Adjustment of awards in progressive system based on wager

• US 8,147,320 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Englman, Allon G, Jaffe, Joel R., Joshi, Shridhar P., Mastropietro, Michael W., Frattinger, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Masud
• Application Number:
  US11/920,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/42, 463/25, 463/27, 273/192
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a progressive jackpot awarded in response to a jackpot win event. The gaming system includes a first gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the first gaming machine accepting a first wager. The gaming system further includes a second gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the second gaming machine accepting a second wager that is greater than the first wager. A first player making the first wager at the first gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot if the jackpot win event is associated with the first gaming machine. A second player making the second wager at the second gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot plus an expected value equalizing award if the jackpot win event is associated with the second gaming machine.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a progressive jackpot awarded in response to a jackpot win event;

a first gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the first gaming machine accepting a first wager; and

a second gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the second gaming machine accepting a second wager that is greater than the first wager;

wherein a first player making the first wager at the first gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot if the jackpot win event is associated with the first gaming machine;

wherein a second player making the second wager at the second gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot plus an expected value equalizing award if the jackpot win event is associated with the second gaming machine; and

wherein the progressive jackpot comprises a base amount and an incremental amount,

wherein the expected value equalizing award is equal to a special award comprising a prize associated with a player selected element on the second gaming machine, the player selected element selected from a plurality of player selectable elements, and

wherein the expected value equalizing award is equal to the product of (i) the difference between the second and first wagers divided by the first wager; and

(ii) the progressive jackpot.

2. A gaming system comprising:

a progressive jackpot awarded in response to a jackpot win event;

a first gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the first gaming machine accepting a first wager; and

a second gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the second gaming machine accepting a second wager that is greater than the first wager;

wherein a first player making the first wager at the first gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot if the jackpot win event is associated with the first gaming machine;

wherein a second player making the second wager at the second gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot plus an expected value equalizing award if the jackpot win event is associated with the second gaming machine; and

wherein the progressive jackpot comprises a base amount and an incremental amount,

wherein the expected value equalizing award is equal to a special award comprising a prize associated with a player selected element on the second gaming machine, the player selected element selected from a plurality of player selectable elements, and

wherein the expected value equalizing award is equal to the sum of (i) the product of (a) the difference between the second and first wagers divided by the first wager; and

(b) the base amount, and (ii) a special award.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the special award is a prize associated with a player selected element on the second gaming machine, the player selected element selected from a plurality of player selectable elements.

4. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein an expected value of the special award is equal to the product of (i) the difference between the second and first wagers divided by the first wager;

and (ii) the incremental amount.

6. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein an expected value of the special award is equal to the product of (i) the difference between the second and first wagers divided by the first wager;

and (ii) the difference between (a) a strike price of the progressive jackpot and (b) the base amount.

5. A gaming system comprising:

a progressive jackpot awarded in response to a jackpot win event;

a first gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the first gaming machine accepting a first wager; and

a second gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the second gaming machine accepting a second wager that is greater than the first wager;

wherein a first player making the first wager at the first gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot if the jackpot win event is associated with the first gaming machine;

wherein a second player making the second wager at the second gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot plus an expected value equalizing award if the jackpot win event is associated with the second gaming machine; and

wherein the progressive jackpot comprises a base amount and an incremental amount,

wherein the expected value equalizing award is equal to a special award comprising a prize associated with a player selected element on the second gaming machine, the player selected element selected from a plurality of player selectable elements, and

wherein an expected value of the special award is equal to the product of (i) the difference between the second and first wagers divided by the first wager; and

(ii) the progressive jackpot.

7. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming machines, the gaming system having a progressive jackpot awarded in response to a jackpot win event, the method comprising:

receiving a first wager from a first player at a first gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot via a wager input device at the first gaming machine;

receiving a second wager from a second player at a second gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot via a wager input device at the second gaming machine, the second wager being greater than the first wager;

in response to receiving the first wager and associating the jackpot win event with the first gaming machine, awarding the progressive jackpot via the first gaming machine to the first player; and

in response to receiving the second wager and associating the jackpot win event with the second gaming machine, awarding the progressive jackpot plus an expected value equalizing award to the second player via the second gaming machine,

wherein the progressive jackpot comprises a base amount and an incremental amount, and

wherein the expected value equalizing award is equal to the product of (i) the difference between the second and first wagers divided by the first wager; and

(ii) the progressive jackpot.

8. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming machines, the gaming system having a progressive jackpot awarded in response to a jackpot win event, the method comprising:

receiving a first wager from a first player at a first gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot via a wager input device at the first gaming machine;

receiving a second wager from a second player at a second gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot via a wager input device at the second gaming machine, the second wager being greater than the first wager;

in response to receiving the first wager and associating the jackpot win event with the first gaming machine, awarding the progressive jackpot via the first gaming machine to the first player; and

in response to receiving the second wager and associating the jackpot win event with the second gaming machine, awarding the progressive jackpot plus an expected value equalizing award to the second player via the second gaming machine,

wherein the progressive jackpot comprises a base amount and an incremental amount, and

wherein the expected value equalizing award is equal to the sum of (i) the product of (a) the difference between the second and first wagers divided by the first wager; and

(b) the base amount, and (ii) a special award.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the special award is a prize associated with a player selected element on the second gaming machine, the player selected element selected from a plurality of player selectable elements.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein an expected value of the special award is equal to the product of (i) the difference between the second and first wagers divided by the first wager;

and (ii) the incremental amount.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein an expected value of the special award is equal to the product of (i) the difference between the second and first wagers divided by the first wager;

and (ii) the difference between (a) a strike price of the progressive jackpot and (b) the base amount.

11. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming machines, the gaming system having a progressive jackpot awarded in response to a jackpot win event, the method comprising:

receiving a first wager from a first player at a first gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot via a wager input device at the first gaming machine;

receiving a second wager from a second player at a second gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot via a wager input device at the second gaming machine, the second wager being greater than the first wager;

in response to receiving the first wager and associating the jackpot win event with the first gaming machine, awarding the progressive jackpot via the first gaming machine to the first player; and

in response to receiving the second wager and associating the jackpot win event with the second gaming machine, awarding the progressive jackpot plus an expected value equalizing award to the second player via the second gaming machine,

wherein the progressive jackpot comprises a base amount and an incremental amount, and

wherein the expected value equalizing award is equal to a special award comprising a prize associated with a player selected element the second gaming machine, the player selected element selected from a plurality of player selectable elements.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein an expected value of the special award is equal to the product of (i) the difference between the second and first wagers divided by the first wager;

and (ii) the progressive jackpot.

14. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming machines, the gaming system having a progressive jackpot awarded in response to a jackpot win event, the method comprising:

receiving a first wager from a first player at a first gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot via a wager input device at the first gaming machine;

receiving a second wager from a second player at a second gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot via a wager input device at the second gaming machine, the second wager being greater than the first wager;

in response to receiving the first wager and associating the jackpot win event with the first gaming machine, awarding the progressive jackpot via the first gaming machine to the first player; and

in response to receiving the second wager and associating the jackpot win event with the second gaming machine, awarding the progressive jackpot plus an expected value equalizing award to the second player via the second gaming machine,

wherein the progressive jackpot comprises a base amount and an incremental amount, and

wherein the progressive jackpot increments based upon a predetermined percent of the first wager.