GAMING SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE GAMING MACHINES WHICH PROVIDE BONUS AWARDS

• US 20120276986A1
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Hungate, Yuliya, Evans, Christina, Vasquez, James A., Ferry, Tonja M., Ching, Erick T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,814,648 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 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• 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 17/3283 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, gaming tables, hand held gaming devices and/or community gaming displays. The central server monitors wagers placed on any games played. Based at least in part on the wagers placed, the central server determines when one or more bonus events will occur and which players to provide any bonus awards.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one internet server configured to communicate with a plurality of devices, said at least one internet server and said plurality of devices configured to operate to;

(a) for each of the plurality of devices;

(i) enable a player to log onto a gaming website,

(ii) after logging onto the gaming website, enable the player to place a wager on a play of a primary game,

(iii) determine, based at least in part on the placed wager, a bonus event multiplier amount,

(iv) display the determined bonus event multiplier amount,

(v) generate one of a plurality different primary game outcomes,

(vi) display the generated primary game outcome, and

(vii) display any award associated with the generated primary game outcome,

(b) determine if a bonus event will occur, and

(c) if the determination is that the bonus event will occur;

(i) determine a bonus event value component, said bonus event value component being determined independent of any of the primary game outcomes generated in any plays of any of the primary games of any of the devices, and

(ii) for at least one of the plurality of devices;

(A) determine a bonus event award by modifying the determined bonus event value component with the bonus event multiplier amount determined for that device, and

(B) display the determined bonus event award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determination that the bonus event will occur is independent of any occurrence in any play of any of the primary games.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one internet server and said plurality of devices are configured to operate to, for each of said devices:

maintain a total amount of the wagers placed on the primary games of said device during a bonus event accumulation period, and

determine the bonus event multiplier amount based on the total amount of the wagers placed during the bonus event accumulation period for said device relative to a total amount of the wagers placed for each of said devices during the bonus event accumulation period.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one internet server and said plurality of devices are configured to operate to determine, for each of the devices, the bonus event multiplier amount based, at least in part, on a determination selected from the group consisting of:

a determination of if a wager was placed on the primary game of that device during a bonus event qualification period, a determination of if a wager of at least a designated amount was placed on the primary game of that device during the bonus event qualification period, and a determination of if a designated number of wagers were placed on the primary game of that device during the bonus event qualification period.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein if the determination is that the bonus event will occur, the at least one internet server and said plurality of devices are configured to operate to provide at least part of said determined bonus event award to at least one other player associated with the player playing at the device which displayed the determined bonus event award.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the at least one other player is included in a list of other players maintained for the player playing at the device which displayed the determined bonus event award.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of:

the wager placed on the play of the primary game, any award associated with the generated primary game outcome, and any determined bonus event award, includes a quantity of non-monetary credits.

8. A gaming system comprising:

at least one internet server configured to communicate with a plurality of devices, said at least one internet server and said plurality of devices configured to operate to;

(a) for a first one of the devices;

(i) enable a player to log onto a gaming website,

(ii) after logging onto the gaming website, enable the player to place one of a plurality of different wagers on a play of a first primary game,

(iii) determine a first bonus event multiplier amount, said first bonus event multiplier amount determined, at least in part, based on the placement of a first one of the wagers,

(iv) display the determined first bonus event multiplier amount,

(v) generate one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes,

(vi) display the generated primary game outcome, and

(vii) display any award associated with the generated primary game outcome,

(b) for a second, different one of the devices;

(i) enable a player to log onto the gaming website,

(ii) after logging onto the gaming website, enable the player to place one of the plurality of different wagers on a play of a second primary game,

(iii) determine a second, different bonus event multiplier amount, said second bonus event multiplier amount determined, at least in part, based on the placement of a second, different one of the wagers,

(iv) display the determined second bonus event multiplier amount,

(v) generate one of the plurality of different primary game outcomes,

(vi) display the generated primary game outcome, and

(vii) display any award associated with the generated primary game outcome,

(c) determine if a bonus event will occur, and

(d) if the determination is that the bonus event will occur;

(i) determine a bonus event value component, said bonus event value component being determined independent of any of the primary game outcomes generated in any plays of any of the primary games of any of the devices,

(ii) for the first one of the plurality of devices;

(A) determine a first bonus event award by modifying the determined bonus event value component with the first bonus event multiplier amount determined for said first one of the devices, and

(B) display the determined first bonus event award, and

(iii) for the second one of the plurality of devices;

(A) determine a second, different bonus event award by modifying the determined bonus event value component with the second bonus event multiplier amount determined for said second one of the devices, and

(B) display the determined second bonus event award.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the determination that the bonus event will occur is independent of any occurrence in any play of any of the primary games.

10. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein if the determination is that the bonus event will occur, for at least one of the first one of the plurality of devices and the second one of the plurality of devices, the at least one internet server and said plurality of devices are configured to operate to provide at least part of said determined bonus event award to at least one other player associated with the player playing at said device.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the at least one other player is included in a list of other players maintained for the player playing at said device.

12. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein at least one of:

any of the different wagers placed on the play of the first primary game, any of the different wagers placed on the play of the second primary game, any award associated with any generated primary game outcomes, the determined first bonus event award and the determined second bonus event award, includes a quantity of non-monetary credits.

13. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the first primary game is different than the second primary game.

14. A gaming system comprising

at least one internet server configured to communicate with a plurality of devices, said at least one internet server and said plurality of devices configured to operate to:

(a) enable a player to log onto a gaming website,

(b) after logging onto the gaming website, enable the player to place a wager on a play of a primary game,

(c) determine that a bonus event will occur, and

(d) after determining that the bonus event will occur, for at least one of the devices;

(i) determine a bonus event award based on;

(A) a first component which is determined based, at least in part, on the wager placed by the player of said device, and

(B) a second component which is determined independent of any primary game outcomes generated in any plays of any of the primary games of any of the devices, and determined independent of the wager placed by the player of said device, and

(ii) display the determined bonus event award.

