Gaming system having awards provided based on rate of play

• US 8,613,649 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Oberberger, Michael M., Davis, Dwayne A., Low, Michael N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARSEN, CARL VICTOR
• Application Number:
  US13/725,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20130137506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/25
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• 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 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

Gaming systems and methods for operating a gaming system are provided. The gaming system includes a controller operable with a plurality of gaming devices. Based at least in part on wagering activity, the controller determines a ranking for a plurality of gaming devices in the gaming system. The controller determines a plurality of the ranked gaming devices that are eligible for a designated award and, for each of the plurality of eligible gaming devices, determines a probability of being selected to win the designated award. The controller selects at least one of the eligible gaming devices based part on the determined probability for said at least one eligible gaming device, and causes the at least one selected gaming device to provide the designated award.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices; and

a controller configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to;

(a) repeatedly acquire a plurality of ranking components from each of the plurality of gaming devices, wherein the ranking components are based, at least in part, on game play activity from the plurality of gaming devices,

(b) at a first point in time;

(i) determine, based on the acquired ranking components at the first point in time, a first ranking of each of the plurality of the gaming devices, wherein for each of said gaming devices, the determined first ranking of said gaming device is based on a comparison of the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the first point in time relative the acquired ranking components of each of the other gaming devices at the first point in time,

(ii) for each of the gaming devices, determine a first probability of being selected to win a designated award, the first probability being greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent and the determination being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined first rankings, and

(iii) if a triggering event occurs;

(A) select at least one of the gaming devices, said selection being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined first probabilities, and

(B) cause the at least one selected gaming device to provide the designated award, and

(c) at a second, different point in time;

(i) determine, based on the acquired ranking components at the second point in time, a second ranking of each of the plurality of the gaming devices, wherein for each of said gaming devices, the determined second ranking of said gaming device is based on a comparison of the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the second point in time relative the acquired ranking components of each of the other gaming devices at the second point in time,

(ii) for each of the gaming devices, determine a second probability of being selected to win the designated award, the second probability being greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent and the determination being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined second rankings, and

(iii) if the triggering event occurs;

(A) select at least one of the gaming devices, said selection being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined second probabilities, and

(B) cause the at least one selected gaming device to provide the designated award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein for at least one of the gaming devices, the first probability of being selected to win the designated award is the same as the second probability of being selected to win the designated award.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein for said at least one of the gaming devices, the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the first point in time is different than the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the second point in time.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein for each of a plurality of the gaming devices, the first probability of said gaming device being selected to win the designated award is different than the second probability of said gaming device being selected to win the designated award.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein for at least one of said gaming devices, the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the first point in time is the same as the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the second point in time.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the game play activity is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a total amount wagered, an amount wagered on at least one play of at least one game, a quantity of primary games played, a quantity of secondary games played, a quantity of primary games played and secondary games played, an amount of time between each play of each game, and a quality of play.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the ranking components include at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a total amount wagered on each gaming device, a total amount wagered at each gaming device, a number of games played on each gaming device, an amount of each wager placed on each play of each gaming device, an amount of each wager placed on each play of a game, an amount of time between each play of each game on the gaming devices, an amount of time between each play of each game at each gaming device and a quality of play.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to periodically acquire ranking components.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to continuously acquire ranking components.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to repeatedly acquire ranking components during a designated period of time.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the designated award includes at least one of:

a progressive award, a quantity of monetary credits, a quantity of non-monetary credits, a quantity of promotional credits, and a quantity of player tracking points.

12. A method for operating a gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices operable with a controller, the method comprising:

(a) causing the controller to repeatedly acquire a plurality of ranking components from each of the plurality of gaming devices, wherein the ranking components are based, at least in part, on game play activity from the plurality of gaming devices,

(b) at a first point in time;

(i) causing the controller to determine, based on the acquired ranking components at the first point in time, a first ranking of each of the plurality of the gaming devices, wherein for each of said gaming devices, the determined first ranking of said gaming device is based on a comparison of the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the first point in time relative the acquired ranking components of each of the other gaming devices at the first point in time,

(ii) for each of the gaming devices, causing the controller to determine a first probability of being selected to win a designated award, the first probability being greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent and the determination being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined first rankings, and

(iii) if a triggering event occurs;

(A) causing the controller to select at least one of the gaming devices, said selection being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined first probabilities, and

(B) causing the at least one selected gaming device to provide the designated award, and

(c) at a second, different point in time;

(i) causing the controller to determine, based on the acquired ranking components at the second point in time, a second ranking of each of the plurality of the gaming devices, wherein for each of said gaming devices, the determined second ranking of said gaming device is based on a comparison of the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the second point in time relative the acquired ranking components of each of the other gaming devices at the second point in time,

(ii) for each of the gaming devices, causing the controller to determine a second probability of being selected to win the designated award, the second probability being greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent and the determination being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined second rankings, and

(iii) if the triggering event occurs;

(A) causing the controller to select at least one of the gaming devices, said selection being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined second probabilities, and

(B) causing the at least one selected gaming device to provide the designated award.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein for at least one of the gaming devices, the first probability of being selected to win the designated award is the same as the second probability of being selected to win the designated award.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein for said at least one of the gaming devices, the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the first point in time is different than the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the second point in time.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein for each of a plurality of the gaming devices, the first probability of said gaming device being selected to win the designated award is different than the second probability of said gaming device being selected to win the designated award.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein for at least one of said gaming devices, the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the first point in time is the same as the acquired ranking components of said gaming device at the second point in time.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the game play activity is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a total amount wagered, an amount wagered on at least one play of at least one game, a quantity of primary games played, a quantity of secondary games played, a quantity of primary games played and secondary games played, an amount of time between each play of each game, and a quality of play.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the ranking components include at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a total amount wagered on each gaming device, a total amount wagered at each gaming device, a number of games played on each gaming device, an amount of each wager placed on each play of each gaming device, an amount of each wager placed on each play of a game, an amount of time between each play of each game on the gaming devices, an amount of time between each play of each game at each gaming device and a quality of play.

19. The method of claim 12, which includes causing the controller to periodically acquire ranking components.

20. The method of claim 12, which includes causing the controller to continuously acquire ranking components.

21. The method of claim 12, which includes causing the controller to repeatedly acquire ranking components during a designated period of time.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the designated award includes at least one of:

a progressive award, a quantity of monetary credits, a quantity of non-monetary credits, a quantity of promotional credits, and a quantity of player tracking points.

23. The method of claim 12, which is provided through a data network.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the data network is an internet.