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US 7,351,140 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for rewarding multiple game players for a single win
AssigneeIgt
InventorsBryan Wolf, Gregory A. Schlottmann, Bill Brosnan
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims39
A gaming system comprising:
- a plurality of gaming apparatuses, said gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses;
- one of said gaming apparatuses comprising a network computer, said network computer comprising a network processor and a network memory operatively coupled to said network processor;
- said network computer being programmed to accumulate and analyze data relating to operation of said plurality of gaming apparatuses;
- each of said plurality of gaming apparatus comprises:
- a display unit that is capable of generating video images;
- a value input device;
- a game controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said game controller comprising a controller processor and a controller memory operatively coupled to said controller processor;
- said game controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager;
- said game controller being programmed to cause a video image representing a game to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing one of the following games:
- video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo;
- said video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said game comprises video poker;
- said video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said game comprises video slots;
- said video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said game comprises video blackjack;
- said video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said game comprises video keno;
- said video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said game comprises video bingo;
- said game controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game;
- and
- said game controller being programmed to generate a signal indicating whether or not said gaming apparatus is in play;
- and
- said network computer being further programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of a game being displayed on one of said gaming apparatuses, to compare said value payout to a threshold amount, and if said value payout is greater than or equal to said threshold amount to (1) send a distributed jackpot payout message to the plurality of gaming apparatuses and (2) cause each of said plurality of gaming apparatuses to distribute at least part, but not all of the value payout.
17 more elements
A method of operating a gaming system having a plurality of gaming units, comprising:
- (a) providing a plurality of electronically linked gaming units;
- (b) causing a video image of a game to be generated;
- (c) designating one of said plurality of electronically linked gaming machines as a network computer;
- (d) accumulating and analyzing information on game machine operation;
- (e) determining whether a gaming unit is in play;
- (f) determining a value payout associated with an outcome of said game on one of said plurality of electronically linked gaming units represented by said video image;
- (g) comparing said value payout to a threshold amount;
- and
- (h) if said value payout is greater than or equal to said threshold amount, paying a portion of the value payout to at least one other of said electronically linked gaming units, regardless of the outcome associated with said at least one other of said electronically linked gaming units, when said at least one other gaming unit is in play.
6 more elements
A gaming system comprising:
- a plurality of gaming apparatuses operable under control of a processor, each of said gaming apparatuses in communication with a network computer and including:
- a primary wagering game operable upon a wager by a player;
- a plurality of outcomes associated with the primary wagering game;
- a plurality of awards associated with the plurality of outcomes;
- and
- a display device adapted to display said primary game;
- wherein the processor is operable with said display device to control a play of the primary wagering game by:
- (a) displaying one of the outcomes associated with the primary wagering game;
- (b) if the award associated with the displayed outcome is at least equal to a threshold award amount, providing the player at least part, but not all of the award associated with the displayed outcome;
- and
- (c) if the award associated with the displayed outcome is less than the threshold award amount, providing the player the award associated with the displayed outcome;
- wherein the network computer is operable to:
- (i) determine if any of the awards associated with any of the displayed outcomes by any of the gaming apparatuses is at least equal to the threshold award amount;
- (ii) if the award associated with the displayed outcome is at least equal to the threshold award amount, identify at least another of said gaming apparatuses which will provide at least part, but not all of the award associated with the displayed outcome;
- and
- (iii) cause said identified gaming apparatus to display a shared award message.
13 more elements
A method of operating a gaming system, said gaming system including a network computer in communication with a plurality of gaming apparatuses wherein each gaming apparatus includes a primary game operable upon a wager placed by a player, said method comprising:
- (a) causing at least one of the plurality of gaming apparatuses to display one of a plurality of outcomes, wherein a plurality of awards are associated with the plurality of outcomes;
- (b) if the award associated with the displayed outcome is at least equal to a threshold award amount, causing said at least one gaming apparatus to provide the player at least part, but not all of the award associated with the displayed outcome;
- (c) if the award associated with the displayed outcome is less than the threshold award amount, causing said at least one gaming apparatus to provide the player the award associated with the displayed outcome;
- (d) causing the network computer to determine if any of the awards associated with any of the displayed outcomes by any of the gaming apparatuses is at least equal to the threshold award amount;
- (e) if the award associated with the displayed outcome is at least equal to the threshold award amount, causing the network computer to identify at least another of said gaming apparatuses which will provide at least part, but not all of the award associated with the displayed outcome;
- and
- (f) causing said identified gaming apparatus to display a shared award message.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.