Gaming system and method having progressive free games

• US 8,033,903 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cregan, Karen Michelle
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn; Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US11/558,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20080113779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system and method providing a plurality of games, including a first type of game and a second type of game. The gaming system includes a progressive award which includes or is in the form of a progressive number or quantity of plays of the second type of game. The gaming system enables the player to play the first type of game. The gaming system increases the progressive award based on an occurrence of one or more incrementing conditions. Upon an occurrence of a triggering event, the gaming system determines the progressive award to provide to the player and provides the determined award to the player.

Claims

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

an input device;

a 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 input device and the display device to;

(a) enable a player to place a plurality of wagers on a plurality of plays of a first game;

(b) track a quantity of free plays of a second game; and

(c) for each of the plurality of wagered on plays of the first game;

(i) determine whether a second game triggering event has occurred in association with said play of the first game;

(ii) if the determination is that the second game triggering event has not occurred;

(A) determine, independent of any outcome generated in any of the plurality of plays of the first game, a quantity of plays of the first game which have occurred since the tracked quantity of free plays of the second game last incremented; and

(B) if the determined quantity of plays of the first game which have occurred since the tracked quantity of free plays of the second game last incremented is at least a predetermined quantity of plays, increment the tracked quantity of free plays of the second game by a designated quantity of free plays the designated quantity being greater than zero; and

(iii) if the determination is that the second game triggering event has occurred;

(A) enable the player to play each of the tracked quantity of free plays of the second game; and

(B) provide the player an outcome for each play of the second game.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first game is a wagering game and the second game is a free game.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first game is a base game and the second game is a bonus game.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first game and the second game are a same kind of game.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first game and the second game is chosen from the group consisting of:

slot, poker, keno, blackjack, craps, bingo, bunco, and checkers.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second game includes an advantage over the first game.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the advantage is chosen from the group consisting of:

a modifier, a paytable, a number of paylines and a number of winning combinations.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the modifier is a multiplier.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second game triggering event is selected from the group consisting of:

a game outcome, a game event, and a wager amount.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to reset the tracked quantity of free plays of the second game to a designated quantity upon the occurrence of the second game triggering event.

11. A method of providing a wagering game, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to place a plurality of wagers on a plurality of plays of a first game;

(b) causing a processor to execute a plurality of instructions to track a quantity of free plays of a second game; and

(c) for each of the plurality of wagered on plays of the first game;

(i) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether a second game triggering event has occurred in association with said play of the first game;

(ii) if the determination is that the second game triggering event has not occurred;

(A) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, independent of any outcome generated in any of the plurality of plays of the first game, a quantity of plays of the first game which have occurred since the tracked quantity of free plays of the second game last incremented; and

(B) if the determined quantity of plays of the first game which have occurred since the tracked quantity of free plays of the second game last incremented is at least a predetermined quantity of plays, causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to increment the tracked quantity of free plays of the second game by a designated quantity of free plays, the designated quantity being greater than zero; and

(iii) if the determination is that the second game triggering event has occurred;

(A) enabling the player to play each of the tracked quantity of free plays of the second game; and

(B) providing the player an outcome for each play of the second game.