Back to results
US 2008/0176650 A1Published application
Method and apparatus for rewarding multiple game players for a single win
AssigneeIgt
InventorsBryan Wolf, Greg Schlottman, Bill Brosnan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gaming apparatus and method is provided that is capable of rewarding a distributed jackpot to players using gaming units that are electronically linked to one another. The distributed jackpot may be shared among non-winning players when a winning result is achieved by a winning player.
Claims40
A gaming system comprising:
- a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including:
- at least one input device;
- at least one display device;
- at least one 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 control a play of a primary wagering game by:
- (a) randomly determining and displaying one of a plurality of outcomes of the primary wagering game, wherein a plurality of awards are associated with the plurality of outcomes of the primary wagering game,
- (b) if a designated one of the outcomes of the primary wagering game is displayed and a value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is at least equal to a threshold value greater than zero, displaying and providing to a player of said gaming machine a first part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome, wherein said first part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the entire award associated with the displayed designated outcome, and
- (c) if the designated one of the outcomes of the primary wagering game is displayed and the value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the threshold value, displaying and providing the award associated with the displayed designated outcome to the player of said gaming machine;
- and
- at least one controller configured to communicate with said gaming machines, wherein if the value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome for at least a first one of said gaming machines is at least equal to the threshold value, the at least one controller is programmed to cause at least another one of said gaming machines to display and provide to a player of said other gaming machine a second part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome, wherein said second part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the entire award associated with the displayed designated outcome.
8 more elements
A gaming system comprising:
- at least one controller configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming machines;
- and
- at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one controller, cause the at least one controller to:
- (a) determine if a value of an award associated with a designated outcome which is randomly determined and displayed by a first one of the gaming machines is at least equal to a threshold value greater than zero,
- (b) if the value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome for the first one of said gaming machines is at least equal to the threshold value:
- (i) cause the first one of the gaming machines to display and provide to a player of said first one of the gaming machines a first part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome, wherein said first part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the entire award associated with the displayed designated outcome, and
- (ii) cause at least another one of said gaming machines to display and provide to a player of said other gaming machine a second part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome, wherein said second part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the entire award associated with the displayed designated outcome;
- and
- (c) if the value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome for the first one of said gaming machines is less than the threshold value, cause the first one of the gaming machines to display and provide the award associated with the displayed designated outcome to the player of said first one of the gaming machines.
6 more elements
A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
- (a) causing at least one of a plurality of gaming machines to:
- (i) randomly determine and display one of a plurality of outcomes of a primary wagering game, wherein a plurality of awards are associated with the plurality of outcomes of the primary wagering game,
- (ii) if a designated one of the outcomes of the primary wagering game is displayed and a value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is at least equal to a threshold value, display and provide to a player of said gaming machine a first part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome, wherein said first part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the entire award associated with the displayed designated outcome, and
- (iii) if the designated one of the outcomes of the primary wagering game is displayed and the value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the threshold value greater than zero, display and provide the award associated with the displayed designated outcome to the player of said gaming machine;
- and
- (b) if the value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome for at least a first one of said gaming machines is at least equal to the threshold value, causing at least one controller to cause each of at least another one of said gaming machines to display and provide to a player of said other gaming machine a second part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome, wherein said second part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the entire award associated with the displayed designated outcome.
3 more elements
A method of operating a gaming system controller, said method comprising:
- (a) determining if a value of an award associated with a designated outcome randomly determined and displayed by a first one of a plurality of gaming machines is at least equal to a threshold value greater than zero,
- (b) if the value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome for the first one of said gaming machines is at least equal to the threshold value:
- (i) causing the first one of the gaming machines to display and provide to a player of said first one of the gaming machines a first part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome, wherein said first part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the entire award associated with the displayed designated outcome, and
- (ii) causing at least another one of said gaming machines to display and provide to a player of said other gaming machine a second part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome, wherein said second part of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome is less than the entire award associated with the displayed designated outcome;
- and
- (c) if the value of the award associated with the displayed designated outcome for the first one of said gaming machines is less than the threshold value, causing the first one of the gaming machines to display and provide the award associated with the displayed designated outcome to the player of said first one of the gaming machines.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.