Server based gaming system having multiple progressive awards

• US 7,585,223 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Bullard, Bryan D., Iddings, Cara L., Schneider, Richard J., Dewaal, Daniel, Manfredi, Vince, Little, Chad
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/830,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20080020832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 27
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a controller programmed to maintain a first game progressive award;

a first gaming device configured to communicate with the controller, said first gaming device including at least one display device, at least one input device, at least one gaming device processor and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) enable a first player to place a first game wager on a play of a first game,

(b) determine whether to provide the maintained first game progressive award to the first player, wherein said determination is based on a first probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of the first player winning the maintained first game progressive award, and

(c) if the determination is to provide the maintained first game progressive award, display and provide at least part of the maintained first game progressive award to the first player; and

a second gaming device configured to communicate with the controller, said second gaming device including at least one display device, at least one input device, at least one gaming device processor, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) enable a second player to place a side wager on being provided the maintained first game progressive award, and

(b) if the side wager is placed;

(i) determine whether to provide the maintained first game progressive award to the second player, wherein said determination is based on a second, different probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of the second player winning the maintained first game progressive award, the second probability is based on an amount of the side wager, and

(ii) if the determination is to provide the maintained first game progressive award, display and provide at least part of the maintained first game progressive award to the second player.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the maintained first game progressive award is an accumulated value progressive award.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein any determinations of if any of the players are provided the maintained first game progressive award occurs independent of any displayed events in any plays of said first game.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein any determinations of if any of the players are provided the maintained first game progressive award occurs in addition to any random determinations in any plays of said first game.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor of the second gaming device, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor of the second gaming device to display to the second player a menu which includes a plurality of progressive awards for the second player to place side wagers on.

6. A gaming system comprising:

a controller programmed to maintain a first game progressive award;

a first gaming device configured to communicate with the controller, said first gaming device including at least one display device, at least one input device, at least one gaming device processor and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) enable a first player to place a first game wager on a play of a first game, wherein a first portion of the first game wager is associated with the maintained first game progressive award,

(b) generate and display one of a plurality of outcomes for the play of the first game, said plurality of outcomes including a predetermined outcome having a first probability of being generated, and

(c) if the predetermined outcome is generated, provide the first player the maintained first game progressive award; and

a second gaming device configured to communicate with the controller, said second gaming device including at least one display device, at least one input device, at least one gaming device processor, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) enable a second player to place both;

(i) a second game wager on a play of a second game, and

(ii) a side wager on the maintained first game progressive award,

(b) determine a ratio between the first portion of the first game wager and the placed side wager on the first game progressive award,

(c) designate one of a plurality of outcomes for the play of the second game as a first game progressive award outcome, wherein the designated outcome has a second probability of being generated that is based on the determined ratio between the first portion of the first game wager and the placed side wager on the maintained first game progressive award,

(d) generate and display one of the plurality of outcomes for the play of the second game, and

(e) if the designated outcome is generated, provide the second player the maintained first game progressive award.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the greater the side wager on the first game progressive award relative to the first portion of the first game wager, the greater the second probability that the designated outcome will be generated for the play of the second game.

8. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein if the placed side wager on the first game progressive award substantially equals the first portion of the first game wager, the first probability substantially equals the second probability.

9. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of outcomes for the first game and the plurality of outcomes for the second game are a plurality of different symbol combinations.

10. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the first game and the second game are different games.

11. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein when executed by the at least one processor of the second gaming device, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor of the second gaming device to associate the second probability of being generated with the designated outcome.

12. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein when executed by the at least one processor of the second gaming device, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor of the second gaming device to display to the second player a menu which includes a plurality of progressive awards for the second player to place side wagers on.

13. A gaming system comprising:

a first gaming device including at least one display device, at least one input device, at least one gaming device processor, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to enable a first wager amount to be placed for a play of a first game;

a second gaming device including at least one display device, at least one input device, at least one gaming device processor, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to enable a second, different wager amount to be placed for a play of a second game; and

at least one controller including a plurality of progressive modules, said at least one controller configured to communicate with said gaming devices and programmed to;

(a) cause a first of the progressive modules to maintain a progressive award for said first gaming device, said maintained progressive award associated with a first progressive award probability for said first gaming device; and

(b) upon the second gaming device communicating a progressive award request;

(i) determine a second progressive award probability for said second gaming device, wherein said determined second progressive award probability is based, at least in part, on a ratio between the first wager amount and the second, different wager amount,

(ii) select one of a plurality of outcomes of the second game, wherein the selected outcome is associated with an outcome probability that is equal or substantially equal to the determined second progressive award probability,

(iii) associate the second gaming device with the first one of the progressive modules, and

(iv) communicate data representing the selected outcome of the second game and said maintained progressive award to the second gaming device, such that if the selected outcome of the second game is generated and displayed, the second gaming device provides and displays said maintained progressive award to a player.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein said first progressive award probability for said first gaming device is equal or substantially equal to an outcome probability associated with one of a plurality of outcomes of the first game.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the ratio between the first wager amount and the second, different wager amount is equal or substantially equal to a ratio between said first progressive award probability for said first gaming device and said determined second progressive award probability for said second gaming device.

16. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of outcomes for the second gaming device are stored in a memory device of the at least one controller.

17. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of outcomes of the second gaming device are a plurality of different symbol combinations.

18. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the first game and the second game are different games.

19. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein different wager amounts are formed from different denominations.

20. A method of operating a gaming apparatus, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining a first game progressive award;

(b) causing a first gaming device to;

(i) enable a first player to place a first game wager on a play of a first game,

(ii) determine whether to provide the maintained first game progressive award to the first player, wherein said determination is based on a first probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of the first player winning the maintained first game progressive award, and

(iii) if the determination is to provide the maintained first game progressive award, display and provide at least part of the maintained first game progressive award to the first player; and

(c) causing a second gaming device to;

(i) enable a second player to place a side wager on being provided the maintained first game progressive award, and

(ii) if the side wager is placed;

(A) determine whether to provide the maintained first game progressive award to the second player, wherein said determination is based on a second, different probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of the second player winning the maintained first game progressive award, the second probability is based on an amount of the side wager, and

(B) if the determination is to provide the maintained first game progressive award, display and provide at least part of the maintained first game progressive award to the second player.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the maintained first game progressive award is an accumulated value progressive award.

22. The method of claim 20, which includes causing any determinations of if any of the players are provided the maintained first game progressive award to occur independent of any displayed events in any plays of said first game.

23. The method of claim 20, which includes causing any determinations of if any of the players are provided the maintained first game progressive award to occur in addition to any random determinations in any plays of said first game.

24. The method of claim 20, which includes causing the second gaming device to display to the second player a menu which includes a plurality of progressive awards for the second player to place side wagers on.

25. The method of claim 20, which is provided through a data network.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the data network is an internet.

27. A method of operating a gaming apparatus, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining a first game progressive award;

(b) causing a first gaming device to;

(i) enable a first player to place a first game wager on a play of a first game, wherein a first portion of the first game wager is associated with the maintained first game progressive award,

(ii) generate and display one of a plurality of outcomes for the play of the first game, said plurality of outcomes including a predetermined outcome having a first probability of being generated, and

(iii) if the predetermined outcome is generated, provide the first player the maintained first game progressive award; and

(c) causing a second gaming device to;

(i) enable a second player to place both;

(A) a second game wager on a play of a second game, and

(B) a side wager on the maintained first game progressive award,

(ii) determine a ratio between the first portion of the first game wager and the placed side wager on the first game progressive award,

(iii) designate one of a plurality of outcomes for the play of the second game as a first game progressive award outcome, wherein the designated outcome has a second probability of being generated that is based on the determined ratio between the first portion of the first game wager and the placed side wager on the maintained first game progressive award,

(iv) generate and display one of the plurality of outcomes for the play of the second game, and

(v) if the designated outcome is generated, provide the second player the maintained first game progressive award.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the greater the side wager on the first game progressive award relative to the first portion of the first game wager, the greater the second probability that the designated outcome will be generated for the play of the second game.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein if the placed side wager on the first game progressive award substantially equals the first portion of the first game wager, the first probability substantially equals the second probability.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the plurality of outcomes for the first game and the plurality of outcomes for the second game are a plurality of different symbol combinations.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the first game and the second game are different games.

32. The method of claim 27, which includes causing the second gaming device to associate the second probability of being generated with the designated outcome.

33. The method of claim 27, which includes causing the second gaming device to display to the second player a menu which includes a plurality of progressive awards for the second player to place side wagers on.

34. The method of claim 27, which is provided through a data network.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the data network is an internet.

36. A method of operating a gaming apparatus, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a first wager amount to be placed for a play of a first game of a first gaming device;

(b) enabling a second, different wager amount to be placed for a play of a second game of a second gaming device;

(c) causing a first of a plurality of progressive modules of at least one controller to maintain a progressive award for said first gaming device, said maintained progressive award associated with a first progressive award probability for said first gaming device; and

(d) upon the second gaming device communicating a progressive award request;

(i) determining a second progressive award probability for said second gaming device, wherein said determined second progressive award probability is based, at least in part, on a ratio between the first wager amount and the second, different wager amount,

(ii) selecting one of a plurality of outcomes of the second game, wherein the selected outcome is associated with an outcome probability that is equal or substantially equal to the determined second progressive award probability, and

(iii) associating the second gaming device with the first one of the progressive modules, such that if the selected outcome of the second game is generated and displayed, the second gaming device provides and displays said maintained progressive award to a player.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said first progressive award probability for said first gaming device is equal or substantially equal to an outcome probability associated with one of a plurality of outcomes of the first game.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the ratio between the first wager amount and the second, different wager amount is equal or substantially equal to a ratio between said first progressive award probability for said first gaming device and said determined second progressive award probability for said second gaming device.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the plurality of outcomes of the second gaming device are a plurality of different symbol combinations.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the first game and the second game are different games.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein different wager amounts are formed from different denominations.

42. The method of claim 36, which is provided through a data network.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the data network is an internet.