Gaming system having multiple gaming machines which provide bonus awards
First Claim
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) maintain a designated pool during a bonus event accumulation period, wherein said designated pool at least includes an amount formed by at least a portion of any wagers placed on the gaming machines during the bonus event accumulation period;
(b) determine if a bonus event will occur; and
(c) if the bonus event is determined to occur;
(i) modify the amount of said designated pool,(ii) determine which of the gaming machines will each provide at least one bonus award, wherein said determination is based at least in part on the modified amount of said designated pool and is independent of any event in any play of any primary games of the gaming machines, and(iii) send a signal to each gaming machine determined to provide at least one bonus award to cause said gaming machine to display and provide said at least one bonus award.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
747 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
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a plurality of gaming machines; and a controller configured to communicate with said gaming machines, wherein the controller is programmed to; (a) maintain a designated pool during a bonus event accumulation period, wherein said designated pool at least includes an amount formed by at least a portion of any wagers placed on the gaming machines during the bonus event accumulation period; (b) determine if a bonus event will occur; and (c) if the bonus event is determined to occur; (i) modify the amount of said designated pool, (ii) determine which of the gaming machines will each provide at least one bonus award, wherein said determination is based at least in part on the modified amount of said designated pool and is independent of any event in any play of any primary games of the gaming machines, and (iii) send a signal to each gaming machine determined to provide at least one bonus award to cause said gaming machine to display and provide said at least one bonus award. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
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(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to maintain a designated pool during a bonus event accumulation period, wherein said designated pool at least includes an amount formed by at least a portion of any wagers placed on a plurality of gaming machines during the bonus event accumulation period; (b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if a bonus event will occur; and (c) if the bonus event is determined to occur; (i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the amount of said designated pool, (ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine which of the gaming machines will each provide at least one bonus award, wherein said determination is based at least in part on the modified amount of said designated pool and is independent of any event in any play of any primary games of the gaming machines, and (iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to send a signal to each gaming machine determined to provide at least one bonus award to cause said gaming machine to display and provide said at least one bonus award. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification