Method of operating a progressive gaming device

• US 7,601,060 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Glavich, Paulina, Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams; Ross A.
• Application Number:
  US10/463,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20030216166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,310 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/16, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A method of operating a gaming device which displays at least a set and preferably a plurality of sets of symbols on a display device. The base game, be it slot, poker, keno or blackjack, includes means, connected to the processor, for generating the symbols. Upon generating one of the symbols, the game provides an award associated with the generated symbol. Upon generating the set of symbols, the game provides a progressive award, wherein the progressive award includes at least one award and preferably each of the awards associated with the symbols of the completed set.

Claims

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

(a) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a predetermined set of symbols;

(b) thereafter, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly generate symbols of the set via one or a plurality of plays of a base game;

(c) causing at least one display device to display said randomly generated symbols;

(d) after randomly generating symbols of the set, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to additionally randomly generate at least one value associated with one of the generated symbols of the set;

(e) causing the at least one display device to display said at least one randomly generated value;

(f) causing the at least one display device to display a progressive award to a player when each of the symbols of the set is randomly generated, said progressive award including the randomly generated value; and

(g) providing the progressive award to the player.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to output the symbols directly via the base games.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to output the symbols indirectly via the base games.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain plurality of sets of symbols, each set including a plurality of symbols, wherein:

(i) the base game generates symbols for each of the sets, (ii) at least one value is associated with the symbols of each of the sets generated by the base game, and (iii) a progressive award is displayed and provided to the player for any one of the sets when all of the symbols of said set are generated, the progressive award including the value associated with said set.

5. The method of claim 4, which includes enabling the player to win the progressive award for each of the sets before resetting the symbols generated for said sets.

6. The method of claim 4, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reset the symbols generated for any set that has each of the symbols of said set generated and maintaining any symbols generated for the other sets.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein one play of the base game includes causing the at east one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate a plurality of the symbols of one of the sets.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein one play of the base game includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate at least one of the symbols for a plurality of the sets.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the base game is a game selected from the group consisting of:

a slot game, a poker game, a blackjack game and a keno game.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate the symbols of the set includes generating at least one symbol along a payline of a slot game.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate symbols of the set includes generating a poker combination selected from the group consisting of:

at least two of the same card denomination, a straight, a flush, a straight-flush, a two pair combination and a full house.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate the symbols of the set includes generating a blackjack combination selected from the group consisting of:

a blackjack, a total hand number and a bust.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein one play of the base game includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate a plurality of the symbols of the set.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein one play of the base game includes causing the at east one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate a master symbol that satisfies a symbol requirement for the set, causing the at least one display device to display the master symbol and providing the progressive award to the player.

15. The method of claim 1, which includes enabling a single player to have multiple plays of the base game to generate each of the symbols of the set.

16. The method of claim 1, which includes enabling multiple players to have multiple plays of the base game to generate each of the symbols of the set, wherein the player who generates a final symbol in the set is provided the progressive award.

17. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate an item via the base game and causing the at least one display device to display said generated item, said item changes visually into one of the symbols of the set, wherein the item is chosen from a group consisting of:

a reel symbol, a card and a keno number.

18. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive award by combining a plurality of the randomly generated values associated with the generation of the symbols of the set.

19. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at east one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive award by combining the randomly generated value with at least one component of a base game wager.

20. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive award by combining each of a plurality of randomly generated values associated with the generation of the symbols of the set with a plurality of components of a plurality of base game wagers.

21. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive award by assigning an award to the set of symbols.

22. The method of claim 1, which includes providing an award additional to the progressive award upon generating the symbols of the set.

23. The method of claim 1, which is provided via a data network.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the data network includes an internet.

25. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, the method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a plurality of predetermined sets of symbols;

(b) thereafter, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly generate symbols of the sets via one or a plurality of plays of a base game;

(c) causing at least one display device to display said randomly generated symbols;

(d) after randomly generating symbols of the set, causing the at east one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to additionally randomly generate a value associated with at least one of the generated symbols of each of the sets;

(e) causing the at least one display device to display said randomly generated value;

(f) causing the at least one display device to display a progressive award to a player for each set when, for any given set, all of the symbols of the set are generated, and wherein the progressive award for the set includes at least one of the randomly generated values associated with at least one of the symbols of the set randomly generated in the base game; and

(g) providing the progressive award to the player.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the base game includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to perform an event associated with one of the sets that triggers a generation of one of the symbols of the set.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to perform, the event includes generating and displaying at least one symbol on at least one reel of a slot game.

28. The method of claim 26, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide a different symbol generating event in the base game for each of the sets of symbols.

29. The method of claim 25, which is provided via a data network.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the data network includes an internet.

96. The method of claim 25, which includes providing the progressive award to the player for the set that is first to have each of its symbols generated.

31. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, the method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a predetermined set of symbols;

(b) thereafter, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly generate symbols of the set via one or a plurality of plays of a base game;

(c) causing at least one display device to display said randomly generated symbols;

(d) after randomly generating symbols of the set, causing the at east one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate values, each value greater than zero and associated with each one of the generated symbols of the set;

(e) causing the at least one display device to display said randomly generated values;

(f) causing the at least one display device to display a progressive award to a player upon the generation of all of the symbols of the set, the progressive award including all of the randomly generated values associated with the randomly generated symbols of said set, wherein at least two of the randomly generated values associated with the randomly generated symbols of said set are different; and

(g) providing the progressive award to the player.

32. The method of claim 31, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a plurality of sets of symbols, each set having an associated progressive award that includes all of the values associated with each of the symbols of the set generated in the base game.

33. The method of claim 32, which includes providing the progressive award associated with the set that is first to have each of its symbols generated.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the base game is a game selected from the group consisting of:

a slot game, a poker game, a blackjack game and a keno game.

35. The method of claim 31, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to trigger in the base game an event that generates one of the symbols of the set.

36. The method of claim 35, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to trigger one of:

a reel symbol and a reel symbol combination occurring along a payline of a slot game.

37. The method of claim 35, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to trigger a poker combination selected from the group consisting of:

at least two of the same card denomination, a straight, a flush, a straight-flush, a two pair combination and a full house.

38. The method of claim 35, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to trigger a blackjack combination selected from the group consisting of:

a blackjack, a total hand number and a bust.

39. The method of claim 31, which includes causing the at east one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to trigger the base game an event that generates a plurality of the symbols.

40. The method of claim 31, which includes causing the at east one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to trigger in the base game an event that generates each of the symbols of the set.

41. The method of claim 31, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to trigger in the base game an event that generates a master symbol and causes the at least one display device to display the master symbol, the master symbol completing the generation of the symbols of the set and causing the progressive award to be provided to the player.

42. The method of claim 31, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to trigger the base game an event that generates a master symbol, and causes the at least one display device to display the master symbol, the master symbol completing the generation of the symbols of the set and causing a predefined award to be provided to the player.

44. The method of claim 31, wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate symbols of the set includes generating face cards in a poker game.

45. The method of claim 31, wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate symbols of the set includes generating face cards in a blackjack game.

46. The method of claim 31, wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate symbols of the set includes generating a changeable item that changes into one of the symbols of the set, the changeable item chosen from the group consisting of:

a reel symbol, a face card and a number.

47. The method of claim 31, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to combine each of the generated values to determine the progressive award.

48. The method of claim 31, which includes causing the at east one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to multiply each generated value by a base game bet to determine a plurality of amounts and combining the determined amounts to determine the progressive award.

49. The method of claim 31, which includes providing an additional award for generating the symbols of the set, wherein the additional award is provided with the progressive award.

50. The method of claim 31, which is provided via a data network.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the data network includes an internet.

43. The method of 31, wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate symbols of the set includes generating symbols on a set of reels of a slot game.

52. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, said method comprising:

(a) causing at east one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain, a plurality of predetermined sets of symbols;

(b) thereafter, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly generate symbols of the sets via one or a plurality of plays of a base game;

(c) causing at least one display device to display said randomly generated symbols;

(d) causing the at least one display device to display a progressive award to a player when each of the symbols of a first one of the sets of symbols is generated, said progressive award including at least one value associated with at least one of the symbols of said set, wherein said at least one value is randomly generated and caused to be displayed after said at least one associated symbol is randomly generated and displayed;

(e) providing the progressive award to the player; and

(f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reset the first set of symbols so that the first set of symbols has no generated symbols after providing the progressive award.

53. The method of claim 52, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reset the first set of symbols after providing the progressive award and maintaining any symbols generated for any of the other sets of symbols.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the same progressive award is provided to the player regardless of which set of symbols has each of the symbols of the set generated and displayed.

55. The method of claim 52, which includes providing a different progressive award to the player depending upon which set of symbols has each of the symbols of the set generated and displayed, the progressive award based on an amount of symbols included in said set of symbols.

56. The method of claim 52, which includes providing at least one value associated with the generation of the symbols of the first set of symbols, wherein the progressive award includes the value.

57. The method of claim 52, which includes enabling the player to play the base game multiple times before generating each of the symbols of the first set of symbols.

58. The method of claim 52, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to output via the base game the symbols of the sets.

59. The method of claim 52, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to output indirectly via the base game the symbols of the sets.

60. The method of claim 52, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive award by assigning an award to the first of the sets of symbols with each of the symbols of the set generated and displayed.

61. The method of claim 52, which is provided via a data network.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the data network includes an internet.

63. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions comprising:

(a) causing at east one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a predetermined set of symbols;

(b) thereafter, enabling a first player to cause a random generation and a display of at least a first one of the symbols of the set;

(c) enabling a second player to cause a random generation and a display of at least a second one of the symbols of the set;

(d) causing at least one display device to display a progressive award to whichever of the first and second players causes the random generation of a final one of the symbols of the set, said progressive award including at least one value associated with one of the symbols of said set, wherein said at least one value is randomly generated and caused to be displayed after said associated symbol is randomly generated and displayed;

(e) providing the progressive award to whichever of the first and second players causes the random generation of the final one of the symbols of the set; and

(f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reset the first set so that the first set has no generated symbols after providing the progressive award to said player.

