Progressive wagering system
First Claim
1. A progressive gaming system adapted to accept wagers in a plurality of currencies or a plurality of denominations of the same currency and capable of awarding at least one linked prize, the system comprising:
- (A) a central system adapted to control the progressive gaming system;
(B) one or more prizes adapted to being awarded to participants;
(C) each of said prizes comprising at least a total wager amount and a minimum prize value;
(D) one or more devices adapted to accept a wager for participation in a prize;
(E) each of said devices comprising at least one pay line, said pay line comprising odds for winning said prize, said wager and said odds being adapted to the determination of a total wager amount;
(F) said central system being adapted to link said prizes to said devices based on a substantial equivalence of each independent entity'"'"'s total wager amount;
(G) said central system being adapted to enable devices linked to a prize to participate for winning said prize; and
(H) said central system being adapted to acquire transactions resulting from participation for said prizes and to control prize events.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A linked progressive gaming system and method of operation is disclosed that is capable of accepting wagers in different currencies and different denominations of the same currency and allowing players in diverse locations to play for common progressive prizes. The system periodically computes each current prize value using the data acquired from each gaming device, and displays the values at each location where participating gaming devices are located, in the currency used at each particular location. Multiple prizes may be supported simultaneously. Each gaming device may be linked to one or more prizes. Progressive prize award events may be triggered by random events associated with play based on wagers made on gaming devices or by the central system based on prize criteria exceeding a boundary limit. A Free Play apparatus is disclosed that allows non-progressive gaming devices, as well as other traditional games, to participate in progressive play.
413 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A progressive gaming system adapted to accept wagers in a plurality of currencies or a plurality of denominations of the same currency and capable of awarding at least one linked prize, the system comprising:
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(A) a central system adapted to control the progressive gaming system;
(B) one or more prizes adapted to being awarded to participants;
(C) each of said prizes comprising at least a total wager amount and a minimum prize value;
(D) one or more devices adapted to accept a wager for participation in a prize;
(E) each of said devices comprising at least one pay line, said pay line comprising odds for winning said prize, said wager and said odds being adapted to the determination of a total wager amount;
(F) said central system being adapted to link said prizes to said devices based on a substantial equivalence of each independent entity'"'"'s total wager amount;
(G) said central system being adapted to enable devices linked to a prize to participate for winning said prize; and
(H) said central system being adapted to acquire transactions resulting from participation for said prizes and to control prize events. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating a progressive wagering system, the system being capable of accepting wagers in a plurality of currencies or a plurality of denominations of the same currency, comprising the following steps:
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(A) determining a total wager amount for a prize, (B) determining the total wager amount for a game pay line on a device; and
(C) linking the prize to the device if the prize'"'"'s total wager amount is substantially equal to the device'"'"'s total wager amount. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a progressive wagering system, the system being capable of accepting wagers in a plurality of currencies or a plurality of denominations of the same currency, comprising the following steps:
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(A) determining a total wager amount for a progressive prize, (B) determining the total wager amount for a game pay line on a gaming device; and
(C) linking the gaming device to the progressive prize if the total wager amount for the progressive prize is substantially equal to the total wager amount for the game pay line. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a progressive wagering system, comprising:
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(A) determining a total wager amount for a progressive prize;
(B) recording the progressive prize'"'"'s total wager amount;
(C) determining the total wager amount for a game pay line on a gaming device;
(D) recording the wagering amount for the gaming device'"'"'s pay line;
(E) comparing the total wager amount recorded for the progressive prize with the total wager amount recorded for the game pay line on the gaming device; and
(F) linking the progressive prize to the gaming device'"'"'s pay line if the total wager amount recorded for the progressive prize is substantially equal to the total wager amount recorded for the gaming device'"'"'s pay line. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification