Gaming system having awards provided based on rate of play
First Claim
1. A gaming system comprising:
- a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;
a housing;
a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;
(i) an acceptor,(ii) a validator, and(iii) a cashout device;
at least one processor;
at least one display device supported by the housing; and
at least one memory device storing 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 plurality of input devices to;
(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor;
(i) identify, via the validator, the received physical item, and(ii) establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item, and(b) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance; and
a controller configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to;
(a) 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) determine, based on the acquired ranking components, a ranking of each of the plurality of the gaming devices, wherein for each of said gaming devices, the determined ranking of said gaming device is based on a comparison of the acquired ranking components of said gaming device relative the acquired ranking components of each of the other gaming devices,(c) for each of the gaming devices, determine a probability of being selected to participate in a secondary game, the 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 rankings, and(d) if a triggering event occurs;
(i) select at least one of the gaming devices, said selection being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined probabilities, and(ii) cause the at least one selected gaming device to participate in a play of the secondary game.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
364 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A gaming system comprising:
-
a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including; a housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including; (i) an acceptor, (ii) a validator, and (iii) a cashout device; at least one processor; at least one display device supported by the housing; and at least one memory device storing 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 plurality of input devices to; (a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor; (i) identify, via the validator, the received physical item, and (ii) establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item, and (b) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance; and a controller configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to; (a) 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) determine, based on the acquired ranking components, a ranking of each of the plurality of the gaming devices, wherein for each of said gaming devices, the determined ranking of said gaming device is based on a comparison of the acquired ranking components of said gaming device relative the acquired ranking components of each of the other gaming devices, (c) for each of the gaming devices, determine a probability of being selected to participate in a secondary game, the 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 rankings, and (d) if a triggering event occurs; (i) select at least one of the gaming devices, said selection being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined probabilities, and (ii) cause the at least one selected gaming device to participate in a play of the secondary game. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. 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 acquire a plurality of ranking components from each of the plurality of gaming devices, wherein; (i) the ranking components are based, at least in part, on game play activity from the plurality of gaming devices, and (ii) each gaming device is associated with a credit balance which is; (A) increasable via; (I) an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and (II) a validator configured to identify the physical item, and (B) decreasable via a cashout device configured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance, (b) causing the controller to determine, based on the acquired ranking components, a ranking of each of the plurality of the gaming devices, wherein for each of said gaming devices, the determined ranking of said gaming device is based on a comparison of the acquired ranking components of said gaming device relative the acquired ranking components of each of the other gaming devices, (c) for each of the gaming devices, causing the controller to determine a probability of being selected to participate in a secondary game, the 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 rankings, and (d) if a triggering event occurs; (i) 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 probabilities, and (ii) causing the at least one selected gaming device to participate in a play of the secondary game. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A gaming system server comprising:
-
at least one processor; 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; (a) acquire a plurality of ranking components from each of a plurality of gaming devices, wherein; (i) the ranking components are based, at least in part, on game play activity from the plurality of gaming devices, and (ii) each gaming device is associated with a credit balance which is; (A) increasable via;
(I) an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and
(II) a validator configured to identify the physical item, and(B) decreasable via a cashout device configured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance, (b) determine, based on the acquired ranking components, a ranking of each of the plurality of the gaming devices, wherein for each of said gaming devices, the determined ranking of said gaming device is based on a comparison of the acquired ranking components of said gaming device relative the acquired ranking components of each of the other gaming devices, (c) for each of the gaming devices, determine a probability of being selected to participate in a secondary game, the 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 rankings, and (d) if a triggering event occurs; (i) select at least one of the gaming devices, said selection being based, at least in part, on at least one of the determined probabilities, and (ii) cause the at least one selected gaming device to participate in a play of the secondary game. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification