Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards

• US 7,621,809 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Vasquez, James A., Ching, Erick T., Peterson, Tonja M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/204,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20060040733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 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 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3283 wherein the number of active machines is limited
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player and at least one display device operable to display said primary game;

a bonus pool; and

at least one controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to;

(a) maintain the bonus pool, wherein said bonus pool is based at least in part on the wagers placed by the players of the plurality of gaming machines;

(b) determine an average expected value of a bonus award, wherein the average expected value is based, at least in part, on the maintained bonus pool;

(c) determine at least part of an actual bonus award, wherein said actual bonus award is based at least in part on the bonus pool, and the actual bonus award may be different than the determined average expected value of the bonus award;

(d) cause at least one of the gaming machines to provide the actual bonus award to at least one player;

(e) subtract the average expected value of the bonus award from the bonus pool; and

(f) utilize the remaining bonus pool to determine at least part of at least another actual bonus award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to repeat (a) to (e) for the at least another actual bonus award.

3. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a game operable upon a wager;

a bonus pool;

a plurality of bonus awards, wherein each bonus award is based at least in part on the bonus pool; and

at least one controller in communication with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to;

(a) maintain the bonus pool based at least in part on the play of the games of the plurality of gaming machines;

(b) upon a bonus triggering event, determine an average expected value of at least one of the bonus awards, wherein the average expected value is based at least in part on the maintained bonus pool;

(c) upon causing at least one of the gaming machines to provide at least one of said bonus awards, subtract the determined average expected value from the bonus pool regardless of the actual bonus award provided; and

(d) repeat (a) to (c) for at least one subsequent actual bonus award.

4. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a game operable upon a wager by a player;

a bonus pool;

a plurality of bonus awards, wherein each bonus award includes a plurality of components;

a controller in communication with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the controller maintains the bonus pool based at least in part on the play of the games of the plurality of gaming machines; and

a bonus triggering event, wherein upon an occurrence of the bonus triggering event;

(a) the controller is operable to;

(i) determine at least one component of at least one of the bonus awards based on the bonus pool;

(ii) determine an average expected value based at least in part on the maintained bonus pool; and

(iii) subtract the average expected value from the bonus pool;

(b) at least one gaming machine is operable to;

(i) determine at least one other component of said bonus award; and

(ii) provide said bonus award to the player; and

(c) repeat (a) to (b) for at least one subsequent bonus triggering event.

5. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a game operable upon a wager by a player;

a bonus pool;

a plurality of bonus awards, wherein at least two of the bonus awards are different;

a controller in communication with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the controller maintains the bonus pool based at least in part on the play of the games of the plurality of gaming machines; and

a bonus triggering event, wherein upon an occurrence of the bonus triggering event;

(a) at least one gaming machine is operable to;

(i) determine at least part of one of the bonus awards based at least in part on the bonus pool; and

(ii) provide the determined bonus award to the player;

(b) the controller is operable to;

(i) determine an average expected value of the bonus award regardless of the actual bonus award; and

(ii) subtract the determined average expected value from the bonus pool; and

(c) repeat (a) to (b) for at least one subsequent bonus triggering event.

6. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player and at least one display device operable to display said primary game;

a plurality of bonus events;

an average expected value component for each bonus event;

a first accumulated wager pool for a first occurrence of one of the bonus events;

a second accumulated wager pool for a second occurrence of one of the bonus events; and

a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to;

(a) cause the first occurrence of the bonus event;

(b) determine at least part of a first bonus award to display and provide to the player of one of the gaming machines for the first occurrence of the bonus event;

(c) determine a remainder, wherein the remainder is based on the average expected value component for the first occurrence of the bonus event and the first accumulated wager pool;

(d) maintain the second accumulated wager pool;

(e) cause the second occurrence of the bonus event; and

(f) use the second accumulated wager pool and any determined remainder to determine, at least in part, a second bonus award to display and provide to the player of one of the gaming machines for the second occurrence of the bonus event.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if the bonus event will occur independent of any event in any play of any of the primary games of the gaming machines.

8. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein a processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller.

9. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.

10. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein said first bonus award is based at least in part on the first accumulated wager pool and at least in part on a value component for said first occurrence of the bonus event.

11. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the first accumulated wager pool and the second accumulated wager pool are part of a single accumulated wager pool maintained by the controller.

12. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player and at least one display device operable to display said primary game;

a first accumulated wager pool; and

a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to;

(a) maintain the first accumulated wager pool based, at least in part, on the wagers placed on the primary games of the gaming machines;

(b) determine a first bonus portion of the first accumulated wager pool, wherein said first bonus portion is based, at least in part, on a percentage less than 100% of the first accumulated wager pool;

(c) select at least one of the gaming machines to provide a first bonus award to the player of said selected gaming machine, wherein a total average expected value of the first bonus awards provided to the players is equal to or less than the first bonus portion; and

(d) allocate an amount, based on a remainder, to a second accumulated wager pool for a second bonus award to be displayed and provided to the player of one of said gaming machines, wherein said remainder accounts for any difference between the first bonus portion and the total average expected value of the first bonus awards provided to the players.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein a processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.

15. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the first accumulated wager pool and the second accumulated wager pool are part of a single accumulated wager pool maintained by the controller.

16. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player and at least one display device operable to display said primary game;

a plurality of potential first bonus awards;

a first accumulated wager pool;

a second accumulated wager pool; and

a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to;

(a) maintain the first accumulated wager pool based, at least in part, on the wagers placed on the primary games of the gaming machines;

(b) select at least one gaming machine to provide one of the potential first bonus awards to the player of said selected gaming machine, wherein a total average expected value of the potential first bonus awards provided to the players is equal to or less than a predetermined percentage of the first accumulated wager pool; and

(c) allocate an amount, based on a remainder, to the second accumulated wager pool for a second one of the bonus awards to be displayed and provided to the player of one of the gaming machines, wherein said remainder accounts for any difference between the predetermined percentage of the first accumulated wager pool and the total average expected value of the first bonus awards provided to the players.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein a processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller.

18. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.

19. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the first accumulated wager pool and the second accumulated wager pool are part of a single accumulated wager pool maintained by the controller.

20. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player and at least one display device operable to display said primary game;

a plurality of bonus events;

an average expected value component for each bonus event;

an accumulated wager pool; and

a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to;

(a) cause the first occurrence of the bonus event;

(b) determine at least part of a first bonus award to display and provide to the player of one of the gaming machines for a first occurrence of the bonus event;

(c) determine a remainder, wherein the remainder is based on the average expected value component for the first occurrence of the bonus event and the accumulated wager pool;

(d) allocate any determined remainder to the accumulated wager pool;

(e) cause a second occurrence of the bonus event; and

(f) use the accumulated wager pool including any said remainder to determine, at least in part, a second bonus award to display and provide to the player of one of the gaming machines for the second occurrence of the bonus event.

21. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if the bonus event will occur independent of any event in any play of any of the primary games of the gaming machines.

22. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein a processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller.

23. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.

24. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein said first bonus award is based at least in part on the accumulated wager pool and at least in part on a value component for said first occurrence of the bonus event.

25. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player and at least one display device operable to display said primary game;

an accumulated wager pool; and

a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to;

(a) maintain the accumulated wager pool based, at least in part, on the wagers placed on the primary games of the gaming machines;

(b) determine a first bonus portion of the accumulated wager pool, wherein said first bonus portion is, at least in part, based on a percentage less than 100% of the accumulated wager pool;

(c) select at least one of the gaming machines to provide a first bonus award to the player of said selected gaming machine, wherein the total average expected value of the first bonus awards provided to the players is equal to or less than the first bonus portion; and

(d) allocate an amount, based on a remainder, to the accumulated wager pool for a second bonus award to be displayed and provided to the player of one of said gaming machines, wherein said remainder accounts for any difference between the first bonus portion and the total average expected value of the first bonus awards provided to the players.

26. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein a processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller.

27. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.

28. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player and at least one display device operable to display said primary game;

a plurality of potential first bonus awards;

an accumulated wager pool; and

a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to;

(a) maintain the accumulated wager pool based, at least in part, on the wagers placed on the primary games of the gaming machines;

(b) select at least one gaming machine to provide one of the potential first bonus awards to the player of said selected gaming machine, wherein a total average expected value of the potential first bonus awards provided to the players is equal to or less than a predetermined percentage of the accumulated wager pool; and

(c) allocate an amount, based on a remainder, to the accumulated wager pool for a second one of the bonus awards to be displayed and provided to the player of one of the gaming machines, wherein said remainder accounts for any difference between the predetermined percentage of the accumulated wager pool and the total average expected value of the potential first bonus awards provided to the players.

29. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein a processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller.

30. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.