GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD HAVING PROGRESSIVE FREE GAMES

• US 20080113779A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cregan, Karen Michelle
• Granted Patent: US 8,033,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/27
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A gaming system and method providing a plurality of games, including a first type of game and a second type of game. The gaming system includes a progressive award which includes or is in the form of a progressive number or quantity of plays of the second type of game. The gaming system enables the player to play the first type of game. The gaming system increases the progressive award based on an occurrence of one or more incrementing conditions. Upon an occurrence of a triggering event, the gaming system determines the progressive award to provide to the player and provides the determined award to the player.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a plurality of games including a first game and a second game;

a display device; and

an accumulated award which includes a variable number of plays of the second game;

wherein the processor is programmed to operate with the display device to;

(a) increment the accumulated award based on a number of plays of the first game since a previous accumulated award was provided to a player;

(b) display the accumulated award; and

(c) upon an occurrence of a triggering event;

(i) determine the accumulated award to provide a player,

(ii) enable the player to play the determined number of plays of the second game of the determined accumulated award; and

(iii) provide the player an outcome for each play of the second game.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first game is a wagering game and the second game is a free game.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first game is a base game and the second game is a bonus game.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first game and the second game are a same kind of game.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the games is chosen from the group consisting of:

slot, poker, keno, blackjack, craps, bingo, bunco, and checkers.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second game includes an advantage over the first game.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the advantage is chosen from the group consisting of:

a modifier, a paytable, a number of paylines and a number of winning combinations.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the modifier is a multiplier.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the triggering event is selected from the group consisting of:

a game outcome, a game event, a wager amount and an accumulated award amount.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to operate with the display device to reset the accumulated award to a designated value upon the occurrence of the triggering event.

11. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

a plurality of games, wherein the games are operable to be played as wagering games and free games; and

an accumulated award that includes a variable number of plays of free games;

wherein said processor is configured to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) enable the player to play wagering games until a triggering event occurs;

(b) increment the accumulated award based on a percentage of wagers made on plays of the wagering game;

(c) display the number of plays of the accumulated award; and

(d) upon an occurrence of the triggering event;

(i) determine the number of plays of the free games to provide the player for the accumulated award;

(ii) enable the player to play the determined number of plays of the free games; and

(iii) provide the player an outcome for each free game played.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the wagering games and the free games are a same kind of game.

13. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the games is chosen from the group consisting of:

slot, poker, keno, blackjack, craps, bingo, bunco, and checkers.

14. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the free games include an advantage over the wagering games.

15. The gaming device of claim 14, wherein the advantage is chosen from the group consisting of:

a modifier, a paytable, a number of paylines and a number of winning combinations.

16. The gaming device of claim 15, wherein the modifier is a multiplier.

17. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the triggering event is selected from the group consisting of:

a game outcome, a game event, a wager amount, and an accumulated award amount.

18. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein said processor is configured to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to reset the accumulated award to a designated value upon the occurrence of the triggering event.

19. A gaming system comprising:

a controller;

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including a display device;

a plurality of games including a first game and a second game; and

an accumulated award which includes a variable number of plays of the second game;

wherein the gaming machines are programmed to operate with the controller to;

(a) increment the accumulated award based on a number of plays of the first game since a previous accumulated award was provided to a player;

(b) display the accumulated award;

(c) upon an occurrence of a triggering event;

(i) determine the accumulated award to provide a player of one of the gaming machines,

(ii) enable said player to play the determined number of plays of the second game of the determined accumulated award at said gaming machine, and

(iii) provide said player an outcome for each play of the second game.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the first game is a wagering game and the second game is a free game.

21. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the first game is a base game and the second game is a bonus game.

22. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the first game and the second game are a same kind of game.

23. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the games is chosen from the group consisting of:

slot, poker, keno, blackjack, craps, bingo, bunco, and checkers.

24. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the second game includes an advantage over the first game.

25. The gaming system of claim 24, wherein the advantage is chosen from the group consisting of:

a modifier, a paytable, a number of paylines and a number of winning combinations.

26. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein the modifier is a multiplier.

27. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the triggering event is selected from the group consisting of:

a game outcome, a game event, a wager amount and an accumulated award amount.

28. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the gaming machines are programmed to operate with the controller to reset the accumulated award to a designated value upon the occurrence of the triggering event.

29. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the gaming machines are programmed to operate with the controller to increment the accumulated award based on a number of plays of the first game played at one of the gaming machines since a previous accumulated award was provided to a player at said gaming machine.

30. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the gaming machines are programmed to operate with the controller to increment the accumulated award based on a number of plays of the first game played at a plurality of gaming machines since a previous accumulated award was provided to a player one of the gaming machines.

31. A gaming system comprising:

a controller;

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including;

(i) at least one display device; and

(ii) at least one input device;

a plurality of games, wherein the games are operable to be played as wagering games and free games; and

an accumulated award that includes a variable number of plays of free games;

wherein said gaming machines are programmed to operate with the controller to;

(a) enable at least one player to play wagering games until a triggering event occurs;

(b) increment the accumulated award based on a percentage of wagers made on plays of the wagering game;

(c) display the number of plays of the accumulated award; and

(d) upon an occurrence of the triggering event;

(i) determine the number of plays of the free games to provide a player at one of the gaming machines for the accumulated award;

(ii) enable the player to play the determined number of plays of the free games; and

(iii) provide the player an outcome for each free game played.

32. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the wagering games and the free games are a same kind of game.

33. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein at least one of the games is chosen from the group consisting of:

slot, poker, keno, blackjack, craps, bingo, bunco, and checkers.

34. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the free games include an advantage over the wagering games.

35. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the advantage is chosen from the group consisting of:

a modifier, a paytable, a number of paylines and a number of winning combinations.

36. The gaming system of claim 35, wherein the modifier is a multiplier.

37. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the triggering event is selected from the group consisting of:

a game outcome, a game event, a wager amount, and an accumulated award amount.

38. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein gaming machines are operable with the controller to reset the accumulated award to a designated value upon the occurrence of the triggering event.

39. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the gaming machines are programmed to operate with the controller to increment the accumulated award based on a percentage of wagers made on plays of the wagering game at one of the gaming machines.

40. The gaming system of claim 31, wherein the gaming machines are programmed to operate with the controller to increment the accumulated award based on a percentage of wagers made on plays of the wagering game at a plurality of the gaming machines.