GAMING SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE GAMING MACHINES WHICH PROVIDE BONUS AWARDS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gaming system comprising:
- a plurality of gaming tables, each gaming table including a support structure, a table top supported by the support structure and controlled by at least one gaming table processor; and
a controller configured to communicate with said gaming table processors, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if a bonus event will occur, and if the controller determines that the bonus event will occur, the controller is programmed to;
(a) determine which of the gaming tables were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event,(b) select a first one of the gaming tables in the active state, and(c) cause a primary bonus award to be provided to at least one of a selected one of a plurality of players of said selected first gaming table, wherein said gaming table processor for the selected first gaming table determines at least part of the primary bonus award.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines, gaming tables, hand held gaming devices and/or community gaming displays. The central server monitors wagers placed on any games played. Based at least in part on the wagers placed, the central server determines when one or more bonus events will occur and which players to provide any bonus awards.
293 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming tables, each gaming table including a support structure, a table top supported by the support structure and controlled by at least one gaming table processor; and a controller configured to communicate with said gaming table processors, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if a bonus event will occur, and if the controller determines that the bonus event will occur, the controller is programmed to; (a) determine which of the gaming tables were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event, (b) select a first one of the gaming tables in the active state, and (c) cause a primary bonus award to be provided to at least one of a selected one of a plurality of players of said selected first gaming table, wherein said gaming table processor for the selected first gaming table determines at least part of the primary bonus award. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A gaming system comprising:
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at least one gaming table including; (i) a support structure, and (ii) a table top supported by the support structure; a plurality of bonus awards adapted to be provided to a plurality of the players of at least one primary game played in association with the at least one gaming table; and a controller configured to communicate with said at least one gaming table processor, wherein the controller is programmed to; (a) maintain an accumulated wager pool based on a plurality of wagers placed at the gaming table during a bonus event accumulation period, (b) randomly determine to provide one of the bonus awards, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on the accumulated wager pool and is independent of any event in any play of any primary game played in association with the gaming table, and (c) determine which of the players at the gaming table will be provided the bonus award based, at least in part, on the wagers placed on the primary game played in association with the gaming table, wherein the gaming table determines at least part of the bonus award to be displayed and provided to the selected player at the gaming table. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming tables, each gaming table including a support structure and a table top supported by the support structure, wherein each gaming table is controlled by at least one gaming table processor; and a controller configured to communicate with said gaming table processors, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if a bonus event will occur, and if the controller determines that the bonus event will occur, the controller is programmed to; (a) determine which of the gaming tables were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event, (b) select at least one of the gaming tables in the active state, (c) cause a primary bonus award to be provided to at least one of a selected one of the players of said selected gaming table, wherein said gaming table processor for the selected gaming table determines at least part of the primary bonus award, (d) determine a designated number of players at the selected gaming table, said determination based on a total number of players at the selected gaming table, and (e) for each of the determined designated number of players at the selected gaming table, excluding the player selected to provide said primary bonus award, select a different one of the players and cause one of a plurality of secondary bonus awards to be displayed and provided to the selected player, wherein the gaming table processor for the selected gaming table determines at least part of each of the secondary bonus awards. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification