Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards

• US 8,444,480 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Vasquez, James A., Peterson, Tonja M., Ching, Erick T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/830,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20080070676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,122 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3283 wherein the number of active machines is limited
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising

a plurality of gaming machines;

and

a controller configured to communicate with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to;

(a) determine if a bonus event will occur; and

(b) if the bonus event is determined to occur;

(i) determine a multiplier component, wherein said multiplier component is based, least in part, on;

(A) an average expected payout of the bonus event, and

(B) an accumulated amount in an accumulated wager pool,

wherein said accumulated wager pool is based on any wagers placed on the gaming machines;

(ii) select one of the gaming machines; and

(iii) send a signal to the selected gaming machine to cause the selected gaming machine to determine and display a bonus award, wherein the bonus award is determined based on said determined multiplier component and a value component.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the value component is determined by the selected gaming machine and is independent of the accumulated wager pool.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if the bonus event will occur at designated intervals.

4. A gaming system comprising

a plurality of gaming machines;

and

a controller configured to communicate with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed, for at least one bonus event, to;

(a) determine if the bonus event will occur; and

(b) if the bonus event is determined to occur;

(i) determine a quantity of said gaming machines, wherein the quantity may be one of said gaming machines, a plurality of said gaming machines or all of said gaming machines;

(ii) determine a multiplier component, wherein said multiplier component is based on the determined quantity of said gaming machines and an accumulated amount in an accumulated wager pool, said accumulated wager pool based on any wagers placed on the gaming machines;

(iii) select the determined quantity of said gaming machines; and

(iv) send a signal to each of the selected gaming machines to cause each of the selected gaming machines to determine and display a bonus award, wherein the bonus award is determined based on said determined multiplier component and a value component.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the determination of the quantity of said gaming machines is based on a quantity of said gaming machines in an active state.

6. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the controller is programmed to determine if the bonus event will occur at designated intervals.

7. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein for each of the selected gaming machines, the value component is determined by said selected gaming machine and is independent of the accumulated wager pool.

8. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising

(a) determining if a bonus event will occur;

and

(b) if the bonus event is determined to occur;

(i) determining a multiplier component, wherein said multiplier component is based, least in part, on;

(A) an average expected payout of the bonus event, and

(B) an accumulated amount in an accumulated wager pool,

wherein said accumulated wager pool is based on any wagers placed on a plurality of gaming machines;

(ii) selecting one of the gaming machines; and

(iii) sending a signal to the selected gaming machine to cause the selected gaming machine to determine and display a bonus award, wherein the bonus award is determined based on said determined multiplier component and a value component.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the value component is determined by the selected gaming machine and is independent of the accumulated wager pool.

10. The method of claim 8, which includes determining if the bonus event will occur at designated intervals.

11. The method of claim 8, which is provided through a data network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data network is an internet.

13. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising

(a) determining if at least one bonus event will occur;

and

(b) if the bonus event is determined to occur;

(i) determining a quantity of a plurality of gaming machines, wherein the quantity may be one of said gaming machines, a plurality of said gaming machines or all of said gaming machines;

(ii) determining a multiplier component, wherein said multiplier component is based on the determined quantity of said gaming machines and an accumulated amount in an accumulated wager pool, said accumulated wager pool based on any wagers placed on the gaming machines;

(iii) selecting the determined quantity of said gaming machines; and

(iv) sending a signal to each of the selected gaming machines to cause each of the selected gaming machines to determine and display a bonus award, wherein the bonus award is determined based on said determined multiplier component and a value component.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the determination of the quantity of said gaming machines is based on a quantity of said gaming machines in an active state.

15. The method of claim 13, which includes determining if the bonus event will occur at designated intervals.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein for each of the selected gaming machines, the value component is determined by said selected gaming machine and is independent of the accumulated wager pool.

17. The method of claim 13, which is provided through a data network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the data network is an internet.

19. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

at least one gaming device processor,

at least one input device,

at least one display device, and

at least one memory device; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with the plurality of gaming devices, said at least one controller and said plurality of gaming devices configured to operate to;

(a) for each of the plurality of gaming devices;

(i) enable a player to place a wager on a play of a primary game,

(ii) determine, based at least in part on the placed wager, a bonus event multiplier amount,

(iii) display the determined bonus event multiplier amount,

(iv) generate one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes,

(v) display the generated primary game outcome, and

(vi) display any award associated with the generated primary game outcome;

(b) determine if a bonus event will occur; and

(c) if the determination is that the bonus event will occur;

(i) determine a bonus event value component, said bonus event value component being determined independent of any of the primary game outcomes generated in any plays of any of the primary games of any of the gaming devices, and

(ii) for at least one of the plurality of gaming devices;

(A) determine a bonus event award by modifying the determined bonus event value component with the bonus event multiplier amount determined for that gaming device, and

(B) display the determined bonus event award.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the determination that the bonus event will occur is independent of any occurrence in any play of any of the primary games.

21. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein said at least one controller and said plurality of gaming devices are configured to operate to, for each of said gaming devices, maintain a total amount of the wagers placed on the primary games of said gaming device during a bonus event accumulation period.

22. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the at least one controller and said plurality of gaming devices are configured to operate to determine, for each of the gaming devices, the bonus event multiplier amount based on the total amount of the wagers placed during the bonus event accumulation period for said gaming device relative to a total amount of the wagers placed for each of said gaming devices during the bonus event accumulation period.

23. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller and said plurality of gaming devices are configured to operate to determine, for each of the gaming devices, the bonus event multiplier amount based, at least in part, on if a wager was placed on the primary game of that gaming device during a bonus event qualification period.

24. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller and said plurality of gaming devices are configured to operate to determine, for each of the gaming devices, the bonus event multiplier amount based, at least in part, on if a wager of at least a designated amount was placed on the primary game of that gaming device during a bonus event qualification period.

25. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the at least one controller and said plurality of gaming devices are configured to operate to determine, for each of the gaming devices, the bonus event multiplier amount based, at least in part, on if a designated number of wagers were placed on the primary game of that gaming device during a bonus event qualification period.

26. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

at least one gaming device processor,

at least one input device,

at least one display device, and

at least one memory device; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with the plurality of gaming devices, said at least one controller and said plurality of gaming devices configured to operate to;

(a) for a first one of the gaming devices;

(i) enable a player to place one of a plurality of different wagers on a play of a first primary game,

(ii) determine a first bonus event multiplier amount, said first bonus event multiplier amount determined, at least in part, based on the placement of a first one of the wagers,

(iii) display the determined first bonus event multiplier amount,

(iv) generate one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes,

(v) display the generated primary game outcome, and

(vi) display any award associated with the generated primary game outcome;

(b) for a second, different one of the gaming devices;

(i) enable a player to place one of the plurality of different wagers on a play of a second primary game,

(ii) determine a second, different bonus event multiplier amount, said second bonus event multiplier amount determined, at least in part, based on the placement of a second, different one of the wagers,

(iii) display the determined second bonus event multiplier amount,

(iv) generate one of the plurality of different primary game outcomes,

(v) display the generated primary game outcome, and

(vi) display any award associated with the generated primary game outcome;

(c) determine if a bonus event will occur; and

(d) if the determination is that the bonus event will occur;

(i) determine a bonus event value component, said bonus event value component being determined independent of any of the primary game outcomes generated in any plays of any of the primary games of any of the gaming devices,

(ii) for the first one of the plurality of gaming devices;

(A) determine a first bonus event award by modifying the determined bonus event value component with the first bonus event multiplier amount determined for said first one of the gaming devices, and

(B) display the determined first bonus event award, and

(iii) for the second one of the plurality of gaming devices;

(A) determine a second, different bonus event award by modifying the determined bonus event value component with the second bonus event multiplier amount determined for said second one of the gaming devices, and

(B) display the determined second bonus event award.

27. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the determination that the bonus event will occur is independent of any occurrence in any play of any of the primary games.

28. gaming system of claim 26, wherein said at least one controller and said plurality of gaming devices are configured to operate to, for each of said gaming devices, maintain a total amount of the wagers placed on the primary games of said gaming device during a bonus event accumulation period.

29. The gaming system of claim 28, wherein the at least one controller and said plurality of gaming devices are configured to operate to determine, for each of the gaming devices, the bonus event multiplier amount based on the total amount of the wagers placed during the bonus event accumulation period for said gaming device relative to a total amount of the wagers placed for each of said gaming devices during the bonus event accumulation period.

30. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the at least one controller and said plurality of gaming devices are configured to operate to determine, for each of the gaming devices, the bonus event multiplier amount based, at least in part, on if a wager was placed on the primary game of that gaming device during a bonus event qualification period.

31. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the at least one controller and said plurality of gaming devices are configured to operate to determine, for each of the gaming devices, the bonus event multiplier amount based, at least in part, on if a designated number of wagers were placed on the primary game of that gaming device during a bonus event qualification period.

32. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the first primary game is different than the second primary game.

33. A gaming system comprising

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including:

at least one gaming device processor,

at least one input device,

at least one display device, and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to display a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with the plurality of gaming devices, said at least one controller and said plurality of gaming devices configured to operate to;

(a) determine that a bonus event will occur; and

(b) after determining that the bonus event will occur, for at least one of the gaming devices;

(i) determine a bonus event award based on;

(A) a first component which is determined based, at least in part, on the wager placed by the player of said gaming device, and

(B) a second component which is determined independent of any primary game outcomes generated in any plays of any of the primary games of any of the gaming devices, and determined independent of the wager placed by the player of said gaming device, and

(ii) display the determined bonus event award.