Slot machine tournament apparatus and method

Abstract

An amusement gaming apparatus for conducting tournaments having a plurality of player stations for playing a slot-machine-type game. Each player station has a display and user interface controls for providing inputs to the player station. A controller allows each player station to participate in the tournament and provides a display showing progress of each game at each respective players' display. A common display provides a visual display representing progress of all participants. The common display is positioned to provide all players at the player stations substantially similar and easy viewing of the common display. The computer messages all aspects of the tournament.

1 . An amusement gaming apparatus for conducting tournaments comprising:
 a plurality of player stations each configured for playing a slot-machine-type game;   each player station provided with a display and user interface controls for providing inputs to the player station by a user;   a controller for configured to enable each player station to participate in the slot-machine-type game and provide a display showing progress of each game at each respective players' display; and   a common display configured to provide a visual display representing progress of all participating in the tournament, respective to the central controller; and   the common display and player stations being positioned relative to one another to provide all players at the player stations substantially similar viewing capability of the common display.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the player stations are arranged in a substantially annular manner, said common display and being substantially equidistant from said player stations. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a table;
 said player stations being arranged at spaced intervals about a perimeter of said table.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said table has a substantially oval-shaped perimeter. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said control display is configured to present a racetrack-type display with markers of a given type, each marker having a different feature, each of said features associated with one of said display stations. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said feature is a color. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said feature is one of numeral and a letter. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said feature is a given shape. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the track is oval shaped. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the track is linear. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the track has indicia indicating a start portion and a finish portion. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the common display is arranged at a central portion of the table. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each player station display is configured to substantially reduce viewing such that each player is substantially limited to viewing his (her) own player station display. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the common display is substantially flush with a main surface of the table. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the player station displays are inclined at an angle chosen to ease viewing by players at said player stations. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each player station has a reader configured to receive a member configured to enable a player to participate in the tournament. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said member is a conventional credit card. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said member is an affinity card issued by a venue of a tournament. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to regulate at least one of:
 a rate of play and bet limits.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein player station interactive user control comprises a touch screen. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein each touch screen is configured to provide at least one of fixed selections for betting and a numeric keyboard for betting. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to provide points for wins which are weighed based on bets made by a player winning a game. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to weight games played by the players in a tournament where players may select different games in the tournament to equalize the player's chances for winning. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the common display is configured to present a histogram-like display. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the common display is further provided with indicia showing time remaining for play. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the computer is further configured to present an inquiry in the display of each player requesting interest in a game change which is one of a recess and slow-down in play, and to provide the game change when a given number of players answer “yes”.