Gaming system and method for enabling a player to select progressive awards to try for and chances of winning progressive awards

• US 7,677,972 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Cohen, Alexdander Casey Naglestad, Ferry, Tonja Marie, Koby, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US11/830,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20080076514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 463/27
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of progressive awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one of the progressive awards. The player'"'"'s selection of which progressive award to play for is based, at least in part, on a relative probability of the player winning the selected progressive award compared to the relative probabilities of the player winning the non-selected progressive awards. After selecting which award to play for, the gaming device either provides the selected progressive award to the player or modifies the relative probability that the player will win the selected progressive award with one or more of any award selections remaining. Such a configuration enables the player to strategically select which award to play for and the order that the player will play for the awards.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one central controller configured to maintain a plurality of progressive awards, each of the progressive awards having an initial value, each of the progressive awards associated with an initial probability of being provided; and

a plurality of gaming machines, each one of the gaming machines including;

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one gaming machine processor configured to communicate with the at least one central controller; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one gaming machine processor after an occurrence of a random triggering event, cause the at least one gaming machine processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device, for a play of a secondary game, to;

(i) enable a player to make a first input to select and play for one of the plurality of progressive awards during the play of the secondary game,

(ii) determine whether to provide the selected one of the progressive awards to the player,

(iii) if the determination is to provide the selected one of the progressive awards, provide the selected one of the progressive awards to the player,

(iv) if the determination is not to provide the selected one of the progressive awards;

(a) modify the probability associated with the selected one of the progressive awards, wherein the modification is independent of a total value of any wager placed by the player on any play of any primary game, and

(b) for the same play of the secondary game, enable the player to make a second, different input to select and play for another one of the plurality of progressive awards including the selected one of the progressive awards

(v) determine whether an ending condition occurs, and

(vi) if the ending condition does not occur, repeat (ii) to (vi).

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the probability associated with the selected one of the progressive awards in a first play of the secondary game is lower than the probability associated with the selected one of the progressive awards in a repeated play of the secondary game.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the determination is not to provide the selected one of the progressive awards, the modification is independent of the initial value of the selected one of the progressive awards.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, which includes, for one of the gaming machines:

(i) enabling the player of said gaming machine to make a third input to play for a designated one of the plurality of progressive awards in a first play of the secondary game, and

(ii) enabling the player of said gaming machine to make a fourth input to play for the designated one of the plurality of progressive awards in a repeated play of the secondary game.

5. A gaming system comprising:

at least one central controller configured to maintain a plurality of progressive awards, each of the progressive awards associated with

(a) a probability of being provided,

(b) an initial value, the initial value based on the probability, and

(c) a reset value, the reset value being independent of the probability; and

a plurality of gaming machines, each one of the gaming machines including;

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one gaming machine processor configured to communicate with the at least one central controller; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one gaming machine processor after an occurrence of a random triggering event, cause the at least one gaming machine processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device, for a play of a secondary game, to;

(i) for each of the plurality of progressive awards, set said progressive award to the initial value for said progressive award,

(ii) enable a player of to make an input to play for one of the plurality of progressive awards during the play of the secondary game,

(iii) determine whether to provide the played for progressive award to the player, the determination based on the probability associated with the played for progressive award,

(iv) if the determination is to provide the played for progressive award;

(a) provide the played for progressive award to the player, and

(b) set the played for progressive award to the reset value associated with the played for progressive award, and

(v) if the determination is not to provide the played for progressive award, enable the player to make a separate input to play for another one of the plurality of progressive awards, including the previously played for progressive award, during the same play of the secondary game,

(vi) determine whether an ending condition Occurs, and

(vii) if the ending condition does not occur, repeat (ii) to (vii).

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the initial value of at least one of the progressive awards is larger than the initial values of each of the other progressive awards.

7. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein for each of a plurality of the progressive awards, said progressive award has a different initial value.

8. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein for each of the progressive awards, said progressive award has a different initial value.

9. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein for each of a plurality of the progressive awards, said progressive award has a different reset value.

10. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein for each of the progressive awards, said progressive award has a different reset value.