Method and apparatus for linked play gaming with combined outcomes and shared indicia

Abstract

The invention includes a system and method for providing linked play via gaming and other devices wherein players may share and combine outcomes or parts thereof. In some embodiments, a casino server registers a group for linked play and a group objective and format are established. The linked play commences according to the group format on the gaming devices while the casino server, or another device, concurrently facilitates interaction between the group members operating the gaming devices. During the interaction, players may combine outcomes in an attempt to win group prizes. The linked play is terminated according to the group format and a determination is made by the casino server whether the group objective has been achieved. Prizes are awarded via the gaming devices if the group objective was achieved.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a signal indicative of a desire to transfer a game indicium from a first gaming device to a second gaming device; and    transmitting, in response to the signal, an indication of the indicium to the second gaming device.    
     
     
         2 . A method comprising: 
 generating an outcome at a first gaming device, the outcome comprising a plurality of indicia;    receiving an indicium from a second gaming device;    incorporating the received indicium into the generated outcome to create a combined outcome; and    dispensing a prize based on the combined outcome.    
     
     
         3 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a signal indicative of at least one player's desire to participate in group play;    activating group play on a gaming device; and    providing an indicator that group play is in progress.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , including receiving a confirmation of group play from another gaming device.  
     
     
         5 . A method comprising: 
 receiving an indication that a linked gaming device has achieved a potentially winning outcome; and    displaying an indication of a time remaining to achieve an outcome that would win a group prize.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the outcome that would win a group prize is an outcome that matches the potentially winning outcome.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the outcome that would win a group prize is an outcome that is complementary with the potentially winning outcome.  
     
     
         8 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a first wager amount at a first gaming device to enable the generation of a first outcome; and    receiving a second wager amount at the first gaming device to enable the combining of the first outcome with a second outcome generated at a second gaming device.    
     
     
         9 . A method comprising: 
 registering a group for linked play;    establishing a group objective and a group format, wherein the group objective includes at least two group members' gaming devices generating matching outcomes in accordance with the group format;    initiating the linked play according to the group format;    terminating the linked play according to the group format;    determining, based upon the linked play, whether the group objective was achieved; and    awarding, if the group objective is achieved in accordance with the group format, at least one group prize.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein achieving the group objective in accordance with the group format includes at least two of the group members' gaming devices generating matching outcomes within a predefined time period during the group play.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein achieving the group objective in accordance with the group format includes at least two of the group members' gaming devices generating matching outcomes within a predefined number of handle pulls during the group play.  
     
     
         12 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a plurality of selected outcomes from a plurality of gaming devices, 
 wherein each gaming device generates at least one outcome,  
 wherein each gaming device is associated with at least one player, and  
 wherein the selected outcomes are selected by at least one of the players from among the outcomes;  
   deriving a group outcome based upon the selected outcomes; and    providing a payout if the group outcome is a winning outcome.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the players are associated with each other.  
     
     
         14 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a plurality of outcome indicia from a plurality of gaming devices, wherein each gaming device is associated with at least one player and wherein the outcome indicia are selected by at least one of the players;    deriving a group outcome based upon the outcome indicia; and    providing a payout if the group outcome is a winning outcome.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the players are associated with each other.  
     
     
         16 . A server comprising: 
 a processor operative to execute a program; and    a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the program is stored in the memory and includes: 
 a routine for receiving a signal indicative of a desire to transfer a game indicium from a first gaming device to a second gaming device; and  
   a routine for transmitting, in response to the signal, an indication of the indicium to the second gaming device.    
     
     
         17 . A system comprising: 
 a network of at least two gaming devices wherein a first gaming device is operative to: 
 generate an outcome, the outcome comprising a plurality of indicia;  
 receive an indicium from a second gaming device;  
 incorporate the received indicium into the generated outcome to create a combined outcome; and  
   dispensing a prize based on the combined outcome.    
     
     
         18 . A gaming device comprising: 
 an input for receiving a signal indicative of at least one player's desire to participate in group play;    a processor coupled to the input and operative to activate group play on the gaming device in response to the signal; and    an indicator coupled to the processor and operative to provide an indication that group play is in progress.    
     
     
         19 . The gaming device of  claim 18 , further including a communications port coupled to the processor for receiving a confirmation of group play from another gaming device.  
     
     
         20 . A gaming device comprising: 
 a communications port operable to receive an indication that a linked gaming device has achieved a potentially winning outcome;    a processor coupled to the communications port; and    a display coupled to the processor for displaying an indication of a time remaining to achieve an outcome that would win a group prize.    
     
     
         21 . The gaming device of  claim 20  wherein the communications port operable to receive the indication is further operable to receive indicia related to the potentially winning outcome, and 
 wherein the processor is operable to generate an outcome and to determine if the outcome matches the potentially winning outcome.  
 
     
     
         22 . The gaming device of  claim 20  wherein the communications port operable to receive the indication is further operable to receive indicia related to the potentially winning outcome, and 
 wherein the processor is operable to generate an outcome and to determine if the outcome is complementary with the potentially winning outcome.  
 
     
     
         23 . A system comprising: 
 a network of at least two gaming devices wherein a first gaming device is operative to:    receive a first wager amount to enable the generation of a first outcome; and    receive a second wager amount to enable the combining of the first outcome with a second outcome generated at a second gaming device.    
     
     
         24 . A system comprising: 
 a processor operative to execute a program; and    a memory coupled to the processor,    wherein the program is stored in the memory and includes: 
 a routine to register a group for linked play;  
 a routine to establish a group objective and a group format, wherein the group objective includes at least two group members' gaming devices generating matching outcomes in accordance with the group format;  
 a routine to initiate the linked play according to the group format;  
 a routine to terminate the linked play according to the group format;  
 a routine to determine, based upon the linked play, whether the group objective was achieved; and  
   a routine to award, if the group objective is achieved in accordance with the group format, at least one group prize.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the routine to determine includes a routine to evaluate if at least two of the group members' gaming devices generated matching outcomes within a predefined time period during the group play.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the routine to determine includes a routine to evaluate if at least two of the group members' gaming devices generated matching outcomes within a predefined number of handle pulls during the group play.  
     
     
         27 . A system comprising: 
 a network of gaming devices; and    a server coupled to the network wherein the server is operable to: 
 receive a plurality of selected outcomes from a plurality of the gaming devices, 
 wherein each gaming device generates at least one outcome,  
 wherein each of the gaming devices is associated with at least one player, and  
 wherein the selected outcomes are selected by at least one of the players;  
 
 derive a group outcome based upon the selected outcomes; and  
 direct at least one of the gaming devices to provide a payout if the group outcome is a winning outcome.  
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the network of gaming devices are operated by players who are associated with each other.  
     
     
         29 . A system comprising: 
 a network of gaming devices; and    a server coupled to the network wherein the server is operable to: 
 receive a plurality of outcome indicia from a plurality of the gaming devices, wherein each of the gaming device is associated with at least one player and wherein the outcome indicia are selected by at least one of the players;  
 derive a group outcome based upon the outcome indicia; and  
   direct at least one of the gaming devices to provide a payout if the group outcome is a winning outcome.    
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the gaming devices are operated by players who are associated with each other.  
     
     
         31 . A method comprising: 
 receiving at least one outcome from each of a plurality of gaming devices, wherein each gaming device is associated with at least one player;    deriving a group outcome based upon the outcomes; and    providing a payout if the group outcome is a winning outcome,    wherein the payout is of an amount determined based upon taxes charged to the at least one player.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the at least one player is charged an alternative minimum tax if the taxes charged are not sufficient to support a potential payout