includes at least one gaming device specific player prize, at least one progressive prize and at least one pari-mutuel prize;   a first gaming device coupled to said computer, said first gaming device comprising:
 an input device configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value; 
 a user interface configured to:
 enable a first player to select a wager for the game; and 
 enable the first player to initiate a cash out operation; and 
 
 a processor configured to:
 add the monetary value to a credit balance for the first player; 
 deduct the wager from the credit balance; 
 enable the first player to win:
 at least one gaming device specific first player prize that is independent of the first player; 
 the at least one progressive prize; and 
 the at least one pari-mutuel prize based on a first plurality of player indicia; and 
 
 decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation; and 
 
   at least one second gaming device coupled to said computer, each said at least one second gaming device comprising:
 an input device configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value; 
 a user interface configured to:
 enable a second player to select a wager for the game; and 
 enable the second player to initiate a cash out operation; and 
 
 a processor configured to:
 add the monetary value to the credit balance for the second player; 
 deduct the wager from the credit balance; 
 enable the second player to win:
 at least one gaming device specific second player prize that is independent of the at least one second player; 
 the at least one progressive prize; and 
 the at least one pari-mutuel prize, but not the at least one gaming device specific first player prize, based on at least one second plurality of player indicia; and 
 
 decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second gaming device is included within a plurality of gaming devices, wherein each gaming device of said plurality of gaming devices enables a respective player to win the at least one progressive prize but not the at least one gaming device specific first player prize. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of gaming devices does not include said first gaming device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each gaming device of said plurality of gaming devices enables a respective player to win the at least one pari-mutuel prize but not the at least one gaming device specific first player prize. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said computer is configured to award the at least one pari-mutuel prize to the player or players who first satisfy a win criteria associated with the at least one pari-mutuel prize. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a plurality of gaming devices includes said first gaming device and said at least one second gaming device, each gaming device of said plurality of gaming devices is coupled to said computer through a network. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each gaming device of said plurality of gaming devices enables a respective player to play to win the at least one progressive prize or the at least one pari-mutuel prize. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of gaming devices enables a plurality of players to win the at least one progressive prize or the at least one pari-mutuel prize during the game. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the game continues after the at least one gaming device specific first player prize or the at least one gaming device specific second player prize is won. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of gaming devices is a first plurality of gaming devices coupled to said computer by a local area network. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a second plurality of gaming devices coupled to said computer by a wide area network. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said second plurality of gaming devices enables respective players to play to win the at least one progressive prize or the at least one pari-mutuel prize during the game. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said second plurality of gaming devices prevents respective players from playing to win the at least one gaming device specific first player prize and the at least one gaming device specific second player prize. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the game continues after the at least one progressive prize is won. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the game continues after the at least one pari-mutuel prize is won. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one third gaming device, wherein said computer is configured to enable the first player to start the game on said first gaming device and to finish the game on said at least one third gaming device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one third gaming device, wherein said computer is configured to enable the first player to start the game on said first gaming device and to receive a result of the game on said at least one third gaming device. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing a game of chance, said method comprising:
 providing a game of chance in which a plurality of prizes are able to be won by matching player indicia to randomly determined house indicia, wherein the plurality of prizes includes at least one gaming device specific player prize, at least one progressive prize and at least one pari-mutuel prize;   receiving a physical item associated with a monetary value using an input device of a first gaming device;   adding the monetary value to a credit balance;   receiving an input from a first player to select a wager for the game using a user interface of the first gaming device;   deducting the wager from the credit balance;   enabling, by a first gaming device, the first player to win:
 at least one gaming device specific first player prize that is independent of the first player; 
 the at least one progressive prize; and 
 the at least one pari-mutuel prize based on a first plurality of player indicia; 
   enabling the first player to initiate a cash out operation using the user interface;   decreasing the credit balance in response to the cash out operation;   receiving a physical item associated with a monetary value using an input device of a second gaming device;   adding the monetary value to the credit balance;   receiving an input from a second player to select a wager for the game using a user interface of the second gaming device;   deducting the wager from the second credit balance;   enabling, by the second gaming device, the second player to win:
 at least one gaming device specific second player prize that is independent of the at least one second player; 
 the at least one progressive prize; and 
 the at least one pari-mutuel prize, but not the at least one gaming device specific first player prize, based on at least one second plurality of player indicia; 
   enabling the second player to initiate a cash out operation using the user interface; and   decreasing the credit balance in response to the cash out operation.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second gaming device is included within a plurality of gaming devices, said method further comprising enabling a respective player of each of the plurality of gaming devices to win the at least one progressive prize but not the at least one gaming device specific first player prize. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising enabling a respective player of each gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices to win the at least one pari-mutuel prize but not the at least one gaming device specific first player prize. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising awarding the at least one pari-mutuel prize to the player or players who first satisfy a win criteria associated with the at least one pari-mutuel prize. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising coupling each gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices to a computer through a network. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising enabling a respective player of each gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices to play to win the at least one progressive prize or the at least one pari-mutuel prize. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising enabling a plurality of players of the plurality of gaming devices to win the at least one progressive prize or the at least one pari-mutuel prize during the game. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of gaming devices is a first plurality of gaming devices coupled to the computer by a local area network, said method further comprising coupling a second plurality of gaming devices to the computer by a wide area network. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising enabling respective players of the second plurality of gaming devices to play to win the at least one progressive prize or the at least one pari-mutuel prize during the game. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising preventing respective players of the second plurality of gaming devices from playing to win the at least one gaming device specific first player prize and the at least one gaming device specific second player prize. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising continuing the game after the at least one progressive prize is won. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising continuing the game after the at least one pari-mutuel prize is won. 
     
     
         30 . A system for providing a game of chance in which a plurality of prizes are able to be won by matching player indicia to randomly determined house indicia, wherein the plurality of prizes includes at least one first prize, at least one second prize, and at least one third prize, said system comprising:
 a computer configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming devices;   a first gaming device coupled to said computer, said first gaming device comprising:
 an input device configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value; 
 a user interface configured to:
 enable a first player to select a wager for the game; and 
 enable the first player to initiate a cash out operation; and 
 
 a processor configured to:
 add the monetary value to the credit balance for the first player; 
 deduct the wager from the credit balance; 
 enable the first player to win the at least one first prize and the at least one second prize based on a first plurality of player indicia, wherein the at least one first prize is specific to said first gaming device and is independent of the first player; and 
 decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation; and 
 
   at least one second gaming device coupled to said computer, each said at least one second gaming device comprising:
 an input device configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value; 
 a second user interface configured to:
 enable a second player to select a wager for the game; and 
 enable the second player to initiate a cash out operation; and 
 
 a processor configured to:
 add the monetary value to the credit balance for the second player; 
 deduct the wager from the credit balance; 
 enable the second player to win the at least one second prize and the at least one third prize but not the at least one first prize based on a second plurality of player indicia, wherein the at least one third prize is specific to said at least one second gaming device and is independent of the at least one second player; and 
 decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation.