Method and apparatus for conducting a game tournament

Abstract

A player is permitted to play in a tournament involving one or more instances of an online game. In one specific example, the player may choose, at a point of sale (POS), a tournament option that permits the player to play in a tournament-style game involving multiple game instances of a primary game. In one example, the primary game is a slot machine type game. In this way, the player may be permitted to enjoy the feeling of playing in a tournament against other players in the environment of an online game. In another example, the primary game result is driven by the result of a secondary game, such as a lottery or casino-based drawing (e.g., a Keno drawing). The secondary game is then played, and the result of the overall tournament is determined based on the results of the secondary game instances. Results of the secondary game instances and the result of the tournament are sent to an online gaming system. The player is then permitted to play an online game to reveal the results of the secondary game instances and the result of the overall tournament.

1 . A method for playing a game of chance comprising an act of: 
 permitting a player to purchase an entry into one or more games of chance, the one or more games of chance associated with a tournament;    performing, in an online game, a revealing of a result to the player of the one or more games of chance; and    indicating, to the player, a status of the tournament.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of issuing a ticket to a player, the ticket including a code printed on a surface of the ticket, the ticket being associated with a plurality of results.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising an act of providing for the player to play another game on a different medium than the issued ticket, wherein the plurality of results are revealed to the player.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising an act of revealing the plurality of results during play of an online game.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of displaying an interface comprising one or more player identifiers each of which represent a player and a corresponding ranking of each player in the tournament.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the result is predetermined.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of selecting a plurality of sets of numbers associated with the entry into the one or more games of chance.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of associating the tournament with an identifier of the entry into the one or more games of chance.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the identifier of the entry is an identifier of a ticket issued to the player at a point of sale (POS).  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising an act of displaying the interface in a display of a computer system.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of automatically playing at least one instance of the online game if the player does not play the game instance within a predetermined time.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the online game begins at a predetermined time.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the online game ends at a predetermined time.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one instance of the online game begins at a predetermined time.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising an act of indicating, to the player, a result of the tournament after the online game ends.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the online game includes a slot machine game.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the online game includes a poker game.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the online game includes a game of skill.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the act of indicating includes an act of displaying the indication in a display of a game-playing computer system.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of providing, by a first server associated with a first game, a result associated with the game of chance.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising an act of storing, in a memory of a computer system, the result associated with the game of chance.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising an act of associating the result with an indication of the ticket.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising acts of: 
 performing a drawing and determining a set of winning numbers;    comparing the sets of numbers to the set of winning numbers;    determining whether each of the set of numbers wins the player a prize;    determining a total of prizes won by each of the set of numbers; and    determining a result of the tournament based on whether the determined total meets at least one criteria.    
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the sets of numbers are sets of Keno numbers, and wherein the act of determining a result of the tournament based on whether the determined total is performed by a Keno system.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , further comprising an act of sending the result of the tournament to a game-playing computer system.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising an act of displaying the result of the tournament on a display of the game-playing computer system.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the act of determining the result of the tournament further comprises an act of determining the result based on whether the determined total exceeds respective totals of other players in the tournament.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the act of determining the result of the tournament further comprises an act of determining the result based on whether the determined total exceeds a minimum amount.