GAMING SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE GAMING MACHINES WHICH PROVIDE BONUS AWARDS
First Claim
1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
- (a) maintaining a bonus pool, said bonus pool based at least in part on wagers from players playing a plurality of gaming machines;
(b) determining an average expected value of a bonus award to be provided to at least one player, wherein the average expected value is based, at least in part, on the bonus pool;
(c) providing an actual bonus award to at least one player, said actual bonus award based at least in part on the bonus pool, wherein the actual bonus award may be different than the average expected value of the bonus award;
(d) subtracting the average expected value of the bonus award from the bonus pool; and
(e) utilizing the remaining bonus pool to determine at least part of at least another actual bonus award.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
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(a) maintaining a bonus pool, said bonus pool based at least in part on wagers from players playing a plurality of gaming machines;
(b) determining an average expected value of a bonus award to be provided to at least one player, wherein the average expected value is based, at least in part, on the bonus pool;
(c) providing an actual bonus award to at least one player, said actual bonus award based at least in part on the bonus pool, wherein the actual bonus award may be different than the average expected value of the bonus award;
(d) subtracting the average expected value of the bonus award from the bonus pool; and
(e) utilizing the remaining bonus pool to determine at least part of at least another actual bonus award. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of operating a gaming system including a controller and a plurality of gaming machines which each include a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player and at least one display device operable to display said primary game, said method comprising:
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(a) maintaining a first accumulated wager pool for a first occurrence of one of a plurality of bonus events;
(b) maintaining an average expected value component for each bonus event;
(c) causing the first occurrence of the bonus event;
(d) determining at least part of a first bonus award to display and provide to the player of one of the gaming machines for the first occurrence of the bonus event;
(e) determining a remainder based on the average expected value component for the bonus event and the first accumulated wager pool;
(f) maintaining a second accumulated wager pool for a second occurrence of one of the bonus events, wherein maintaining the second accumulated wager pool includes allocating any determined remainder to the second accumulated wager pool;
(g) causing the second occurrence of the bonus event; and
(h) using the second accumulated wager pool and said remainder to at least in part determine a second bonus award to display and provide to the player of one of the gaming machines for the second occurrence of the bonus event. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a controller in communication with a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine includes a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player and at least one display device operable to display said primary game, said method comprising:
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(a) causing the controller to maintain a first accumulated wager pool based, at least in part, on the wagers placed on the primary games of the gaming machines;
(b) causing the controller to determine a first bonus portion of the first accumulated wager pool, wherein said first bonus portion is, at least in part, based on a percentage less than 100% of the first accumulated wager pool;
(c) causing the controller to select at least one of the gaming machines to provide a first bonus award to the player of said selected gaming machine, wherein a total average expected value of the first bonus awards provided to the players is equal to or less than the first bonus portion; and
(d) causing the controller to allocate a remainder to a second accumulated wager pool for a second bonus award to be displayed and provided to the player of one of said gaming machines, wherein said remainder accounts for any difference between the first bonus portion and the total average expected value of the first bonus awards provided to the players. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification