Gaming system which provides multiple players multiple bonus awards

• US 7,819,745 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• 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:
  US11/557,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20070105620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 463 25- 26, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/26
• 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
• 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. 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 devices, each gaming device;

(i) including a display device, an input device, a processor, and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, and

(ii) is associated with a distinct accumulated bonus event pool which is based on wagers placed at said gaming device; and

a controller configured to communicate with each of the gaming devices, wherein upon a triggering of a first bonus event, the controller is programmed to;

(a) designate one of the gaming devices as a triggering gaming device and designate each of the remaining gaming devices as auxiliary gaming devices;

(b) for each gaming device, determine if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said gaming device exceeds a threshold amount;

(c) if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with the triggering gaming device does not exceed the threshold amount, enable the triggering gaming device to participate in the first bonus event;

(d) if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with the triggering gaming device exceeds the threshold amount, enable the triggering gaming device to participate in the first bonus event, wherein any first bonus event awards randomly determined for the triggering gaming device in the first bonus event are modified by a triggering gaming device modifier and a first accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool associated with the triggering gaming device; and

(e) for each auxiliary gaming device, if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said auxiliary gaming device exceeds the threshold amount, enable said auxiliary gaming device to participate in the first bonus event, wherein any first bonus event awards randomly determined for said auxiliary gaming device in the first bonus event are modified by a second accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said auxiliary gaming device.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said auxiliary gaming device does not exceed the threshold amount, the controller is programmed to not enable said auxiliary gaming device to participate in the first bonus event.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to select one of the gaming devices which participated in the first bonus event to participate in a second bonus event.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the controller is programmed to select said gaming device with the highest modified first bonus event award.

5. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein upon a triggering of the second bonus event, the controller is programmed to provide the player of the selected gaming device at least one second bonus event award.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the second bonus event award is a progressive award.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a determination that the first bonus event will occur is based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of the triggering gaming device.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a determination that the first bonus 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 devices.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the triggering gaming device is the gaming device which triggered the first bonus event.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one accumulated bonus event pool associated with at least one of said gaming devices is stored by a memory device associated with the controller.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one accumulated bonus event pool associated with at least one of said gaming devices is stored by the memory device of said gaming device.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one accumulated bonus event pool associated with at least one of said gaming devices is stored by a memory device associated with a player tracking system.

13. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device;

(i) including a display device, an input device, a processor, and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, and

(ii) is associated with a distinct accumulated bonus event pool which is based on wagers placed at said gaming device, and

a controller configured to communicate with each of the gaming devices, wherein upon an occurrence of a triggering event, the controller and the plurality of gaming devices are programmed to;

(a) designate one of the gaming devices as a triggering gaming device and each of the remaining gaming devices in the gaming system are designated auxiliary gaming device;

(b) enable the designated triggering gaming device to participates in a first bonus event, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said triggering gaming device exceeds a threshold amount, any first bonus event awards randomly determined for the triggering gaming device in the first bonus event are modified by a triggering gaming device modifier and a first accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said triggering gaming device; and

(c) enable at least one of the designated auxiliary gaming devices to participates in the first bonus event, wherein any first bonus event awards randomly determined for said designated auxiliary gaming device in the first bonus event are modified by a second accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said auxiliary gaming device.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the controller and the plurality of gaming devices are programmed to enable said auxiliary gaming device to participates in the first bonus event if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said auxiliary gaming device exceeds the threshold amount.

15. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said triggering gaming device does not exceed the threshold amount, the controller and the plurality of gaming devices are programmed to modify any first bonus event awards determined in the first bonus event by the first accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said triggering gaming device.

16. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the controller and the plurality of gaming devices are programmed to select one of the gaming devices which participated in the first bonus event to participate in a second bonus event.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the controller and the plurality of gaming devices are programmed to select said gaming device with the highest modified first bonus event award to participate in the second bonus event.

18. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein upon a triggering of the second bonus event, the controller and the plurality of gaming devices are programmed to provide the player of the selected gaming device at least one second bonus event award.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the second bonus event award is a progressive award.

20. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein a determination that the triggering event will occur is based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of the triggering gaming device.

21. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein a 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 devices.

22. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the triggering gaming device is the gaming device which caused the triggering event to occur.

23. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein at least one accumulated bonus event pool associated with at least one of said gaming devices is stored by a memory device associated with the controller.

24. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein at least one accumulated bonus event pool associated with at least one of said gaming devices is stored by the memory device of said gaming device.

25. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein at least one accumulated bonus event pool associated with at least one of said gaming devices is stored by a memory device associated with a player tracking system.

26. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device;

(i) including a display device, an input device, a processor, and a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, and

(ii) is associated with a distinct accumulated bonus event pool which is based on wagers placed at said gaming device, and

a controller configured to communicate with each of the gaming devices, wherein upon an occurrence of a triggering event, the controller and the plurality of gaming devices are programmed to;

(a) designate one of the gaming devices as a triggering gaming device and each of the remaining gaming devices in the gaming system are designated auxiliary gaming device;

(b) enable the designated triggering gaming device to participate in a first bonus event, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said triggering gaming device exceeds a threshold amount, said first bonus event is associated with a first average expected payout that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said triggering gaming device; and

(c) enable at least one of the designated auxiliary gaming devices to participates in the first bonus event, wherein for each participating auxiliary gaming device, said first bonus event is associated with a second average expected payout that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said auxiliary gaming device.

27. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the controller and the plurality of gaming devices are programmed to enable said auxiliary gaming device to participates in the first bonus event if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said auxiliary gaming device exceeds the threshold amount.

28. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said triggering gaming device does not exceed the threshold amount, said first bonus event is associated with a third average expected payout, wherein the third average expected payout is less than the first average expected payout.

29. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said triggering gaming device is substantially equal to the accumulated bonus event pool associated with one of said auxiliary gaming devices, the first average expected payout associated with the first bonus event for the triggering gaming device is greater than the second average expected payout associated with the first bonus event for said auxiliary gaming device.

30. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the controller and the plurality of gaming devices are programmed to select one of the gaming devices which participated in the first bonus event is to participate in a second bonus event.

31. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the controller and the plurality of gaming devices are programmed to select said gaming device with the highest modified first bonus event award to participate in the second bonus event.

32. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein upon a triggering of the second bonus event, the controller and the plurality of gaming devices are programmed to provide the player of the selected gaming device at least one second bonus event award.

33. The gaming system of claim 32, wherein the second bonus event award is a progressive award.

34. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein a determination that the triggering event will occur is based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of the triggering gaming device.

35. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein a 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 devices.

36. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the triggering gaming device is the gaming device which caused the triggering event to occur.

37. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein at least one accumulated bonus event pool associated with at least one of said gaming devices is stored by a memory device associated with the controller.

38. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein at least one accumulated bonus event pool associated with at least one of said gaming devices is stored by the memory device of said gaming device.

39. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein at least one accumulated bonus event pool associated with at least one of said gaming devices is stored by a memory device associated with a player tracking system.

40. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a display device;

an input device; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to;

(i) display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, wherein at least part of said wagers placed are allocated to a distinct accumulated bonus event pool; and

(ii) upon a triggering of a first bonus event, display a first bonus event which includes;

(a) a designation of said gaming device as a triggering gaming device or an auxiliary gaming device;

(b) a determination occurs if the accumulated bonus event pool exceeds a threshold amount;

(c) if said gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device and said accumulated bonus event pool does not exceed the threshold amount,

said gaming device is enabled to participate in the first bonus event;

(d) if said gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device and said accumulated bonus event pool exceeds the threshold amount, said gaming device is enabled to participate in the first bonus event, wherein any first bonus event awards randomly determined in the first bonus event are modified by a triggering gaming device modifier and a first accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on said accumulated bonus event pool; and

(e) if said gaming device is designated as the auxiliary gaming device and said accumulated bonus event pool exceeds the threshold amount, said gaming device is enabled to participate in the first bonus event, wherein any first bonus event awards randomly determined in the first bonus event are modified by a second accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on said accumulated bonus event pool.

41. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein if said gaming device is designated as the auxiliary gaming device and said accumulated bonus event pool does not exceed the threshold amount, said gaming device is not enabled to participate in the first bonus event.

42. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein upon a triggering of a second bonus event, at least one second bonus event award is provided.

43. The gaming device of claim 42, wherein the second bonus event award is a progressive award.

44. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein a determination that the first bonus event will occur is based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game.

45. The gaming device of claim 40, wherein a determination that the first bonus event will occur is independent of any displayed event in any play of the primary game or of any plays of any secondary games.

46. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a controller configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming devices wherein each gaming device is configured to display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining a distinct accumulated bonus event pool associated with each gaming device, wherein each accumulated bonus event pool for each gaming device is based on wagers placed at said gaming device;

(b) determining if a triggering event occurs; and

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

(i) designating one of the gaming devices as a triggering gaming device and each of the remaining gaming devices in the gaming system are designated auxiliary gaming devices;

(ii) enabling the designated triggering gaming device to participate in a first bonus event, wherein if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said triggering gaming device exceeds a threshold amount, any first bonus event awards randomly determined for the triggering gaming device in the first bonus event are modified by a triggering gaming device modifier and a first accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said triggering gaming device; and

(iii) enabling at least one of the designated auxiliary gaming devices to participate in the first bonus event, wherein any first bonus event awards randomly determined for said designated auxiliary gaming device in the first bonus event are modified by a second accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said auxiliary gaming device.

47. The method of claim 46, which includes enabling said auxiliary gaming device to participate in the first bonus event if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said auxiliary gaming device exceeds the threshold amount.

48. The method of claim 46, which includes modifying any first bonus event awards determined in the first bonus event by the first accumulated bonus event pool modifier that is based on the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said triggering gaming device if the accumulated bonus event pool associated with said triggering gaming device does not exceed the threshold amount.

49. The method of claim 46, which includes selecting one of the gaming devices which participated in the first bonus event to participate in a second bonus event.

50. The method of claim 49, which includes selecting said gaming device with the highest modified first bonus event award to participate in the second bonus event.

51. The method of claim 49, which includes providing at least one second bonus event award to the player of the selected gaming device upon a triggering of the second bonus event.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the second bonus event award is a progressive award.

53. The method of claim 46, which includes determining that the triggering event will occur is based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of the triggering gaming device.

54. The method of claim 46, which includes determining 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 devices.

55. The method of claim 46, which includes designing the gaming device which caused the triggering event to occur as the triggering gaming device.

56. The method of claim 46, which includes storing at least one accumulated bonus event pool associated with at least one of said gaming devices in association with the controller.

57. The method of claim 46, which includes storing at least one accumulated bonus event pool associated with at least one of said gaming devices in association with said gaming device.

58. The method of claim 46, which includes storing at least one accumulated bonus event pool associated with at least one of said gaming devices in association with a player tracking system.

59. The method of claim 46, which is provided through a data network.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the data network is an internet.