GAMING SYSTEM WHICH PROVIDES MULTIPLE PLAYERS MULTIPLE BONUS AWARDS

• US 20080020825A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cuddy, Ryan, Baerlocher, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,722,464 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 17/3244 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 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device'"'"'s chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to place a wager upon a primary game, wherein at least part of said wagers placed are allocated to an accumulated bonus event pool; and

(b) upon a triggering of a first bonus event;

(i) designating said gaming device as a triggering gaming device or an auxiliary gaming device;

(ii) determining if the accumulated bonus event pool exceeds a threshold amount;

(iii) enabling said gaming device to participate in the first bonus event if said gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device and said accumulated bonus event pool does not exceed the threshold amount;

(iv) enabling said gaming device to participate in the first bonus event if said gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device and said accumulated bonus event pool exceeds the threshold amount, wherein any first bonus event awards determined in the first bonus event are modified by a triggering gaming device modifier and a first accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on said accumulated bonus event pool; and

(v) enabling said gaming device to participate in the first bonus event if said gaming device is designated as the auxiliary gaming device and said accumulated bonus event pool exceeds the threshold amount, wherein any first bonus event awards determined in the first bonus event are modified by a second accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on said accumulated bonus event pool.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes not enabling said gaming device to participate in the first bonus event if said gaming device is designated as the auxiliary gaming device and said accumulated bonus event pool does not exceed the threshold amount.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes providing at least one second bonus event award upon a triggering of a second bonus event.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second bonus event award is a progressive award.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes determining that the first bonus event will occur based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game.

6. The method of claim 1, which includes determining that the first bonus event will occur independent of any displayed event in any play of the primary game or of any plays of any secondary games.

7. The method of claim 1, which is provided through a data network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data network is an internet.