Gaming system and method of operating a gaming system having a bonus participation bidding sequence
First Claim
1. A gaming system comprising:
- a controller;
a plurality of gaming devices configured to communicate with the controller, each gaming device including a primary game operable upon a wager by a player;
a bonus event; and
an accumulated value pool associated with the plurality of gaming devices;
said controller programmed to;
(a) accumulate amounts in the accumulated value pool based on portions of a plurality of the wagers placed on the primary games,(b) determine if a triggering condition occurs, wherein the triggering condition is based at least in part on whether the accumulated value pool reaches a target value, and(c) if the triggering condition occurs;
(i) provide a bidding sequence, wherein at least one eligible player playing at said gaming devices is enabled to place at least one bid,(ii) determine which of the bids placed in the bidding sequence is a winning bid, and(iii) enable the player who places the winning bid to participate in the bonus event, wherein said bonus event results in a bonus award.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming system where, as players place wagers to play the primary games of the gaming devices, a portion or percentage of the wager placed by each player to initiate the primary game is allocated to an accumulated value pool. A target value is based on the average expected payout of a bonus event. In one embodiment, if the accumulated value pool meets or exceeds the target value, a bidding sequence is triggered. During the bidding sequence, the central controller enables each of the players playing at the gaming devices to place one or more bids for the opportunity to participate in the bonus event. In one embodiment, the player who places the highest bid participates in the bonus event and is provided with a bonus award, wherein the bonus award may be equal to, higher than, or lower than the winning bid.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
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a controller; a plurality of gaming devices configured to communicate with the controller, each gaming device including a primary game operable upon a wager by a player; a bonus event; and an accumulated value pool associated with the plurality of gaming devices; said controller programmed to; (a) accumulate amounts in the accumulated value pool based on portions of a plurality of the wagers placed on the primary games, (b) determine if a triggering condition occurs, wherein the triggering condition is based at least in part on whether the accumulated value pool reaches a target value, and (c) if the triggering condition occurs; (i) provide a bidding sequence, wherein at least one eligible player playing at said gaming devices is enabled to place at least one bid, (ii) determine which of the bids placed in the bidding sequence is a winning bid, and (iii) enable the player who places the winning bid to participate in the bonus event, wherein said bonus event results in a bonus award. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, a bonus event adapted to be provided to at least one player playing the primary games of the gaming devices; and a controller in communication with the plurality of gaming devices, said controller programmed to; (i) maintain an accumulated value pool based on at least the wagers placed on the gaming devices, (ii) determine whether a bonus event triggering condition occurs, (iii) if the bonus event triggering condition occurs, determine whether to provide a bidding sequence, wherein said determination is based at least in part on the accumulated value pool, (iv) if the determination is made to provide the bidding sequence, determine which of the players at the gaming devices are eligible to participate in the bidding sequence, (v) enable each eligible player to place at least one bid in the bidding sequence, (vi) determine which of said placed bids is a winning bid, and (vii) enable the player who places the winning bid to participate in the bonus event and cause a bonus award to be provided to said player. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A gaming system comprising:
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a controller; a plurality of gaming devices configured to communicate with the controller, each gaming device including a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, an accumulated value pool associated with the plurality of gaming devices, wherein the accumulated value pool is based on wagers placed by players playing at said gaming devices; a bonus event; a bonus triggering event, said controller programmed upon an occurrence of said bonus triggering event to; (a) determine whether said accumulated bonus pool meets or exceeds a target value, (b) if the accumulated value pool meets or exceed the target value, enable each eligible player playing at said gaming devices to place at least one bid, (c) determine which of said placed bids is a winning bid, (d) enable said eligible players to participate in the bonus event, and (e) provide a first bonus award to the player who placed the winning bid, and provide a second bonus award to each player who does not place the winning bid. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices, each including a primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said method comprising:
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(a) maintaining an accumulated value pool associated with the plurality of gaming devices; (b) maintaining a bonus event; (c) accumulating amounts in the accumulated value pool based on portions of a plurality of the wagers placed on the primary games; (d) determining if a triggering condition occurs, wherein the triggering condition is based at least in part on whether the accumulated value pool reaches a target value; and (e) if the triggering condition occurs; (i) providing a bidding sequence wherein at least one eligible player playing at said gaming devices is enabled to place at least one bid, (ii) determining which of the placed bids is a winning bid, and (iii) enabling the player who places the winning bid to participate in the bonus event, wherein said bonus event results in a bonus award. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices, each including a primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said method comprising:
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(a) maintaining an accumulated value pool based on at least the wagers placed on the gaming devices; (b) maintaining a bonus event; (c) determining if a bonus event triggering condition occurs; (d) if the bonus event triggering condition occurs, determining whether to provide a bidding sequence, wherein said determination is based at least in part on the accumulated value pool; and (e) if the determination is made to provide the bidding sequence; (i) determining which of the players are eligible to participate in the bidding sequence, (ii) enabling each of said eligible players to place at least one bid in the bidding sequence, (iii) determining which of the placed bids is a winning bid, and (iv) enabling the player who places the winning bid to participate in the bonus event, wherein said bonus event results in a bonus award. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices, each including a primary game operable upon a wager by a player, said method comprising:
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(a) maintaining an accumulated value pool associated with the plurality of gaming devices, wherein the accumulated value pool is based on wagers placed by players playing at said gaming devices; (b) maintaining a bonus event triggered upon a bonus triggering event, and upon an occurrence of said bonus triggering event; (i) determining whether said accumulated bonus pool meets or exceeds a target value, (ii) if said accumulated bonus pool meets or exceeds the target value, enabling each eligible player playing at said gaming devices to place at least one bid, (iii) determining which placed bid is a winning bid, (iv) enabling said eligible players to participate in the bonus event, and (v) providing a first bonus award to the player who places the winning bid, and providing a second bonus award to each player who does not place the winning bid. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification