POWER WINNERS PROCESSING METHOD

• US 20080305866A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M., Randazzo, Ryan, McMahan, Patricia A., Walkwitz, Wayne W., McLaughlin, Paul C., Silvestro, Fank J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,382,586 B2
• 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 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for a multi-site casino or resort wide promotional winners selection. The system selects a winner based on playing with a card at a table game or slot machine, or just being at an active slot machine, opened table game, or other activity within a resort.

Claims

1. A multi-site progressive processing method for providing an opportunity to win a progressive prize, wherein the progressive gaming method has a progressive prize value that increases according to a progressive prize growth rate, the progressive processing method comprising:

funding a progressive prize using non-gaming funds;

selecting how many properties are incorporated into the multi-site progressive prize opportunity;

determining when the progressive prize is triggered at a random time during a progressive processing bonus period;

halting the growing progressive prize value when the trigger time has been reached;

notifying a winners application that it is time to select one or more random winners from among eligible players;

identifying the progressive prize value;

notifying signage display controllers of the current progressive values and that a winner is to be drawn;

randomly selecting one or more winners based upon criteria in the winners application;

sending winners data to the signage display controllers for display on signage;

sending the progressive prize to one or more winners'"'"' player account or to an awarding marketing location; and

sending notification of the prize to one or more gaming machines at which the one or more winning players are located.

2. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 1, further comprising designating eligible players from players at slot machines, players at table games, or players at slot machines and table games.

3. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 1, further comprising designating eligible players from active players with cards, active players without cards, or all active players.

4. A multi-site progressive processing method for implementing on a gaming system, wherein the gaming system includes one of more gaming machines connected to a server, and wherein the progressive gaming method has a progressive prize value that increases according to a progressive prize growth rate, the progressive gaming method comprising:

selecting how many properties are incorporated into the multi-site progressive prize opportunity;

receiving a selectable targeted progressive prize value, wherein the targeted progressive prize value is selected by a game administrator before the progressive gaming method is initiated;

receiving a selectable targeted progressive prize time, wherein the targeted progressive prize time is selected by a game administrator before the progressive gaming method is initiated, and wherein there is no direct connection between the selectable targeted progressive prize value and the selectable targeted progressive prize time;

receiving one or more enticement factors;

calculating the progressive prize growth rate using the selectable targeted progressive prize value, the selectable targeted progressive prize time, and the one or more enticement factors;

activating a random number generation algorithm to test and determine if there is a progressive prize win at each calculated time period, and wherein the selectable targeted progressive prize time is used to calculate the time period for testing for a progressive prize win;

if a progressive prize win has not been identified, incrementing the progressive prize value by the progressive prize growth rate;

if a progressive prize win has been identified, determining one or more winners of the progressive prize; and

awarding the progressive prize to the one or more winners.

5. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 4, further comprising designating eligible players from players at slot machines, players at table games, or players at slot machines and table games.

6. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 4, further comprising designating eligible players from active players with cards, active players without cards, or all active players.

7. A multi-site progressive processing method for awarding a progressive prize, the method comprising:

funding a progressive prize using non-wagered funds;

selecting how many properties are incorporated into the multi-site progressive prize opportunity;

obtaining a targeted progressive prize amount to be awarded and a targeted time in which the progressive prize is to be awarded;

processing progressive prize information;

determining if a progressive prize event has occurred at successive time intervals;

incrementing the progressive prize value by a progressive prize value growth rate that is calculated using the targeted progressive prize amount to be awarded and the targeted time in which the progressive prize is to be awarded; and

in response to a progressive prize event occurring, determining at least one winning person and providing the progressive prize to the at least one winning person.

8. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 7, further comprising designating eligible players from players at slot machines, players at table games, or players at slot machines and table games.

9. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 7, further comprising designating eligible players from active players with cards, active players without cards, or all active players.

10. A method of awarding a progressive prize, comprising:

funding a prize using non-wagered funds;

selecting how many properties are incorporated into the multi-site progressive prize opportunity;

obtaining a targeted progressive prize amount to be awarded;

obtaining a targeted time in which the progressive prize is to be awarded;

calculating time-slice values from the targeted time in which the progressive prize is to be awarded;

calculating time sub-slice values from the time-slice values;

determining if a progressive prize event has occurred during each time slice interval;

if the award event has not occurred, incrementing the progressive prize value using the targeted progressive prize amount to be awarded and the targeted time in which the progressive prize is to be awarded; and

if the award event has occurred, randomly determining a winning player and providing the progressive prize to the winning player.

11. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 10, further comprising designating eligible players from players at slot machines, players at table games, or players at slot machines and table games.

12. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 10, further comprising designating eligible players from active players with cards, active players without cards, or all active players.