Jackpot gaming method and system for game events with varying events probabilities

A progressive jackpot gaming system for providing a progressive jackpot award responsive to receiving a progressive jackpot wager in connection with the play of one or more wagering games of any kind, the system comprising:

• a wagering game controller configured to communicate an occurrence of one or more preset game events during an instance of play of at least one wagering game of the one or more wagering games;
• a progressive jackpot server in communication with the wagering game controller;
• at least one processor in communication with the wagering game controller and the progressive jackpot server;
• at least one random event outcome generator configured to generate a random event outcome value;
• and
• at least one memory device storing a preset progressive jackpot award score value, a preset game event probability value, the preset game event probability value being associated with the probability of the occurrence of each preset game event of a plurality of preset game events, and a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
• a) determine a jackpot game score responsive to receiving from the wagering game controller a communication of the occurrence of a specific preset game event of the plurality of preset game events stored in memory;
• and thereafter to
• b) direct the progressive jackpot server to communicate the awarding of a progressive jackpot to the wagering game controller responsive to the jackpot game score being equal to or less than the preset progressive jackpot award score value stored in memory in association with the specific preset game event, wherein the jackpot game score is determined by the application of a predefined relationship setting forth the jackpot game score based at least partially on the random event outcome value generated by the random event outcome generator and the preset game event probability value stored in memory in association with the specific preset game event.

A method of providing a progressive jackpot award including a processor in communication with a random number generator and a memory device, the memory device having both a preset progressive jackpot award score value and a preset game event probability value associated with the probability of the occurrence of each preset game event of a plurality of preset game events, programming and a plurality of executable instruction stored therein, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) actuating the random number generator to randomly generate a normalizing random event outcome value;
• b) responsive to the occurrence of a specific preset game event of the plurality of preset game events stored in memory during play of the one or more of the wagering games, causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the jackpot game event probability value by applying a predefined relationship setting forth the jackpot game score based at least partially on the normalizing random event outcome value and the preset game event probability value stored in the memory as being associated with the specific preset game event;
• and
• c) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to communicate the awarding of the progressive jackpot award responsive to the jackpot game score being equal to or less than the preset progressive jackpot award score value stored in the memory that is associated with the specific preset game event.

A progressive wagering system for wagering games, comprising:

• a) one or more wagering games;
• b) one or more input devices in communication with each of the at least two wagering games configured to detect a wager;
• c) memory for storing a minimum jackpot probability required to win the prize and a set of hands in the game which qualify to win a progressive jackpot;
• d) one or more communication devices configured to communicate game event information during game play of the one or more wagering games;
• e) a processor and memory coupled to the one or more communication devices and the one or more input devices, the processor executing instructions which cause the processor to:
• generate using a random number generator a random normalizing event after a wagering game of the one or more wagering games is played;
• receive game event information from the one or more communication devices;
• calculate the combined probability of the wager including using the random normalizing event to reduce the qualified hand probability if the wager was higher than a minimum value required to play the progressive;
• and award the jackpot prize to a player whose qualified hand probability is equal or smaller than the minimum jackpot probability.