Wagering game with secondary prize feature

Abstract

A method for conducting a wagering game is disclosed. The method comprises displaying a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to indicate a randomly selected outcome. A player is awarded a primary payoff based on the plurality of symbol-bearing objects meeting a predetermined criterion. The player is awarded at least one secondary prize opportunity in response to a second predetermined criterion.

1 . A method of conducting a wagering game comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to indicate a randomly selected outcome;    awarding a player a primary payoff based on the plurality of symbol-bearing objects meeting a predetermined criterion; and    awarding the player at least one secondary prize opportunity in response to a second predetermined criterion.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary payoff is based on an award value contained within a pay table.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined criterion is an outcome in which the player does not receive the primary payoff.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one secondary prize opportunity is at least one sweepstakes entry.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one sweepstakes entry is electronically sent to and stored in an external system.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the act of identifying the player by receiving a card, a personal identification password, or a biometric marker from the player.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the wagering game is conducted on a gaming machine having a ticket printer, the at least one sweepstakes entry being a ticket, the ticket being dispensed from the ticket printer of the gaming machine.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one secondary prize opportunity is at least one point awarded on a point-based system, wherein a predetermined number of points may be exchanged for at least one of a bonus opportunity or prize.  
   
   
       9 . A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to perform the method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the symbol-bearing objects include cards from a deck of cards.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the symbol-bearing objects include symbols on a plurality of reels.  
   
   
       12 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to form a first user-playable hand;    providing the ability to hold, via player selection, none or more of the provided symbol-bearing objects from the first user-playable hand;    replacing each of the non-held symbol-bearing objects with a replacement symbol-bearing object to form a second user-playable hand;    determining whether to award the player a primary payoff based on a ranking of the second user-playable hand in response to the second user-playable hand meeting a predetermined criterion; and    awarding the player at least one secondary prize opportunity when the second user-playable hand meets a second predetermined criterion.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one secondary prize opportunity is at least one sweepstakes entry electronically sent to and stored in an external system.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the act of identifying the player by receiving a card from the player.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the gaming machine comprises a ticket printer, and wherein the secondary prize opportunity is at least one sweepstakes entry, the at least one sweepstakes entry being a ticket, the ticket being dispensed from the ticket printer of the gaming machine.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 automatically denoting which if any of the plurality of symbol-bearing objects in the first user-playable hand are to be held in accord with a pre-defined poker strategy selected by the player.    
   
   
       17 . A gaming system capable of conducting a wagering game, the system comprising: 
 at least one display for displaying a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to indicate a randomly selected outcome;    an input device coupled to the at least one display; and    a controller coupled to the at least one display and to the input device, the controller being operative to (i) award a player a primary payoff in response to the randomly selected outcome meeting a first predetermined criterion, and (ii) award the player a secondary prize opportunity in response to the symbol-bearing objects meeting a second predetermined criterion.    
   
   
       18 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein the primary payoff is based on an award value contained within a pay table.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller, the display, and the input device are located within a gaming machine.  
   
   
       20 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is located remotely from a gaming machine that includes the display and the input device.  
   
   
       21 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one secondary prize opportunity is at least one sweepstakes entry.