Gaming system and method for providing group play with divided bonus features

• US 7,828,649 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Randall, Dov, Cuddy, Ryan W., Baerlocher, Anthony J., Kniesteadt, Carl V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hylinski; Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US11/557,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20070077990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 463 25- 28, 463 40- 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

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 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, wherein each gaming device is associated with a distinct accumulated bonus event pool which is based on the wagers placed at said gaming device during a designated period; and

a controller configured to communicate with each of said gaming devices, wherein upon a triggering of a secondary 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) determine a secondary event award, wherein the determined secondary event award is based, at least in part, on the wager placed at said triggering gaming device;

(c) cause a first portion of the determined secondary event award to be provided to the player of the triggering gaming device; and

(d) for each auxiliary gaming device;

(i) determine a second portion, if any, of the determined secondary event award based on the accumulated bonus event pool for said auxiliary gaming device relative to the wagers placed for a plurality of said gaming devices during the designated period, such that if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for a first auxiliary gaming device is different from the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for a second, different auxiliary gaming device, the determined second portion for the first auxiliary gaming device is different from the determined second portion for the second auxiliary gaming device; and

(ii) cause said auxiliary gaming device to provide any determined second portion.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein for the triggering gaming device, the controller is programmed to:

(a) determine a third portion, if any, of the determined secondary event award based on the accumulated bonus event pool for said triggering gaming device relative to the wagers placed for each of the gaming devices during the designated period, and

(b) cause said triggering gaming device to provide any determined third portion.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to determine the second portion of the determined secondary event award based on the accumulated bonus event pool for said auxiliary gaming device relative to the wagers placed for each of said gaming devices during the bonus event accumulation period.

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

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a determination that the secondary 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.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the triggering gaming device is the gaming device which triggered the secondary event.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the secondary event award is based, at least in part, on a player tracking status of the player of the triggering gaming device.

8. A gaming system, wherein at a designated point in time, said gaming system comprising:

a triggering gaming device 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 upon a wager placed by a player;

a plurality of auxiliary gaming devices, each auxiliary gaming device 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

a controller configured to communicate with said triggering gaming device and each of said auxiliary gaming devices and programmed to determine a secondary event award, the secondary event award is based, at least in part, on the wager placed at said triggering gaming device, wherein;

(a) a first portion of the secondary event award is provided to the player of the triggering gaming device; and

(b) a second portion of the secondary event award is provided to at least one player of at least one of the auxiliary gaming devices, wherein the second portion of the secondary event award provided to the player of at least one of the auxiliary gaming devices is based on the wagers placed at said auxiliary gaming device during a designated period relative to the wagers placed for a plurality of said gaming devices during the designated period and if the wagers placed at a first auxiliary gaming device during the designated period are different from the wagers placed at a second, different auxiliary gaming device during the designated period, the determined second portion for the first auxiliary gaming device is different from the determined second portion for the second auxiliary gaming device.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein a third portion of the secondary event award is provided to the player of the triggering gaming device, said third portion of the secondary event award is based on the wagers placed at said triggering gaming device during the designated period relative to the wagers placed for a plurality of said gaming devices during the designated period.

10. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the second portion of the secondary event award provided to the player of said auxiliary gaming device is based on the wagers placed at said auxiliary gaming device during the designated period relative to the wagers placed for each of said gaming devices during the designated period.

11. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the triggering gaming device is the gaming device which triggered a secondary event.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein a determination that the secondary event will occur is based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of the triggering gaming device.

13. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein a determination that the secondary 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.

14. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the secondary event award is based, at least in part, on a player tracking status of the player of the triggering gaming device.

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

at least one input device;

at least one display device; and

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

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

upon a triggering of a secondary event;

(a) said gaming device is designated as one of a triggering gaming device and an auxiliary gaming device;

(b) if said gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device, the secondary event is displayed and a portion of a first secondary event award is provided to the player, wherein the first secondary event award is based on the wager placed on said primary game; and

(c) if said gaming device is designated as the auxiliary gaming device, the secondary event is displayed and a portion of a second secondary event award is provided to the player, wherein;

(i) the second secondary event award is based on a wager placed on a primary game at another gaming device, and

(ii) said portion is determined based on the accumulated bonus event pool, and

(iii) if the wagers placed which are allocated to the accumulated bonus event pool are different from any wagers placed which are allocated to the accumulated bonus event pool for another gaming device designated as another auxiliary gaming device, the portion of the second secondary event award provided to the player is different from the portion of the second, secondary award provided to a player of said other auxiliary gaming device.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein if said gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device, a second portion of the first secondary event award is provided to the player, wherein the second portion is determined based on the accumulated bonus event pool.

17. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein a determination that the secondary event will occur is based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game.

18. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein a determination that the secondary event will occur is independent of any displayed event in any play of the primary game or of any plays of any secondary games.

19. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein if the gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device, the first secondary event award is based, at least in part, on a player tracking status of the player.

20. 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; and

(b) determining if a secondary event is triggered, wherein upon the triggering of the secondary event;

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

(ii) determining a secondary event award, wherein the determined secondary event award is based, at least in part, on the wager placed at said triggering gaming device;

(iii) providing a first portion of the determined secondary event award to the player of the triggering gaming device; and

(iv) for each auxiliary gaming device;

(1) determining a second portion, if any, of the determined secondary event award based on the accumulated bonus event pool for said auxiliary gaming device relative to the wagers placed for a plurality of said gaming devices during the designated period, such that if the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for a first auxiliary gaming device is different from the accumulated bonus event pool maintained for a second, different auxiliary gaming device, the determined second portion for the first auxiliary gaming device is different from the determined second portion for the second auxiliary gaming device; and

(2) providing the determined second portion, if any, to said auxiliary gaming device.

21. The method of claim 20, which includes:

determining for the triggering gaming device a third portion, if any, of the determined secondary event award based on the accumulated bonus event pool for said triggering gaming device relative to the wagers placed for each of the gaming devices during the designated period, and providing the determined third portion, if any, to said triggering gaming device.

22. The method of claim 20, which includes determining the second portion of the determined secondary event award based on the accumulated bonus event pool for said auxiliary gaming device relative to the wagers placed for each of said gaming devices during the bonus event accumulation period.

23. The method of claim 20, which includes determining that the secondary event will occur based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of the triggering gaming device.

24. The method of claim 20, which includes determining that the secondary event will occur independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game or of any plays of any secondary game of the gaming devices.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the triggering gaming device is the gaming device which triggered the secondary event.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the secondary event award is based, at least in part, on a player tracking status of the player of the triggering gaming device.

27. The method of claim 20, which is provided through a data network.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the data network is an internet.

29. 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) determining if a secondary event is triggered; and

(b) if the secondary event is triggered;

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

(ii) determining a secondary event award, wherein the secondary event award is based, at least in part, on the wager placed at said triggering gaming device;

(iii) providing a first portion of the determined secondary event award to the player of the triggering gaming device; and

(iv) providing a second portion of the secondary event award to the player of at least one of the auxiliary gaming devices, wherein the second portion of the secondary event award provided to the player of at least one of the auxiliary gaming devices is based on the wagers placed at said auxiliary gaming device during a designated period relative to the wagers placed for a plurality of said gaming devices during the designated period and if the wagers placed at a first auxiliary gaming device during the designated period are different from the wagers placed at a second, different auxiliary gaming device during the designated period, the determined second portion for the first auxiliary gaming device is different from the determined second portion for the second auxiliary gaming device.

30. The method of claim 29, which includes providing a third portion of the secondary event award to the player of the triggering gaming device, said third portion of the secondary event award is based on the wagers placed at said triggering gaming device during the designated period relative to the wagers placed for a plurality of said gaming devices during the designated period.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the second portion of the secondary event award provided to the player of said auxiliary gaming device is based on the wagers placed at said auxiliary gaming device during the designated period relative to the wagers placed for each of said gaming devices during the designated period.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the triggering gaming device is the gaming device which triggered a secondary event.

33. The method of claim 32, which includes determining that the secondary event will occur based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game of the triggering gaming device.

34. The method of claim 32, which includes determining that the secondary event will occur independent of any displayed event in any play of any primary game or of any plays of any secondary game of the gaming devices.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the secondary event award is based, at least in part, on a player tracking status of the player of the triggering gaming device.

36. The method of claim 29, which is provided through a data network.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the data network is an internet.

38. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to wager on a primary game;

(b) allocating at least part of said wagers placed to an accumulated bonus event pool;

(c) upon a triggering of a secondary event;

(i) designating said gaming device as one of a triggering gaming device and an auxiliary gaming device;

(ii) if said gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device, providing a portion of a first secondary event award to the player, wherein the first secondary event award is based on the wager placed on said primary game; and

(iii) if said gaming device is designated as the auxiliary gaming device, providing a portion of a second secondary event award to the player, wherein;

(A) the second secondary event award is based on a wager placed on a primary game at another gaming device,

(B) said portion is determined based on the accumulated bonus event pool and

(C) if the wagers placed which are allocated to the accumulated bonus event pool are different from any wagers placed which are allocated to the accumulated bonus event pool for another gaming device designated as another auxiliary gaming device, the portion of the second secondary event award provided to the player is different from the portion of the second, secondary award provided to a player of said other auxiliary gaming device.

39. The method of claim 38, which includes providing a second portion of the first secondary event award to the player if said gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device, wherein the second portion is determined based on the accumulated bonus event pool.

40. The method of claim 38, which includes determining that the secondary event will occur based on at least one displayed event in the play of the primary game.

41. The method of claim 38, which includes determining that the secondary event will occur independent of any displayed event in any play of the primary game or of any plays of any secondary games.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein if the gaming device is designated as the triggering gaming device, the first secondary event award is based, at least in part, on a player tracking status of the player.

43. The method of claim 38, which is provided through a data network.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the data network is an internet.