Progressive wagering game with funding distribution feature

• US 8,342,956 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2006
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Anderson, Peter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Howarah, George
• Application Number:
  US11/919,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20090305777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,408 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

The present invention is a method and a gaming system for operating a progressive game that is accessible at a plurality of gaming machines. The progressive game has a plurality of progressive jackpots. The method and system involve collecting wager-input data at the plurality of gaming machines that corresponds to wager inputs made at the plurality of gaming machines, and crediting a portion of the wager inputs to a first group of the plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with a first distribution set. In response to the wager-input data meeting a predetermined criteria, the method and system include crediting a portion of subsequent wager inputs to a second group of the plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with a second distribution set. The first group directs funds to at least one progressive jackpot in an amount that is different from the second group.

Claims

1. A method for playing a wagering game on a gaming machine at which players are eligible for a progressive game having a plurality of progressive jackpots, the method comprising:

storing, in a memory device, a plurality of distribution sets for funding said plurality of progressive jackpots, each distribution set defining a percentage of funds to be distributed to each of said plurality of progressive jackpots, said plurality of distribution sets includes at least a first distribution set having percentages for funding said plurality of progressive jackpots that are different from percentages for other ones of said plurality of distribution sets;

receiving wagers from said players via at least one input device on said gaming machine;

in response to receiving said wagers from said players, conducting wagering games in which said players are eligible for one or more of said plurality of progressive jackpots; and

funding, by use of at least one of one or more processors, said plurality of progressive jackpots by a funding amount in accordance with said plurality of distribution sets, said funding amount being from a portion of said wagers, and

wherein said funding includes utilizing said plurality of distribution sets separately and in a sequential order such that utilizing said first distribution set precedes utilizing said other ones of said plurality of distribution sets.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said funding includes switching between said first distribution set and a second distribution set in said sequential order in response to a threshold associated with said first distribution set being met, said threshold being an amount related to a total coin-in for said progressive game.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said threshold for said first distribution set is different from a threshold for said other ones of said plurality of distribution sets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of distribution sets includes a percentage of funds to be distributed to at least one of said plurality of progressive jackpots that is 0%.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said funding is conducted in a manner to increase at least one of said plurality of progressive jackpots at a higher rate than other ones of said plurality of progressive jackpots.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said memory device is located external to said gaming machine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said wagering game has a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes, said plurality of outcomes including a plurality of progressive-winning outcomes, each of said plurality of progressive-winning outcomes awarding one or more of said plurality of progressive jackpots.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of distribution sets includes a percentage of total coin-in for said progressive game to be allocated to each of said plurality of progressive jackpots.

9. The method of claim 1, further including displaying, on at least one display device, values of said plurality of progressive jackpots.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said displayed values of said plurality of progressive jackpots are increased in a manner consistent with funding provided by said plurality of distribution sets.

11. A gaming system for playing a progressive game have a plurality of progressive jackpots, comprising:

a first gaming machine having a first wagering game with a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of said wagering game, said first gaming machine allowing a player to be eligible for said plurality of progressive jackpots;

a second gaming machine having a second wagering game with a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of said second wagering game, said second gaming machine allowing a player to be eligible for said plurality of progressive jackpots; and

a controller coupled to said first and second gaming machines and operative to allocate progressive funds from at least said first and second gaming machines to said plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with a plurality of distribution sets, each of said distribution sets defining a percentage of funds to be distributed to each of said plurality of progressive jackpots, at least one of said plurality of progressive jackpots being allocated a first percentage by a first one of said plurality of distribution sets used during a first time period and a second percentage by a second one of said plurality of distribution sets used during a second time period that occurs after said first time period, said first percentage being different from said second percentage.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said controller is further operative to, in response to said randomly selected outcome at said first gaming machine being a progressive-jackpot winning outcome, award said player one or more of said plurality of progressive jackpots.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of distribution sets are stored in a memory device coupled to said controller.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said controller is further operative to utilize said plurality of distribution sets in a sequential order.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said controller switches between said plurality of distribution sets in response to a certain threshold value of total coin-in for said progressive game being achieved.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said certain threshold value is different for different ones of said plurality of distribution sets.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of said plurality of progressive jackpots receives (i) 0% of said funds as dictated by some of said plurality of distribution sets and (ii) a higher percentage of said funds as dictated by others of said plurality of distribution sets.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said controller is located external to said first and second gaming machines.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein said plurality of distribution sets results in different amounts being allocated to different ones of said plurality of progressive jackpots.

