Slot machine game having a plurality of ways to issue a percentage of a progressive award based upon any wager level (“percentage progressive”)

• US 7,357,716 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Marks, Howard M., Marks, Daniel M., Singer, Anthony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Dat
• Application Number:
  US10/438,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 18, 463/20, 463 25- 28
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A slot machine issues a percentage of one or more progressive awards based upon any wager level (“Percentage Progressive”). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Percentage Progressive concept operates as follows:

• • The game displays the total progressive award amount;
  • The player sets the wager;
  • The game displays a Percentage Progressive value based upon the wager level;
  • The player presses the spin button;
  • The reels to spin and stop;
  • The player collects credits for any winning combinations appearing on the reels, including pay table and progressive awards.
  • In the event of a progressive award, the player receives the Percentage Progressive value*total progressive award amount.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, therefore, allows players to participate in progressive awards at any wager level.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) displaying a plurality of maintained progressive awards;

(b) enabling a player to place one of a plurality of different wager amounts including a maximum wager amount, wherein the wager amount placed by the player determines which of said progressive awards are available to be provided to the player;

(c) if the player did not place the maximum wager amount, determining a percentage progressive value which is greater than 0% and less than 100%;

(d) displaying a plurality of randomly generated symbols;

(e) if a designated winning combination of symbols is displayed and the player placed the maximum wager amount, providing the player at least one of the progressive awards; and

(f) if the designated winning combination of symbols is displayed and the player did not place the maximum wager amount, providing the player part of at least one of the progressive awards, wherein said at least one progressive award is randomly selected and for each of said progressive awards, any part of the progressive award provided to the player is based on said progressive award and the determined percentage progressive value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said progressive awards is maintained by the gaming device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said progressive awards are maintained by the gaming device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said progressive awards are maintained by the gaming device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said percentage progressive value is based on the placed wager amount relative to the maximum wager amount.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said percentage progressive value is based on at least one of:

a quantity of pay lines wagered on, an amount wagered per pay line, and an amount wagered on each displayed generation of symbols.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said percentage progressive value is based on at least one of:

an input from the player and an input from at least one third party.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said percentage progressive value is based on at least one random variable.

9. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon one of a plurality of different wager amounts including a maximum wager amount;

a plurality of symbols in said game;

at least one display device operable to display the game and a plurality of maintained progressive awards;

at least one input device; and

said at least one processor programmed to operate with said at least one display device and said at least one input device to control a play of the game by;

(a) enabling a player to place one of said wager amounts, wherein the wager amount placed by the player determines which of said progressive awards are available to be provided to the player;

(b) if the player did not place the maximum wager amount, determining a percentage progressive value which is greater than 0% and less than 100%;

(c) displaying a plurality of randomly generated symbols;

(d) if a designated winning combination of said symbols is displayed and the player placed the maximum wager amount, providing the player at least one of the progressive awards; and

(e) if the designated winning combination of said symbols is displayed and the player did not place the maximum wager amount, providing the player part of at least one of the progressive awards, wherein said at least one progressive award is randomly selected and for each of said progressive awards, any part of the progressive award provided to the player is based on said progressive award and the determined percentage progressive value.

10. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein at least one of said progressive awards is maintained by the gaming device.

11. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein a plurality of said progressive awards are maintained by the gaming device.

12. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said progressive awards are maintained by the gaming device.

13. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said percentage progressive value is based on the placed wager amount relative to the maximum wager amount.

14. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said percentage progressive value is based on at least one of:

a quantity of pay lines wagered on, an amount wagered per pay line, and an amount wagered on each displayed generation of symbols.

15. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said percentage progressive value is based on at least one of:

an input from the player and an input from at least one third party.

16. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said percentage progressive value is based on at least one random variable.

17. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a game operable upon one of a plurality of different wager amounts including a maximum wager amount;

a plurality of symbols in said game;

at least one display device operable to display the game and a plurality of maintained progressive awards, wherein a first one of the progressive awards is associated with a first winning combination of said symbols and a second, different one of the progressive awards is associated with a second, different winning combination of said symbols;

at least one input device; and

said at least one processor programmed to operate with said at least one display device and said at least one input device to control a play of the game by;

(a) enabling a player to place one of said wager amounts;

(b) if the player did not place the maximum wager amount, determining a percentage progressive value which is greater than 0% and less than 100%;

(c) displaying a plurality of randomly generated symbols;

(d) if the first winning combination of said symbols is displayed and the player placed the maximum wager amount, providing the player the first one of the progressive awards;

(e) if the second winning combination of said symbols is displayed and the player placed the maximum wager amount, providing the player the second one of the progressive awards;

(f) if the first winning combination of said symbols is displayed and the player did not place the maximum wager amount, providing the player part of the first one of the progressive awards, wherein any part of the first one of the progressive awards provided to the player is based on said first one of the progressive awards and the determined percentage progressive value; and

(g) if the second winning combination of said symbols is displayed and the player did not place the maximum wager amount, providing the player part of the second one of the progressive awards, wherein any part of the second one of the progressive awards provided to the player is based on said second one of the progressive awards and the determined percentage progressive value.

18. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) displaying a plurality of maintained progressive awards, wherein a first one of the progressive awards is associated with a first winning combination of symbols and a second, different one of the progressive awards is associated with a second, different winning combination of symbols;

(b) enabling a player to place one of a plurality of different wager amounts including a maximum wager amount;

(c) if the player did not place the maximum wager amount, determining a percentage progressive value which is greater than 0% and less than 100%;

(d) displaying a plurality of randomly generated symbols;

(e) if the first winning combination of symbols is displayed and the player placed the maximum wager amount, providing the player the first one of the progressive awards;

(f) if the second winning combination of symbols is displayed and the player placed the maximum wager amount, providing the player the second one of the progressive awards;

(g) if the first winning combination of symbols is displayed and the player did not place the maximum wager amount, providing the player part of the first one of the progressive awards, wherein any part of the first one of the progressive awards provided to the player is based on said first one of the progressive awards and the determined percentage progressive value; and

(h) if the second winning combination of symbols is displayed and the player did not place the maximum wager amount, providing the player part of the second one of the progressive awards, wherein any part of the second one of the progressive awards provided to the player is based on said second one of the progressive awards and the determined percentage progressive value.