Slot machine game and system with improved jackpot feature

• US 7,625,283 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Olive, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US11/365,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20060166730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 463/27
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Certain embodiments provide a method and system for awarding a progressive prize. The system includes a bank of gaming machines accepting different bets per play as selected by a player. A random number is selected from a predetermined fixed range of numbers that does not change during play of a gaming machine. The player is allotted one or more numbers for each credit bet. The allotted numbers represent a subset of the predetermined fixed range of numbers. A feature game is triggered for the progressive prize based on a numerical comparison between the selected random number and the number(s) allotted to the player. Certain embodiments provide a trigger condition for a feature outcome based on an event having a probability related to credits bet per game at a gaming machine. A probability of success in the feature game may be higher than a probability of success in the base game.

Claims

1. A method of triggering a feature game at a gaming machine which plays a first main game, said method comprising:

accepting a bet of a plurality of credits for a single play of the first main game;

randomly selecting a number within a predetermined fixed range of consecutive numbers upon play of a first main game, wherein the predetermined fixed range of numbers is determined prior to play of the gaming machine and the maximum value of said range of values is proportional to the average value of turnover between progressive jackpot hits;

allotting a plurality of numbers in proportion to the number of said credits bet by the player, wherein the allotted numbers comprise a subset of the predetermined fixed range of numbers; and

triggering display of the feature game for play when the randomly selected number matches one of the allotted numbers.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising awarding one of a plurality of prizes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of said plurality of prizes includes a progressive prize.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the feature game includes a plurality of feature games.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature game has a higher probability of success than the first main game.