Gaming system and method for providing multiple players multiple bonus awards

• US 7,753,783 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cuddy, Ryan W., Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hylinski; Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US11/830,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20080020824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 463 25- 29, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 463/28
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device'"'"'s chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with said gaming machines, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to;

(a) identify a plurality of players of said gaming machines;

(b) for each identified player, maintain an accumulated bonus event pool, wherein the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for the identified player is based on any wagers placed by the identified player on said gaming machines during a designated period;

(c) determine if a triggering event will occur; and

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

(i) designate one of the identified players as a triggering player and designate each of the remaining identified players as auxiliary players,

(ii) cause the gaming machine of the triggering player to enable the triggering player to participate in a bonus event, wherein said bonus event has an average expected payout, and

(iii) cause the gaming machine of at least one of the auxiliary players to enable the auxiliary player to input a bonus event buy-in wager amount to participate in the bonus event, wherein the bonus event buy-in wager amount is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the at least one controller is programmed to cause the gaming machine of at least one of the auxiliary players to enable the auxiliary player to participate in a bonus event participation gaming sequence, wherein for said auxiliary player, a probability of success in the bonus event participation sequence is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein if the bonus event participation sequence results in a successful outcome, the at least one controller is programmed to enable the auxiliary player to participate in the bonus event.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the at least one controller is programmed to cause each of a plurality of the gaming machines of the auxiliary players to enable the auxiliary players to participate in the bonus event participation gaming sequence.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the at least one controller is programmed to cause each of a plurality of the gaming machines of the auxiliary players to enable each of the auxiliary players to input the bonus event buy-in wager amount to participate in the bonus event, wherein the bonus event buy-in wager amount for each of said auxiliary players is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player exceeds the average expected payout of the bonus event, the at least one controller is programmed to cause the gaming machine of the auxiliary player to enable the auxiliary player to input the bonus event buy-in wager amount to participate in the bonus event, wherein any bonus event award is modified by a multiplier.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the multiplier is based on a comparison of the bonus event buy-in wager amount and the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determination that the triggering event will occur is independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game or of any plays of any secondary game of the gaming machines.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said triggering player exceeds a threshold amount, the at least one controller is programmed to modify any bonus event awards determined in the bonus event by a triggering player modifier and a first accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said triggering player.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool of at least one of said auxiliary players exceeds the threshold amount, the at least one controller is programmed to enable said auxiliary player to participate in the bonus event.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein any bonus event awards determined in the bonus event are modified by a second accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of players are identified in association with a player tracking system.

13. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with said gaming machines, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to;

(a) identify a plurality of players of said gaming machines;

(b) for each identified player, maintain an accumulated bonus event pool, wherein the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for the identified player is based on any wagers placed by the identified player on said gaming machines during a designated period;

(c) determine if a triggering event will occur; and

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

(i) designate one of the gaming machines as a triggering gaming machine and designate each of the remaining gaming machines as auxiliary gaming machines,

(ii) cause the triggering gaming machine to enable the identified player of said triggering gaming machine to participate in a bonus event, wherein said bonus event has an average expected payout, and

(iii) cause at least one of the auxiliary gaming machines to enable the identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to input a bonus event buy-in wager amount to participate in the bonus event, wherein the bonus event buy-in wager amount is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of the auxiliary gaming machine to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the at least one controller is programmed to cause at least one of the auxiliary gaming machines to enable the identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to participate in a bonus event participation gaming sequence, wherein for said identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine, a probability of success in the bonus event participation sequence is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein if the bonus event participation sequence results in a successful outcome, the at least one controller is programmed to enable the identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to participate in the bonus event.

16. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the at least one controller is programmed to cause each of a plurality of the auxiliary gaming machines to enable the identified players of said auxiliary gaming machines to participate in the bonus event participation gaming sequence.

17. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the at least one controller is programmed to cause each of a plurality of the auxiliary gaming machines to enable each of the identified players of said auxiliary gaming machines to input the bonus event buy-in wager amount to participate in the bonus event, wherein the bonus event buy-in wager amount for each of said auxiliary gaming machines is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

18. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of the auxiliary gaming machine exceeds the average expected payout of the bonus event, the at least one controller is programmed to cause the auxiliary gaming machine to enable the identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to input the bonus event buy-in wager amount to participate in the bonus event, wherein any bonus event award is modified by a multiplier.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the multiplier is based on a comparison of the bonus event buy-in wager amount and the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

20. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the determination that the triggering event will occur is independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game or of any plays of any secondary game of the gaming machines.

21. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of the said triggering gaming machine exceeds a threshold amount, the at least one controller is programmed to modify any bonus event awards determined in the bonus event by a triggering gaming machine modifier and a first accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of said triggering gaming machine.

22. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool of at least one of said identified players of at least one of the auxiliary gaming machines exceeds the threshold amount, the at least one controller is programmed to enable said identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to participate in the bonus event.

23. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein any bonus event awards determined in the bonus event are modified by a second accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine.

24. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein said plurality of players are identified in association with a player tracking system.

25. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) identifying a plurality of players of a plurality of gaming machines;

(b) for each identified player, maintaining an accumulated bonus event pool, wherein the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for the identified player is based on any wagers placed by the identified player on said gaming machines during a designated period;

(c) determining if a triggering event will occur; and

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

(i) designating one of the identified players as a triggering player and designate each of the remaining identified players as auxiliary players,

(ii) causing the gaming machine of the triggering player to enable the triggering player to participate in a bonus event, wherein said bonus event has an average expected payout, and

(iii) causing the gaming machine of at least one of the auxiliary players to enable the auxiliary player to input a bonus event buy-in wager amount to participate in the bonus event, wherein the bonus event buy-in wager amount is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

26. The method of claim 25, which includes causing the gaming machine of at least one of the auxiliary players to enable the auxiliary player to participate in a bonus event participation gaming sequence upon the occurrence of the triggering event, wherein for said auxiliary player, a probability of success in the bonus event participation sequence is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

27. The method of claim 26, which includes enabling the auxiliary player to participate in the bonus event if the bonus event participation sequence results in a successful outcome.

28. The method of claim 25, which includes causing each of a plurality of the gaming machines of the auxiliary players to enable the auxiliary players to participate in the bonus event participation gaming sequence upon the occurrence of the triggering event.

29. The method of claim 25, which includes causing each of a plurality of the gaming machines of the auxiliary players to enable each of the auxiliary players to input the bonus event buy-in wager amount to participate in the bonus event upon the occurrence of the triggering event, wherein the bonus event buy-in wager amount for each of said auxiliary players is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

30. The method of claim 25, which includes causing the gaming machine of the auxiliary player to enable the auxiliary player to input the bonus event buy-in wager amount to participate in the bonus event if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player exceeds the average expected payout of the bonus event, wherein any bonus event award is modified by a multiplier.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the multiplier is based on a comparison of the bonus event buy-in wager amount and the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the determination that the triggering event will occur is independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game or of any plays of any secondary game of the gaming machines.

33. The method of claim 25, which includes modifying any bonus event awards determined in the bonus event by a triggering player modifier and a first accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said triggering if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said triggering player exceeds a threshold amount.

34. The method of claim 33, which includes enabling said auxiliary player to participate in the bonus event if the accumulated bonus event pool of at least one of said auxiliary players exceeds the threshold amount.

35. The method of claim 25, which includes modifying any bonus event awards determined in the bonus event by a second accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said auxiliary player.

36. The method of claim 25, which includes identifying said plurality of players in association with a player tracking system.

37. The method of claim 25, which is provided via a data network.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said data network is an internet.

39. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) identifying a plurality of players of a plurality of gaming machines;

(b) for each identified player, maintaining an accumulated bonus event pool, wherein the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for the identified player is based on any wagers placed by the identified player on said gaming machines during a designated period;

(c) determining if a triggering event will occur; and

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

(i) designating one of the gaming machines as a triggering gaming machine and designate each of the remaining gaming machines as auxiliary gaming machines,

(ii) causing the triggering gaming machine to enable the identified player of said triggering gaming machine to participate in a bonus event, wherein said bonus event has an average expected payout, and

(iii) causing at least one of the auxiliary gaming machines to enable the identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to input a bonus event buy-in wager amount to participate in the bonus event, wherein the bonus event buy-in wager amount is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of the auxiliary gaming machine to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

40. The method of claim 39, which includes causing at least one of the auxiliary gaming machines to enable the identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to participate in a bonus event participation gaming sequence upon the occurrence of the triggering event, wherein for said identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine, a probability of success in the bonus event participation sequence is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

41. The method of claim 40, which includes enabling the identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to participate in the bonus event if the bonus event participation sequence results in a successful outcome.

42. The method of claim 39, which includes causing each of a plurality of the auxiliary gaming machines to enable the identified players of said auxiliary gaming machines to participate in the bonus event participation gaming sequence upon the occurrence of the triggering event.

43. The method of claim 39, which includes causing each of a plurality of the auxiliary gaming machines to enable each of the identified players of said auxiliary gaming machines to input the bonus event buy-in wager amount to participate in the bonus event upon the occurrence of the triggering event, wherein the bonus event buy-in wager amount for each of said auxiliary gaming machines is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

44. The method of claim 39, which includes causing the auxiliary gaming machine to enable the identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to input the bonus event buy-in wager amount to participate in the bonus event if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of the auxiliary gaming machine exceeds the average expected payout of the bonus event, wherein any bonus event award is modified by a multiplier.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the multiplier is based on a comparison of the bonus event buy-in wager amount and the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to the average expected payout of the bonus event.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein the determination that the triggering event will occur is independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game or of any plays of any secondary game of the gaming machines.

47. The method of claim 39, which includes modifying any bonus event awards determined in the bonus event by a triggering gaming machine modifier and a first accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of said triggering gaming machine if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of the said triggering gaming machine exceeds a threshold amount.

48. The method of claim 47, which includes enabling said identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine to participate in the bonus event if the accumulated bonus event pool of at least one of said identified players of at least one of the auxiliary gaming machines exceeds the threshold amount.

49. The method of claim 39, which includes modifying any bonus event awards determined in the bonus event by a second accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for said identified player of said auxiliary gaming machine.

50. The method of claim 39, which includes identifying said plurality of players in association with a player tracking system.

51. The method of claim 39, which is provided via a data network.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said data network is an internet.