Random bonus delivery mechanism for a gaming system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for delivering a bonus event to a gaming machine selected from a plurality of gaming machines comprising:
- accepting wagers at first and second gaming machines in a gaming environment;
communicating with said first gaming machine to initiate display of a visual bonus indicator on a first display of said first gaming machine;
terminating the display of said visual bonus feature indicator on said first display;
communicating with said second gaming machine to initiate display of said visual bonus indicator on a second display of said second gaming machine;
animating in a bonus animation said visual bonus indicator on said second gaming machine display of said second gaming machine; and
awarding a bonus award to a player of said second gaming machine following display of said bonus animation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Gaming systems and methods utilize a visual bonus indicator displayed among a plurality of gaming machines to indicate an increased likelihood of a bonus award for a player. The visual bonus indicator may be centrally controlled to display sequentially on closely located gaming machines to provide the appearance that the visual bonus indicator is moving among the gaming machines. The visual bonus indicator may be animated in multiple animations corresponding to multiple bonus awards.
111 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for delivering a bonus event to a gaming machine selected from a plurality of gaming machines comprising:
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accepting wagers at first and second gaming machines in a gaming environment;
communicating with said first gaming machine to initiate display of a visual bonus indicator on a first display of said first gaming machine;
terminating the display of said visual bonus feature indicator on said first display;
communicating with said second gaming machine to initiate display of said visual bonus indicator on a second display of said second gaming machine;
animating in a bonus animation said visual bonus indicator on said second gaming machine display of said second gaming machine; and
awarding a bonus award to a player of said second gaming machine following display of said bonus animation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of awarding bonus awards on two or more gaming machines comprising:
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accepting a first wager at a first gaming machine and accepting a second wager at a second gaming machine;
displaying on a first display of said first gaming machine a visual bonus indicator;
awarding a first bonus award to a player of said first gaming machine;
terminating said display of said visual bonus indicator on said first display of said first gaming machine;
displaying on a second display of said second gaming machine said visual bonus indicator; and
awarding a second bonus award to a player of said second gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for providing random bonus awards comprising:
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a plurality of gaming machines located in a gaming environment, each of said plurality of gaming machines having thereon a display and a value input device for accepting a wager;
a visual bonus indicator controller adapted to coordinate display of a visual bonus indicator on certain ones of said displays of said gaming machines, said visual bonus indicator indicating to a player an increased likelihood of a bonus award being awarded on a gaming machine upon which it is displayed; and
a processor operative to award a bonus award in connection with certain animations of said visual bonus indicator. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification