Wagering game with progressive game triggered by multiple players

• US 20090117974A1
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Hornik, Jeremy M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,626 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 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A method of conducting a group wagering game that includes a special award that is attainable by players at a plurality of gaming machines. The method includes receiving wagers from players at the plurality of machines for playing machine-level wagering games. In response to achieving a triggering condition within one of the machine-level wagering games, the group wagering game is presented including an opportunity to fulfill at least one of a plurality of victory conditions. In response to all of the plurality of victory conditions being fulfilled, the special award is awarded to a player that achieves a next triggering condition.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a group wagering game on a plurality of gaming machines, said group wagering game having a special award that is attainable by players at said plurality of gaming machines, the method comprising:

receiving wagers from players at said plurality of machines for playing individual wagering games;

in response to a triggering condition associated with one of said machines, presenting said group wagering game including an opportunity to fulfill at least one of a plurality of victory conditions; and

in response to all of said plurality of victory conditions being fulfilled, awarding said special award to the machine associated with a next triggering condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said triggering condition is selected from a group consisting of a symbol arrangement, a player-selectable pick, and a mystery award.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of victory conditions is selected from a group consisting of selecting a correct number, selecting a correct hidden symbol, winning a poker hand, selecting a correct symbol combination, and solving a puzzle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said special award is selected from a group consisting of a bonus prize, a credit award, a bonus jackpot, and a progressive award.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said individual wagering games are selected from a group consisting of a poker game, a keno game, and a slots game.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

awarding a first award in response to fulfilling a victory condition of said plurality of victory conditions; and

awarding a second award in response to not fulfilling said victory condition of said plurality of victory conditions.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of said first award and said second award is a multiplier of an award associated with at least one of said individual wagering games.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of selectable options during an initial round of said group wagering game, said plurality of selectable options representing said plurality of victory conditions; and

removing selected ones of said plurality of selectable options in subsequent rounds of said group wagering game.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising achieving said next triggering condition when a last one of said plurality of victory conditions is fulfilled.

10. A computer readable storage medium or media is encoded with instructions for directing a gaming system to perform the method of claim 1.

11. A gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines for playing a wagering game, comprising:

a display for displaying a base game of said wagering game in response to receiving a wager from at least one of multiple players; and

a controller coupled to the display and programmed to

present a group wagering game of said wagering game in response to an occurrence of a triggering condition, said group wagering game having a plurality of victory conditions, and

after all of said plurality of victory conditions are fulfilled, award a special award to a player of the multiple players that fulfills a special award condition.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, further comprising a sign for indicating fulfilled ones of said plurality of victory conditions, the sign being coupled to each one of said plurality of gaming machines.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein said sign includes a plurality of game balls, each of said game balls revealing a hidden number when a corresponding one of said plurality of victory conditions is fulfilled.

14. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein at least one of said plurality of gaming machines is selected from a group consisting of slot machines, poker machines, and keno machines.

15. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein said controller is further programmed to

provide a plurality of selectable options during an initial round of said group wagering game, said plurality of selectable options representing said plurality of victory conditions, and

remove selected ones of said plurality of selectable options in subsequent rounds of said group wagering game.

16. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein said controller is further programmed to select a victory condition of said plurality of victory conditions from a group consisting of selecting a correct number, selecting a correct hidden symbol, winning a poker hand, selecting a correct symbol combination, and solving a puzzle.

17. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein said controller is located in one of said plurality of gaming machines.

18. A method for conducting a wagering game on a gaming system, comprising:

receiving wagers from a plurality of players for playing said wagering games, each player of the plurality of players playing on a respective gaming machine of the gaming system;

in response to achieving special triggering conditions, presenting respective one or more players of the plurality of players with respective rounds of a special event;

fulfilling all of a plurality of victory conditions based on selections made by said one or more players during said rounds of said special event;

providing an opportunity to achieve a special award requirement after fulfilling all of the plurality of victory conditions; and

in response to achieving the special award requirement, awarding a special award of the special event to a player of the respective gaming machine on which the special award requirement was achieved.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising awarding a bonus award in response to fulfilling one of said plurality of victory conditions.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of selectable options during said rounds of said special event, said plurality of selectable options representing said plurality of victory conditions.