# US 10,373,435 B2 · Gaming systems for funding jackpots > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,373,435 B2 - Document ID: US10373435B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/823,334 - Filed: 2017-11-27 - Published: 2018-03-22 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-15 - Assignees: Bally Gaming, Inc. - Applicants: Bally Gaming, Inc. - Inventors: Mark L. Yoseloff; David Pokorny; Feraidoon Bourbour; James R. Roberts - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10373435B2 ## CPC - G07F 17/3258: {Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots} - G07F 17/3211: {Display means} - G07F 17/3218: {wherein at least part of the system is portable} - G07F 17/3272: {Games involving multiple players} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract Methods and apparatuses for variable contribution multiple progressive jackpot games are disclosed. A variable contribution rate is determined as a function of a wager level. A contribution amount is determined by multiplying each wager by its corresponding contribution rate. The contribution amount is then added to at least two jackpot meters. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gaming system for funding a progressive jackpot for a wagering game, the gaming system comprising: at least one processor configured to: receive an indication of a series of wagers; apply a first contribution rate to at least one wager of the series of wagers resulting in a higher proportional value of the at least one wager; funding a progressive jackpot with the higher proportional value of the at least one wager; displaying a value of the progressive jackpot on a jackpot meter; after an occurrence of a threshold event, apply a second, lower contribution rate to at least another wager of the series of wagers resulting in a lower proportional value of the at least another wager, the second, lower contribution rate being lower than the first contribution rate; and further funding the progressive jackpot with the lower proportional value of the at least another wager. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the threshold event is selected from the group consisting of: a threshold number of wagers made; a predetermined threshold jackpot amount; an amount of time; a multiple of seed amount; and a percentage of a theoretical maximum jackpot amount. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a jackpot control module configured to administer a jackpot component of a plurality of gaming tables, the jackpot control module in communication with the at least one processor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising one or more player modules configured to recognize when a wager is placed, the one or more player modules in communication with the at least one processor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the one or more player modules comprise at least one of a hand-held wireless device or a hardwired networked device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a main control module in communication with the at least one processor, the main control module configured to receive an indication of receipt of wagers of the series of wagers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising an operator interface module comprising the at least one processor, the operator interface module configured to provide an option for an operator to select between a predetermined threshold progressive contribution mode and an automatic progressive contribution mode. ### Claim 8 A gaming system for funding a progressive jackpot for a wagering game, the gaming system comprising: at least one processor configured to: apply a first contribution rate to received wagers to increment a jackpot meter to fund a progressive jackpot; apply a second contribution rate to the received wagers to increment at least one reseed meter to fund at least one selected reseed amount, a combination of the first contribution rate and the second contribution rate resulting in a higher proportional value of the received wagers funding the progressive jackpot; and apply a third contribution rate to additional received wagers to increment at least the jackpot meter to further fund the progressive jackpot after an occurrence of a threshold event resulting in a lower proportional value of the additional received wagers, the third contribution rate being lower than the combination of the first contribution rate and the second contribution rate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the threshold event comprises a threshold number of wagers made. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the threshold event comprises a predetermined threshold jackpot amount. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the threshold event comprises an amount of time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the threshold event comprises a multiple of a seed amount. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the threshold event comprises a percentage of a theoretical maximum jackpot amount. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The gaming system of claim 8, further comprising: an operator interface module comprising the at least one processor; and a jackpot control module in communication with the operator interface module, the jackpot control module configured to administer a jackpot component of a plurality of tables of the gaming system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The gaming system of claim 14, further comprising: a main control module in communication with the jackpot control module, the main control module configured to receive an indication of a receipt of a wager from a player. ### Claim 16 A gaming system for funding a progressive jackpot for a wagering game, the gaming system comprising: an operator interface module comprising a processor configured to: apply a first portion of a first contribution rate to a series of wagers received to a jackpot meter to fund a progressive jackpot; apply a second portion of the first contribution rate to the series of wagers received to at least one reseed meter to fund at least one selected reseed amount; and after an occurrence of a threshold event, apply a second contribution rate to another series of wagers to at least the jackpot meter to fund the progressive jackpot resulting in a lower proportional value of the another series of wagers funding the progressive jackpot as compared to a higher proportional value of the series of wagers funding the progressive jackpot at the first contribution rate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The gaming system of claim 16, further comprising player modules configured to receive the series of wagers from respective players, the player modules in communication with the operator interface module. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The gaming system of claim 16, further comprising a progressive jackpot control module configured to receive indications that wagers of the series of wagers have been received, the progressive jackpot control module in communication with the operator interface module. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the progressive jackpot control module is configured to administer a progressive jackpot component of a plurality of gaming tables. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the first contribution rate is higher than the second contribution rate.