Gaming system and method for providing a bonus based on number of gaming machines being actively played

• US 9,269,213 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2011
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Decasa, Rogelio S., Grace, Kelsy J., Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/324,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20120083338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• 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 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system includes a controller linked to a plurality of gaming devices. The central server tracks: (i) a quantity of gaming devices being actively played by players, or (ii) a quantity of players actively playing at the gaming devices. The controller determines the players'"'"' eligibility for different awards based on the tracked quantity. When the controller tracks a first quantity, the controller provides the active players with an opportunity to win a first award. When the central server tracks a second quantity, the central server provides the active players with an opportunity to win a second award. As the tracked quantity changes, the controller determines or modifies the number of awards available to the players actively playing at the gaming devices.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each of the gaming devices including;

(i) at least one display device, and

(ii) a plurality of input devices including;

(A) a physical item acceptor, wherein if a physical item is received via the physical item acceptor, a credit balance is established based, at least in part, on the monetary value associated with the received physical item, and

(B) a cashout device wherein if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance is caused to occur; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with each of said gaming devices, said at least one controller configured to operate with the gaming devices to;

(a) maintain a plurality of different awards, and

(b) during a first period of time prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained awards to any players in association with an occurrence of an award condition;

(i) determine a quantity of the gaming devices which are in an active state,

(ii) if the determined quantity of active gaming devices is less than or equal to a first quantity, cause a display of an indication of a first number of the maintained awards which can each be provided at each of the gaming devices in the active state, said first quantity being at least two and said first number being based on the determined quantity, and

(iii) if the determined quantity of gaming devices in the active state is greater than the first quantity, cause a display of an indication of a second number of the maintained awards which can each be provided at each of the gaming devices in the active state, said second number being greater than the first number and being based on the determined quantity.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to:

cause a display of an award amount for each of the maintained awards associated with the indicated number of awards.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices, during a second, subsequent period of time prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained awards to any players in association with an occurrence of an award condition, to:

(i) cause a display of an indication of the first number of the maintained awards which can each be provided at each of the gaming devices in the active state if the determined quantity of active gaming devices is less than or equal to the first quantity, and

(ii) cause a display of an indication of a second number of the maintained awards which can each be provided at each of the gaming devices in the active state if the determined quantity of gaming devices in the active state is greater than the first quantity.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices, during a second, subsequent period of time prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained awards to any players in association with an occurrence of an award condition, to:

(i) determine another quantity of the gaming devices which are in an active state,

(ii) if the determined other quantity of active gaming devices is less than or equal to the first quantity, cause a display of an indication of the first number of the maintained awards which can each be provided at each of the gaming devices in the active state, and

(iii) if the determined other quantity of gaming devices in the active state is greater than the first quantity, cause a display of an indication of the second number of the maintained awards which can each be provided at each of the gaming devices in the active state.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said awards is a progressive award.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said awards are progressive awards.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to:

cause a display of a progressive award amount for each of the progressive awards associated with the indicated number of awards.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to:

for each of the maintained awards associated with the indicated number of awards, if an award condition associated with said award occurs in association with one of the gaming devices in the active state, cause said gaming device to provide said award.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to:

randomly select the first quantity.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices, during the first period of time, to:

if the determined quantity is at least equal to a second quantity which is greater than the first quantity, cause a display of an indication of a third, different number of the awards which can be provided at the gaming devices in the active state.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to determine the quantity of gaming devices in the active state, during the first period of time, based on a qualifying condition selected from at least one of:

(a) a deposit of an amount of funds in association with each of the gaming devices,

(b) an identification of the players playing the gaming devices, and

(c) an amount of wagers placed on plays of any games of the gaming devices.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the indicated number of awards is independent of the qualifying condition.

13. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein a plurality of the maintained awards are associated with a plurality of progressive awards, the plurality of progressive awards being arranged as multi-level progressive awards.

14. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the awards include at least one of:

(a) an award having a predetermined value,

(b) an amount of free activations,

(c) a modifier, and

(d) a progressive award.

15. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

(i) at least one display device, and

(ii) a plurality of input devices including;

(A) a physical item acceptor, wherein if a physical item is received via the physical item acceptor, a credit balance is established based, at least in part, on the monetary value associated with the received physical item, and

(B) a cashout device wherein if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance is caused to occur; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with each of the gaming devices, said at least one controller programmed to operate with each of the gaming devices to;

(a) maintain a plurality of progressive awards, and

(b) during a first period of time;

(i) determine a quantity of the gaming devices which are being actively played,

(ii) if the determined quantity of actively played gaming devices is one of a first plurality of different quantities, prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause a display of an indication of a first number of the maintained progressive awards which can each be provided at each of the actively played gaming devices, said first number being based on the first plurality of different quantities,

(iii) if the determined quantity of actively played gaming devices is one of a second plurality of different quantities, prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause a display of an indication of a second number of the maintained progressive awards which can each be provided at each of the actively played gaming devices, said second number being different than the first number, said first plurality of quantities being different than the second plurality of quantities, and

(iv) for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards, if an award condition associated with said progressive award occurs in association with one of the actively played gaming devices, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to:

prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause a display of a progressive award amount for each of the progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards.

17. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein each of the first plurality of quantities is less than each of the second plurality of quantities.

18. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the second number of maintained progressive awards is greater than the first number of maintained progressive awards.

19. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of quantities define a first range and the second plurality of quantities define a second range.

20. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices, during a second, subsequent period of time, to:

(i) prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause a display of an indication of the first number of the maintained progressive awards which can each be provided at each of the actively played gaming devices if the determined quantity of actively played gaming devices is one of the first plurality of different quantities,

(ii) prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause a display of an indication of the second number of the maintained progressive awards which can each be provided at each of the actively played gaming devices if the determined quantity of actively played gaming devices is one of the second plurality of different quantities, and

(iii) for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards, if the award condition associated with said progressive award occurs in association with one of the actively played gaming devices, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award.

21. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices, during a second, subsequent period of time, to:

(i) determine a second quantity of the gaming devices which are being actively played,

(ii) if the determined second quantity of actively played gaming devices is one of the first plurality of different quantities, prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause a display of an indication of the first number of the maintained progressive awards which can each be provided at each of the actively played gaming devices,

(iii) if the determined second quantity of actively played gaming devices is one of the second plurality of different quantities, prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause a display of an indication of the second number of the maintained progressive awards which can each be provided at each of the actively played gaming devices, and

(iv) for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards, if the award condition associated with said progressive award occurs in association with one of the actively played gaming devices, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award.

22. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices configured such that, at different points in time, different designated quantities of the plurality of gaming devices are actively played, each of the gaming devices including;

(i) at least one display device, and

(ii) a plurality of input devices including;

(A) a physical item acceptor, wherein if a physical item is received via the physical item acceptor, a credit balance is established based, at least in part, on the monetary value associated with the received physical item, and

(B) a cashout device wherein if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance is caused to occur; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with each of the gaming devices, said at least one controller programmed to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to;

(a) maintain a plurality of progressive awards such that different numbers of the maintained progressive awards are associated with the different designated quantities of the actively played gaming devices, and

(b) during a first period of time;

(i) determine which of the different designated quantities of the gaming devices are currently being actively played,

(ii) for the determined designated quantity of actively played gaming devices, prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause a display of an indication of the number of the maintained progressive awards which can be provided at each of the determined designated quantity of actively played gaming devices, and

(iii) for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards, if an award condition associated with said progressive award occurs in association with one of said actively played gaming devices, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award.

23. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to:

prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause a display of a progressive award amount for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards.

24. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices, during a second, subsequent period of time, to:

(i) prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause a display of an indication of the number of the maintained progressive awards which can be provided at each of the determined designated quantity of actively played gaming devices, and

(ii) for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards, if the award condition associated with said progressive award occurs in association with one of said actively played gaming devices, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award.

25. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices, during a second, subsequent period of time, to:

(i) determine which of the different designated quantities of the gaming devices are currently being actively played,

(ii) prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause a display of an indication of the number of the maintained progressive awards which can be provided at each of the determined designated quantity of actively played gaming devices, and

(iii) for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the indicated number of progressive awards, if the award condition associated with said progressive award occurs in association with one of said actively played gaming devices, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award.

26. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each of the gaming devices including;

(i) at least one display device, and

(ii) a plurality of input devices including;

(A) a physical item acceptor, wherein if a physical item is received via the physical item acceptor, a credit balance is established based, at least in part, on the monetary value associated with the received physical item, and

(B) a cashout device wherein if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance is caused to occur; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with each of the gaming devices, said at least one controller configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to;

(a) maintain a plurality of progressive awards, and

(b) for at least one of the gaming devices that is being actively played at a first point in time;

(i) determine a number of the maintained progressive awards which can be provided at said actively played gaming device, said number being based on whether at least another one of the gaming devices is being actively played at the first point in time,

(ii) prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause an indication of the determined number of the progressive awards which can be provided at said actively played gaming device, and

(iii) for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the determined number of progressive awards, if an award condition associated with said progressive award occurs in association with said actively played gaming device, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award.

27. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to:

prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause a display of a progressive award amount for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the determined number of progressive awards.

28. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein, if the award condition associated with any one of said maintained progressive awards associated with the determined number of progressive awards occurs in association with at least another one of the actively played gaming devices, said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to:

prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause said other actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award.

29. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein, for at least one of the gaming devices that is being actively played at a second, subsequent point in time, said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to:

(i) prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause an indication of the determined number of the progressive awards which can be provided at said actively played gaming device, and

(ii) for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the determined number of progressive awards, if the award condition associated with said progressive award occurs in association with said actively played gaming device, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award.

30. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein, for at least one of the gaming devices that is being actively played at a second, subsequent point in time, said at least one controller is configured to operate with the plurality of gaming devices to:

(i) determine another number of the maintained progressive awards which can be provided at said actively played gaming device, said determined other number being based on whether at least another one of the gaming devices is being actively played at the second, subsequent point in time,

(ii) prior to any determination to provide any of the maintained progressive awards to any players, cause an indication of the determined other number of the progressive awards which can be provided at said actively played gaming device, and

(iii) for each of the maintained progressive awards associated with the determined number of progressive awards, if the award condition associated with said progressive award occurs in association with said actively played gaming device, cause said actively played gaming device to provide said progressive award.