Gaming system and method for providing multi-level personal progressive awards

• US 8,197,337 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: DeWaal, Daniel, Smith, Vincent, Elias, Hans, Peterson, Lance R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US11/927,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20090111561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,688 Days
• Field of Search: 463/27
• US Class Current: 463/27
• 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 and method including at least one gaming system progressive award adapted to be provided to any player at one of a plurality of the gaming machines. The gaming system progressive award is associated with a designated quantity of points wherein the first player at one of the gaming devices to accumulate the designated quantity of points is provided the gaming system progressive award. The gaming system and method also includes, for each of a plurality of players, a plurality of personal progressive awards arranged in a personal multi-level progressive configuration. Such personal progressive awards are individual to each specific player and funded by that player'"'"'s wagers placed at the gaming devices in the gaming system.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

(i) at least one display device, and

(ii) at least one input device; and

at least one controller configured to operate with each of said gaming devices to;

(a) maintain and display at least one gaming system progressive award;

(b) for at least one player, maintain at least one personal progressive award, wherein each personal progressive award for each player is funded, at least in part, based on wagers placed by the player on plays of primary games at any of said gaming devices; and

(c) if a designated event occurs,

(i) determine whether to offer the player said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player,

(ii) if the determination is to offer the player said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, enable the player to accept or reject said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player,

(iii) if the player accepts said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, provide to the player said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, and

(iv) if the player rejects said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, add said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player to the gaming system progressive award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the designated event is based on at least one input by the player.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to maintain at least one personal progressive award for a plurality of players.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to maintain a plurality of personal progressive awards for at least one player.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to maintain a plurality of personal progressive awards for a plurality of players.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the designated event occurs independent of any displayed events in plays of the primary games of the gaming devices.

7. A method of operating a gaming system including:

at least one controller and a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

(i) at least one display device, and (ii) at least one input device, said method comprising;

causing the at least one controller to operate with each of said gaming devices to;

(a) maintain and display at least one gaming system progressive award; and

(b) for at least one player, maintain at least one personal progressive award, wherein each personal progressive award for each player is funded, at least in part, based on wagers placed by the player on plays of primary games at any of said gaming devices; and

causing the at least one controller, if a designated event occurs,

(i) determine whether to offer the player said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player,

(ii) if the determination is to offer the player said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, enable the player to accept or reject said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player,

(iii) if the player accepts said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, provide to the player said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, and

(iv) if the player rejects said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, add said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player to the gaming system progressive award.

8. The method of claim 7, which includes causing the at least one controller to base the designated event on at least one input by the player.

9. The method of claim 7, which includes causing the at least one controller to maintain at least one personal progressive award for a plurality of players.

10. The method of claim 7, which includes causing the at least one controller to maintain a plurality of personal progressive awards for at least one player.

11. The method of claim 7, which includes causing the at least one controller to maintain a plurality of personal progressive awards for a plurality of players.

12. The method of claim 7, which includes causing the designated event to occur independent of any displayed events in plays of the primary games of the gaming devices.

13. The method of claim 7, which is controlled through a data network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the data network is the internet.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to operate with a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including:

(i) at least one display device, and (ii) at least one input device, to;

(a) maintain and display at least one gaming system progressive award;

(b) for at least one player, maintain at least one personal progressive award, wherein each personal progressive award for each player is funded, at least in part, based on wagers placed by the player on plays of primary games at any of said gaming devices; and

(c) if a designated event occurs,

(i) determine whether to offer the player said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player,

(ii) if the determination is to offer the player said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, enable the player to accept or reject said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player,

(iii) if the player accepts said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, provide to the player said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, and

(iv) if the player rejects said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player, add said at least one personal progressive award maintained for the player to the gaming system progressive award.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to base the designated event on at least one input by the player.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to maintain at least one personal progressive award for a plurality of players.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to maintain a plurality of personal progressive awards for at least one player.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to maintain a plurality of personal progressive awards for a plurality of players.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause the designated event to occur independent of any displayed events in plays of the primary games of the gaming devices.