Personal electronic device for gaming and bonus system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to communication methods in gaming networks using portable devices. In some networks portable devices communicate information about the status of particular gaming machines on the gaming network. In other networks portable devices are used as a secondary display for the gaming device. In yet other networks bonus games may be played on the portable devices. Further embodiments include a portable device that operates to match a current state of a game to a pre-defined state or states.

1 . A gaming device on which a primary game is played, the gaming device, comprising:
 a primary game display;   a game information receiver separate from the gaming device and structured to receive information about the gaming device as it is being played;   a communication server coupled to the game information receiver;   a secondary display proximate the gaming device and structured to receive information from the communication server;   wherein the communication server is structured to cause the secondary display to operate a secondary game, separate from the primary game, an outcome of the secondary game based on actions in both the primary game and in the secondary game.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming device of  claim 1  in which the secondary display is a portable device mounted to the gaming device. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming device of  claim 1  in which the secondary game is a bonus game. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming device of  claim 3  in which a player of the bonus game accumulates bonus points by surrendering a holding that has value in the primary game. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming device of  claim 1  in which the secondary display comprises a web browser. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming device of  claim 1  in which the communication is a wireless communication server and communicates to the secondary display through a wireless connection. 
     
     
         7 . A gaming device having a primary game display on which a primary game is played, the gaming device comprising:
 a secondary display structured to generate a message to a player about an interim holding held by the player during an initial portion of the primary game;   a facility for accepting return of the interim holding by the player; and   a bonus generator coupled to the secondary display and structured to award the player a bonus in exchange for the player returning the interim holding, the bonus outcome displayed on the secondary display.   
     
     
         8 . The gaming device according to  claim 7  in which the bonus awarded by the bonus generator is one or more bonus points. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming device according to  claim 7  in which the secondary display generates the message to the player only when the interim holding is an entry in the paytable of the primary game. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming device according to  claim 9  in which the secondary display also generates the message to the player when the interim holding is at least a portion of the entry in the paytable. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming device according to  claim 7  in which the secondary display receives data from a wireless server coupled to the gaming device. 
     
     
         12 . A portable device comprising:
 a wireless communication port structured to communicate with a wireless communication port on a gaming device;   a facility structured to determine if the gaming device is in a present state that matches one or more criterion; and   an indicator to signify an outcome of the determination.   
     
     
         13 . The portable device of  claim 12  in which the one or more criterion is specified by a user of the portable device. 
     
     
         14 . The portable device of  claim 12  in which the one or more criterion is selected from a menu of available criteria, 
     
     
         15 . The portable device of  claim 12  in which the wireless communication port on the portable device is structured to communicate with wireless communication ports on multiple gaming devices, one at a time. 
     
     
         16 . The portable device of  claim 12  in which the wireless communication port uses a Bluetooth protocol. 
     
     
         17 . A method of playing a game on an electronic gambling device having a paytable on which a primary game is played, comprising:
 dealing cards to a player;   sending a message to the player through a secondary display;   accepting discards of the dealt cards from the player;   generating an award for the player in exchange for the discarded cards, the award separate from the paytable of the primary game; and   displaying notice of the award on the secondary delay.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising generating an award for the player when the accepted discards match a potential winning outcome of the player. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  in which the award is one bonus point that is awarded for accepting discards of any two dissimilar cards of Jack, Queen, King, or Ace. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  in which the award is two bonus points that are awarded for accepting discards of any pair of cards having a value less than a pair of Jacks. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  in which the award is three bonus points that are awarded for accepting discards of any pair of Jack, Queen, King, or Ace. 
     
     
         22 . A method of selecting a gaming device to play on a gaming floor having a plurality of gaming devices, the method comprising:
 placing the handheld device within wireless communication range of a presently selected one of the gaming devices;   choosing the presently selected one of the gaming devices when a program operating on the handheld device indicates that the presently selected one of the gaming devices is in a state that matches a pre-selected state stored on the handheld device.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising selecting the pre-selected state for the handheld device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  in which the matching state is that the gaming device has not awarded a jackpot for longer than a pre-selected time period. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  in which the time period is measured in number of games played on the gaming device. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  in which the matching pre-selected state is one of a number of states stored on the handheld device.