Gaming device having multiple different types of progressive awards

• US 7,780,520 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2006
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US11/376,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20070218982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 10- 13, 463 16- 21, 463/23, 463 25- 27, 463 29- 34, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/141.A, 273/142.B, 273/142.C, 273/142.J, 273/139
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 17/3211 Display means
• 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 17/3258 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 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The gaming system includes a plurality of different types of progressive awards adapted to be provided to one or more players of the gaming machines in the gaming system. In one embodiment, one or more progressive awards are each associated with a progressive hit value, wherein when each progressive award increments to its respective progressive hit value, a triggering event occurs and such progressive award is provided to a player. In one embodiment, one or more progressive awards are each associated with a secondary game, wherein if the secondary game is triggered, a player is provided either a fixed award or one of the progressive awards associated with the secondary game based on a play of the secondary game. In one embodiment, one or more progressive awards are each associated with an outcome of a primary game, such as a designated symbol combination, wherein if the associated primary game outcome is generated, such progressive award is provided to a player.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a controller configured to maintain;

(i) a first progressive award associated with a first triggering event;

(ii) a second progressive award, wherein said second progressive award is associated with a range of values and a progressive hit value; and

(iii) a third progressive award, wherein said third progressive award is associated with a designated outcome of a primary game; and

a plurality of gaming machines configured to communicate with the controller, said gaming machines and said controller are configured to operate to;

(a) determine if the first triggering event occurs in association with a first wager placed by a player of one of said gaming machines;

(b) if the first triggering event is determined to occur;

(i) activate an award generator to indicate one of at least one static award and the first progressive award, and

(ii) provide the indicated award to one of the players of one of the gaming machines;

(c) display a non-numerical indication of a current value of the second progressive award relative to the range of values;

(d) determine if the first wager placed causes the second progressive award to reach the progressive hit value;

(e) if the first wager placed causes the second progressive award to reach the progressive hit value, provide the second progressive award to one of the players of one of the gaming machines;

(f) generate one of a plurality of outcomes of the primary game, wherein said primary game is operable upon the first wager placed, said plurality of outcomes include the designated outcome and said generation of one of the plurality of outcomes of the primary game is separate from any activation of the award generator; and

(g) if the designated outcome of the primary game is generated, provide the third progressive award to one of the players of one of the gaming machines.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, which includes a plurality of first progressive awards associated with the award generator.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, which includes a plurality of static awards associated with the award generator.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said second progressive award is funded, at least in part, based on the wagers placed on the primary games of the gaming machines.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said third progressive award is funded, at least in part, based on the wagers placed on the primary games of the gaming machines.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said first progressive award is funded, at least in part, based on at least one side wager placed by at least one of the players of at least one of the gaming machines.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said static award is funded, at least in part, based on at least one side wager placed by at least one of the players of at least one of the gaming machines.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to maintain a plurality of second progressive awards which are each associated with a different progressive hit value.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determination that the first triggering event will occur is independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary games of the gaming machines.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determination that the first wager placed causes the second progressive award to reach the progressive award hit value will occur is independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game of the gaming machines.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determination that the third progressive award will be provided is based on an outcome associated with a designated symbol combination.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the range of values of said second progressive award is associated with the wagers placed.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the range of values of said second progressive award is associated with the progressive award value.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the range of values of said second progressive award defines a minimum value and a maximum value that can be provided to one of the players.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machines and the controller are configured to operate to display a plurality of illuminated bars in association with said non-numerical indication.

16. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machines and the controller are configured to operate to illuminate at least one of a first set of bars, a second set of bars and a third set of bars to indicate the current value of the second progressive award relative to the range of values, wherein the third set of bars is larger than the first set of bars and the second set of bars, and the second set of bars is larger than the first set of bars.

17. A gaming device comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input 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;

(a) enable a player to place a wager on a play of a primary game;

(b) generate an outcome for the play of the primary game;

(c) if a secondary game is triggered in association with the wager placed by the player;

(i) cause an award generator to generate one of a plurality of static awards or a first progressive award associated with the secondary game, said generation being separate from said generation of the outcome for the play of the primary game;

(ii) if one of the static awards is generated, provide said static award to the player; and

(iii) if said first progressive award is generated, provide said first progressive award to the player;

(d) display a non-numerical indication of a current value of a second progressive award relative to a range of values associated with the second progressive award;

(e) if the wager placed by the player causes said second progressive award to reach a progressive hit value, provide said second progressive award to the player; and

(f) if the outcome generated for the play of the primary game is associated with a third progressive award, provide the third progressive award to the player.

18. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to cause the award generator to generate one of the plurality of static awards or one of a plurality of first progressive awards associated with the secondary game if the secondary game is triggered in association with the wager placed by the player.

19. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein said first progressive award is funded, at least in part, based on at least one side wager placed by the player.

20. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein said second progressive award is funded, at least in part, based on the wagers placed on the primary game.

21. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein said third progressive award is funded, at least in part, based on the wagers placed on the primary game.

22. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein said plurality of static awards are funded, at least in part, based on at least one side wager placed by the player.

23. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to maintain a plurality of second progressive awards which are each associated with a different progressive hit value.

24. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein a determination to provide the first progressive award is independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary games of the gaming machines.

25. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein a determination to provide the second progressive award is independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary games of the gaming machines.

26. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the outcome of the primary game associated with the third progressive award is a designated symbol combination.

27. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the secondary game is randomly triggered.

28. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the range of values of said second progressive award is associated with the wagers placed.

29. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the range of values of said second progressive award is associated with the progressive award value.

30. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the range of values of said second progressive award defines a minimum value and a maximum value that can be provided to the player.

31. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display a plurality of illuminated bars in association with said non-numerical indication.

32. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to illuminate at least one of a first set of bars, a second set of bars and a third set of bars to indicate the current value of the second progressive award relative to the range of values, wherein the third set of bars is larger than the first set of bars and the second set of bars, and the second set of bars is larger than the first set of bars.