GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING PURCHASABLE BONUS OPPORTUNITIES

• US 20090124385A1
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cuddy, Ryan W., Boese, Eric S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• 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

Abstract

A gaming system includes a plurality of linked gaming devices, each of the gaming devices including a primary game operable upon a primary game wager. The gaming devices of the gaming system enable a plurality of players to place primary game wagers on plays of the primary games. In one embodiment, each of the players is enabled to place optional second wagers on shared random determinations which occur independently of the primary games. The gaming devices display the primary game outcomes and provide the players with any awards associated with the primary game outcomes. The gaming system determines an outcome for the shared random determinations. In one embodiment, for each of the shared random determinations which results in a designated outcome, the gaming system provides a bonus award to each of the players who placed the second wager on the shared random determination.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including at least one input device and at least one display device configured to display a primary game operable upon a primary game wager;

at least one processor; 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 the gaming devices to;

(a) enable a plurality of players to place the primary game wagers on plays of the primary games;

(b) enable each of the players to place a second wager, to purchase a number of bonus opportunities, said number being at least one;

(c) for each player, for each play of the primary game wagered on by said player, display a primary game outcome and provide the player any awards based on the primary game outcome; and

(d) for each of a plurality of designated time intervals;

(i) cause a shared random determination to occur,

(ii) determine an outcome for said shared random determination,

(iii) determine which of the players has at least one bonus opportunity, and

(iv) for each player who has at least one bonus opportunity, provide said player with a bonus award if the outcome for said shared random determination includes a designated outcome.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein processor is programmed to enable each of the players to place one of a plurality of second different wagers, each of said second different wagers associated with a different number of bonus opportunities.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said bonus award includes the opportunity to participate in a group bonus event.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said shared random determination occurs independently of said primary game plays.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bonus awards are provided in addition to any awards associated with the primary game outcomes.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein, after each occurrence of the shared random determination, the processor is programmed to reduce each player'"'"'s number of bonus opportunities by one, if said player had any bonus opportunities remaining upon said occurrence of the shared random determination.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the processor is programmed to display to each player the number of bonus opportunities that said player has remaining at any designated time.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each of said players is eligible to win a bonus award for a designated amount of time based on the number of bonus opportunities purchased by said player.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the processor is programmed to display to each player, at any designated time, the amount of time remaining during which said player is eligible to win a bonus award.

10. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each of said gaming devices including at least one input device and at least one display device configured to display a primary game operable upon a wager by a player;

a central display device configured to display a group bonus event;

at least one processor; 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 central display and the gaming devices to;

(a) enable a plurality of players to each place primary game wagers to cause plays of the primary games;

(b) enable each of the players to place a second wager for the shared random determinations;

(c) display a primary game outcome on the at least one display device of each player'"'"'s gaming device for each primary game wager placed;

(d) provide any awards associated with the displayed primary game outcomes;

(e) cause a shared random determination outcome to occur; and

(f) if the shared random determination outcome includes a designated outcome;

(i) enable one or more of said players who placed the second wager to participate in said group bonus event,

(ii) determine a group bonus event outcome, and

(iii) based on the determined group bonus event outcome, provide bonus awards to one or more of said players who participated in the group bonus event.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said shared random determination occurs independently of said primary game plays.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said players place the second different wager in addition to the primary game wager.

13. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein if the shared random determination outcome includes the designated outcome, said processor is programmed to enable each of said players who placed the second wager to participate in the group bonus event.

14. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said bonus awards are provided in addition to any awards associated with the primary game outcomes.