GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MULTIPLE LEVEL PROGRESSIVE AWARDS WITH INCREASED ODDS OF WINNING HIGHER LEVEL PROGRESSIVE AWARDS

• US 20080108431A1
• Filed: 11/08/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Cuddy, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 9,047,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3246 involving coins and/or banknotes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The gaming system includes a plurality of progressive awards arranged in a hierarchy. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event or qualifying condition, a bonus game is started. A player can win a next higher progressive award by accumulating award values. If the player'"'"'s total award value is greater than or equal to a trigger value for a progressive award, the player wins the progressive award. Unless a termination condition occurs, the bonus game continues. The total award value is set to the progressive award value. Alternatively, the progressive award value is added to the player'"'"'s total award value. The trigger value for a progressive award can be the startup value for that progressive award.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of symbols;

a display device configured to display one or more of the plurality of symbols; and

a processor operable with the display device to;

(a) set and display a total award value to an initial value;

(b) display one or more of the plurality of symbols;

(c) determine any award values associated with the displayed symbols;

(d) increase and display the total award value by any of said determined award values;

(e) increase the total award value based on a first progressive award value if the total award value is greater than or equal to a first trigger value;

(f) display the increased total award value; and

(g) determine whether the increased total award value is greater than or equal to a second trigger value associated with a second progressive award value.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first trigger value is a startup value for the first progressive award value.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to set the total award value to the second progressive award value if the total award value is greater than or equal to the second trigger value.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein the second trigger value is a startup value for the second progressive award value.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to increase the total award value by the second progressive award value if the total award value is greater than or equal to the second trigger value.

6. The gaming device of claim 5, wherein the second value is a startup value for the second progressive award.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to provide the second progressive award value to the player if the total award value is greater than or equal to the second trigger value.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to terminate a game when a terminator symbol is generated.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to increase the total award value based on the first progressive award value by setting the total award value to the first progressive award value.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to increase the total award value based on the first progressive award value by increasing the total award value by the first progressive award value.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second progressive award is a top progressive award and wherein the processor is operable to provide the second progressive award to a player if a top progressive award winning symbol is generated.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the initial value is zero.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to provide at least the first progressive award value to a player.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to provide the higher of the first progressive award value and the second progressive award value to a player if the total award value is greater than or equal to the second trigger value.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the processor is operable to provide the higher of the first progressive award value and the second progressive award value to the player without providing the lower of the first progressive award value and the second progressive award value to the player if the total award value is greater than or equal to the second trigger value.

16. A gaming device comprising:

a plurality of symbols;

a display device configured to display one or more of the plurality of symbols; and

a processor operable to;

(a) set and display a total award value to an initial value;

(b) cause the display of one or more of the plurality of symbols;

(c) determine any award values associated with the displayed symbols;

(d) increase and display the total award value by any of said determined award values;

(e) provide at least a first one of a plurality of progressive award values to a player if the total award value is equal to a trigger value associated with said progressive award, wherein each of the plurality of progressive award values is associated with one of a plurality of trigger values;

(f) set and display the total award value to the provided progressive award value; and

(g) determine whether the set total award value is equal to a second one of the trigger values associated with a second one of the progressive award values.

17. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the processor is operable to end a game if the total award value is higher than all of the trigger values associated with the plurality of progressive award values.

18. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the processor is operable to reset the total award value to the initial value if the total award value is higher than all of the trigger values associated with the plurality of progressive award values.

19. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the processor is operable to provide the higher of the first and second ones of the progressive award values to the player without providing the lower of the first and second ones of the progressive award values if the total award value is greater than or equal to the second trigger value.

20. A gaming system comprising

a controller, said controller programmed to manage a first progressive award value associated with a first trigger value and a second progressive award value associated with a second trigger value;

and

at least one gaming device including;

a display device; and

a gaming device processor programmed to operate with said central controller and said display device to;

(a) set and display a total award value to an initial value;

(b) display one or more of a plurality of symbols;

(c) determine any award values associated with the displayed symbols;

(d) increase the total award value by any of said determined award values;

(e) provide at least the first progressive award value to a player and increase the total award value based on the first progressive award value if the total award value is greater than or equal to the first trigger value;

(f) display the increased total award value; and

(g) determine whether the increased total award value is greater than or equal to the second trigger value.

21. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the first trigger value is a startup value for the first progressive award value.

22. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein increasing the total award value based on the first progressive award value includes setting the total award value to the first progressive award value.

23. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein increasing the total award value based on the first progressive award value includes increasing the total award value by the first progressive award value.

24. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the gaming device processor is operable to provide the higher of the first progressive award value and the second progressive award value to the player without providing the lower of the first progressive award value and the second progressive award value to the player if the total award value is greater than or equal to the second trigger value.

25. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a controller in communication with at least one gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) causing the controller to manage a first progressive award value associated with a first trigger value and a second progressive award value associated with a second trigger value; and

(b) causing a first one of the gaming devices to;

(i) set and display a total award value to an initial value;

(ii) display one or more of a plurality of symbols;

(iii) determine any award value associated with the displayed symbols;

(iv) increase the total award value by any of said determined award values;

(v) provide at least the first progressive award value to a player and increase the total award value based on the first progressive award value if the total award value is greater than or equal to the first trigger value;

(vi) display the total award value; and

(vii) determine whether the increased total award value is greater than or equal to the second trigger value.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first trigger value is a startup value for the first progressive award value.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein increasing the total award value based on the first progressive award value includes setting the total award value to the first progressive award value.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein increasing the total award value based on the first progressive award value includes increasing the total award value by the first progressive award value.

29. The method of claim 25, which is provided through a data network.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the data network is an internet.

31. The method of claim 25, further including providing the higher of the first progressive award value and the second progressive award value to the player without providing the lower of the first progressive award value and the second progressive award value to the player if the total award value is greater than or equal to the second trigger value.