GAMING SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE GAMING MACHINES WHICH PROVIDE BONUS AWARDS

• US 20080070678A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Peterson, Tonja, Ching, Erick, Vasquez, James, Baerlocher, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,449,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• 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 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3283 wherein the number of active machines is limited
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• 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 including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining a bonus pool, said bonus pool based at least in part on wagers from players playing a plurality of gaming machines;

(b) determining an average expected value of a bonus award to be provided to at least one player, wherein the average expected value is based, at least in part, on the bonus pool;

(c) providing an actual bonus award to at least one player, said actual bonus award based at least in part on the bonus pool, wherein the actual bonus award may be different than the average expected value of the bonus award;

(d) subtracting the average expected value of the bonus award from the bonus pool; and

(e) utilizing the remaining bonus pool to determine at least part of at least another actual bonus award.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes repeating (a) to (d) for the at least another actual bonus award.

3. The method of claim 1, which is provided through a data network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data network is an internet.

5. A method of operating a gaming system including a controller and a plurality of gaming machines which each include a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player and at least one display device operable to display said primary game, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining a first accumulated wager pool for a first occurrence of one of a plurality of bonus events;

(b) maintaining an average expected value component for each bonus event;

(c) causing the first occurrence of the bonus event;

(d) determining at least part of a first bonus award to display and provide to the player of one of the gaming machines for the first occurrence of the bonus event;

(e) determining a remainder based on the average expected value component for the bonus event and the first accumulated wager pool;

(f) maintaining a second accumulated wager pool for a second occurrence of one of the bonus events, wherein maintaining the second accumulated wager pool includes allocating any determined remainder to the second accumulated wager pool;

(g) causing the second occurrence of the bonus event; and

(h) using the second accumulated wager pool and said remainder to at least in part determine a second bonus award to display and provide to the player of one of the gaming machines for the second occurrence of the bonus event.

6. The method of claim 5, which includes causing the controller to determine if the bonus event will occur independent of any event in any play of any of the primary games of the gaming machines.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said first bonus award is based at least in part on the first accumulated wager pool and at least in part on a value component for said occurrence of the bonus event

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the first accumulated wager pool and the second accumulated wager pool are part of a single accumulated wager pool.

10. The method of claim 5, which is provided through a data network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data network is an internet.

12. A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a controller in communication with a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine includes a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player and at least one display device operable to display said primary game, said method comprising:

(a) causing the controller to maintain a first accumulated wager pool based, at least in part, on the wagers placed on the primary games of the gaming machines;

(b) causing the controller to determine a first bonus portion of the first accumulated wager pool, wherein said first bonus portion is, at least in part, based on a percentage less than 100% of the first accumulated wager pool;

(c) causing the controller to select at least one of the gaming machines to provide a first bonus award to the player of said selected gaming machine, wherein a total average expected value of the first bonus awards provided to the players is equal to or less than the first bonus portion; and

(d) causing the controller to allocate a remainder to a second accumulated wager pool for a second bonus award to be displayed and provided to the player of one of said gaming machines, wherein said remainder accounts for any difference between the first bonus portion and the total average expected value of the first bonus awards provided to the players.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least two of said primary games of at least two of the plurality of gaming machines are different.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first accumulated wager pool and the second accumulated wager pool are part of a single accumulated wager pool.

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

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data network is an internet.