UNIVERSAL PROGRESSIVE GAME POOL

• US 20080020831A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Anders, Greg, Ikehara, Clyde, Tucker, Aaron, Wolf, Bryan, Bansemer, Mark, Olson, Garrett, Lundy, Chris
• Application Number:
  US11/829,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20080020831A1
• 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods that allow gaming machines to participate in a progressive pool and offer a progressive award regardless of the game installed on the gaming machine. The present invention also permits gaming machine participation in a progressive pool regardless of wager amount. This permits larger progressive awards and awards that grow faster since more games and gaming machines may participate in building a progressive pool award. It also opens the attraction of a large progressive pool award to more games, gaming machines and gaming establishments.

Claims

1. A method for providing a progressive award to gaming machines, the method comprising:

creating a progressive pool that includes a set of outcomes for the progressive award;

distributing a first deck of outcomes included in the progressive pool to a first gaming machine that permits play of a first game type;

distributing a second deck of outcomes included in the progressive pool to a second gaming machine that permits play of a second game type.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the progressive pool is created by a progressive pool administrator that initially sends the first deck of outcomes and the second deck of outcomes.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the progressive pool administrator also randomizes the outcomes before distribution of the decks.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first gaming machine selects an outcome from first the deck of outcomes.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first gaming machine receives the first deck of outcomes from a progressive pool manager.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the progressive pool manager selects an outcome from the first deck of outcomes and sends the selected outcome to the first gaming machine.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the progressive pool manager selects and sends an outcome from the first deck of outcomes each time a game is played at the first gaming machine.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the second gaming machine receives the second deck of outcomes from the progressive pool manager.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the second gaming machine receives the second deck of outcomes in response to a request from the second gaming machine.

10. A method for awarding a progressive award to a gaming machine, the method comprising:

receiving a wager from a player at a gaming machine;

determining a ratio between the wager and a reference wager for the progressive award;

receiving a winning outcome for the progressive award;

altering the progressive award using the ratio to create an altered progressive award; and

providing notice to the player of the winning outcome.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the progressive award comprises a contribution from a second gaming machine that runs a game type that is different from a game type offered by the first gaming machine.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the wager initiates a game at the gaming machine

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the altered progressive award is less than the progressive award.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the reference wager is a maximum wager for the progressive pool.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the ratio comprises a ratio of the wager to the maximum wager for the progressive pool.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the altered progressive award comprises the progressive award multiplied by the ratio.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the wager comprises a maximum wager permitted by the gaming machine.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising awarding the altered progressive award.

19. The method of claim 10 further comprising requesting confirmation from the player after providing notice to the player of the winning outcome.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising awarding the altered progressive award after the player provides confirmation.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising applying a time limit for confirmation.

22. The method of claim 10 wherein the gaming machine permits incremental wagers.

23. The method of claim 10 further comprising broadcasting a new progressive award after reducing the progressive award by the altered progressive award.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the new progressive award is broadcast in real time.

25. The method of claim 10 further comprising broadcasting the altered progressive award at the gaming machine.

26. A method for providing a progressive award to gaming machines, the method comprising:

sending an outcome included in a progressive pool to a first gaming machine that permits play of a first game type;

sending an outcome included in a progressive pool to a second gaming machine that permits play of a second game type;

sending an outcome included in a game pool to the gaming machine.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the progressive pool outcome and the game pool outcome are substantially simultaneously sent to the gaming machine.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the progressive pool outcome is sent to the first gaming machine in a progressive pool deck of outcomes.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the progressive pool deck of outcomes has been randomized before sending the progressive pool deck to the first gaming machine.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising selecting the progressive pool outcome from the progressive pool deck of outcomes.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the game pool outcome is sent to the gaming machine in a game pool deck of outcomes.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein a progressive pool manager sends the outcome to the gaming machine.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the progressive pool manager selects the progressive pool outcome from a deck of progressive pool outcomes and sends the selected outcome to the first gaming machine.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the progressive pool manager selects and sends a progressive pool outcome each time a game is played at the gaming machine.