Progressive gaming method, apparatus, and program product for lottery-type gaming systems

• US 20050137010A1
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Everi Games Inc. (Everi Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Multimedia Games Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Connor, Brendan, Enzminger, Joseph R., Lind, Clifton, Malle, Nimai
• Granted Patent: US 7,708,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A progressive gaming method includes producing a set of game records with each game record being associated with a result in a game. Progressive prize bearing records are included in the set of game records according to a progressive win frequency rule. Each progressive prize bearing record is associated with a progressive win indicator and a progressive prize. After producing the game record set, the method includes assigning game records from the game record set to a number of players. Each game record is assigned to a respective player in response to a game play request associated with the respective player. The method also includes awarding a progressive prize to the respective player to whom a progressive prize bearing record is assigned in response to a game play request.

Claims

1. A progressive gaming method including:

(a) producing a set of game records, each game record being associated with a result in a game and at least one game record in the set of game records comprising a progressive prize bearing record which is associated with a progressive win indicator and a progressive prize;

(b) assigning a number of game records from the set of game records to respective players, each assigned game record from the set of game records being assigned in response to a respective game play request associated with a respective one of the players; and

(c) awarding the progressive prize to the respective player to whom the respective progressive prize bearing record is assigned.

2. The progressive gaming method of claim 1 further including maintaining a current value for the progressive prize as the game records are assigned to respective players.

3. The progressive gaming method of claim 2 further including maintaining the current value for the progressive prize through a running count of assigned game play requests.

4. The progressive gaming method of claim 2 wherein the current value for the progressive prize is maintained through a local database service associated with a single gaming site.

5. The progressive gaming method of claim 2 wherein the current value for the progressive prize is maintained through two or more local database services, each associated with a different respective gaming site, and through a system-wide database service associated with each of the gaming sites with which a respective local database service is associated.

6. The progressive gaming method of claim 1 further including polling a number of local database services by a system-wide database service to maintain a current progressive prize value for a system-wide game, each local database service being associated with a respective gaming site through which the system-wide game is available for play.

7. The progressive gaming method of claim 1 further including collecting, at an accounting server system, at least a portion of available accounting information associated with each game record that has been assigned to a respective player.

8. The progressive gaming method of claim 1 further including dividing the set of game records up into a number of game record subsets at a central game storage location and distributing the game record subsets to a number of different gaming sites for assignment of game records to respective players.

9. The progressive gaming method of claim 1 further including setting a next progressive prize value with a seed value in response to the assignment of a progressive prize bearing record to a respective player.

10. A lottery-type gaming system including:

(a) a game services system for storing a number of game records and for assigning individual game records from the number of game records, each of the number of game records being associated with a predetermined result, and at least one of the number of game records including a progressive prize bearing record;

(b) a number of player stations in communication with the game services system, each player station for submitting a respective game play request to the game services system in response to a player input at the respective player station and being assigned a respective one of the game records in response to the game play request; and

(c) wherein the game services system communicates a progressive prize win indication to a respective player station to which the respective progressive prize bearing record is assigned.

11. The system of claim 10 further including a game server operatively connected to the game services system for communicating the number of game records to the game services system.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the progressive prize bearing record is identified by a progressive prize indicator included in the progressive prize bearing record.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the game services system and the number of player stations are associated with a first gaming site and further including:

(a) an additional game services system associated with a second gaming site for storing a number of additional game records and for assigning individual game records from the number of additional game records, each of the number of additional game records being associated with a predetermined result;

(b) a number of additional player stations in communication with the additional game services system, each additional player station for submitting a respective game play request to the additional game services system in response to a player input at the respective additional player station and being assigned a respective one of the additional game records in response to the game play request; and

(c) an accounting server operatively connected to the first gaming site and the second gaming site for maintaining a current progressive prize value associated with a given progressive prize.

14. The system of claim 13 further including:

(a) a database system located at the first gaming site, the database system for collecting progressive value contributions for game play records assigned at the first gaming site; and

(b) an additional database system located at the second gaming site, the additional database system for collecting progressive value contributions for additional game play records assigned at the second gaming site.

15. The system of claim 13 further including a database system located at the first gaming site for maintaining a current progressive prize value associated with a local progressive prize associated with the first gaming site.

16. A program product stored on at least one computer readable medium, the program product including a set of machine-readable instructions that when executed are configured to:

(a) produce a set of game records, each game record being associated with a result in a game and at least one game record in the set of game records comprising a progressive prize bearing record;

(b) assign a number of game records from the set of game records to respective players, each assigned game record being assigned in response to a respective game play request associated with a respective player; and

(c) award a progressive prize in response to the assignment of a respective progressive prize bearing record, the progressive prize being awarded to a respective player to whom the progressive prize bearing record was assigned.

17. The program product of claim 16 wherein the set of machine-readable instructions are further configured to increase a value for the progressive prize as each game record is assigned from the set of game records.

18. The program product of claim 16 wherein the set of machine-readable instructions are further configured to maintain a current value for the progressive prize through a local database service associated with a single gaming site.

19. The program product of claim 16 wherein the set of machine-readable instructions are further configured to maintain a current value for the progressive prize through two or more local database services, each associated with a different respective gaming site, and through a system-wide database service associated with each of the gaming sites with which a local database service is associated.

20. The program product of claim 16 wherein the set of machine-readable instructions are further configured to poll a number of local database services for game record assignment data to maintain a current progressive prize value for a system-wide game, each local database service being associated with a respective gaming site through which the system-wide game is available for play.