SERVER BASED GAMING SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE PROGRESSIVE AWARDS

• US 20070060321A1
• Filed: 09/05/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jones, Aaron, Bansemer, Mark, Vasquez, James, Baerlocher, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,128,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising

a controller;

a first game progressive award maintainable by the controller;

a first gaming machine configured to communicate with the controller, said first gaming machine including a first game operable upon a first game wager by a first player, wherein upon placement by the first player of a wager of a first designated amount on a play of said first game, the first gaming machine provides the first player a first probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning the first game progressive award; and

a second gaming machine configured to communicate with the controller, said second gaming machine including a second game operable upon a second game wager by a second player, wherein upon placement by the second player of both;

(a) the second game wager of a second designated amount on the second game, and (b) placement of a side wager of a third designated amount on a play of the second gaming machine, the second gaming machine provides the second player a second probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning the first game progressive award, wherein any award from the second gaming machine is independent of the amount of the side wager;

wherein the first probability is substantially equal to the second probability if the third designated amount is at least a predefined portion of the first designated amount, said predefined portion greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the second player has a third probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning a second game progressive award maintainable by the controller.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein upon placement by the first player of both:

(a) the first game wager of the first designated amount on the first game, and (b) placement of a side wager of a fourth designated amount on the first gaming machine, the first player has a fourth probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning the second game progressive award, wherein the fourth probability is substantially equal to the third probability if the fourth designated amount is at least a predefined portion of the second designated amount, said predefined portion greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first game progressive award is an accumulated value progressive award.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a determination of if any of the players are provided the first game progressive award occurs independent of any displayed events in any plays of said first game.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the second gaming machine displays to the second player a menu which includes a plurality of progressive awards for the second player to place side wagers on.

7. A gaming system comprising

a controller;

a first game progressive award maintainable by the controller;

a first gaming machine configured to communicate with the controller, said first gaming machine including a first game operable upon a first game wager by a first player, wherein upon placement by the first player of a wager of a first designated amount on said first game, the first gaming machine provides the first player a first probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning the first game progressive award; and

a second gaming machine configured to communicate with the controller, said second gaming machine including a second game operable upon a second game wager by a second player, wherein upon placement by the second player of both;

(a) the second game wager of a second designated amount on the second game, and (b) placement of a side wager of a third designated amount on the second gaming machine, the second gaming machine provides the second player a second probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning the first game progressive award, wherein any award from the second gaming machine is independent of the amount of the side wager;

wherein a ratio between the first probability of winning the first game progressive award and the second probability of winning the first game progressive award is based on a ratio between the wager of the first designated amount and the side wager of the third designated amount.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the second player has a third probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning a second game progressive award maintainable by the controller.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein upon placement by the first player of both:

(a) the first game wager of the first designated amount on the first game, and (b) placement of a side wager of a fourth designated amount on the first gaming machine, the first player has a fourth probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning the second game progressive award, wherein a ratio between the third probability of winning the second game progressive award and the fourth probability of winning the second game progressive award is based on a ratio between the second game wager of the second designated amount and the side wager of the fourth designated amount.

10. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the first game progressive award is an accumulated value progressive award.

11. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein a determination of if any of the players are provided the first game progressive award occurs independent of any displayed events in any plays of said first game.

12. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the second gaming machine displays to the second player a menu which includes a plurality of progressive awards for the second player to place side wagers on.

13. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the greater the third designated amount, the greater the second probability of winning the first game progressive award.

14. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the second probability of winning the first game progressive award is based on information communicated from a player tracking system.

15. A gaming system comprising

a controller;

a first game progressive award maintainable by the controller;

a first gaming machine configured to communicate with the controller, said first gaming machine including a first game operable upon a first game wager by a first player, wherein upon placement by the first player of a wager of a first designated amount on said first game, the first gaming machine provides the first player a first probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning the first game progressive award; and

a second gaming machine configured to communicate with the controller, said second gaming machine including a second game operable upon a second game wager by a second player, wherein upon placement by the second player of both;

(a) the second game wager of a second designated amount on the second game, and (b) placement of a side wager of a third designated amount on the second gaming machine, the second gaming machine provides the second player a second probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning the first game progressive award;

wherein a product of a percentage of the first designated wager amount and the first probability of winning the first game progressive award is equal or substantially equal to a product of the side wager of the third designated amount and the second probability of winning the first game progressive award, said percentage of the first designated wager amount being greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the percentage of the first designated wager amount funds, at least in part, the first progressive award.

17. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the second player has a third probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning a second game progressive award maintainable by the controller.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein upon placement by the first player of both:

(a) the first game wager of the first designated amount on the first game, and (b) placement of a side wager of a fourth designated amount on the first gaming machine, the first player has a fourth probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning the second game progressive award, wherein a product of the second designated wager amount and the third probability of winning the second game progressive award is equal or substantially equal to a product of the side wager of the fourth designated amount and the fourth probability of winning second first game progressive award

19. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the first game progressive award is an accumulated value progressive award.

20. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein a determination of if any of the players are provided the first game progressive award occurs independent of any displayed events in any plays of said first game.

21. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the second gaming machine displays to the second player a menu which includes a plurality of progressive awards for the second player to place side wagers on.

22. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the greater the third designated amount, the greater the second probability of winning the first game progressive award.

23. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the second probability of winning the first game progressive award is based on information communicated from a player tracking system.

24. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein any award from the second gaming machine is independent of the amount of the side wager.

25. A gaming system comprising

a controller including a plurality of progressive modules;

a plurality of progressive awards, wherein each progressive award is maintainable by one of the progressive modules;

a plurality of different selectable side bets, each side bet associated with one of the progressive awards;

a plurality of gaming machines configured to communicate with the controller, wherein at least one of the gaming machines includes;

a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and

an input device for enabling the player to select at least one of the side bets, wherein when the player selects one of the side bets associated with one of the progressive awards, the gaming machine is associated with the progressive module which maintains the progressive award associated with the selected side bet; and

a triggering event associated with each progressive award, wherein upon an occurrence of the triggering event for each progressive award;

(a) one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains said progressive award is determined; and

(b) the selected gaming machine provides said progressive award to the player of said selected gaming machine.

26. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein at least one side bet associated with at least one of the progressive awards must be at least a designated amount.

27. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein when one of the players selects one of the side bets associated with one of the progressive awards, the player'"'"'s probability of winning said progressive award is based on a value of the placed side bet.

28. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein which side bets at least one of the players selects is based on information communicated from a player tracking system.

29. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein at least one of the progressive awards is an accumulated value progressive award associated with a range of values and a progressive award hit value.

30. The gaming system of claim 29, wherein the triggering event associated with the accumulated value progressive award occurs if said accumulated value progressive award reaches the progressive award hit value.

31. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the triggering event associated with the accumulated value progressive award occurs independent of any displayed events in any plays of said primary games.

32. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a controller, said controller configured to communicate with a first gaming machine including a first game operable upon a first game wager by a first player, said controller configured to communicate with a second gaming machine including a second game operable upon a second game wager by a second player, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining a first game progressive award;

(b) upon placement by the first player of a wager of a first designated amount on said first game of the first gaming machine, causing the first gaming machine to provide the first player a first probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning the first game progressive award; and

(c) upon placement by the second player of both;

(i) the second game wager of a second designated amount on the second game, and (ii) placement of a side wager of a third designated amount on the second gaming machine, causing the second gaming machine to provide the second player a second probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning the first game progressive award, wherein a product of a percentage of the first designated wager amount and the first probability of winning the first game progressive award is equal or substantially equal to a product of the side wager of the third designated amount and the second probability of winning the first game progressive award, said percentage of the first designated wager amount being greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the percentage of the first designated wager amount funds, at least in part, the first progressive award.

34. The method of claim 32, which includes maintaining a second game progressive award, wherein the second player has a third probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning said second game progressive award.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein upon placement by the first player of both:

(a) the first game wager of the first designated amount on the first game, and (b) placement of a side wager of a fourth designated amount on the first gaming machine, causing the first gaming machine to provide the first player a fourth probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of winning the second game progressive award, wherein a product of the second designated wager amount and the third probability of winning the second game progressive award is equal or substantially equal to a product of the side wager of the fourth designated amount and the fourth probability of winning second first game progressive award

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the first game progressive award is an accumulated value progressive award.

37. The method of claim 32, which includes determining, independent of any displayed events in any plays of said first game, if any of the players are provided the first game progressive award.

38. The method of claim 32, which includes causing the second gaming machine to display to the second player a menu which includes a plurality of progressive awards for the second player to place side wagers on.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the greater the third designated amount, the greater the second probability of winning the first game progressive award.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein the second probability of winning the first game progressive award is based on information communicated from a player tracking system.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein any award from the second gaming machine is independent of the amount of the side wager.

42. The method of claim 32, which is provided through a data network.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the data network is an internet.

44. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a controller configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming machines wherein each gaming machine includes a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining a plurality of progressive awards, wherein each progressive award is maintainable by one of a plurality of progressive modules and each progressive award is associated with a triggering event;

(b) enabling at least one of the players at least one of the gaming machines to select at least one of a plurality of different side bets, wherein each side bet associated with one of the progressive awards;

(c) if the player selects one of the side bets associated with one of the progressive awards, causing an association between the player'"'"'s gaming machine and the progressive module which maintains the progressive award associated with the selected side bet; and

(d) if the triggering event associated with one of the progressive awards occurs;

(i) determining one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains said progressive award; and

(ii) causing the selected gaming machine to provide said progressive award to the player of said selected gaming machine.

45. The gaming method of claim 44, wherein at least one side bet associated with at least one of the progressive awards must be at least a designated amount.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein when one of the players selects one of the side bets associated with one of the progressive awards, the player'"'"'s probability of winning said progressive award is based on a value of the placed side bet.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein which side bets at least one of the players selects is based on information communicated from a player tracking system.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein at least one of the progressive awards is an accumulated value progressive award associated with a range of values and a progressive award hit value.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the triggering event associated with the accumulated value progressive award occurs if said accumulated value progressive award reaches the progressive award hit value.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the triggering event associated with the accumulated value progressive award occurs independent of any displayed events in any plays of said primary games.

51. The method of claim 44, which is provided through a data network.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the data network is an internet.