Gaming device and method having payline progressive awards

• US 7,578,740 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2006
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2005
• 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): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pinheiro; Jason
• Application Number:
  US11/325,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20060183535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/27, 463 42- 43
• US Class Current: 463/27
• 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 gaming device which includes a variety of methods to provide distinct progressive awards for two or more paylines. In one embodiment, each and every payline has its own progressive award that issues upon the appearance of a predetermined symbol combination on that payline.

Claims

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

a game controlled by the processor;

a plurality of symbols in the game, wherein said symbols form at least one designated symbol combination and at least one non-designated winning symbol combination;

a plurality of symbol positions in the game;

a plurality of progressive pools associated with the game, each progressive pool having an award value greater than zero;

a plurality of paylines in the game, wherein each payline is individually associated with at least a separate one of said progressive pools; and

a display device operable to display said game;

wherein said processor is programmed to operate with the display device to control a play of the game by;

(a) enabling a player to participate in the game by placing at least one of a plurality of different payline wager amounts on each of one or more of the paylines, wherein;

(i) each payline wager amount is greater than zero, and

(ii) for each wagered on payline, the progressive pool associated with said payline is;

(A) separate from which of the payline wager amounts was placed on said payline, and

(B) independent of any incrementation of the award value of said associated progressive pool caused by said placed payline wager amount;

(b) generating a plurality of the symbols at the symbol positions;

(c) determining if the designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines;

(d) if the designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines, providing the player the award value of the progressive pool individually associated with the payline which the designated symbol combination was generated on;

(e) determining if the at least one non-designated winning symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines; and

(f) if the at least one non-designated winning symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines, providing the player an award value associated with the generated non-designated winning symbol combination.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said paylines is individually associated with a plurality of said progressive pools.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said paylines are each individually associated with a plurality of said progressive pools.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to operate to control the play of the game by resetting the provided award value of the progressive pool to a reset award value.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each progressive pool is funded, at least in part, by the at least one payline wager amount placed on the payline associated with said progressive pool.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to operate to control the play of the game by providing the player the award value of the progressive pool individually associated with the payline which the designated symbol combination was generated on, if the designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines individually associated with at least one of said progressive pools and a maximum wager was placed on said payline.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the progressive pools are independent of one another.

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

a plurality of symbols generated at a plurality of symbol positions upon at least one of a plurality of different wager amounts placed on at least one of a plurality of paylines, wherein each wager amount is greater than zero;

a first progressive pool associated with a first of said paylines, said first progressive pool having an award value greater than zero, wherein said first progressive pool is provided to a player if a designated symbol combination is generated on said first payline and the player placed a wager on said first payline, wherein for said wagered on first payline, the first progressive pool is;

(i) separate from which of the payline wager amounts was placed on said first payline, and (ii) independent of any incrementation of the award value of the first progressive pool caused by the wager placed on said first payline;

a distinct second progressive pool associated with a second of said paylines, said second progressive pool having an award value greater than zero, wherein said second progressive pool is provided to the player if the designated symbol combination is generated on said second payline and the player placed a wager on said second payline, wherein for said wagered on second payline, the second progressive pool is;

(i) separate from which of the payline wager amounts was placed on said second payline, and (ii) independent of any incrementation of the award value of the second progressive pool caused by the wager placed on said second payline;

an award value associated with a non-designated winning symbol combination generated on one of said paylines, wherein said award value associated with the non-designated winning symbol combination is provided to the player if the non-designated winning symbol combination is generated on one of said paylines; and

a display device operable with said processor to display said symbols, said first progressive pool and said second progressive pool.

9. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein the first progressive pool is independent of the second progressive pool.

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

(a) enabling a player to participate in a game by placing at least one of a plurality of different payline wager amounts on each of a plurality of paylines, each payline wager amount having a value greater than zero, wherein each paylines is individually associated with at least a separate one of a plurality of progressive pools, each progressive pool has an award value greater than zero, and for each wagered on payline, the progressive pool associated with said payline is;

(i) separate from which of the payline wager amounts was placed on said payline, and

(ii) independent of any incrementation of the award value of said associated progressive pool caused by said placed payline wager amount;

(b) generating a plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol positions;

(c) causing a display device to display the plurality of generated symbols at the plurality of symbol positions;

(d) determining if a designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines;

(e) if the designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines, providing the player the award value of the progressive pool individually associated with the payline which the designated symbol combination was generated on;

(f) determining if a non-designated winning symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines; and

(g) if the non-designated winning symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines, providing the player an award value associated with the generated non-designated winning symbol combination.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of said paylines is individually associated with a plurality of said progressive pools.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a plurality of said paylines are each individually associated with a plurality of said progressive pools.

13. The method of claim 10, which includes resetting the provided award value of the progressive pool to a reset award value.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein each progressive pool is funded, at least in part, by the at least one payline wager amount placed on the payline associated with said progressive pool.

15. The method of claim 10, which includes providing the player the award value of the progressive pool individually associated with the payline which the designated symbol combination was generated on, if the designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines individually associated with at least one of said progressive pools and a maximum wager was placed on said payline.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein at least of the progressive pools are independent of one another.

