Wide area bonusing systems
AssigneeIgt
InventorsAli Saffari, Chris Reddicks, Mark Bansemer, Anisur Chowdhury, Bryan Wolf
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a novel bonusing system implemented on gaming machines and associated network devices on a network. According to some implementations, a central system qualifies or eliminates sites and/or types of gaming devices for participation based on criteria such as contribution level, games available, date range, location, device manufacturer, denominations available, etc. In some implementations, the qualification or elimination process is performed at a site (e.g., by a site controller) according to criteria obtained from the central system. The methods of the present invention may be de-coupled from player tracking methods.
Claims35
A method for providing wide area bonusing on a gaming network, the method comprising:
- initiating a bonus accumulation period;
- increasing a bonus amount from an initial bonus amount during the bonus accumulation period according to bonus accumulation criteria;
- identifying a first bonus-triggering criterion separate from gaming criteria for winning a game played on a gaming machine;
- determining whether one of a plurality of gaming machines located in a plurality of gaming establishments and interconnected on a wide area bonusing network indicates the first bonus-triggering criterion;
- and
- paying out at least a portion of the bonus amount to a gaming machine when the gaming machine indicates the first bonus-triggering criterion.
A method for providing bonusing and progressive jackpots on a gaming network, the method comprising:
- providing a first chance for a each of a first plurality of gaming devices to win a progressive jackpot via the gaming network, wherein an award of the progressive jackpot is based in part on gaming criteria for winning a game played on the first plurality of gaming machines;
- and
- providing a second chance for a each of a second plurality of gaming machines to win a bonus via the gaming network, wherein a bonus award is based on a bonus-triggering criterion that is separate from the gaming criteria.
A network device for implementing a wide area bonusing system, the network device comprising:
- an interface for communicating with a plurality of site controllers via a network, each site controller configured for communication with gaming machines;
- and
- at least one logic device configured to:
- initiate a bonus accumulation period;
- increase a bonus amount from an initial bonus amount during the bonus accumulation period according to bonus accumulation criteria;
- identify a bonus-triggering criterion separate from gaming criteria for winning a game played on a gaming machine;
- determine whether one of a first plurality of gaming machines indicates the bonus-triggering criterion;
- pay out at least a portion of the bonus amount to a first gaming machine of the first plurality of gaming machines when the first gaming machine indicates the bonus-triggering criterion;
- initiate a progressive jackpot accumulation period;
- increase a progressive jackpot from an initial jackpot amount during the progressive jackpot accumulation period according to progressive jackpot accumulation criteria;
- identify a progressive jackpot triggering criterion based at least in part on gaming criteria for winning a game played on a gaming machine;
- determine whether one of a second plurality of gaming machines indicates the progressive jackpot triggering criterion;
- and
- pay out at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to a second gaming machine of the second plurality of gaming machines when the second gaming machine indicates the progressive jackpot triggering criterion.
A network device for providing bonusing and progressive jackpots, the network device comprising:
- an interface for communicating with a plurality of site controllers located in a first plurality of gaming establishments;
- and
- at least one logic device configured to:
- initiate a bonus accumulation period;
- increase a bonus amount from an initial bonus amount during the bonus accumulation period according to bonus accumulation criteria;
- identify a bonus-triggering criterion separate from gaming criteria for winning a game played on a gaming machine;
- determine whether one of a plurality of gaming machines located in a second plurality of gaming establishments indicates the bonus-triggering criterion;
- and
- pay out at least a portion of the bonus amount to a gaming machine when the gaming machine indicates the bonus-triggering criterion.
A network device for implementing a wide area bonusing system, the network device comprising:
- a first interface for communicating with a central gaming system via a network;
- at least one interface for communicating with a plurality of gaming machines;
- and
- at least one logic device configured to:
- poll the plurality of gaming machines;
- obtain data from each gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines regarding participation in a wide area bonus round involving multiple gaming establishments;
- and
- forward the data to a central system that is implementing the wide area bonus round.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.