Programmable bonus gaming device having coin-in threhold criteria adapted for interconnection with conventional gaming device

• US 6,685,563 B1
• Filed: 03/02/2000
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John P. Meekins, Troy Defrees-Parrott
• Original Assignee: John P. Meekins, Troy Defrees-Parrott
• Inventors: Meekins, John P., DeFrees-Parrott, Troy
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAPRON, AARON J
• Application Number:
  US09/517,999
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/20, 463/21, 463/25, 463/27, 463/18-19, 463/40-42, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method of operating a wagering game of chance, comprising the steps of providing a gaming device comprising a base gaming unit providing a base game and a bonus gaming unit providing a bonus game, providing a player with an opportunity to place a wager in order to play the base game, and providing the player with an opportunity to play the bonus game when the wagers placed by the player meet predetermined criteria.

Claims

1. A networked gaming system, comprising:

a gaming machine located in a gaming establishment and providing a wagering game, the gaming machine having electronic circuitry for controlling the operation of the gaming machine and constantly monitoring all coin-in, the gaming machine having means for placing a wager, a minimum wager amount and a maximum wager amount;

a video lottery terminal located adjacent to the gaming machine, the video lottery terminal, when activated, providing a lottery drawing in which a player may participate, the video lottery terminal having electronic control circuitry in electrical communication with the electronic control circuitry of the gaming machine, the video lottery terminal further comprising a display device and a player interface to allow a player to participate in the lottery drawing when the video lottery terminal is activated;

a central lottery computer located at a remote site and in electronic data communication with the video lottery terminal, the central lottery computer providing a lottery drawing that is displayed by the video lottery terminal;

means for generating a totally impartial, random number that defines the predetermined coin-in threshold that is independent of the minimum wager amount and maximum wager amount of the gaming machine;

said electronic control circuitry of said gaming machine being configured to;

constantly monitor the cumulative coin-in wagered by the player since the player last qualified for and participated in the lottery drawing,

constantly compare the cumulative coin-in to the predetermined coin-in threshold, and

activate the video lottery terminal so as to enable a player to participate in the lottery drawing when the cumulative coin-in wagered by the player meets the predetermined coin-in threshold.

2. The networked gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the video lottery terminal comprises;

means for generating a lottery ticket; and

means for providing the lottery ticket to the player.

3. The networked gaming system according to claim 2 further comprising a casino floor controller that is in electronic communication with the video lottery terminal, said electronic control circuitry of said video lottery terminal providing data to the casino floor control that indicates a player has won the lottery drawing when the player has actually won the lottery drawing.

4. The networked gaming system according to claim 3 means for providing lottery winnings to the player when the said video lottery terminal provides data to the casino floor control that indicates a player has won the lottery drawing.

5. The networked gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the central lottery computer is configured to provide a live lottery drawing to the video lottery terminal.

6. The networked gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the central lottery computer is configured to provide a pre-recorded lottery drawing to the video lottery terminal.

7. The networked gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the central lottery computer is configured to provide a graphically generated lottery drawing to the video lottery terminal.

8. The networked gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the display device of the video lottery terminal comprises a liquid crystal display.

9. A networked gaming system, comprising:

a gaming machine located in a gaming establishment and providing a wagering game, the gaming machine having electronic circuitry for controlling the operation of the gaming machine and constantly monitoring all coin-in, the gaming machine having means for placing a wager, a minimum wager amount and a maximum wager amount;

a video lottery terminal located adjacent to the gaming machine, the video lottery terminal, when activated, providing a lottery drawing in which a player may participate, the video lottery terminal comprising a player interface to allow a player to participate in the lottery drawing when the video lottery terminal is activated, the video lottery terminal comprising electronic circuitry in electrical communication with the electronic circuitry of the gaming machine, the electronic circuitry of the video lottery terminal being configured to;

generate a totally impartial, random number that defines a predetermined coin-in threshold that is independent of the minimum wager amount and maximum wager amount of the gaming machine,

constantly monitor the cumulative coin-in wagered by the player since the player last qualified for and participated in the lottery drawing,

constantly compare the cumulative coin-in to the predetermined coin-in threshold, and

activate the video lottery terminal when the cumulative coin-in meets the predetermined coin-in threshold so as to allow the player to participate in the lottery drawing; and

a central lottery computer located at a remote site and in electronic data communication with the video lottery terminal, the central lottery computer providing a lottery drawing that is displayed by the video lottery terminal.

10. A networked gaming system, comprising;

a slot machine located in a casino, the slot machine having electronic circuitry for controlling the operation of the slot machine and constantly monitoring all coin-in, the slot machine having means for placing a wager, a minimum wager amount and a maximum wager amount;

a video lottery terminal located adjacent to the slot machine, the video lottery terminal, when activated, providing a lottery drawing in which a player may participate, the video lottery terminal comprising a player interface to allow a player to participate in the lottery drawing when the video lottery terminal is activated, the video lottery terminal comprising electronic circuitry in electrical communication with the electronic circuitry of the slot machine, means for generating a lottery ticket and providing that ticket to the player, and a display device, the electronic circuitry of the video lottery terminal being configured to;

generate a totally impartial, random number that defines a predetermined coin-in threshold that is independent of the minimum wager amount and maximum wager amount of the slot machine,

constantly monitor the cumulative coin-in wagered by the player since the player last qualified for and participated in the lottery drawing,

constantly compare the cumulative coin-in to the predetermined coin-in threshold, and

activate the video lottery terminal when the cumulative coin-in meets the predetermined coin-in threshold so as to allow the player to participate in the lottery drawing; and

a central lottery computer located at a remote site and in electronic data communication with the video lottery terminal, the central lottery computer transmits a live lottery drawing that is displayed by the display device of the video lottery terminal.