GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DIFFERENT BONUS AWARDS BASED ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRIGGERED EVENTS

• US 20090042645A1
• Filed: 08/10/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Schlottmann, Gregory A., Graham, Jacob Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,900,053 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming devices. The central server tracks the occurrences of one or more suitable events occurring at or in association with one or more gaming devices in the gaming system. Upon the central server determining that the quantity of occurred events tracked has reached a designated quantity or threshold, (i.e., a triggering event has occurred), the gaming system provides a progressive award to one of the players at one of the gaming devices in the gaming system.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

(i) at least one display device, and

(ii) at least one input device; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with each of said gaming devices, and maintain at least one progressive award, said at least one controller programmed to;

(a) track occurrences of at least one randomly occurring designated event;

(b) determine if a quantity of occurrences of said tracked event is at least substantially equal to a designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked event, wherein said designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked event is at least two and said quantity of occurrences of said tracked event occurs over a plurality of plays of a plurality of games at a plurality of said gaming devices; and

(c) when the quantity of occurrences of said tracked event is at least substantially equal to the designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked event, cause one of said gaming devices to provide at least a proportion of said at least one progressive award to a player.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the proportion of the at least one progressive award provided to the player is based on a wager amount placed by the player.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the proportion of the at least one progressive award provided to the player is 100%.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said tracked event is independent of any value of any wager placed.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to track a plurality of events which each occur in association with the plurality of plays of said plurality of games of said plurality of gaming devices.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, which includes a plurality of progressive awards, wherein each progressive award is associated with a different one of said plurality of tracked events.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one progressive award is funded, at least in part, based on any wagers placed on the games of the gaming devices.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one progressive award is funded, at least in part, based on at least one side wager placed.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said tracked designated event is at least one of:

(i) an engagement of said input device of one of the gaming devices to cause a generation of an outcome;

(ii) a generation of any outcome at one of the gaming devices;

(iii) a generation of any outcome associated with an award over a designated value at one of the gaming devices;

(iv) a generation of an outcome on a designated payline at one of the gaming devices;

(v) a generation of an outcome in a scatter configuration at one of the gaming devices;

(vi) a generation of a designated symbol or symbol combination at one of the gaming devices;

(vii) a generation of a designated symbol or symbol combination on a designated payline at one of the gaming devices;

(viii) a generation of a designated symbol or symbol combination in a scatter configuration at one of the gaming devices;

(ix) an award amount provided to any player;

(x) a triggering of a play of a secondary game at one of the gaming devices;

(xi) an activation of a secondary display at one of the gaming devices;

(xii) an activation of a community award generator;

(xiii) a generation of any outcome in a secondary game at one of the gaming devices; and

(xiv) an amount of free activations provided at one of the gaming devices.

10. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

(i) at least one display device, and

(ii) at least one input device; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with each of said gaming devices, and maintain at least one progressive award, said at least one controller programmed to;

(a) track occurrences of at least one designated event which is independent of any value of any wager placed and which is independent of any outcome generated;

(b) determine if a quantity of occurrences of said tracked designated event is at least substantially equal to a designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked event, wherein said designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked event is at least two and said quantity of occurrences of said tracked event occurs over a plurality of plays of a plurality of games at a plurality of said gaming devices; and

(c) when the quantity of occurrences of said tracked event is at least substantially equal to the designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked event, cause one of said gaming devices to provide at least a proportion of said at least one progressive award to a player.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the proportion of the at least one progressive award provided to the player is based on a wager amount placed by the player.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the proportion of the at least one progressive award provided to the player is 100%.

13. The gaming system of claim 10, which includes a plurality of progressive awards, wherein each progressive award is associated with a different event which is independent of any value of any wager placed, independent of any outcome generated and occurs in association with the plurality of plays of said at least one game of at least one of said gaming devices.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of progressive awards is associated with a triggering event, wherein for each of said progressive awards, when the controller tracks a designated quantity of said event occurring in association with at least one of said gaming devices, at least a proportion of said progressive award is provided to one of the players of one of the gaming devices.

15. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said at least one progressive award is funded, at least in part, based on any wagers placed on the games of the gaming devices.

16. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said at least one progressive award is funded, at least in part, based on at least one side wager placed.

17. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said tracked event is at least one of:

(i) a deposit of an amount of funds at one of the gaming devices;

(ii) an identification of a player at one of the gaming devices;

(iii) a number of wagered on paylines at one of the gaming devices;

(iv) a designated wagered on payline at one of the gaming devices;

(v) an engagement of said input device of one of the gaming devices to cause a generation of an outcome; and

(vi) an award amount provided to any player.

18. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

(a) at least one display device, and

(b) at least one input device; and

at least one controller operable to communicate with said gaming devices, said at least one controller configured to maintain a plurality of different progressive awards, wherein;

(i) at least one of the progressive awards is associated with a first event, wherein if said at least one controller tracks a designated quantity of occurrences of said first event, said at least one progressive award is provided to one of the players of one of the gaming devices, wherein said designated quantity of occurrences of said first event is at least two and said quantity of occurrences of said first event occurs over a plurality of plays of a plurality of games at a plurality of said gaming device; and

(ii) at least one of the progressive awards is associated with a second, different event, wherein if said at least one controller tracks a designated quantity of occurrences of said second event, said at least one progressive award is provided to one of the players of one of the gaming devices, wherein said designated quantity of occurrences of said second event is at least two and said quantity of occurrences of said second event occurs over a plurality of plays of a plurality of games at a plurality of said gaming device.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the first event is independent of any value of any wager placed.

20. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the second event is independent of any value of any wager placed.

21. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the first event is a randomly occurring event.

22. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the second event is a randomly occurring event.

23. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein at least one of said progressive awards is funded, at least in part, based on the wagers placed on the games of the gaming devices.

24. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein at least one of said progressive awards is funded, at least in part, based on at least one side wager placed.

25. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein at least one of the progressive awards is associated with a third event which is independent of any value of any wager placed, and which is independent of any outcome generated, wherein if said controller tracks a designated quantity of occurrences of said third event, said progressive award is provided to one of the players of one of the gaming devices, wherein said designated quantity of occurrences of said third event is at least two and said quantity of occurrences of said third event occurs over a plurality of plays of a plurality of games at a plurality of said gaming device.

26. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including at least one controller in communication with a plurality of gaming devices, wherein each gaming machine includes at least one display device, and at least one input device, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining at least one progressive award;

(b) tracking occurrences of at least one randomly occurring designated event;

(c) determining if a quantity of occurrences of said tracked event is at least substantially equal to a designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked event, wherein said designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked event is at least two and said quantity of occurrences of said tracked event occurs over a plurality of plays of a plurality of games at a plurality of said gaming devices; and

(d) when the quantity of occurrences of said tracked event is at least substantially equal to the designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked event, causing one of said gaming devices to provide at least a proportion of said at least one progressive award to a player.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the proportion of the at least one progressive award provided to the player is based on a wager amount placed by the player.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the proportion of the at least one progressive award provided to the player is 100%.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said tracked event is independent of any value of any wager placed.

30. The method of claim 26, which includes tracking a plurality of events which each occur in association with the plurality of plays of said plurality of games of said plurality of gaming devices.

31. The method of claim 30, which includes a plurality of progressive awards, wherein each progressive award is associated with a different one of said plurality of tracked events.

32. The method of claim 26, which includes funding said at least one progressive award, at least in part, based on any wagers placed on the games of the gaming devices.

33. The method of claim 26, which includes funding said at least one progressive award, at least in part, based on at least one side wager placed.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein said tracked designated event is at least one of:

(i) an engagement of said input device of one of the gaming devices to cause a generation of an outcome;

(ii) a generation of any outcome at one of the gaming devices;

(iii) a generation of any outcome associated with an award over a designated value at one of the gaming devices;

(iv) a generation of an outcome on a designated payline at one of the gaming devices;

(v) a generation of an outcome in a scatter configuration at one of the gaming devices;

(vi) a generation of a designated symbol or symbol combination at one of the gaming devices;

(vii) a generation of a designated symbol or symbol combination on a designated payline at one of the gaming devices;

(viii) a generation of a designated symbol or symbol combination in a scatter configuration at one of the gaming devices;

(ix) an award amount provided to any player;

(x) a triggering of a play of a secondary game at one of the gaming devices;

(xi) an activation of a secondary display at one of the gaming devices;

(xii) an activation of a community award generator;

(xiii) a generation of any outcome in a secondary game at one of the gaming devices; and

(xiv) an amount of free activations provided at one of the gaming devices.

