Wagering game with alternating picks

• US 20060160625A1
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Englman, Allon G., Mastropietro, Michael W., Pacey, Larry J., Gagner, Mark, McInerny, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,133,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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

Method and system are disclosed for conducting a wagering game having increased excitement and enjoyment over existing wagering games. The method and system involve a bank of wagering game terminals connected to a bank controller. Each wagering game terminal allows players to play a basic wagering game that is independent of other wagering game terminals. The wagering game terminals also allow players to play a bonus game where players take turns playing to win a portion of a jackpot. The portion awarded to each player may be the actual amount won by that player, or it may be a percentage of the entire jackpot based on the actual amount won by the player relative to other players. In one implementation, only players at wagering game terminals that exceed a minimum level of wagering activity may play the bonus game.

Claims

1. A wagering game system, comprising:

a plurality of wagering game terminals, each wagering game terminal capable of conducting a wagering game in which an outcome is randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes, said plurality of outcomes including a special-event outcome; and

a network to which said wagering game terminals are connected, said network initiating a special-event game on eligible ones of said wagering game terminals upon occurrence of said special-event outcome as said randomly selected outcome on one of said wagering game terminals;

wherein said special-event game allows players at said eligible ones of said wagering game terminals to take turns playing to win a portion of a special-event jackpot.

2. The wagering game system according to claim 1, wherein said special-event game includes a player-selection game in which players take turns selecting picks from an array of picks, each pick revealing a credit amount or a game-termination symbol when selected.

3. The wagering game system according to claim 1, wherein said special-event jackpot is distributed as random credit amounts and at random locations in said array of picks.

4. The wagering game system according to claim 1, wherein an eligibility of each wagering game terminal depends on a turnover at said wagering game terminal.

5. The wagering game system according to claim 4, wherein players at wagering game terminals with higher turnover receive their turns before players at wagering game terminals with lower turnover.

6. The wagering game system according to claim 4, wherein players at wagering game terminals with higher turnover receive two or more consecutive turns relative to players at wagering game terminals with lower turnover.

7. The wagering game system according to claim 4, wherein players at wagering game terminals with turnover above a predetermined level have their winnings increased by a predetermined multiplier.

8. The wagering game system according to claim 1, wherein said special-event game is concluded when all players at eligible ones of said wagering game terminals have been terminated.

9. The wagering game system according to claim 1, wherein said special-event game session is concluded when all portions of said special-event jackpot has been won.

10. The wagering game system according to claim 1, wherein said special-event game session is concluded when each player at said eligible ones of said wagering game terminals has completed a predetermined number of terms.

11. The wagering game system according to claim 1, wherein said wagering game is a slot machine game and said special-event outcome includes a special symbol on said slot machine game.

12. A wagering terminal, comprising:

a wager input for accepting a wager from a player at said wagering game terminal; and

a display unit for displaying a wagering game, said wagering game having an outcome that is randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes, said plurality of outcomes including a bonus outcome;

wherein said bonus outcome triggers a bonus game on said wagering game terminal in which said player alternates turns playing with other players at other wagering game terminals to win a portion of a jackpot.

13. The wagering game terminal according to claim 12, wherein said display unit further displays one or more of a player-winnings indicator, a jackpot-remaining indicator, and a players-remaining indicator in connection with said special-event game.

14. The wagering game terminal according to claim 12, wherein said player-winnings indicator, said jackpot-remaining indicator, and said players-remaining indicator are automatically updated whenever new information becomes available.

15. A method of apportioning a jackpot amongst multiple wagering game terminals, comprising:

conducting a wagering game on said wagering game terminals, each wagering game having an outcome that is randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes, said plurality of outcomes including a bonus outcome;

upon occurrence of said bonus outcome being said randomly selected outcome on any wagering game terminal, initiating on eligible ones of said wagering game terminals a bonus game in which players take turns playing; and

awarding each player a portion of said jackpot or terminating said player from said bonus game during said player'"'"'s turn playing said bonus game.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein each player'"'"'s likelihood of receiving said portion of said jackpot depends more on chance than on skill.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said jackpot is a preset amount for each bonus game.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said jackpot is an unspecified amount that may vary with each bonus game.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said portion of said jackpot is an actual amount won by each player.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising suspending said wagering game on any eligible wagering game terminal until said players have completed said bonus game if said bonus game is initiated during said wagering game.