Patent ID: 6287202
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: A63F,G07F

Abstract:
A method of conducting a gaming tounarnent in which a plurality of players participate concurrently in play on individual gaming terminals, the method comprising the steps of:connecting a plurality of gaming terminals together to form a network of gaming terminals, wherein each gaming terminal is operative to execute a game of chance having equivalent win probability characteristics and each terminal is operative to receive and transmit the data required to control the play and report the results;determining which of the plurality of networked gaming terminals are enabled to participate in the gaming tournament;determining that a predetermined start time for the tournament has been reached and that there are not at least a predetermined number of participating terminals;designating a number of unattended terminals to participate in the tournament so that the predetermined number of participating terminals is met;simultaneously starting tournament play at each of the participating terminals, including any unattended terminals;once started, permitting the players to concurrently and continuously play the game one or more times at each of the participating gaming terminals;simultaneously ending tournament play at each of the participating terminals, the players at each of the participating terminals having concurrently and continuously played the game over the same time interval;collecting from each of the gaming terminals the accumulated score during the same time interval to determine the highest score; andidentifying the terminal whose player accumulated the highest score.