Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gaming system comprising:
- a plurality of gaming tables, each gaming table including a support structure, a table top supported by the support structure and controlled by at least one gaming table processor; and
a controller configured to communicate with said gaming table processors, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if a bonus event will occur, and if the controller determines that the bonus event will occur, the controller is programmed to;
(a) determine which of the gaming tables were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event,(b) select a first one of the gaming tables in the active state, and(c) after selecting the first one of the gaming tables in the active state, cause a primary bonus award to be provided to at least one of a selected one of a plurality of players of said selected first one of the gaming tables, wherein;
(i) said gaming table processor for the selected first one of the gaming tables determines at least part, but not all, of an amount of the primary bonus award,(ii) said determination of the amount of the primary bonus award is independent of any wagering game outcomes determined in association with any plays of any wagering games of any of the gaming tables, and(iii) said selection of the at least one of the plurality of players of said selected first one of the gaming tables occurs distinct from the selection of the first one of the gaming tables in the active state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines, gaming tables, hand held gaming devices and/or community gaming displays. The central server monitors wagers placed on any games played. Based at least in part on the wagers placed, the central server determines when one or more bonus events will occur and which players to provide any bonus awards.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming tables, each gaming table including a support structure, a table top supported by the support structure and controlled by at least one gaming table processor; and a controller configured to communicate with said gaming table processors, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if a bonus event will occur, and if the controller determines that the bonus event will occur, the controller is programmed to; (a) determine which of the gaming tables were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event, (b) select a first one of the gaming tables in the active state, and (c) after selecting the first one of the gaming tables in the active state, cause a primary bonus award to be provided to at least one of a selected one of a plurality of players of said selected first one of the gaming tables, wherein; (i) said gaming table processor for the selected first one of the gaming tables determines at least part, but not all, of an amount of the primary bonus award, (ii) said determination of the amount of the primary bonus award is independent of any wagering game outcomes determined in association with any plays of any wagering games of any of the gaming tables, and (iii) said selection of the at least one of the plurality of players of said selected first one of the gaming tables occurs distinct from the selection of the first one of the gaming tables in the active state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming tables, each gaming table including; (i) a support structure, (ii) at least one gaming table processor, and (iii) a table top supported by the support structure; and a controller configured to communicate with said gaming table processors, wherein the controller is programmed to; (a) maintain at least one accumulated wager pool based on a plurality of wagers placed at at least one of the gaming tables during a bonus event accumulation period, (b) randomly determine to provide one of a plurality of bonus awards, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on the accumulated wager pool and is independent of any event in any play of any wagering game played in association with the gaming tables, (c) select one of the gaming tables to provide the bonus award, and (d) after selecting one of the gaming tables to provide the bonus award, determine which of the players at the selected gaming table will be provided the bonus award based, at least in part, on the wagers placed on the wagering game played in association with the gaming tables, wherein; (i) the at least one gaming table processor of the selected gaming table determines at least part, but not all, of an amount of the bonus award to be displayed and provided to the selected player at the selected gaming table, (ii) said determination of the amount of the bonus award is independent of any wagering game outcomes determined in association with any plays of any wagering games of any of said gaming tables, and (iii) said selection of the player of said selected gaming table occurs distinct from the selection of the gaming table. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming tables, each gaming table including a support structure and a table top supported by the support structure, wherein each gaming table is controlled by at least one gaming table processor; and a controller configured to communicate with said gaming table processors, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if a bonus event will occur, and if the controller determines that the bonus event will occur, the controller is programmed to; (a) determine which of the gaming tables were in an active state during a bonus event qualification period for said bonus event, (b) select at least one of the gaming tables in the active state, (c) after selecting at least one of the gaming tables in the active state, cause a primary bonus award to be provided to at least one of a selected one of the players of said selected gaming table, wherein; (i) said gaming table processor for the selected gaming table determines at least part, but not all, of an amount of the primary bonus award, (ii) said determination of the amount of the primary bonus award is independent of any wagering game outcomes determined in association with any plays of any wagering games of any of the gaming tables, and (iii) said selection of the at least one of the players of said selected gaming table occurs distinct from the selection of the one of the gaming tables in the active state (d) determine a designated number of players at the selected gaming table, said determination based on a total number of players at the selected gaming table, and (e) for each of the determined designated number of players at the selected gaming table, excluding the player selected to provide said primary bonus award, select a different one of the players and cause one of a plurality of secondary bonus awards to be displayed and provided to the selected player, wherein the gaming table processor for the selected gaming table determines at least part of each of the secondary bonus awards and said determination is independent of any wagering game outcomes determined in association with any plays of any wagering games of any of the gaming tables. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification