Gaming system which provides multiple players multiple bonus awards

• US 7,500,913 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hylinski; Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US11/219,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20070054732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 463 25- 28, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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 gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device'"'"'s chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine can be in an active state or an inactive state, each gaming machine is associated with an accumulated bonus event pool which is based on any wagers placed at said gaming machine, and each gaming machine includes;

at least one processor;

at least one input device;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to enable a player to play a primary game upon a wager; and

a controller configured to communicate with each of the gaming machines and programmed to;

(a) determine whether a bonus event is triggered; and

(b) if the bonus event is triggered;

(i) designate one of the gaming machines as a triggering gaming machine and each of the remaining gaming machines in the gaming system as auxiliary gaming machines; and

(ii) cause a bonus event participation gaming sequence to be provided for the designated triggering gaming machine and each of any of the designated auxiliary gaming machines in the active state, wherein;

(A) the bonus event participation gaming sequences provided for any of the designated auxiliary gaming machines in the active state determines which of any of the designated auxiliary gaming machines in the active state will participate in the triggered bonus event, for each designated auxiliary gaming machine in the active state,

(B) a probability of success in the bonus event participation gaming sequence is based, at least in part, on the accumulated bonus event pool of said gaming machine, and

(C) different accumulated bonus event pools greater than zero have different probabilities of success.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the bonus event is triggered, the controller is programmed to cause each of a plurality of the gaming machines in the active state to provide the bonus event participation gaming sequence.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the bonus event is triggered, the controller is programmed to cause each of the gaming machines in the active state to provide the bonus event participation gaming sequence.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the triggering gaming machine is associated with a one-hundred percent probability of success in the bonus event participation bonus sequence.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a determination that the bonus event is triggered is based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of the triggering gaming machine.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a determination that the bonus event triggered is independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game and independent of any plays of any secondary game of the gaming machines.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the bonus event is triggered, the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the triggering gaming machine is the gaming machine which triggered the bonus event.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said probabilities of success are each greater than zero percent and less than one-hundred percent.

10. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine is associated with an accumulated bonus event pool which is based on any wagers placed at said gaming machine and each gaming machine includes;

at least one processor;

at least one input device;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to enable a player to play a primary game upon a wager; and

a controller configured to communicate with each of the gaming machines and programmed to;

(a) determine whether a bonus event is triggered; and

(b) if the bonus event is triggered;

(i) designate one of the gaming machines as a triggering gaming machine and each of the remaining gaming machines in the gaming system as auxiliary gaming machines; and

(ii) cause the designated triggering gaming machine and at least one of the designated auxiliary gaming machines to each provide a bonus event participation gaming sequence, wherein;

(A) the bonus event participation gaming sequence provided for any of the designated auxiliary gaming machines determines if said designated auxiliary gaming machine will participate in the triggered bonus event,

(B) for each of said designated auxiliary gaming machines, a probability of success in the bonus event participation gaming sequence is based, at least in part, on the accumulated bonus event pool of said gaming machine, and

(C) different accumulated bonus event pools greater than zero have different probabilities of success.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein if the bonus event is triggered, the controller is programmed to cause each of a plurality of the auxiliary gaming machines to provide the bonus event participation gaming sequence.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein if the bonus event is triggered, the controller is programmed to cause each of the auxiliary gaming machines to provide the bonus event participation gaming sequence.

13. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the triggering gaming machine is associated with a one-hundred percent probability of success in the bonus event participation bonus sequence.

14. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein a determination that the bonus event is triggered is based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of the triggering gaming machine.

15. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein a determination that the bonus event is triggered is independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game and independent of any plays of any secondary game of the gaming machines.

16. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the triggering gaming machine is the gaming machine which triggered the bonus event.

17. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said probabilities of success are each greater than zero percent and less than one-hundred percent.

18. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, wherein at least part of said wagers placed are allocated to an accumulated bonus event pool; and

a display device operable with the processor and adapted to display the primary game and a bonus event;

wherein upon a triggering of the bonus event;

(a) said gaming device is designated as a triggering gaming device, an auxiliary gaming device in an active state or an auxiliary gaming device in an inactive state;

(b) if said gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device, a bonus event participation gaming sequence is provided;

(c) if said gaming device is designated as the auxiliary gaming device in the active state, the bonus event participation gaming sequence is provided, wherein the provided bonus event participation gaming sequence determines if the gaming machine will participate in the triggered bonus event, a probability of success in the bonus event participation gaming sequence is based, at least in part, on the accumulated bonus event pool, and different accumulated bonus event pools greater than zero have different probabilities of success; and

(d) if said gaming device is designated as the auxiliary gaming device in the inactive state, no bonus event participation gaming sequence is provided.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein a determination that the bonus event is triggered is based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game.

20. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein a determination that the bonus event is triggered is independent of any displayed event in any play of the primary game and independent of any plays of any secondary games.

21. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein if said gaming device triggered the bonus event, said gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device.

22. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein said probability of success is greater than zero percent and less than one-hundred percent.

23. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, wherein at least part of said wagers placed are allocated to an accumulated bonus event pool; and

a display device operable with the processor and adapted to display the primary game and a bonus event;

wherein upon a triggering of the bonus event;

(a) said gaming device is designated as a triggering gaming device or an auxiliary gaming device;

(b) if said gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device, a bonus event participation gaming sequence is provided, wherein a probability of success in the bonus event participation gaming sequence is one-hundred percent; and

(c) if said gaming device is designated as the auxiliary gaming device, the bonus event participation gaming sequence is provided, wherein;

(i) the provided bonus event participation gaming sequence determines if the gaming machine will participate in the triggered bonus event,

(ii) the probability of success in the bonus event participation gaming sequence is based, at least in part, on the accumulated bonus event pool and

(iii) different accumulated bonus event pools greater than zero have different probabilities of success.

24. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein a determination that the bonus event is triggered is based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game.

25. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein a determination that the bonus event is triggered is independent of any displayed event in any play of the primary game and independent of any plays of any secondary games.

26. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein if said gaming device triggered the bonus event, said gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device.

27. The gaming device of claim 23, wherein said probability of success is greater than zero percent and less than one-hundred percent.

28. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a controller in communication with a plurality of gaming machines wherein each gaming machine includes a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining an accumulated bonus event pool associated with each gaming machine, wherein each accumulated bonus event pool for each gaming machine is based on wagers placed at said gaming machine;

(b) determining whether each gaming machine is in an active state or an inactive state; and

(c) determining if a bonus event is triggered, wherein upon the triggering of the bonus event;

(i) designating one of the gaming machines as a triggering gaming machine and each of the remaining gaming machines as designated auxiliary gaming machines; and

(ii) providing a bonus event participation gaming sequence for the designated triggering gaming machine and each of any of the designated auxiliary gaming machines in the active state, wherein;

(A) the bonus event participation gaming sequences provided for any of the designated auxiliary gaming machines in the active state determines which of any of the designated auxiliary gaming machines in the active state will participate in the triggered bonus event,

(B) for each auxiliary gaming machine in the active state, a probability of success in the bonus event participation gaming sequence is based, at least in part, on the accumulated bonus event pool of said gaming machine, and

(C) different accumulated bonus event pools greater than zero have different probabilities of success.

29. The method of claim 28, which includes providing the bonus event participation gaming sequence to each of a plurality of the auxiliary gaming machines in the active state.

30. The method of claim 28, which includes providing the bonus event participation gaming sequence to each of the auxiliary gaming machines in the active state.

31. The method of claim 28, which includes associating a one-hundred percent probability of success in the bonus event participation bonus sequence with the triggering gaming machine.

32. The method of claim 28, which includes determining that the bonus event is triggered based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of the triggering gaming machine.

33. The method of claim 28, which includes determining that the bonus event is triggered independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game and independent of any plays of any secondary game of the gaming machines.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the triggering gaming machine is the gaming machine which triggered the bonus event.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein said probabilities of success are each greater than zero percent and less than one-hundred percent.

36. The method of claim 28, which is provided through a data network.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the data network is an internet.

38. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a controller in communication with a plurality of gaming machines wherein each gaming machine includes a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining an accumulated bonus event pool associated with each gaming machine, wherein each accumulated bonus event pool for each gaming machine is based on wagers placed at said gaming machine; and

(b) determining if a bonus event is triggered, wherein upon the triggering of the bonus event;

(i) designating one of the gaming machines as a triggering gaming machine and each of the remaining gaming machines as designated auxiliary gaming machines; and

(ii) providing a bonus event participation gaming sequence for the designated triggering gaming machine and at least one of the designated auxiliary gaming machines, wherein;

(A) the bonus event participation gaming sequence provided for any of the designated auxiliary gaming machines determines if said designated auxiliary gaming machine will participate in the triggered bonus event,

(B) for each auxiliary gaming machine provided the bonus event participation gaming sequence, a probability of success in the bonus event participation gaming sequence is based, at least in part, on the accumulated bonus event pool of said gaming machine, and

(C) different accumulated bonus event pools greater than zero have different probabilities of success.

39. The method of claim 38, which includes providing the bonus event participation gaming sequence to each of a plurality of the designated auxiliary gaming machines.

40. The method of claim 38, which includes providing the bonus event participation gaming sequence to each of the designated auxiliary gaming machines.

41. The method of claim 38, which includes associating a one-hundred percent probability of success in the bonus event participation bonus sequence with the triggering gaming machine.

42. The method of claim 38 which includes determining that the bonus event is triggered based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of the triggering gaming machine.

43. The method of claim 38, which includes determining that the bonus event is triggered independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game and independent of any plays of any secondary game of the gaming machines.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the triggering gaming machine is the gaming machine which triggered the bonus event.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein said probabilities of success are each greater than zero percent and less than one-hundred percent.

46. The method of claim 38, which is provided through a data network.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the data network is an internet.

48. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine is associated with an accumulated bonus event pool which is based on any wagers placed at said gaming machine and each gaming machine includes;

at least one processor;

at least one input device;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to enable a player to play a primary game upon a wager; and

a controller configured to communicate with each of the gaming machines and programmed to;

(a) determine whether a bonus event is triggered; and

(b) if the bonus event is triggered;

(i) designate one of the gaming machines as a triggering gaming machine and each of the remaining gaming machines in the gaming system as auxiliary gaming machines; and

(ii) cause at least one of the designated auxiliary gaming machines to each provide a bonus event participation gaming sequence, wherein;

(A) the bonus event participation gaming sequence provided for any of the designated auxiliary gaming machines determines if said designated auxiliary gaming machine will participate in the triggered bonus event,

(B) for each of said designated auxiliary gaming machines, a probability of success in the bonus event participation gaming sequence is based, at least in part, on the accumulated bonus event pool of said gaming machine, and

(C) different accumulated bonus event pools greater than zero have different probabilities of success.

49. The gaming system of claim 48, wherein if the bonus event is triggered, the controller is programmed to cause each of a plurality of the auxiliary gaming machines to provide the bonus event participation gaming sequence.

50. The gaming system of claim 48, wherein if the bonus event is triggered, the controller is programmed to cause each of the auxiliary gaming machines to provide the bonus event participation gaming sequence.

51. The gaming system of claim 48, wherein if the bonus event is triggered, the controller is programmed to cause each of a plurality of the auxiliary gaming machines in an active state to provide the bonus event participation gaming sequence.

52. The gaming system of claim 48, wherein if the bonus event is triggered, the controller is programmed to cause each of the auxiliary gaming machines in an active state to provide the bonus event participation gaming sequence.

53. The gaming system of claim 48, wherein a determination that the bonus event is triggered is based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of one of the gaming machines.

54. The gaming system of claim 48, wherein a determination that the bonus event is triggered is independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game and independent of any plays of any secondary game of the gaming machines.

55. The gaming system of claim 48, wherein said probabilities of success are each greater than zero percent and less than one-hundred percent.

56. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a controller in communication with a plurality of gaming machines wherein each gaming machine includes a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining an accumulated bonus event pool associated with each gaming machine, wherein each accumulated bonus event pool for each gaming machine is based on wagers placed at said gaming machine; and

(b) determining if a bonus event is triggered, wherein upon the triggering of the bonus event;

(i) designating one of the gaming machines as a triggering gaming machine and each of the remaining gaming machines as designated auxiliary gaming machines; and

(ii) providing a bonus event participation gaming sequence for at least one of the designated auxiliary gaming machines, wherein;

(A) the bonus event participation gaming sequence provided for any of the designated auxiliary gaming machines determines if said designated auxiliary gaming machine will participate in the triggered bonus event,

(B) for each auxiliary gaming machine provided the bonus event participation gaming sequence, a probability of success in the bonus event participation gaming sequence is based, at least in part, on the accumulated bonus event pool of said gaming machine, and

(C) different accumulated bonus event pools greater than zero have different probabilities of success.

57. The method of claim 56, which includes providing the bonus event participation gaming sequence to each of a plurality of the designated auxiliary gaming machines.

58. The method of claim 56, which includes providing the bonus event participation gaming sequence to each of the designated auxiliary gaming machines.

59. The method of claim 56, which includes providing the bonus event participation gaming sequence to each of a plurality of the designated auxiliary gaming machines in an active state.

60. The method of claim 56, which includes providing the bonus event participation gaming sequence to each of the designated auxiliary gaming machines in an active state.

61. The method of claim 56 which includes determining that the bonus event will occur based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of one of the gaming machines.

62. The method of claim 56, which includes determining that the bonus event will occur independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game and independent of any plays of any secondary game of the gaming machines.

63. The method of claim 56, wherein said probabilities of success are each greater than zero percent and less than one-hundred percent.

64. The method of claim 56, which is provided through a data network.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the data network is an internet.