Method & Apparatus for a Secondary Game Played in Conjunction with a Primary Game

Abstract

The present invention is a method, device and system for playing a primary game played in conjunction with a secondary game in an attractive format. The primary game can be played with or without playing the secondary game in any of a multiple of embodiments. Various pre-determined step or steps may be specified that must be accomplished in order for play of the secondary game. Additionally, the games can be played wherein a player may wager on the outcome of either the primary game, the secondary game, or both Any winnings accomplished by a player may be paid in the form of an award, a prize, or other payout.

1 - 111 . (canceled) 
     
     
         112 . A method of operating a gaming machine over an Internet-based platform comprising the steps of:
 providing a first game of chance to at least one player over an Inernet connection;   providing a second game of chance to said at lest one player over an Internet connection which has the potential for achieving a price award;   operating said first game of chance;   operating said second game of chance in conjunction with said first game of chance; and   awarding any prize achieved in said second game of chance regardless of the outcome of said first game of chance.   
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 112  wherein said prize award is non-monetary. 
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 112  wherein said award is a tangible good. 
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 114  wherein said prize award also includes a service. 
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 112  wherein said second game of chance is a game having a plurality of differing prize indicia, a preset number of said prize indicia being displayed in the course of said second game through a random selection, and said prize award is achieved through a predetermined association of said prize indicia. 
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 116  wherein there are a plurality of different prize awards. 
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 116  wherein said prize awards are slot club points. 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 112  including the further step of providing a player tracking system in which players are selectively enrolled, and wherein said second game of chance is only operated if a player is enrolled in said player tracking system. 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 112  wherein said first game of chance is a card game employing a deck of cards, wherein said second game of chance is a game having a plurality of differing prize indicia, wherein said step of providing said second game of chance includes assigning a prize indicia to each card of said deck of cards, wherein said step of providing said first game of chance includes dealing a hand of cards to a player from said deck of cards, wherein said step of providing said second game of chance includes displaying said prize indicia of said hand of cards, and said prize award is achieved through a predetermined association of said prize indicia. 
     
     
         121 . A gaming machine, comprising:
 a display for displaying a first game of chance and a second game of chance, said first game of chance is played with a plurality of game elements and said second game of chance is played with a plurality of prize elements;   a wager input mechanism which registers a wager input by a player upon an outcome of the first game of chance, said wager includes registration of an amount bet;   an operating system including a methodology for play of said first game of chance wherein each of said game elements has a game indicia thereon, wherein a random selection mechanism randomly selects a subset of said plurality of game elements in play of said first game of chance; said operating system also includes a methodology for play of said second game of chance wherein each of said prize elements has a prize indicia thereon, wherein said random selection mechanism randomly selects a subset of said plurality of prize elements in play of said second game of chance and each correlates to each of said subset of said plurality of game elements; said methodology will determine an outcome of said first game of chance based upon combinations of said game indicia of said subset of said plurality of game elements and award any winnings, if any, per a paytable and said wager; said methodology also determining an outcome of said second game of chance based upon combinations of said prize indicia of said subset of said plurality of prize elements and award a prize, if any, per a paytable of winning combinations.   
     
     
         122 . The gaming machine of  claim 121  wherein said gaming machine is a video gaming machine, said display is a video monitor, and said operating system includes a CPU with a program having said methodology as part of said program, said program further driving said display according to said program, said random selection mechanism comprises a random number generating routine. 
     
     
         123 . The gaming machine of  claim 122  wherein said plurality of game elements is a deck of cards. 
     
     
         124 . The gaming machine of  claim 121  where said gaming machine is a slot machine, said game elements are reels, said display is a window viewing said subset of said plurality of game elements. 
     
     
         125 . A method of operating a gaming machine connected to a player tracking system, said gaming machine being operated by a player having a player account on said player tracking system, comprising the steps of:
 providing a game of chance which has the potential for achieving an award;   operating said game of chance by a player;   crediting certain prizes achieved to said player account on said player tracking system.   
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 125  wherein said certain prize may be a good or service. 
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 125  wherein said certain prize may be a credit. 
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 125  wherein said certain prize may be a point value. 
     
     
         129 . The method of  claim 125  wherein said certain prize may be slot club points.