Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards

• US 7,666,081 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• 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:
  US11/204,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20060040734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25, 463/42
• 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;

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

at least one processor; 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 display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and

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

(i) maintain an accumulated wager pool including at least the wagers placed on the gaming machines during a bonus event accumulation period,

(ii) randomly determine to provide one of a plurality of bonus awards, wherein said determination is based at least in part on the accumulated wager pool and is independent of any event in any play of any of the primary games of the gaming machines, and

(iii) determine which of the gaming machines will provide the bonus award based at least in part on the wagers placed on the primary games of the gaming machines, wherein the selected gaming machine determines at least part of the bonus award to be displayed and provided by said gaming machine selected by the controller.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to:

(a) for each gaming machine, maintain a total of the wagers placed on the primary game of said gaming machine during the bonus event accumulation period;

(b) maintain the accumulated wager pool including a total of the wagers placed on the primary games of all of gaming machines during the bonus event accumulation period;

(c) determine at designated intervals during the bonus event accumulation period if a bonus event will occur; and

(d) if the bonus event is determined to occur;

(i) determine which of the gaming machines were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event, and

(ii) select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state to be the gaming machine which will display and provide the bonus award.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the controller is programmed to select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state based on the total wagers placed during the bonus event accumulation period for each gaming machine in the active state relative to a total of the wagers placed for all of said gaming machines in the active state during the bonus event accumulation period.

4. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the designated intervals are time based.

5. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the designated intervals are based on the accumulated wager pool.

6. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a wager was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

7. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated wager level was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

8. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated number of wagers were placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

9. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein if at least two of the gaming machines are each in the active state active, the controller is programmed to select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state to provide a secondary bonus award, wherein said selection excludes the gaming machine selected to provide the bonus award.

10. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein if at least two gaming machines are each in the active state, the controller is programmed to determine a number of gaming machines in the active state which will each provide a secondary bonus award.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to determine part of the bonus award.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to maintain the plurality of bonus awards and the selected gaming machine selects one of said bonus awards to display and provide.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the selected gaming machine determines at least part of an amount of the bonus award.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus award includes a value component.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the value component is determined by the selected gaming machine.

17. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the value component is determined in a secondary game played on the selected gaming machine.

18. The gaming system of claim 1, 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 1, wherein the bonus award is a progressive award.

20. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including;

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

at least one processor; 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 display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and

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

(i) maintain an accumulated wager pool including at least the wagers placed on the gaming machines during a bonus event accumulation period,

(ii) randomly determine to provide one of a plurality of bonus awards, wherein said determination is based at least in part on the accumulated wager pool and is independent of any event in any play of any of the primary games of the gaming machines, and

(iii) determine which of the gaming machines will provide the bonus award to one of the players of one of the gaming machines, wherein the bonus award is based at least in part on the wagers placed on the primary games of the gaming machines and the selected gaming machine determines part, but not all of the bonus award to be displayed and provided by said gaming machine selected by the controller.

21. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the controller is programmed to:

(a) for each gaming machine, maintain a total of the wagers placed on the primary game of said gaming machine during the bonus event accumulation period;

(b) maintain the accumulated wager pool including a total of the wagers placed on the primary games of all of gaming machines during the bonus event accumulation period;

(c) determine at designated intervals during the bonus event accumulation period if a bonus event will occur; and

(d) if the bonus event is determined to occur;

(i) determine which of the gaming machines were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event, and

(ii) select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state to be the gaming machine which will display and provide the bonus award to one of the players of one of the gaming machines.

22. A gaming system comprising

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including:

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

at least one processor; 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 display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and

a controller configured to communicate with said plurality of gaming machines, said controller programmed to;

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

(b) determine whether to select one of the gaming machines, said determination;

(i) based on the accumulated wager pool and (ii) independent of any event in any play of any of the primary games of the gaming machines;

(c) if the determination is to select one of the gaming machines, select one of the gaming machines, wherein which gaming machine is selected is independent of any event in any play of any of the primary games of the gaming machines; and

(d) cause the selected gaming machine to;

(i) select one of a plurality of bonus awards, wherein said selection is independent of the accumulated wager pool,

(ii) display the selected bonus award, and

(iii) provide the selected bonus award to the player of said gaming machine.

23. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the controller is programmed to:

(a) maintain a total of the wagers placed on the primary games for each gaming machine during a bonus event accumulation period for the bonus award;

(b) maintain the accumulated wager pool including a total of the wagers placed on the primary games of all of gaming machines during the bonus event accumulation period for the bonus award;

(c) determine at designated intervals during the bonus event accumulation period if a bonus event will occur; and

(d) if the bonus event is determined to occur;

(i) determine which of the gaming machines were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event, and

(ii) select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state to be the gaming machine which will display and provide one of the bonus awards.

24. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the controller is programmed to select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state based on the total wagers placed during the bonus event accumulation period for each gaming machine in the active state relative to a total of the wagers placed for all of said gaming machines in the active state during the bonus event accumulation period.

25. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the designated intervals are time based.

26. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the designated intervals are based on the accumulated wager pool.

27. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a wager was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

28. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated wager level was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

29. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated number of wagers were placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

30. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein if at least two of the gaming machines are each in the active state, the controller is programmed to select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state to provide a secondary bonus award, wherein said selection excludes the gaming machine selected to provide the bonus award.

31. The gaming system of claim 23, wherein if at least two gaming machines are each in the active state, the controller is operable to determine a number of secondary bonus awards based on the number of gaming machines in the active state.

32. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein said at least one processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller.

33. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the bonus award includes a value component.

34. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein the value component is determined by the selected gaming machine.

35. The gaming system of claim 33, wherein the value component is determined in a secondary game played on the selected gaming machine.

36. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.

37. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the bonus award is a progressive award.

38. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including;

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

at least one processor; 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 display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and

a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if a bonus event will occur, and if the controller determines that a bonus event will occur, said controller is programmed to;

(i) determine which of the gaming machines were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event,

(ii) select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state based on the total wagers placed during a bonus event accumulation period for each gaming machine in the active state relative to the total wagers placed for all gaming machines in the active state during the bonus event accumulation period, and

(iii) send a signal to the selected gaming machine to provide a primary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein said selected gaming machine at least in part determines the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player.

39. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein if at least two gaming machines are each in the active state, the controller is programmed to:

(i) determine a number of gaming machines in the active state to receive secondary bonus awards, (ii) for each secondary bonus award, select a different one of the gaming machines in the active state excluding the gaming machine selected to provide the primary bonus award, and (iii) send at least one signal to each selected gaming machine to provide a secondary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein said selected gaming machine at least in part determines the secondary bonus award to display and provide to the player of that gaming machine.

40. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein the bonus event accumulation period begins at the occurrence of a previous bonus event and ends at the occurrence of the bonus event.

41. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein the bonus event accumulation period begins at the issuance of a previous bonus award and ends at the issuance of said bonus award.

42. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein the bonus event qualification period is a designated period of time before the end of the bonus event accumulation period.

43. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein the bonus event qualification period is a designated period of time before the bonus event is determined to occur.

44. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a wager was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

45. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated wager level was placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

46. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein the controller is programmed to determine which of the gaming machines were in the active state during the bonus event qualification period by determining for each gaming machine if a designated number of wagers were placed on the primary game of that gaming machine during the bonus event qualification period.

47. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein each bonus award includes a value component.

48. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein each respective value component is determined by the selected gaming machine.

49. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein each respective value component is determined in a secondary game played on the selected gaming machine.

50. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein each bonus award includes a modifier component.

51. The gaming system of claim 50, wherein the modifier component is selected by the controller.

52. The gaming system of claim 38, which includes an accumulated wager pool which includes at least the total amounts of the wagers placed on the primary games of all gaming machines during the bonus event accumulation period.

53. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein said at least one processor of one of the gaming machines functions as the controller.

54. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.

55. The gaming system of claim 38, wherein the primary bonus award is a progressive award.

56. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including;

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

at least one processor; 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 display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and

a controller in communication with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if a bonus event will occur, and if the controller determines that a bonus event will occur, said controller is programmed to;

(i) determine which of the gaming machines were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event,

(ii) select at least one of the gaming machines in the active state based on the total wagers placed during a bonus event accumulation period for each gaming machine in the active state relative to the total wagers placed for all gaming machines in the active state during the bonus event accumulation period, and

(iii) send a signal to the selected gaming machine to provide a primary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein said selected gaming machine determines part, but not all of the primary bonus award to display and provide to the player.

57. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein if at least two gaming machines are each in the active state, the controller is programmed to:

(i) determine a number of gaming machines in the active state to receive secondary bonus awards, (ii) for each secondary bonus award, select a different one of the gaming machines in the active state excluding the gaming machine selected to provide the primary bonus award, and (iii) send at least one signal to each selected gaming machine to provide a secondary bonus award to the player of said gaming machine, wherein said selected gaming machine at least in part determines the secondary bonus award to display and provide to the player.

58. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including;

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

at least one processor; 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 display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and

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

(i) maintain an award pool including at least a part of the wagers placed on the gaming machines;

(ii) randomly determine when to provide an overall award; and

(iii) after determining to provide the overall award, determine which of the gaming machines will provide the overall award to one of the players of one of the gaming machines, wherein the overall award includes;

(a) a first overall award component which includes at least one bonus award which is determined, at least in part, by the controller and determined, at least in part, by the gaming machine determined to provide the overall award; and

(b) a second overall award component which includes any awards provided during any games played at the gaming machine determined to provide the overall award.

59. The gaming system of claim 58, wherein the first overall award component is determined, at least in part, by at least one free game played at the gaming machine determined to provide the overall award.

60. The gaming system of claim 58, wherein the second overall award component includes any awards provided during any free games played at the gaming machine determined to provide the overall award.

61. The gaming system of claim 58, wherein said at least one bonus award of the first overall award component is based, at least in part, on the maintained award pool.

62. The gaming system of claim 58, wherein the award pool includes at least one progressive award.

63. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including;

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

at least one processor; 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 display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player;

a controller in communication with the plurality of gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to maintain an award pool, wherein the award pool is based at least in part on the wagers placed on the gaming machines;

wherein upon an occurrence of a bonus triggering event which triggers a bonus event including at least one play of a secondary game on at least one of said plurality of gaming machines;

(i) the bonus event is provided to at least one player of at least one of the gaming machines;

(ii) based on the maintained award pool and based on the at least one play of a secondary game on the gaming machine, the controller determines a central award component to be provided to the player;

(iii) based on the at least one play of a secondary game on the gaming machine, the gaming machine determines a gaming machine award component to be provided to the player; and

(iv) the gaming machine provides an overall award to the player, said overall award determined based on the determined central award component and the determined gaming machine award component.

64. The gaming system of claim 63, wherein the at least one play of a secondary game on at least one of said plurality of gaming machines includes a plurality of free games.

65. The gaming system of claim 64 wherein said gaming machine award components are based on symbol combinations occurring during said free games.

66. The gaming system of claim 63, wherein the controller randomly determines when the bonus triggering event occurs.

67. The gaming system of claim 63, wherein the central award component includes an award modifier.

68. The gaming system of claim 63, wherein the award pool includes a plurality of progressive awards.

69. The gaming system of claim 68, wherein the central award component includes one of said progressive awards.

70. The gaming system of claim 63, wherein said gaming machine award component includes a number of credits.