Wagering game with multi-level progressive game

• US 8,202,160 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Englman, Allon G., Gomez, Benjamin T., Mastropietro, Michael W., Rose, Bradley A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US12/297,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20090104986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• Field of Search: 463/27, 463/28
• 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 method for playing a wagering game allows an opportunity to achieve a progressive award. A wager input is received from a player for playing the wagering game. A triggered progressive game includes player-selectable elements, each of the player-selectable elements being capable of association with a progressive-winning outcome. An outcome is assigned to each of the player-selectable elements, wherein a probability that the outcome is a progressive-winning outcome depends upon an amount of the wager input. The player-selectable elements are displayed.

Claims

1. A method for playing a wagering game allowing an opportunity to achieve a progressive award, comprising:

receiving a wager input, via a wager input device, from a player for playing said wagering game;

using one or more controllers for triggering a progressive game including player-selectable elements, each of said player-selectable elements capable of being associated with a progressive-winning outcome;

using at least one of said controllers for assigning an outcome to each of said player-selectable elements, wherein a probability that said outcome is a progressive-winning outcome depends upon an amount of said wager input; and

displaying on a display device said player-selectable elements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said progressive game is encountered during a special event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said progressive game is triggered in response to achieving a certain outcome in said wagering game.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said assigning includes randomly selecting a number from a range of random numbers and allocating a portion of said range to said progressive-winning outcome, said portion depending upon said amount of said wager input.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said portion is directly proportional to said amount of said wager input such that said probability is directly proportional to said amount of said wager input.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said assigning includes allocating other portions of said range to non-progressive awards.

7. A gaming system for playing a wagering game allowing an opportunity to achieve a progressive award, comprising:

a wager input device for receiving a wager input from a player of said wagering game; and

a controller coupled to said wager input device and programmed to

trigger a progressive game including player-selectable elements, each of said player-selectable elements capable of being associated with a progressive-winning outcome, and

assign an outcome to each of said player-selectable elements, wherein a probability that said outcome is a progressive-winning outcome depends upon an amount of said wager input; and

a display for displaying said player-selectable elements, said display being coupled to said controller.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein said controller is further programmed to trigger said progressive game in response to achieving a certain outcome in said wagering game.

9. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein said controller is further programmed to randomly select a number from a range of random numbers and to allocate a portion of said range to said progressive-winning outcome, said portion depending upon said amount of said wager input.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein said portion is directly proportional to said amount of said wager input such that said probability is directly proportional to said amount of said wager input.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said controller is further programmed to allocate other portions of said range to non-progressive awards.

12. A method for playing a wagering game allowing an opportunity to be awarded a progressive fund, comprising:

receiving a wager input, via a wager input device, from a player of said wagering game;

using one or more controllers for triggering a progressive game including player-selectable elements, each of said player-selectable elements capable of being associated with a progressive fund;

displaying the progressive game on a display device;

during said progressive game, using at least one of said controllers for providing said player with an opportunity to be awarded the same progressive fund more than once; and

using at least one of said controllers for assigning an outcome to each of said player-selectable elements, wherein a probability of said opportunity to be awarded the same progressive fund more than once depends upon an amount of said wager input.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said triggering includes achieving a certain outcome in said wagering game.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said triggering includes achieving a mystery event independent of any outcome in said wagering game.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said progressive game includes a plurality of progressive funds, each of said plurality of progressive funds having a corresponding value.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising increasing a probability of awarding said progressive fund a first time in response to an increase in an amount of said wager input.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said progressive fund has a first value when the fund is awarded a first time and a second value when the fund is awarded the second time, the progressive fund being reset to a reset value after the fund is awarded the first time.

18. A gaming machine for playing a wagering game allowing an opportunity to be awarded a progressive fund, comprising:

a wager input device for receiving a wager input from a player of said wagering game;

a display coupled to said wager input device for displaying a basic game of said wagering game; and

a controller coupled to said display and programmed to

trigger a special event including player-selectable elements, each of said player-selectable elements capable of being associated with a progressive fund,

during said special event, provide said player with an opportunity to be awarded the same progressive fund more than once; and

assign an outcome to each of said player-selectable elements, wherein a probability of said opportunity to be awarded the same progressive fund more than once depends upon an amount of said wager input.

19. The gaming machine of claim 18, wherein said display further displays a plurality of win meters corresponding to a plurality of progressive funds of said progressive award.

20. The gaming machine of claim 18, wherein said display further displays a plurality of selectable elements associated with a progressive game of said special event.

21. The gaming machine of claim 18, wherein said controller is further programmed to increase a probability of awarding said progressive fund a first time in response to an increase in an amount of said wager input.

22. A method for playing a wagering game allowing an opportunity to achieve a progressive award, comprising:

receiving a wager input, via a wager input device, from a player for playing said wagering game;

using one or more controllers for triggering a special event including an opportunity of achieving a plurality of progressive game funds;

displaying on a display device a plurality of reels, each of said plurality of progressive game funds being associated with a corresponding reel of said plurality of reels;

in response to a first reel in said plurality of reels indicating a first progressive outcome, using at least one of said controllers for triggering a first progressive game associated with said first progressive outcome, said first progressive game including player-selectable elements that are displayed to the player, each of said player-selectable elements being associated with one of a plurality of outcomes, one of said plurality of outcomes including a first progressive winning outcome; and

using at least one of said controllers for awarding a first progressive fund of said plurality of progressive game fund if said player selects a player-selectable element of said player-selectable elements that is associated with said first progressive fund.