Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards

• US 20060040723A1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Vasquez, James A., Ching, Erick T., Peterson, Tonja M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,607,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3283 wherein the number of active machines is limited
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and

a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if a bonus event will occur, and if the controller determines that the bonus event will occur, said controller is programmed to;

(i) determine which of the gaming machines were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event,

(ii) select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state,

(iii) send a signal to the selected gaming machine in the active state to provide a primary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein said selected gaming machine at least in part determines the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player,

(iv) if at least two gaming machines are each in the active state;

(1) determine a designated number of gaming machines which will each provide a secondary bonus award, said determination based on the number of gaming machines in the active state, and (2) for each secondary bonus award select a different one of the gaming machines in the active state excluding the gaming machine selected to provide said primary bonus award, and

(v) send at least one signal to each gaming machine selected to provide a secondary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein each of said selected gaming machines determines at least part of the secondary bonus award to display and provide to the player of said selected gaming machine.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus event qualification period begins at the occurrence of a previous bonus event and ends at the occurrence of the bonus event.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus event qualification period begins at the issuance of a previous bonus award and ends at the issuance of the bonus award.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus event qualification period is a designated period of time before the end of a bonus event accumulation period.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus event qualification period is a designated period of time before the bonus event is determined to occur.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a wager was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated wager level was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated number of wagers were placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each bonus award includes a value component.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein each respective value component is determined by the selected gaming machine.

11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein each respective value component is determined in a secondary game.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each bonus award includes a modifier component.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the modifier component is selected by the controller.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, which includes an accumulated wager pool which includes at least the total amounts of the wagers placed on the primary games of all gaming machines during a bonus event accumulation period.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller.

16. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.

17. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said gaming machine selected to provide the primary bonus award determines at least part, but not all of the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player.

18. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said designated number of gaming machines which will provide a secondary bonus award is at least one.

19. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and

a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if a bonus event will occur, and if the controller determines that the bonus event will occur, said controller is programmed to;

(i) determine which of the gaming machines were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event,

(ii) select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state,

(iii) send a signal to the selected gaming machine in the active state to provide a primary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein said selected gaming machine at least in part determines the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player,

(iv) if at least two gaming machines are each in the active state;

(1) determine a designated number of gaming machines which will each provide a secondary bonus award, said determination based on the number of gaming machines in the active state, and (2) for each secondary bonus award select a different one of the gaming machines in the active state, wherein said selection excludes the gaming machine selected to provide said primary bonus award, and

(v) send at least one signal to each gaming machine selected to display and provide a secondary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein each of said selected gaming machines determines at least part, but not all of the secondary bonus award to display and provide to the player of said selected gaming machine.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein each bonus award includes a value component.

21. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein each respective value component is determined by the selected gaming machine.

22. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein each respective value component is determined in a secondary game.

23. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein each bonus award includes a modifier component.

24. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the modifier component is selected by the controller.

25. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.

26. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein said gaming machine selected to provide the primary bonus award determines at least part, but not all of the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player.

27. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein said designated number of gaming machines which will provide a secondary bonus award is at least one.

28. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and

a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to;

(a) maintain a total of the wagers placed on the primary game for each gaming machine during a bonus event accumulation period; and

(b) determine if a bonus event will occur;

(c) if the bonus event is determined to occur;

(i) determine which of the gaming machines were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event,

(ii) select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state based on the total wagers placed during the bonus event accumulation period for each of the gaming machines in the active state relative to the total wagers placed for all of the gaming machines in the active state during the bonus event accumulation period,

(iii) send a signal to the selected gaming machine to provide a primary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein said selected gaming machine at least in part determines the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player, and

(iv) if at least two gaming machines are each in the active state;

(1) determine a designated number of secondary bonus awards based on the number of gaming machines in the active state, (2) for each secondary bonus award select a different one of the gaming machines in the active state wherein said selection excludes the gaming machine selected to provide the primary bonus award, and (3) send at least one signal to each selected gaming machine to provide one of the secondary bonus awards to the player of said gaming machine, wherein each selected gaming machine determines at least part of the secondary bonus award to display and provide to the player of said selected gaming machine.

29. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the bonus event accumulation period begins at the occurrence of a previous bonus event and ends at the occurrence of the bonus event.

30. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the bonus event accumulation period begins at the issuance of a previous bonus award and ends at the issuance of the bonus award.

31. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the bonus event qualification period is a designated period of time before the end of the bonus event accumulation period.

32. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the bonus event qualification period is a designated period of time before the bonus event is determined to occur.

33. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a wager was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

34. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated wager level was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

35. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated number of wagers were placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

36. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein each bonus award includes a value component.

37. The gaming system of claim 36, wherein each respective value component is determined by the selected gaming machine.

38. The gaming system of claim 36, wherein each respective value component is determined in a secondary game.

39. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein each bonus award includes a modifier component.

40. The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the modifier component is selected by the controller.

41. The gaming system of claim 28, which includes an accumulated wager pool which includes at least the total amounts of the wagers placed on the primary games of all gaming machines during the bonus event accumulation period.

42. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein said controller is programmed to, determine at designated intervals during the bonus event accumulation period if a bonus event will occur.

43. The gaming system of claim 42, wherein the designated intervals are time based.

44. The gaming system of claim 42, wherein the designated intervals are based on the accumulated wager pool.

45. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein a processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller.

46. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.

47. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein said gaming machine selected to provide the primary bonus award determines at least part, but not all of the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player.

48. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein each gaming machine selected to provide one of the secondary bonus awards determines at least part, but not all of the secondary bonus award to display and provide to the player of said selected gaming machine.

49. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein said gaming machine selected to provide the primary bonus award determines at least part, but not all of the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player and each gaming machine selected to provide one of the secondary bonus awards determines at least part, but not all of the secondary bonus award to display and provide to the player of said selected gaming machine.

50. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein said designated number of secondary bonus awards is at least one.