Slot machine game with award based on another machine
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for awarding a bonus award at a slot machine, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a server from a first slot machine being played by a first player, a jackpot ante and a selection of a set of other slot machines, wherein receiving the selection comprises receiving a selection of one or more individual slot machines independent of the jackpot ante, wherein receiving the jackpot ante and the selection of the set of other slot machines qualifies the first player as being eligible, during a predetermined time period that occurs after the server receives the jackpot ante and the selection of the set of other slot machines, to win at least a portion of a bonus award to be awarded if a jackpot award is won at a slot machine among the set of other slot machines during the predetermined time period that occurs after the server receives the jackpot ante and the selection of the set of other slot machines, wherein receiving the jackpot ante and the selection to qualify the first player as being eligible to win at least a portion of the bonus award to be awarded if the jackpot award is won at a slot machine among the set of other slot machines during the predetermined time period occurs prior to any play of a slot machine among the set of slot machines during the predetermined time period, and wherein each slot machine of the set of other slot machines is played by a player other than the first player;
the set of other slot machines being played during the predetermined time period that occurs after the server received the jackpot ante; and
determining, using the server, that a slot machine among the set of other slot machines awarded a jackpot award to its respective player, for a play of the slot machine among the set of other slot machines during the predetermined time period, and, using the server, responsively awarding at least a portion of the bonus award to the first slot machine being played by the first player, wherein the bonus award and the jackpot award are awarded from separate pools.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A slot machine method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a side wager for a slot machine which allows a player on a first machine to win bonus awards when a player on other (participating) machines wins a jackpot. The side wager activates the ability to win a bonus for a predetermined period of time or a predetermined number of spins on the other machines, or some other limiting factor.
273 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for awarding a bonus award at a slot machine, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a server from a first slot machine being played by a first player, a jackpot ante and a selection of a set of other slot machines, wherein receiving the selection comprises receiving a selection of one or more individual slot machines independent of the jackpot ante, wherein receiving the jackpot ante and the selection of the set of other slot machines qualifies the first player as being eligible, during a predetermined time period that occurs after the server receives the jackpot ante and the selection of the set of other slot machines, to win at least a portion of a bonus award to be awarded if a jackpot award is won at a slot machine among the set of other slot machines during the predetermined time period that occurs after the server receives the jackpot ante and the selection of the set of other slot machines, wherein receiving the jackpot ante and the selection to qualify the first player as being eligible to win at least a portion of the bonus award to be awarded if the jackpot award is won at a slot machine among the set of other slot machines during the predetermined time period occurs prior to any play of a slot machine among the set of slot machines during the predetermined time period, and wherein each slot machine of the set of other slot machines is played by a player other than the first player; the set of other slot machines being played during the predetermined time period that occurs after the server received the jackpot ante; and determining, using the server, that a slot machine among the set of other slot machines awarded a jackpot award to its respective player, for a play of the slot machine among the set of other slot machines during the predetermined time period, and, using the server, responsively awarding at least a portion of the bonus award to the first slot machine being played by the first player, wherein the bonus award and the jackpot award are awarded from separate pools. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for awarding a bonus award, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a server from a first casino machine operated by a first bettor and connected to the server, a jackpot ante and a selection of a set of other casino machines, wherein receiving the selection comprises receiving a selection of one or more individual casino machines independent of the jackpot ante, wherein receiving the jackpot ante and the selection of the set of other casino machines qualifies the first bettor as being eligible, during a predetermined time period that occurs after the server receives the jackpot ante and the selection of the set of other casino machines, to win at least a portion of a bonus award to be awarded if a jackpot award is won at a casino machine among the set of other casino machines during the predetermined time period that occurs after the server receives the jackpot ante and the selection of the set of other casino machines, wherein receiving the jackpot ante and the selection to qualify the first bettor as being eligible to win at least a portion of the bonus award to be awarded if the jackpot award is won at the casino machine among the set of other casino machines prior to any play of a casino machine among the set of casino machines during the predetermined time period, wherein each casino machine of the set of other casino machines is played by a respective bettor other than the first bettor, and wherein the first casino machine is not among the set of other casino machines; and determining, using the server, that a casino machine among the set of casino machines, during the predetermined time period, was awarded a jackpot award for a game played at that casino machine, and, using the server, responsively awarding at least a portion of the bonus award to the first casino machine operated by the first bettor, wherein the bonus award and the jackpot award are awarded from separate pools. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for awarding a bonus award at a slot machine, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a server, a wager from a first slot machine being played by a first player; spinning, by the server, reels on the first slot machine, wherein the spinning reels stop at a first random combination that matches a predetermined winning combination; paying, by the server, a first award to the first slot machine in response to the first random combination matching the predetermined winning combination; determining, by the server, that the first random combination comprises a bonus trigger combination and responsively activating, by the server, an ability for the first player to win a bonus award during any spin of a number of spins occurring on a set of slot machines not including the first slot machine; monitoring, by the server while the ability for the first player to win the bonus award during the number of spins occurring on the set of slot machines not including the first slot machine is still in force, the number of spins occurring on the set of slot machines not including the first slot machine; determining, by the server, a slot machine of the set of slot machines hits a jackpot during one of the number of spins; awarding, by the server, a jackpot award to the slot machine of the set slot machines that hits the jackpot; and awarding, by the server to the first slot machine being played by the first player, a bonus award in response to the server determining the ability for the first player to win the bonus award during any spin of the number of spins occurring on the set of slot machines is still in force when the slot machine of the set of slot machines hits the jackpot. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification