Gaming method and device involving progressive wagers

• US 7,666,093 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2005
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nicely, Mark C., Lafky, Ernie M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsu; Ryan
• Application Number:
  US11/196,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20060030403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25- 28, 463 40- 42, 463/16, 463 20- 22, 2731381- 2, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/26
• 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 17/3246 involving coins and/or banknotes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method of gaming is disclosed wherein progressive award values may be increased in response to certain pre-established game outcomes, wager amounts or random events. The increased progressive award values may be based on a primary game or secondary game outcome. Another innovation is the resetting of progressive awards upon completion of a bonus event whether or not award actually won in said bonus event. Player tracking systems permit progressive award values to be linked to a particular player such that the progressive award values remain personal to the player. Re-setting increased progressive award values is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a wagering game, for each play of the wagering game, said method comprising:

accepting a player wager;

spinning a plurality of reels to generate a plurality of symbols;

resolving the player wager by paying an award in response to the generated symbols for the spin of the reels corresponding to a winning condition;

in response to at least one symbol generated by a first one of the plurality of reels being a first designated symbol, automatically increasing a value of a first progressive award associated with the first one of the plurality of reels, wherein an amount of said increase is based on the generated first designated symbol; and

in response to at least one symbol generated by a second one of the plurality of reels being a second designated symbol, automatically increasing a value of a second progressive award associated with the second one of the plurality of reels, wherein an amount of said increase is based on the generated second designated symbol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first designated symbol and the second designated symbol are different.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of said increase of the first progressive award is based on the generated first designated symbol and an amount of the player wager.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes maintaining at least the first progressive award based on an operation of multiple linked wagering games.

5. An electronic device comprising:

one or more displays;

a plurality of reels, each one of the reels having a plurality of symbols, the reels including at least a first reel and a second reel;

a data structure storing data corresponding to;

(a) a primary game operable upon a wager; and

(b) a bonus game;

a wager acceptor operable to accept the wager;

a plurality of progressive award balances including at least;

(a) a first progressive award balance associated with the first reel; and

(b) a second progressive award balance associated with the second reel;

a plurality of bonus game outcomes including at least a first bonus game outcome and a second bonus game outcome;

a processor operatively coupled to the one or more displays, the data structure, and the wager acceptor, the processor being programmed to;

(a) start the primary game after receiving the wager;

(b) cause the one or more displays to display the first and second reels spinning;

(c) cause the one or more displays to display the first and second reels stopped, the stopped first and second reels displaying a plurality of combinations of the symbols;

(d) automatically increase the first progressive award balance in response to a designated one or more of the symbols being displayed on the stopped first reel, wherein an amount of said increase is based on the designated one or more of the symbols being displayed on the stopped first reel;

(e) automatically increase the second progressive award balance in response to a designated one or more of the symbols being displayed on the stopped second reel, wherein an amount of said increase is based on the designated one or more of the symbols being displayed on the stopped second reel;

(f) start the bonus game after a bonus triggering event occurs in the primary game;

(g) randomly generate at least one of the first bonus game outcome and the second bonus game outcome;

(h) if the first bonus game outcome is generated, provide a first award which is based, at least in part, on the increased first progressive award balance; and

(i) if the second bonus game outcome is generated, provide a second award which is based, at least in part, on the increased second progressive award balance.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the increase in the progressive award balance include an increase by an amount, the amount being based on at least one of the game outcome and an amount of the wager.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the wager acceptor includes a device selected from the group consisting of a bill validator, a ticket validator and a coupon validator.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein said device is linked to a plurality of devices such that the progressive award balances are funded by wagers at the plurality of linked devices.

9. An electronic device comprising:

at least one display device;

a data structure storing data corresponding to a game operable upon a wager, the game including a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols;

a wager acceptor operable to accept the wager; and

a processor operatively coupled to the at least one display device, the data structure and the wager acceptor, for each play of the game, the processor being programmed to;

(a) cause the at least one display device to display the reels spinning;

(b) cause the at least one display device to display the reels stopped, the stopped reels displaying a randomly generated plurality of said symbol;

(c) automatically increase a first progressive award in response to at least one randomly generated symbol displayed by a first one of the plurality of reels being a first designated symbol, wherein an amount of said increase is based on the displayed first designated symbol;

(d) automatically increase a second progressive award in response to at least one randomly generated symbol displayed by a second one of the plurality of reels being a second designated symbol, wherein an amount of said increase is based on the displayed second designated symbol; and

(e) provide an award in response to the randomly generated symbols displayed on the stopped reels corresponding to a winning condition.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the increase in the first progressive award includes an increase by a specific amount based on the first designated symbol displayed on the first one of the stopped reels or an amount of the wager.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first designated symbol and the second designated symbol are different.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein said electronic device is linked to a plurality of electronic devices such that at least the first progressive award is funded by wagers at the plurality of linked electronic devices.