64. The method of claim 63, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate the symbols of the first and second sets via play of a base game selected from the group consisting of:

a slot game, a poker game, a blackjack game and a keno game.

65. The method of claim 63, which includes providing at least one value associated with the generation of the symbols of the set, wherein the progressive award includes the value.

66. The method of claim 63, which includes enabling the first and second players to each have multiple tries at generating the symbols of the set.

67. The method of claim 63, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to output via the base game the symbols of the set.

68. The method of claim 63, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to output indirectly via the base game the symbols of the set.

69. The method of claim 63, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive by assigning an award to the set of symbols.

70. The method of claim 63, which is provided via a data network.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the data network includes an internet.

72. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a predetermined set of symbols;

(b) thereafter, enabling a player playing a base game to randomly generate an outcome;

(c) causing at least one display device to display said randomly generated outcome, wherein the outcome transforms visually into one of the symbols of the set;

(d) causing the at least one display device to display a progressive award to the player if the player generates each of the symbols of the set, wherein the progressive award includes a value associated with one of the symbols in said set, wherein said value is randomly generated and caused to be displayed after said randomly generated and displayed outcome transforms visually into one of the symbols of the set; and

(e) providing the progressive award to the player.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the outcome transforms visually into a plurality of the symbols of the set.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein the outcome transforms visually and sequentially a plurality of times into a plurality of the symbols of the set.

75. The method of claim 72, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive award by assigning an award to the set of symbols.

76. The method of claim 72, which is provided via a data network.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the data network includes an internet.

78. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a predetermined set of symbols;

(b) thereafter causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly generate symbols of the set as a direct outcome of one or a plurality of plays of a base game;

(c) causing at least one display device to maintain a display of each symbol after the symbol has been generated;

(d) causing the at least one display device to display a progressive award to a player when each of the symbols of the set is randomly generated, wherein the progressive award includes at least one value associated with one of the symbols of the set, wherein said at least one value is randomly generated and caused to be displayed after said associated symbol is randomly generated; and

(e) providing the progressive award to the player.

79. The method of claim 78, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive award by assigning an award to the set of symbols.

80. The method of claim 78, which is provided via a data network.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the data network includes an internet.

97. The method of claim 78, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive award based on at least one value generated in association with the generation of one of the symbols.

82. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a predetermined set of symbols;

(b) thereafter, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly generate symbols of the set as an indirect outcome of one or a plurality of plays of a base game, wherein an outcome of the base game in turn generates one of the symbols;

(c) causing at least one display device to display said randomly generated symbols;

(d) causing the at least one display device to display a progressive award to a player when each of the symbols of the set is randomly generated, wherein the progressive award includes a value associated with one of the symbols of the set, wherein said value is randomly generated and caused to be displayed after said associated symbol is randomly generated and displayed; and

(e) providing the progressive award to the player.

83. The method of claim 82, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive award by assigning an award to the set of symbols.

84. The method of claim 82, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive award based on at least one value generated in association with the generation of one of the symbols.

85. The method of claim 82, which is provided via a data network.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the data network includes an internet.

87. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a predetermined set of symbols;

(b) thereafter, causing the at east one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly venerate symbols of the set as an outcome of one or more plays of a base game;

(c) causing at least one display device to maintain a display of each symbol after the symbol has been generated;

(d) causing the at least one display device to display a progressive award to a player when each of the symbols of the set is randomly generated, said progressive award determined based on a combination of the symbols of the set and including a r value associated with at least one of the symbols of the set, wherein said value is randomly generated and caused to be displayed after said associated symbol is randomly generated; and

(e) providing the progressive award to the player.

88. The method of claim 87, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to assign the progressive award based on a paytable for a game of poker, wherein the symbols are playing cards and the set of symbols is a hand of cards.

89. The method of claim 87, which is provided via a data network.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein the data network includes an internet.

91. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain first and second predetermined sets of symbols;

(b) thereafter, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly generate symbols of the sets as an outcome of one or a plurality of plays of a base game;

(c) causing at least one display device to maintain a display of each symbol after the symbol has been generated; and

(d) providing a progressive award to a player when each of the symbols of the first or second sets is generated, whichever is generated first, wherein the progressive award includes a value associated with one of the symbols of the first generated set, wherein said value is randomly generated and caused to be displayed after said associated symbol of the first generated set is randomly generated.

92. The method of claim 91, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive award by assigning an award to the first and second sets of symbols.

93. The method of claim 91, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to form the progressive award based on at least one value generated in association with the generation of one of the symbols of the first or second sets, whichever is generated first.

94. The method of claim 91, which is provided via a data network.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein the data network includes an internet.