15. A method of operating a gaming system through a data network, said method comprising:

(a) for each of a plurality of devices;

(i) enabling a player to log onto a gaming website,

(ii) after logging onto the gaming website, enabling the player to place a wager on a play of a primary game,

(iii) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine, based at least in part on the placed wager, a bonus event multiplier amount,

(iv) causing at least one display device associated with said device to display the determined bonus event multiplier amount,

(v) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes,

(vi) causing the at least one display device associated with said device to display the generated primary game outcome, and

(vii) causing the at least one display device associated with said device to display any award associated with the generated primary game outcome;

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if a bonus event will occur; and

(c) if the determination is that the bonus event will occur;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a bonus event value component, said bonus event value component being determined independent of any of the primary game outcomes generated in any plays of any of the primary games of any of the devices, and

(ii) for at least one of the plurality of devices;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a bonus event award by modifying the determined bonus event value component with the bonus event multiplier amount determined for that device, and

(B) causing the at least one display device associated with said device to display the determined bonus event award.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the determination that the bonus event will occur is independent of any occurrence in any play of any of the primary games.

17. The method of claim 15, which includes:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a total amount of the wagers placed on the primary games of said device during a bonus event accumulation period, and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the bonus event multiplier amount based on the total amount of the wagers placed during the bonus event accumulation period for said device relative to a total amount of the wagers placed for each of said devices during the bonus event accumulation period.

18. The method of claim 15, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, for each of the devices, the bonus event multiplier amount based, at least in part, on a determination selected from the group consisting of:

a determination of if a wager was placed on the primary game of that device during a bonus event qualification period, a determination of if a wager of at least a designated amount was placed on the primary game of that device during the bonus event qualification period, and a determination of if a designated number of wagers were placed on the primary game of that device during the bonus event qualification period.

19. The method of claim 15, which includes, if the determination is that the bonus event will occur, providing at least part of said determined bonus event award to at least one other player associated with the player playing at the device which displayed the determined bonus event award.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one other player is included in a list of other players maintained for the player playing at the device which displayed the determined bonus event award.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of:

the wager placed on the play of the primary game, any award associated with the generated primary game outcome, and any determined bonus event award, includes a quantity of non-monetary credits.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the data network is an Internet.

23. A method of operating a gaming system through a data network, said method comprising:

(a) for a first one of a plurality of devices;

(i) enabling a player to log onto a gaming website,

(ii) after logging onto the gaming website, enabling the player to place one of a plurality of different wagers on a play of a first primary game,

(iii) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a first bonus event multiplier amount, said first bonus event multiplier amount determined, at least in part, based on the placement of a first one of the wagers,

(iv) causing at least one display device associated with said device to display the determined first bonus event multiplier amount,

(v) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes,

(vi) causing the at least one display device associated with said device to display the generated primary game outcome, and

(vii) causing the at least one display device to display any award associated with the generated primary game outcome;

(b) for a second, different one of the devices;

(i) enabling a player to log onto the gaming website,

(ii) after logging onto the gaming website, enabling the player to place one of the plurality of different wagers on a play of a second primary game,

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a second, different bonus event multiplier amount, said second bonus event multiplier amount determined, at least in part, based on the placement of a second, different one of the wagers,

(iv) causing the at least one display device associated with said device to display the determined second bonus event multiplier amount,

(v) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate one of the plurality of different primary game outcomes,

(vi) causing the at least one display device associated with said device to display the generated primary game outcome, and

(vii) causing the at least one display device associated with said device to display any award associated with the generated primary game outcome;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if a bonus event will occur; and

(d) if the determination is that the bonus event will occur;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a bonus event value component, said bonus event value component being determined independent of any of the primary game outcomes generated in any plays of any of the primary games of any of the devices,

(ii) for the first one of the plurality of devices;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a first bonus event award by modifying the determined bonus event value component with the first bonus event multiplier amount determined for said first one of the devices, and

(B) causing the at least one display device associated with said device to display the determined first bonus event award, and

(iii) for the second one of the plurality of devices;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a second, different bonus event award by modifying the determined bonus event value component with the second bonus event multiplier amount determined for said second one of the devices, and

(B) causing the at least one display device associated with said device to display the determined second bonus event award.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the determination that the bonus event will occur is independent of any occurrence in any play of any of the primary games.

25. The method of claim 23, which includes, if the determination is that the bonus event will occur, for at least one of the first one of the plurality of devices and the second one of the plurality of devices, providing at least part of said determined bonus event award to at least one other player associated with the player playing at said device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one other player is included in a list of other players maintained for the player playing at said device.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one of:

any of the different wagers placed on the play of the first primary game, any of the different wagers placed on the play of the second primary game, any award associated with any generated primary game outcomes, the determined first bonus event award and the determined second bonus event award, includes a quantity of non-monetary credits.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the first primary game is different than the second primary game.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the data network is an Internet.

30. A method of operating a gaming system through a data network, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a player to log onto a gaming website;

(b) after logging onto the gaming website, enabling the player to place a wager on a play of a primary game;

(c) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine that a bonus event will occur; and

(d) after determining that the bonus event will occur, for at least one of a plurality of devices;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a bonus event award based on;

(A) a first component which is determined based, at least in part, on the wager placed by the player of said device, and

(B) a second component which is determined independent of any primary game outcomes generated in any plays of any of the primary games of any of the devices, and determined independent of the wager placed by the player of said device, and

(ii) causing at least one display device to display the determined bonus event award.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the data network is an Internet.