Gaming System And Method

Abstract

A secondary game system, in various embodiments, comprises a system of networked game terminals where a player playing a game on a game terminal can earn eligibility to win a prize from a secondary game that plays simultaneously in the background. The secondary game may be triggered based on play on the plurality of networked terminals. This allows the player to play a first game that earns them eligibility to win another game that is played in the background. The player sends a game initiation request for a game (e.g., lottery slot) to be played on the game terminal. If a certain criterion is satisfied, the player becomes eligible to win a prize from the secondary game if the secondary game is triggered while the player is eligible to win.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An entertainment playing system of a plurality of electronic terminals networked for electronic communication, each electronic terminal for operative play of a first random number game by a respective one player of a plurality of players and for being eligible for an award from an operative play of a second random number game selectively initiated based on a second criteria of the plurality of players operating the respective electronic terminals, comprising:
 a plurality of electronic terminals, each communicating in a network to a system controller, each electronic terminal comprising:
 a selection device for the respective player to select a play of a random number game of the electronic terminal; 
 a bonus time period established if the respective one player meets a first predetermined criteria upon the respective one player selecting the play of the electronic terminal, which bonus time period counts down to an expiration; and 
 a player award value; 
   a second predetermined criteria that upon occurrence initiates a second random number game based on one or more plays by the plurality of players of the respective electronic terminals, an award from the play of the second random number game for awarding to the one or more of the plurality of players having a respective bonus time period coincident with the occurrence of the second sweepstakes; and   the system controller further configured for:
 increasing the award from a predetermine initial value with an additional value for each of the plays by the plurality of players of the respective electronic terminals; and 
 increasing at least one of the respective player award values of the one or more players having a respective bonus time period coincident with the occurrence the second random number game with at least a portion of the award upon a result of the second random number game matching a pre-determined result. 
   
     
     
         22 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the second predetermined criteria occurs at a particular time and the award for awarding to the one or more of the plurality of players having the respective bonus time period coincident with the occurrence of the second predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         23 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the particular time is the time of the occurrence of the second predetermined criteria for triggering initiation of the second random number game. 
     
     
         24 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the electronic terminal further comprises a credit receiving device for receiving a plurality of credits from the respective player for operating one or more plays of the electronic terminal. 
     
     
         25 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the system controller is configured for deducting a game fee from the player credits upon requesting the play of the electronic terminal and adding a predetermined amount based on the game fee to the award for the second random number game. 
     
     
         26 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the electronic terminal further comprising a display for displaying a status indicator to show the respective player eligibility for the award. 
     
     
         27 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the first criteria comprises a time period during which the respective player may select the play of the electronic terminal. 
     
     
         28 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the electronic terminal further comprises a display for displaying a countdown of the respective time period. 
     
     
         29 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the respective bonus time period is set to a predetermined value upon said one player submitting a request for play of the respective electronic terminal after the bonus time period is zero. 
     
     
         30 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the respective bonus time period accumulates a predetermined additional value upon said one player of the plurality of players submitting a request for the play of the respective electronic terminal before the respective bonus time period is zero. 
     
     
         31 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the system controller further comprising a trigger detector for determining initiation of the second random number game based on the second predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         32 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 31 , wherein the second predetermined criteria for initiating the second random number game comprises at least one of:
 a one player of the plurality of players submitting a request to initiate play of the respective electronic terminal;   at least a predetermined number of requests to initiate play of one or more of the plurality of electronic terminals submitted by the plurality of players; and   a random number of requests to initiate play of the respective electronic terminals submitted by the plurality of players, said random number of requests between a predetermined minimum number and maximum number of request submittals.   
     
     
         33 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the system controller randomly chooses one player of the one or more players having an operative bonus time period coincident with occurrence of the second random number game for receiving the award. 
     
     
         34 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising a system display displaying an attraction message, the play of the second random number game, and the value of the award. 
     
     
         35 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the electronic terminal comprises a plurality of reels, each reel having plurality of symbols, said reels rotatable during play of the electronic terminal and upon stopping rotation to display a symbol sequence of the plurality of reels for determining by the system controller as matching a predetermined sequence of symbols for the award for the second random number game to have a first predetermined value; and a display displaying the plurality of spaced-apart reels during operation of the electronic terminal. 
     
     
         36 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 35 , further comprising a plurality of award levels with each award level assigned to a predetermined sequence of the plurality of reels, whereby the player award may increase by one or more of the award levels based on the first random number game results of the play of the electronic terminal. 
     
     
         37 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the reels and operation of the reels are generated by a microprocessor configured with computer software for play of the second random number game. 
     
     
         38 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the award is initiated at a predetermined non-zero amount after the value of the award is awarded to the one or more of the players having the respective bonus time period coincident at the particular time of triggering initiation of the second random number game upon completion of the second random number game. 
     
     
         39 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising an award structure of a first, second, and third award each having a different predetermined value for awarding to at least one of the plurality of players having the respective bonus time period coincident at the particular time of triggering initiation of the second random number game upon completion of the second random number game. 
     
     
         40 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 39 , wherein the first award increases by a value of a predetermined portion of the credits used by submitting the respective requests to initiate play of the respective electronic terminal by the respective player. 
     
     
         41 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the system controller conducts all operations of the second random number game without further input from the player until the play of the second random number game is terminated. 
     
     
         42 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the electronic terminal further comprises a display for displaying the electronic credits of the player. 
     
     
         43 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the electronic terminal further comprises a display for displaying a first predetermined value for the amount of the award for the first random number game result being a winning result. 
     
     
         44 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an imaging device that captures an image of the displayed play of the electronic terminal of at least one player if the respective bonus time period runs coincident with the initiation of the second random number game; and   a memory for storing the image from the imaging device.   
     
     
         45 . The entertainment playing system as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the second random number game comprise a sweepstakes game.