Jackpot system
First Claim
1. A jackpot system for the allocation of wins from at least one jackpot to players playing at a plurality of gaming positions, wherein said gaming positions are associated with a computer network including a computing engine having a memory for receiving inputs from the gaming positions and at least one output for communicating information to said players, at least one paytable stored in said memory or in another memory associated with said computer network, said paytable being capable of being configured by an operator and having a plurality of possible winning entries and wins associated with said winning entries, a selection generator which is triggered at least once, via said computer network, by a trigger input generated in response to the playing of each game of a group of selected games, whereby to generate a selection, means for comparing the selection generated with the paytable, and, in the event of the selection generated corresponding to a said winning entry, initiating the transfer of the associated win to at least one player associated with the gaming position which triggered the selection, and/or to another jackpot.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A jackpot system used in casinos for allocating the wins from at least one jackpot to players playing at a plurality of gaming positions. The gaming positions are associated with a computer network including a computing engine having a memory for receiving inputs from the gaming positions and at least one output for communicating information to the players. At least one paytable is stored in that memory or in another memory associated with the computer network. The paytable can be configured by an operator and has a plurality of possible winning entries and wins associated with the winning entries. A selection generator is triggered at least once, via the computer network, by a trigger input generated in response to the playing of each game of a group of selected games to generate a selection. The selection is compared with the paytable and if the selection corresponds to a winning entry, the associated win is transferred to at least one player associated with the gaming position which triggered the selection, and/or to another jackpot.
171 Citations
46 Claims
- 1. A jackpot system for the allocation of wins from at least one jackpot to players playing at a plurality of gaming positions, wherein said gaming positions are associated with a computer network including a computing engine having a memory for receiving inputs from the gaming positions and at least one output for communicating information to said players, at least one paytable stored in said memory or in another memory associated with said computer network, said paytable being capable of being configured by an operator and having a plurality of possible winning entries and wins associated with said winning entries, a selection generator which is triggered at least once, via said computer network, by a trigger input generated in response to the playing of each game of a group of selected games, whereby to generate a selection, means for comparing the selection generated with the paytable, and, in the event of the selection generated corresponding to a said winning entry, initiating the transfer of the associated win to at least one player associated with the gaming position which triggered the selection, and/or to another jackpot.
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31. A jackpot system for the allocation of wins from at least one jackpot to players playing at a plurality of gaming positions, wherein said gaming positions are associated with a computer network including
a centralized or distributed computing engine having a means for receiving, storing and processing inputs from the gaming positions and at least one output for communicating information to said players, at least one parameterizable win determination unit including at least one associated game of chance having rules and parameters relating to the rules and associated wins, said parameters being stored in said storage means, or in another storage means associated with said computer network, said win determination unit being capable of triggering play at said game of chance for each corresponding trigger input either from a unit associated with a gaming position or from a central unit to generate a result and a comparator for comparing the result generated with the rules of the game, and, in the event of the result generated corresponding to a winning result, initiating the transfer of the associated win to one or more players at or associated with the gaming position which triggered the winning result, and/or to another jackpot.
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43. A configurable jackpot system, wherein means are provided for enabling said casino management to determine at least some of the following criteria:
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which gaming positions in a casino qualify for incremental entries into a jackpot or said jackpot system, which gaming positions qualify for a chance of winning said jackpot, which players qualify for a chance of winning said jackpot, which probability is associated with each chance of winning the jackpot, which wins are associated with the jackpot, which information relating to the jackpot is displayed to the players, which multimedia displays or events are associated with the jackpot.
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44. A method of operating a jackpot system for the allocation of wins from at least one jackpot to players playing at a plurality of gaming positions, wherein said gaming positions are associated with a computer network including a computing engine having a memory for receiving inputs from the gaming positions, and at least one output for communicating information to said players, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing inputs from each gaming position each time a new bet is wagered, inputting casino specified criteria depending whether a wagered bet qualifies for one or more chances of winning a win associated with said jackpot, setting up a game of chance having a paytable comprising a plurality of winning entries and at least one win associated with at least some of said winning entries, defining said wins associated with said winning entries, providing a selection generator to generate a selection which may be a winning entry in accordance with a specified probability, defining criteria determining a plurality of specified probabilities, deciding whether each wagered bet specifies said criteria qualifying the wagered bet for a chance of winning a jackpot and, if so, triggering said selection generator to generate a selection with a specified probability of it being a winning entry determined in accordance with said probability criteria, checking whether the selection generated constitutes a winning entry and subsequently allocating a win associated with a winning entry to one or more players in accordance with allocation criteria specified by the casino.
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Specification