Gaming system and method for providing a bonus based on number of gaming machines being actively played

• US 8,092,297 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Decasa, Rogelio S., Grace, Kelsy J., Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US12/138,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20090117979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/26, 463/27
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• 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 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• 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 includes a controller linked to a plurality of gaming devices. The central server tracks: (i) a quantity of gaming devices being actively played by players, or (ii) a quantity of players actively playing at the gaming devices. The controller determines the players'"'"' eligibility for different awards based on the tracked quantity. When the controller tracks a first quantity, the controller provides the active players with an opportunity to win a first award. When the central server tracks a second quantity, the central server provides the active players with an opportunity to win a second award. As the tracked quantity changes, the controller determines or modifies the number of awards available to the players actively playing at the gaming devices.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each of the gaming devices including;

(i) at least one display device, and

(ii) at least one input device; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with each of the gaming devices, said at least one controller configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to;

(a) maintain a plurality of progressive awards,

(b) at a first point in time;

(i) determine a quantity of the gaming devices which are being actively played,

(ii) if the determined quantity of actively played gaming devices is less than a first quantity, cause a display of an indication of a first number of the maintained progressive awards which can each be provided at each of the actively played gaming devices, said first quantity being at least two, said first number being based on the determined quantity,

(iii) if the determined quantity of actively played gaming devices is at least the first quantity, cause a display of an indication of a second number of the maintained progressive awards which can each be provided at each of the actively played gaming devices, said second number being based on the determined quantity and being different than the first number, and

(iv) for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards, if an award condition associated with said progressive award occurs in association with one of the gaming devices being actively played by any player, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award to the player actively playing said gaming device.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to:

cause a display of a progressive award amount for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices, at a second, subsequent point in time, to:

(i) cause a display of an indication of the first number of the maintained progressive awards which can each be provided at each of the actively played gaming devices if the determined quantity of actively played gaming devices is less than the first quantity,

(ii) cause a display of an indication of the second number of the maintained progressive awards which can each be provided at each of the actively played gaming devices if the determined quantity of actively played gaming devices is at least the first quantity, and

(iii) for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards, if the award condition associated with said progressive award occurs in association with one of the gaming devices being actively played by any player, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award to the player actively playing said gaming device.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices, at a second, subsequent point in time, to:

(i) determine a second quantity of the gaming devices which are being actively played,

(ii) if the determined second quantity of actively played gaming devices is less than the first quantity, cause a display of an indication of the first number of the maintained progressive awards which can each be provided at each of the actively played gaming devices,

(iii) if the determined second quantity of actively played gaming devices is at least the first quantity, cause a display of an indication of the second number of the maintained progressive awards which can each be provided at each of the actively played gaming devices, and

(iv) for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards, if the award condition associated with said progressive award occurs in association with one of the gaming devices being actively played by any player, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award to the player actively playing said gaming device.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the second number is greater than the first number.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first number is at least one and the second number is greater than the first number.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first quantity is selected from a designated range of quantities.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first number is selected from a plurality of numbers in a first range of numbers.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the second number is selected from a plurality of numbers in a second range of numbers.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the second number is selected from a plurality of numbers in a second range of numbers.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the progressive awards are arranged as multi-level progressive awards.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices, for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards, to:

(i) cause the award condition to be associated with at least one triggering event,

(ii) track each triggering event which occurs in association with each of the actively played gaming devices, and

(iii) if a quantity of the tracked triggering events reaches a designated quantity of tracked triggering events for one of the actively played gaming devices, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the award condition for a first one of the progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards is associated with a first triggering event, and the award condition for a second one of the progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards is associated with a second, different triggering event.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to:

determine the quantity of the actively played gaming devices, at the first point in time, based on at least one of;

(i) a deposit of an amount of funds in association with each of the gaming devices,

(ii) an identification of the players playing the gaming devices, and

(iii) an amount of wagers placed on plays of any games of the gaming devices.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the indicated number of progressive awards is independent of any wager amounts placed on the games of the actively played gaming devices.