17. The method of claim 10, which is provided through a data network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

(a) enabling a player to place at least one of a plurality of different payline wager amounts on each of a plurality of paylines, wherein each payline wager amount is greater than zero;

(b) generating a plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol positions;

(c) causing a display device to display the plurality of generated symbols at the plurality of symbol positions;

(d) if a designated symbol combination is generated on a first of said paylines and the player placed a wager on said first payline, providing to the player an award value of a first progressive pool associated with the first of said paylines, wherein said award value of the first progressive pool is greater than zero and for said first wagered on payline, the first progressive pool is;

(i) separate from which of the payline wager amounts was placed on said first payline and (ii) independent of any incrementation of the award value of the first progressive pool caused by the wager placed on said first payline;

(e) if the designated symbol combination is generated on a second of said paylines and the player placed a wager on said second payline, providing to the player an award value of a distinct second progressive pool associated with the second of said paylines, wherein said award value of the second progressive pool is greater than zero and for said second wagered on payline, the second progressive pool is;

(i) separate from which of the payline wager amounts was placed on said second payline and (ii) independent of any incrementation of the award value of the second progressive pool caused by the wager placed on said second payline; and

(f) if a non-designated winning symbol combination is generated on one of said paylines, providing the player an award value associated with the generated non-designated winning symbol combination.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first progressive pool is independent of the second progressive pool.

21. The method of claim 19, which is provided through a data network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the data network is an internet.

23. A memory device which includes a plurality of instructions, that when executed by at least one processor, cause a gaming machine to:

(a) enable a player to participate in a game by placing at least one of a plurality of different payline wager amounts on each of a plurality of paylines, wherein each payline wager amount is greater than zero and each paylines is individually associated with at least a separate one of a plurality of progressive pools, each progressive pool has an award value greater than zero, and for each wagered on payline, the progressive pool associated with said payline is;

(i) separate from which of the payline wager amounts was placed on said payline, and (ii) independent of any incrementation of the award value of said associated progressive pool caused by said placed payline wager amount;

(b) generate a plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol positions;

(c) determine if a designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines;

(d) if the designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines, provide the player the award value of the progressive pool individually associated with the payline which the designated symbol combination was generated on;

(e) determine if a non-designated winning symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines; and

(f) if the non-designated winning symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines, provide the player an award value associated with the generated non-designated winning symbol combination.

24. The memory device of claim 23, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to individually associate at least one of said paylines with a plurality of said progressive pools.

25. The memory device of claim 23, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to individually associate each of a plurality of said paylines with a plurality of said progressive pools.

26. The memory device of claim 23, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to reset the provided award value of the progressive pool to a reset award value.

27. The memory device of claim 23, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to fund each progressive pool, at least in part, by the at least one payline wager amount placed on the payline associated with said progressive pool.

28. The memory device of claim 23, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming machine to provide the player the award value of the progressive pool individually associated with the payline which the designated symbol combination was generated on, if the designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines individually associated with at least one of said progressive pools and a maximum wager was placed on said payline.

29. The memory device of claim 23, which is selected from the group consisting of a detachable cartridge, a disk, a random access memory, non-volatile random access memory, magnet random access memory, ferroelectric random access memory, a read only memory, flash memory, electrically erasable programmable read only memory, optical memory, semiconductor memory and an application-specific integrated circuit.

30. A gaming system comprising:

a controller, said controller programmed to maintain a plurality of progressive pools; and

at least one gaming device including;

a display device; and

a gaming device processor programmed to operate with said central controller and said display device to;

(a) enable a player to participate in a game by placing at least one of a plurality of different payline wager amounts on each of a plurality of paylines, wherein each payline wager amount is greater than zero and each paylines is individually associated with at least a separate one of the plurality of progressive pools, each progressive pool has an award value greater than zero, and for each wagered on payline, the progressive pool associated with said payline is;

(i) separate from which of the payline wager amounts was placed on said payline, and (ii) independent of any incrementation of the award value of said associated progressive pool caused by said placed payline wager amount;

(b) generate a plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol positions;

(c) determine if a designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines;

(d) if the designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines, provide the player the award value of the progressive award individually associated with the payline which the designated symbol combination was generated on;

(e) determine if a non-designated winning symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines; and

(f) if the non-designated winning symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines, provide the player an award value associated with the generated non-designated winning symbol combination.

31. The gaming system of claim 30, which includes a plurality of gaming devices.

32. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a controller in communication with at least one gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) causing the controller to maintain a plurality of progressive pools;

(b) causing a first one of the gaming devices to;

(i) enable a player to participate in a game at the first one of the gaming devices by placing at least one of a plurality of different payline wager amounts on each of a plurality of paylines, wherein each payline wager amount is greater than zero and each paylines is individually associated with at least a separate one of said plurality of progressive pools, each progressive pools has an award value greater than zero, and for each wagered on payline, the progressive pool associated with said payline is;

(i) separate from which of the payline wager amounts was placed on said payline, and (ii) independent of any incrementation of the award value of said associated progressive pool caused by said placed payline wager amount,

(ii) generate a plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol positions,

(iii) cause a display device to display the plurality of generated symbols at the plurality of symbol positions,

(iv) determine if a designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines, and

(v) determine if a non-designated winning symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines;

(c) if the designated symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines, causing the controller to provide the player the award value of the progressive pool individually associated with the payline which the designated symbol combination was generated on; and

(d) if the non-designated winning symbol combination was generated on one of said paylines, causing the controller to provide the player an award value associated with the generated non-designated winning symbol combination.

33. The method of claim 32, which is provided through a data network.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the data network is an internet.