WAGERING GAME WITH MULTIPLIER FOR PROGRESSIVE FUND POOL

• US 20090042638A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Thomas, Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 8,182,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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

Abstract

A method for playing wagering games at which players are eligible for a progressive game includes, responsive to receiving wager inputs from players, conducting wagering games in which players are eligible to win a progressive game. The method includes funding the progressive game by a portion of the wager inputs. The progressive game has a certain number of fund pools, each fund pool receiving a substantially equivalent share of the funding portion. The method also includes displaying a progressive-game award value that is substantially equivalent to an amount of one of the fund pools. In response to a player triggering a progressive-award winning outcome, a plurality of selectable elements are displayed to the player, each selectable element being associated with a progressive-game award multiplier that increases the progressive-game award value to an enhanced-progressive-award value. The progressive game multiplier dictates the number of the fund pools to be used to award the enhanced-progressive-award value to the player.

Claims

1. A method for playing wagering games at which players are eligible for a progressive game, the method comprising:

in response to receiving wager inputs from said players, conducting wagering games in which said players are eligible to win said progressive game;

funding said progressive game by a portion of said wager inputs, said progressive game having a certain number of fund pools, each of said fund pools receiving a substantially equivalent share of said funding portion;

displaying a progressive-game award value that is substantially equivalent to an amount of one of said fund pools;

in response to a player triggering a progressive-award winning outcome, displaying to the player a plurality of selectable elements, each of said selectable elements being associated with a progressive-game award multiplier that increases said progressive-game award value to an enhanced-progressive-award value, said progressive game multiplier dictating the number of said fund pools to be used to award said enhanced-progressive-award value to said player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting one of said plurality of selectable elements; and

revealing a progressive-game award multiplier associated with said selectable element.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said certain number of fund pools comprises twenty five fund pools.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said progressive game multiplier ranges in value from between one and twenty five.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

awarding said enhanced-progressive-award value;

aggregating a total value associated with said certain number of fund pools following said awarding said enhanced-progressive-award value; and

distributing the aggregated total value at least substantially equally between said certain number of fund pools.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said certain number of fund pools comprises twenty five fund pools, and wherein said progressive game multiplier ranges in value from between one and twenty five.

7. A method for playing wagering games at which players are eligible for a progressive game, the method comprising:

in response to receiving wager inputs from said players, conducting wagering games in which said players are eligible to win said progressive game;

funding said progressive game by a portion of said wager inputs, said progressive game having a number of fund pools, said number being an integer between 2 and “

n”

, each of said fund pools receiving a substantially equivalent share of said funding portion;

displaying a progressive-game award that is substantially equivalent to an amount of one of said fund pools; and

in response to a player triggering a progressive game outcome, providing the player with a progressive-game multiplier that increases said progressive-game award to an enhanced-progressive-award value, said progressive-game multiplier being selected from a plurality of multipliers that have an integer value between 2 and “

n.”

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

selecting one of said plurality of selectable elements; and

revealing a progressive-game award multiplier associated with said selectable element.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said certain number of fund pools comprises twenty five fund pools.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said progressive game multiplier ranges in value from between one and twenty five.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

awarding said enhanced-progressive-award value;

aggregating a total value associated with said certain number of fund pools following said awarding said enhanced-progressive-award value; and

distributing the aggregated total value at least substantially equally between said certain number of fund pools.

12. A method for structuring a progressive-award, comprising:

receiving wager inputs at a plurality of gaming machines;

providing a plurality of at least substantially equal progressive-award fund pools;

distributing a percentage of the wager inputs among said progressive-award fund pools;

displaying a plurality of selectable elements, each of said selectable elements being related to a progressive-award multiplier;

selecting a selectable element to reveal a select progressive-award multiplier; and

determining an enhanced progressive-award value by summing a value of a number of said progressive-award fund pools corresponding to said progressive-award multiplier.

13. A method for structuring a progressive-award according to claim 12, wherein each of said selectable elements conceals a progressive-award multiplier.

14. A method for structuring a progressive-award according to claim 13, further comprising:

awarding said enhanced progressive-award value.

15. A method for structuring a progressive-award according to claim 14, further comprising:

aggregating a total remaining value associated with said progressive-award fund pools following said awarding of said enhanced progressive-award value; and

distributing the aggregated total value at least substantially equally among said progressive-award fund pools.

16. (canceled)

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23. A method for structuring a progressive-award, comprising:

receiving wager inputs at a plurality of gaming machines;

providing a plurality of progressive-award fund pools;

displaying a progressive game award value substantially less than a cumulative value of said fund pools;

distributing a percentage of the wager inputs among said progressive-award fund pools;

displaying a plurality of selectable elements, each of said selectable elements being related to a progressive-award enhancer;

selecting a selectable element to reveal a progressive-award enhancer; and

determining an enhanced progressive-award value by summing a value of a number of said progressive-award fund pools corresponding to said progressive-award enhancer.

24. A method for structuring a progressive-award according to claim 23, wherein each of said selectable elements conceals a progressive-award enhancer.

25. A method for structuring a progressive-award according to claim 23, further comprising:

awarding said enhanced progressive-award value.

26. A method for structuring a progressive-award according to claim 25, further comprising:

aggregating a total remaining value associated with said progressive-award fund pools following said awarding of said enhanced progressive-award value; and

distributing the aggregated total value at least substantially equally among said progressive-award fund pools.

27. A gaming system comprising:

a wager input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game;

a display for displaying a randomly selected outcome;

a controller operative to conduct a wagering game, achieve a progressive-award winning outcome in said wagering game, display a plurality of selectable elements, each of said selectable elements being related to a progressive-award enhancer, and determine an enhanced progressive-award value.

28. A gaming system according to claim 27, wherein said progressive-award enhancer comprises a progressive-award multiplier.

29. A gaming system according to claim 27, wherein said selectable elements comprise player-selectable elements.

30. A gaming system according to claim 27, wherein each of said selectable elements conceals a progressive-award multiplier associated therewith.

31. A gaming system according to claim 27, wherein said controller is further operative to provide a plurality of at least substantially equal progressive-award fund pools.

32. A gaming system according to claim 28, wherein said controller is further operative to determine said enhanced progressive-award value by summing a number of said progressive-award fund pools corresponding to a number of said progressive-award multiplier.