Wagering game for tracking various types of wager inputs
First Claim
1. A gaming system allowing players to be eligible for a special feature, comprising:
- a plurality of linked gaming machines for playing one or more wagering games having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of said wagering games, each of said gaming machines including at least one wager-input device for receiving a first type of wager and a second type of wager, said first type of wager allows said player to play said wagering game without allowing said player to be eligible for said special feature, said second type of wager being an optional wager made in addition to said first wager for allowing said player to be eligible for said special feature while playing said wagering game; and
a controller coupled to said plurality of gaming machines and operative to (i) determine a first cumulative value of said first type of wagers, (ii) determine a second cumulative value of said second type of wagers, (iii) determine a first distributable wager pool that is derived from “
X”
percentage of said first cumulative value and “
Y”
percentage of said second cumulative value, and (iv) determine a second distributable wager pool that is derived from a percentage of said first cumulative value and a percentage of said second cumulative value, wherein the “
X”
percentage is different from the “
Y”
percentage.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming system includes a plurality of linked gaming machines and a controller coupled to the gaming machines. The gaming machines are used for playing one or more wagering games having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome. Each gaming machine includes at least one wager-input device for receiving a first type of wager, which allows the player to play the wagering game, and the second type of wager, which allows the player to be eligible for a progressive jackpot. The controller determines a first cumulative value of the first type of wagers, a second cumulative value of the second type of wagers, and a distributable wager pool that is derived from a portion of the first cumulative value and a portion of the second cumulative value. The distributable wager pool can fund the progressive jackpot.
206 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A gaming system allowing players to be eligible for a special feature, comprising:
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a plurality of linked gaming machines for playing one or more wagering games having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of said wagering games, each of said gaming machines including at least one wager-input device for receiving a first type of wager and a second type of wager, said first type of wager allows said player to play said wagering game without allowing said player to be eligible for said special feature, said second type of wager being an optional wager made in addition to said first wager for allowing said player to be eligible for said special feature while playing said wagering game; and a controller coupled to said plurality of gaming machines and operative to (i) determine a first cumulative value of said first type of wagers, (ii) determine a second cumulative value of said second type of wagers, (iii) determine a first distributable wager pool that is derived from “
X”
percentage of said first cumulative value and “
Y”
percentage of said second cumulative value, and (iv) determine a second distributable wager pool that is derived from a percentage of said first cumulative value and a percentage of said second cumulative value, wherein the “
X”
percentage is different from the “
Y”
percentage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of playing wagering games on a plurality of gaming machines at which players may be eligible for a special feature, comprising:
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receiving a first type of wager for playing said wagering games at said plurality of gaming machines, said first type of wager being made by a first group of players and a second group of players allowing said first group of players and said second group of players to play said wagering game; receiving a second type of wager at said plurality of gaming machines from said first group of players but not from said second group of players, said second type of wager permitting eligibility to said special feature, said second type of wager being optionally made by said first group of players, but not by said second group of players, such that only said first group of players are eligible for said special feature while playing said wagering games; determining a first cumulative value of said first type of wagers; determining a second cumulative value of said second type of wagers; creating a first distributable wager pool that is derived from a portion of said first cumulative value and a portion of said second cumulative value; and creating a second distributable wager pool that is derived from a portion of said first cumulative value and a portion of said second cumulative value. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a plurality of gaming machines at which at least one progressive jackpot is accessible, comprising:
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collecting wager-input data at said plurality of gaming machines that corresponds to wager inputs made at said plurality of gaming machines, said wagering-input data including a first data set corresponding to first wager inputs received for playing wagering games at said plurality of gaming machines and a second data set corresponding to second wager inputs permitting eligibility to said progressive jackpot at said plurality of gaming machines, said first wager inputs only allowing players to play said wagering games without being eligible for said progressive jackpot, each of said second wager inputs being optionally provided by a player in addition to said first wager input before playing said wagering game so as to allow said player to be eligible for said progressive jackpot while playing said wagering game; creating a distributable wager pool that is derived from a first percentage “
X”
of a value of said first data set and a second percentage “
Y”
of a value of said second data set, said second percentage “
Y”
being different from said first percentage “
X”
; andusing at least a portion of said distributable wager pool to fund said progressive jackpot. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification