Gaming system and method having award distribution using shares
First Claim
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1. A gaming system comprising:
- a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;
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, causes the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to enable a player to play a base game upon a wager; and
a controller programmed to operate with the plurality of gaming devices, said controller programmed to;
(a) before a random occurrence of an award distribution triggering event, for at least one actively played gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices;
(i) randomly determine whether to distribute a number of shares of a bonus pool, said random determination of whether to distribute said number of shares being separate from the random occurrence of the award distribution triggering event, and(ii) if the random determination is to distribute the number of shares of the bonus pool, distribute said number of shares of the bonus pool to said actively played gaming device;
(b) before the random occurrence of the award distribution triggering event, nullify shares distributed to the gaming devices that become non-actively played; and
(c) upon the random occurrence of the award distribution triggering event, cause each gaming device to make a distribution of the bonus pool according to an amount of the bonus pool and currently distributed, non-nullified shares of said gaming device.
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Abstract
A gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices each having a base game and a bonus pool available to each of the plurality of gaming devices. A processor programmed to provide shares of the bonus pool to one or more actively played gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices and to distribute the bonus pool to each eligible gaming device according to an amount of the bonus pool and each gaming device'"'"'s obtained shares.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including; 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, causes the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to enable a player to play a base game upon a wager; and a controller programmed to operate with the plurality of gaming devices, said controller programmed to; (a) before a random occurrence of an award distribution triggering event, for at least one actively played gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices; (i) randomly determine whether to distribute a number of shares of a bonus pool, said random determination of whether to distribute said number of shares being separate from the random occurrence of the award distribution triggering event, and (ii) if the random determination is to distribute the number of shares of the bonus pool, distribute said number of shares of the bonus pool to said actively played gaming device; (b) before the random occurrence of the award distribution triggering event, nullify shares distributed to the gaming devices that become non-actively played; and (c) upon the random occurrence of the award distribution triggering event, cause each gaming device to make a distribution of the bonus pool according to an amount of the bonus pool and currently distributed, non-nullified shares of said gaming device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A gaming system comprising:
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a controller programmed to; (i) before a random occurrence of an award distribution triggering event, randomly determine whether to distribute a number of shares of a bonus pool, said random determination of whether to distribute the number of shares being separate from the random occurrence of the award distribution triggering event and (ii) if the random determination is to distribute the number of shares of the bonus pool, distribute the number of shares of the bonus pool; and a plurality of gaming devices operable to communicate with the controller, wherein each gaming device includes; 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, causes the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to; (a) enable a player to play a game upon a wager, and (b) display, before the random occurrence of the award distribution triggering event; (i) a total value of the bonus pool common to the plurality of gaming devices; (ii) a number of shares distributed to the gaming device at a first point in time; and (iii) a total value of the shares distributed to the gaming device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
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(a) maintaining a bonus pool, said bonus pool having a value; (b) before a random occurrence of a triggering event, for actively played gaming devices; (i) randomly determining whether to provide a number of shares of the bonus pool, wherein each actively played gaming device includes at least one base game operable upon a wager by a player said random determination of whether to provide said number of shares being separate from the random occurrence of the triggering event, and (ii) if the determination is to provide the number of shares of the bonus pool, providing said number of shares to the actively played gaming devices; (c) before the occurrence of the random triggering event, nullifying shares provided to the gaming devices that become non-actively played; and (d) upon the random occurrence of the triggering event, enabling at least one of the players to redeem at least one of the currently provided, non-nullified shares, wherein an amount paid out for each redeemed share is based on the number of provided, non-nullified shares and the value of the bonus pool. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification