Progressive jackpot gaming system with secret bonus pool

• US 6,146,273 A
• Filed: 03/30/1998
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Olsen, Eric Burton
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paradiso, John
• Application Number:
  US09/052,047
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/19, 463/22, 463/25, 463/26, 463/27, 463/28, 463/31
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A method of operating of controller-based progressive gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines wherein each gaming machine generates unit bet information indicative of a number of unit bets supplied to a machine for playing a game. The method comprises the steps of randomly selecting a bonus mode activation value between a high and low limit, providing a current value, providing a base value, incrementing the current value when the gaming machines are played so that the current value is incremented by a fixed amount of each unit bet received by each gaming machine. A bonus mode time period is entered when the incremented current value is equal to or exceeds the bonus value. Eligible machines are locked-in and random bonus jackpots are made during the bonus time period. Each bonus award decrements the current value by the amount of each award and the bonus mode time period is ended when the current value is less than or equal to the base value.

Claims

1. A method of operating a bonus game in a linked gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines, each of said plurality of gaming machines having a game based on machine game rules, said method comprising the steps of:

starting the bonus game in a display at each eligible gaming machine in the plurality of gaming machines when a bonus pool in the linked system is activated, the bonus game having bonus game rules different from the machine game rules for the gaming machines;

selecting a bonus jackpot value in response to game play at any one of the eligible gaming machines;

displaying the selected bonus jackpot value in the display of the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine according to the bonus game rules;

storing the selected bonus jackpot value when any prior stored bonus jackpot values for the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine are different than the selected bonus jackpot value;

awarding the selected bonus jackpot value to the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine when the selected bonus jackpot value equals a prior stored bonus jackpot value;

erasing the prior stored jackpot value equaling the selected bonus jackpot value;

subtracting the awarded bonus jackpot value from the bonus pool;

ending the bonus game when the bonus pool is brought to or below a predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the bonus game is a match game behind a plurality of displayed images, and said step of displaying further including the step of displaying the selected bonus jackpot value in place of one of the displayed images.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the displayed images are closed doors formed in a matrix.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein which displayed image is replaced by the selected bonus value is randomly selected.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the random selection occurs in the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of storing the selected bonus jackpot value occurs in a memory at a memory location for the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine and the step of erasing occurs at the aforesaid memory location.

7. A method of operating a second game in a linked gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines, each of said plurality of eligible gaming machines having a first game based on machine game rules, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying in a display at each eligible gaming machine in the plurality of gaming machines a matrix of images for the second game;

selecting a jackpot value for the second game in response to first game play at any one of the eligible gaming machines;

randomly selecting one of the images in the matrix of the display of the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine and displaying the selected jackpot value in its place in the display of the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine in response to the step of selecting;

storing the selected jackpot value when all prior stored jackpot values for the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine are different than the selected jackpot value in response to the step of selecting;

awarding the selected jackpot value to the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine when the selected jackpot value equals a prior stored jackpot value in response to the step of selecting;

erasing the prior stored jackpot value equaling the selected jackpot value in response to the step of awarding;

replacing the awarded selected bonus jackpot values displayed in the matrix with images in response to the step of awarding.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the displayed images are closed doors.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the random selection occurs in the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of storing the selected jackpot value occurs in a memory at a memory location for the aforesaid one gaming machine and the step of erasing occurs at the aforesaid memory location.

11. A method of operating a bonus game in a controller-based progressive jackpot linked gaming system having a controller and a plurality of gaming machines connected to the controller, said method comprising the steps of:

starting play of the bonus game in a display at each eligible gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines when a bonus pool in the controller is activated, the bonus game having game rules different from the game rules for the gaming machines;

providing a plurality of bonus jackpot values;

selecting in the controller a bonus jackpot value from the plurality of bonus jackpot values in response to each bonus game played at any one of the eligible gaming machines;

displaying the selected bonus jackpot value in the display of the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine according to the bonus game rules;

awarding the selected bonus jackpot value to the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine based upon a win during play of the bonus game according to the bonus game rules;

subtracting each awarded bonus jackpot values from the bonus pool;

ending play of the bonus game when the bonus pool is brought to or below a predetermined value in response to the step of subtracting.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

displaying a win message in the display of the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine in response to the step of awarding the selected bonus jackpot value;

audibly sounding a win message in response to the aforesaid step of displaying.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of removing the win message and the displayed selected bonus jackpot values from the display of the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine after the step of awarding.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the bonus jackpot is selected from a weighted payout table in the controller containing the plurality of bonus jackpot values.

12. A method of operating a bonus game in a controller-based progressive jackpot linked gaming system having a controller and a plurality of gaming machines connected to the controller, said method comprising the steps of:

starting the bonus game in a display at each eligible gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines when a bonus pool in the controller is activated, the bonus game having game rules different from the game rules for the gaming machines;

selecting in the controller a bonus jackpot value in response to each game play at any one of the eligible gaming machines;

displaying the selected bonus jackpot value in the display of the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine according to the bonus game rules;

wherein the step of selecting a bonus jackpot value includes selecting a null value and wherein the step of displaying the selected bonus jackpot includes the step of displaying a visual symbol in the display in response to selecting the null value;

awarding the selected bonus jackpot value to the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine based upon the bonus game rules;

subtracting the awarded bonus jackpot value from the bonus pool;

ending the bonus game when the bonus pool is brought to or below a predetermined value.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of audibly sounding a message in response to the step of selecting a null value.