35. The method of claim 26, which is provided through a data network.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the data network is an internet.

37. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including at least one controller in communication with a plurality of gaming devices, wherein each gaming machine includes at least one display device, and at least one input device, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining at least one progressive award;

(b) tracking occurrences of at least one designated event which is independent of any value of any wager placed and which is independent of any outcome generated;

(c) determine if a quantity of occurrences of said tracked designated event is at least substantially equal to a designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked event, wherein said designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked event is at least two and said quantity of occurrences of said tracked event occurs over a plurality of plays of a plurality of games at a plurality of said gaming devices; and

(d) when the quantity of occurrences of said tracked event is at least substantially equal to the designated quantity of occurrences of said tracked event, causing one of said gaming devices to provide at least a proportion of said at least one progressive award to a player.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the proportion of the at least one progressive award provided to the player is based on a wager amount placed by the player.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the proportion of the at least one progressive award provided to the player is 100%.

40. The method of claim 37, which includes a plurality of progressive awards, wherein each progressive award is associated with a different event which is independent of any value of any wager placed, independent of any outcome generated and occurs in association with the plurality of plays of said at least one game of at least one of said gaming devices.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein each of said plurality of progressive awards is associated with a triggering event, wherein for each of said progressive awards, when a designated quantity of said event occurring in association with at least one of said gaming devices is tracked, at least a proportion of said progressive award is provided to one of the players of one of the gaming devices.

42. The method of claim 37, which includes funding said at least one progressive award, at least in part, based on any wagers placed on the games of the gaming devices.

43. The method of claim 37, which includes funding said at least one progressive award, at least in part, based on at least one side wager placed.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein said tracked event is at least one of:

(i) a deposit of an amount of funds at one of the gaming devices;

(ii) an identification of a player at one of the gaming devices;

(iii) a number of wagered on paylines at one of the gaming devices;

(iv) a designated wagered on payline at one of the gaming devices;

(v) an engagement of said input device of one of the gaming devices to cause a generation of an outcome; and

(vi) an award amount provided to any player.

45. The method of claim 37, which is provided through a data network.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the data network is an internet.

47. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including at least one controller in communication with a plurality of gaming devices, wherein each gaming machine includes at least one display device, and at least one input device, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining a plurality of different progressive awards,

(b) for at least one of the progressive awards which is associated with a first event;

(i) tracking a designated quantity of occurrences of said first event, wherein said designated quantity of occurrences of said first event is at least two and said quantity of occurrences of said first event occurs over a plurality of plays of a plurality of games at a plurality of said gaming device, and

(ii) when the designated quantity of occurrences of said first event is tracked, providing said at least one progressive award to one of the players of one of the gaming devices; and

(c) for at least one of the progressive awards which is associated with a second, different event;

(i) tracking a designated quantity of occurrences of said second event, wherein said designated quantity of occurrences of said second event is at least two and said quantity of occurrences of said second event occurs over a plurality of plays of a plurality of games at a plurality of said gaming device, and

(ii) when the designated quantity of occurrences of said second event is tracked, providing said at least one progressive award to one of the players of one of the gaming devices.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the first event is independent of any value of any wager placed.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the second event is independent of any value of any wager placed.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the first event is a randomly occurring event.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein the second event is a randomly occurring event.

52. The method of claim 47, which includes funding at least one of said progressive awards, at least in part, based on the wagers placed on the games of the gaming devices.

53. The method of claim 47, which includes funding at least one of said progressive awards, at least in part, based on at least one side wager placed.

54. The method of claim 47, which includes, for at least one of the progressive awards which is associated with a third event, which is independent of any value of any wager placed, and which is independent of any outcome generated, tracking a designated quantity of occurrences of said third event, wherein said designated quantity of occurrences of said third event is at least two and said quantity of occurrences of said third event occurs over a plurality of plays of a plurality of games at a plurality of said gaming device, and when the designated quantity of occurrences of said third event is tracked, providing said at least one progressive award to one of the players of one of the gaming devices.

55. The method of claim 47, which is provided through a data network.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the data network is an internet.