Dynamic threshold for pool-based bonus promotions in electronic gaming systems

• US 6,358,149 B1
• Filed: 02/04/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Acres Gaming Incorporated (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Shelby, Michael B., Pitman, Lawrence R., Bartholomew, Robert P., Hart, Joseph G., Canon, Joseph W., Schneider, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US09/245,048
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/18, 463/19, 463/20, 463/22, 463/25, 463/26, 463/27, 463/28, 463/41, 463/42, 463/43
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for awarding bonuses over a gaming network having a plurality of gaming machines, such as slot machines, interconnected by a network. Play is allowed to occur on a plurality of gaming machines as the bonus pool, common to the gaming machines over the network is incremented responsive to play on the plurality of gaming machines. The total number of eligible gaming machines is detected responsive to play on each of the plurality of gaming machines. A first threshold value is set in consideration of the total number of eligible gaming machines detected. A bonus period would be initiated when the bonus pool satisfies the first threshold value. Accordingly, the threshold necessary to start the bonus period would be low if few players are detected, and high if many players are detected. Bonus amounts are paid from the bonus pool to the eligible gaming machines after which time the bonus period would end. Alternately, bonuses would be paid responsive to detected triggering events during the bonus period, such as the occurrence of a special symbol on the slot machine reels. The bonus period would end when the bonus pool moves below a second threshold value after which time the bonus pool would be incremented for subsequently occurring bonus periods.

Claims

1. A method for awarding bonuses over a gaming network having a plurality of gaming machines interconnected by a network, the method comprising the steps of:

allowing play to occur on a plurality of gaming machines;

incrementing a bonus pool responsive to play on the plurality of gaming machines;

detecting a total number of eligible gaming machines responsive to play on each of the plurality of gaming machines;

setting a first threshold value in consideration of the total number of eligible gaming machines detected;

updating the total number of eligible gaming machines detected after the step of setting the first threshold value;

adjusting the first threshold value in consideration of the updated total number of eligible gaming machines detected;

initiating a bonus period when the bonus pool satisfies the adjusted first threshold value;

paying bonuses from the bonus pool to the eligible gaming machines during the bonus period; and

ending the bonus period when the bonus pool satisfies a second threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of updating the total number of eligible gaming machines and adjusting the first threshold value are repeated after a predetermined amount of time to reflect a current number of eligible gaming machines capable of winning a bonus during any bonus period.

3. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

comparing the detected number of eligible gaming machines to the updated total number of eligible gaming machines to yield a change in eligible games parameter; and

only adjusting the first threshold value if the eligible games parameter exceeds a predetermined amount so that the first threshold value does not change for minimal changes in the number of eligible gaming machines on the network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first threshold value is calculated according to the following:

5. The method of claim 4 wherein T_g is selected to be between a preselected minimum value T_gmin and a preselected maximum value T_gmax.

6. A method for awarding bonuses over a gaming network having a plurality of gaming machines interconnected by a network, the method comprising the steps of:

Following play to occur on a plurality of gaming machines;

incrementing a bonus pool responsive to play on the plurality of gaming machines;

detecting a total number of eligible gaming machines responsive to play on each of the plurality of gaming machines;

setting a first threshold value in consideration of the total number of eligible gaming machines detected;

updating the total number of eligible gaming machines detected after the step of setting the first threshold value;

adjusting the first threshold value in consideration of the updated total number of eligible gaming machines detected;

initiating a bonus period when the bonus pool satisfies the adjusted first threshold value; and

paying bonuses from the bonus pool to the eligible gaming machines during the bonus period.

7. The method of claim 6, further including the steps of:

decrementing the bonuses from the bonus pool; and

ending the bonus period when the bonus pool moves below a second threshold value.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the steps of updating the total number of eligible gaming machines and adjusting the first threshold value are repeated after a predetermined amount of time to reflect a current number of eligible gaming machines capable of winning a bonus during any bonus period.

9. The method of claim 7 further including the steps of:

comparing the detected number of eligible gaming machines to the updated total number of eligible gaming machines to yield a change in eligible games parameter; and

only adjusting the first threshold value if the eligible games parameter exceeds a predetermined amount so that the first threshold value does not change for minimal changes in the number of eligible gaming machines on the network.

10. The method of claim 6 further including the step of

paying bonuses from the bonus pool only to any of the updated total number of eligible gaming machines.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the first threshold value is calculated according to the following:

12. The method of claim 11 wherein T_g is selected to be between a preselected minimum value T_gmin and a preselected maximum value T_gmax.