16. A method of operating a bonus game in a controller-based progressive jackpot linked gaming system having a controller and a plurality of gaming machines connected to the controller, said method comprising the steps of:

starting the bonus game in a display at each eligible gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines when a bonus pool in the controller is activated, the bonus game having game rules different from the game rules for the gaming machines;

selecting in the controller a bonus jackpot value in response to each game play at any one of the eligible gaming machines;

displaying the selected bonus jackpot value in the display of the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine according to the bonus game rules;

awarding the selected bonus jackpot value to the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine based upon the bonus game rules;

wherein the step of awarding includes the steps of;

storing the selected bonus jackpot value when the prior stored bonus jackpot values for the aforesaid one gaming machine are different than the selected bonus jackpot value;

awarding the selected bonus jackpot value when the selected bonus jackpot value equals a prior stored jackpot value;

erasing the prior stored jackpot value equaling the selected bonus jackpot value in response to the step of awarding,

subtracting the awarded bonus jackpot value from the bonus pool;

ending the bonus game when the bonus pool is brought to or below a predetermined value.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of storing occurs in memory in the controller.

19. A method for playing a bonus game in a gaming system having at least one gaming machine, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a matrix of images in a display at the at least one gaming machine;

(b) randomly selecting a bonus award when the at least one gaming machine is played;

(c) randomly selecting one of the images in the matrix of the display,

(d) replacing the randomly selected image with a bonus award image corresponding to the randomly selected bonus award;

(e) repeating steps (b) through (d) until a matching combination of bonus award images occurs;

(f) awarding the bonus award corresponding to the matching combinations of bonus award images.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the images are doors and the bonus award images are opened doors with the values of the bonus awards contained therein.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the bonus awards include a null value and wherein the bonus award image corresponding to the null value is different from the other bonus award images.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the bonus award image corresponding to the null value is an image of a person.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of audibly sounding a losing message to the area around the at least one gaming machine when said bonus award image corresponding to the null value replaces the randomly selected image in the matrix.

24. A method for playing a bonus game in a gaming system having at least one gaming machine, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a matrix of first images in a display at the at least one gaming machine;

(b) randomly selecting a bonus award from a set of values including a null value when the at least one gaming machine is played;

(c) randomly selecting one of the first images in the matrix of the display, (d) replacing the randomly selected first image with a second image containing the value of the randomly selected bonus award when the bonus award is other than a null value;

(e) replacing the randomly selected first image with a third image when the bonus award is a null value;

(f) audibly sounding a losing message in response to step (e);

(g) replacing the third image with a first image after a period of time in response to step (e);

(h) repeating steps (b) through (g) until a matching combination of values in the second images occurs;

(i) awarding the bonus award corresponding to the matching combination to the at least one gaming machine;

(j) audibly sounding a winning message in response to step (i).

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the first image is a closed door, the second image is an open door, and the third image is a person and wherein the losing message is the voice of the person.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the matching combination is two values that are the same.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the bonus awards constitute a bonus pool and further comprising the steps of:

(k) replacing the second images of the matching combination with first images in response to step (i);

(l) repeating steps (b) through (k) until the bonus pool is depleted of bonus awards.

28. A method of operating a bonus mode in a controller-based progressive jackpot linked gaming system having a controller and a plurality of gaming machines connected to the controller, said method comprising the steps of:

starting a bonus mode time period when a bonus pool in the controller is activated, the bonus pool having a value at activation;

determining eligible gaming machines in the plurality of gaming machines when the bonus mode time period starts;

starting play of a bonus game in a display at each of the eligible gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines, the bonus game having game rules different from the game rules for the gaming machines;

providing a plurality of bonus jackpot values, each bonus jackpot value less in value than the value of the bonus pool;

selecting in the controller a bonus jackpot value from the plurality of bonus jackpot values in response to each bonus game played at any one of the eligible gaming machines;

displaying the selected bonus jackpot value in the display of the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine according to the bonus game rules;

awarding the selected bonus jackpot value to the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine when a win occurs at the bonus game according to the bonus game rules and allowing the bonus game to be replayed when a lose occurs at the bonus game according to the bonus game rules;

subtracting the awarded bonus jackpot values from the bonus pool;

ending play of the bonus mode time period when the value of the bonus pool is brought to or below a predetermined value in response to the step of subtracting.

29. A method of operating a bonus mode in a controller-based progressive jackpot linked gaming system having a controller and a plurality of gaming machines connected to the controller, said method comprising the steps of:

starting a bonus mode time period with a bonus pool having a value with eligible gaming machines in the plurality of gaming machines;

providing a plurality of bonus jackpot values;

starting a bonus game at each eligible gaming machine, the bonus game having game rules different from the game rules for the gaming machines;

randomly selecting in the controller a bonus jackpot value from the plurality of bonus jackpot values in response to each bonus game started;

awarding the randomly selected bonus jackpot value to the aforesaid one eligible gaming machine when a win occurs at the bonus game and playing the bonus game again with a new randomly selected bonus jackpot value when a lose occurs at the bonus game;

subtracting the awarded bonus jackpot values from the bonus pool;

ending play of the bonus mode time period when the value of the bonus pool is brought to or below a predetermined value in response to the step of subtracting.