20. The system of claim 11, further including a display for displaying values of said plurality of progressive jackpots.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said displayed values of said plurality of progressive jackpots are increased in a manner consistent with funding provided by said plurality of distribution sets.

22. A method of operating a progressive game that is accessible at a plurality of gaming machines, said progressive game having a plurality of progressive jackpots, said method comprising:

collecting first wager-input data at said plurality of gaming machines that corresponds to first wager inputs made at said plurality of gaming machines, said first wager inputs at said plurality of gaming machines allowing players to be eligible for said plurality of progressive jackpots;

crediting, by use of at least one of one or more processors, a portion of said first wager inputs to a first group of said plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with a first distribution set;

in response to said first wager-input data meeting a predetermined criteria, crediting, by use of said at least one of one or more processors, a portion of second wager inputs occurring after said first wager inputs to a second group of said plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with a second distribution set;

wherein at least one progressive jackpot receiving a first percentage of said first wager inputs from said first distribution set and a second percentage of said second wager inputs from said second distribution set, said first percentage being different from said second percentage; and

wherein said first and second distribution sets define a percentages said first and second wager inputs to be distributed to each of said plurality of progressive jackpots.

23. The method of claim 22, further including in response to second wager-input data meeting another predetermined criteria while directing said portion of said second wager inputs in accordance to said second distribution set, crediting a portion of third wager inputs occurring after said second wager inputs to a third group of said plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with a third distribution set;

and

wherein said at least one progressive jackpot receiving a third percentage of said third wager inputs from said third distribution set, said third percentage being different from said first and second percentages.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said first and second groups are mutually exclusive.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said first and second groups are different but both include a common one of said plurality of progressive jackpots.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said common one receives an amount in accordance with said first distribution set that is different from an amount received in accordance with said second distribution set.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein said predetermined criteria is a total-coin value of said wager inputs being a predetermined value.

28. The method of claim 22, further including displaying, on at least one display device, values of said plurality of progressive jackpots.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said displayed values of said plurality of progressive jackpots are increased in a manner consistent with funding provided by said plurality of distribution sets.

30. A method for operating a progressive game having a plurality of progressive jackpots, the method comprising:

aggregating, by use of at least one of one or more processors, progressive-jackpot funds from a plurality of gaming machines at which said progressive game is accessible; and

increasing, by use of said at least one of one or more processors, said plurality of progressive jackpots with said progressive-jackpot funds in accordance with a plurality of distribution sets for funding said plurality of progressive jackpots, each distribution set defining an amount to be distributed to each of said plurality of progressive jackpots, at least one of said plurality of progressive jackpots being allocated a first amount by a first one of said plurality of distribution sets and a second amount by a second one of said plurality of distribution sets, said first amount being different from said second amount,

said increasing includes separately and sequentially switching between or among said plurality of distribution sets such that utilizing said first one of said distribution sets precedes said second one of said plurality of distribution sets.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said sequential switching occurs in response to said progressive-jackpot funds from said plurality of gaming machines exceeding predetermine values.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said predetermined values are different when switching between different ones of said plurality of distribution sets.

33. The method of claim 30, further including displaying, on at least one display device, values of said plurality of progressive jackpots.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said displayed values of said plurality of progressive jackpots are increased in a manner consistent with funding provided by said plurality of distribution sets.