Patent Grant
7297059
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to progressive gaming systems and methods and, more particularly, to progressive systems and methods having fractional awards.
2. Discussion of the Background
Progressive gaming systems and methods are utilized by the gaming industry to increase revenues from play of casino games of chance and to offer excitement and incentive to players of such casino games of chance. It is recognized that gaming terminals linked in a progressive gaming system create more frequent jackpots, a greater rate of incrementing the progressive amount, and a greater visibility than possible with stand-alone casino games of chance. As a result, players react with increased coin-in. A typical so-called wide area progressive gaming system links multiple casinos and affords players in each casino a chance to win a large jackpot. The conventional term “coin-in” generically refers to the wager or bet made by a player in what ever form such as, but not limited to coin, bills, tickets, cards, credits, etc.
A wide area progressive gaming system provides a central progressive controller in communication with casino games of chance (gaming terminals) located in dispersed physical sites such as, for example, in groups of gaming terminals (such as in “island” of gaming terminals under a large overhead display showing the progressive award values), at different casinos, and/or in different cities. A number of different topological configurations, communication networks, communication protocols, and gaming terminals are commercially available.
All such conventional linked progressive systems and methods fund and award progressive jackpot(s) based under control of the progressive controller. Typically, the coin-in values from each gaming terminal, as played by players, are continuously monitored and the progressive controller contributes a percentage to the jackpot pool. For example, if a maximum bet of $3 (i.e., 3 dollars “coin-in”) at a gaming terminal qualifies the player for a chance to win the progressive jackpot, then the progressive controller receives this information and contributes a percentage such as 3% or 9 cents to the jackpot pool. The funding for the progressive jackpot pool typically includes a percentage of all coins-in. Hence, if a player bets $2 (i.e., not qualifying for the progressive), a 3% or 6 cent contribution to the progressive jackpot is still made. This function (called “funding”) continuously occurs with coin-in data obtained from all gaming terminals being played. Some systems provide levels of separate progressive awards from separate jackpot pools with each pool separately funded. All such separate pools are separately funded by a specified percentage of all coins-in. Progressive systems are designed to support a predetermined number of levels such as, for example eight, but the casino and/or manufacturer operating the systems can configure it for a suitable number within the predetermined number, can select the percentage contribution for each level, etc.
The progressive controller receives the coin-in data from the gaming terminals and funds each separate progressive jackpot pool. When a progressive jackpot payoff event for a configured level occurs in a gaming terminal (i.e., a player playing the casino game of chance in the gaming terminal wins the progressive), the gaming terminal communicates the occurrence of the progressive event to the progressive controller. The controller informs the linked gaming terminals of the progressive win in typically a celebration mode, and then the progressive jackpot for that level is awarded. As this exhausts the jackpot pool for that level, it is restarted from a reset (or funded from a “seed” plus a reserve pool or the like) and the new jackpot value for the level is broadcast out to all progressive displays for the gaming terminals. The new progressive jackpot value for that level is simultaneously displayed at all gaming terminals. A progressive jackpot award in one level does not affect the jackpot values in the other levels as they are separate pools separately funded.
The progressive controller is responsible for all contributions, calculations, and sending out all new display information to the progressive displays. The gaming terminals do not have any of this control responsibility. Some gaming terminals display the broadcast progressive jackpot value. One advantage of performing all functions at the progressive controller is that it provides a secure, centralized controller and database. The progressive system monitors the coin-in meter at each gaming terminal and receives the occurrence of the progressive event as reported from the gaming terminal. The gaming terminal itself is generally “dumb” or “ignorant” of the progressive jackpot value being awarded as the game controller in the gaming terminal primarily operates the casino game of chance for the player. That is, although the progressive jackpot value is sent to the physical location of the gaming terminal (e.g., to a display within the slot machine), the slot machine controller that controls and operates the slot machine does not accept as input for game play or modify the broadcast progressive jackpot value. The gaming terminal, in some conventional systems, may receive the broadcast progressive jackpot value to display it and/or re-send the value back to the progressive controller when won.
In such conventional progressive systems, players playing the casino game of chance in the gaming terminals are sometimes disappointed. For example, if the gaming terminal has only one progressive jackpot payoff level for players placing a maximum wager (i.e., max coin-in), then any player placing less than maximum wager misses out on receiving the progressive jackpot when the qualifying event occurs in the casino game of chance. E.g., if the qualifying event is aligning four 7s on the payline, and if the player is eligible with a maximum bet of 3 coins, then a player aligning four 7s on the payline but wagering only 1 coin will instead receive a fixed prize (e.g., 1,000 coins) or alternatively be paid from a smaller progressive prize pool dedicated only to this wager of 1 coin-in. Hence, a need exists to eliminate such player disappointment and to further increase player participation and excitement by paying such players a fraction of the progressive jackpot. A further need exists to enable the gaming terminal to receive the progressive jackpot value when it is displayed simultaneously to all progressive displays and to determine such fractional payoffs independent of the progressive controller. A further need exists to communicate the award of such fractional value payoffs to the progressive controller so that the progressive controller can deduct such fractional awards from the progressive jackpot. As the progressive jackpot payoffs are based on separate jackpot pools in the progressive controller, a need exists to provide such fractional payoffs for the jackpot pool in each level. A further need exists to enhance game play at the game level, by taking as input the progressive jackpot value, and based upon specific rules of play, allowing the player to win a function of the progressive jackpot value as calculated by the game terminal. A further need exists to provide fractional progressive awards for a jackpot level.
The present invention solves the aforesaid needs by providing a method for paying a progressive jackpot in a system having a progressive controller linked to groups of gaming terminals. In one aspect, the method of the present invention broadcasts a current progressive jackpot amount from the progressive controller into each of the linked gaming terminals in each of the groups. The player at one of the gaming terminals places a wager which is received by the gaming terminal to enable the player to play a casino game of chance resident therein. The gaming terminal using software incorporating the method of the present invention determines a fractional value based upon at least (1) the broadcast current progressive jackpot amount and (2) the received wager when a progressive event occurs in play of the casino game of chance. When the progressive event occurs during play of the casino game of chance, the determined progressive jackpot value is delivered from the gaming terminal back to the progressive controller. These determined fractional progressive jackpot amounts are less than the broadcast progressive jackpot amount and is based on a function of the received wager (or other function in the play of the casino game of chance). In the wager function embodiment, the player controls the fractional amount received by the value of the received wager which can range from a lowest value to a maximum value.
In a second embodiment of the method of the present invention, fractional awards less than a broadcast progressive jackpot amount are made to the player of a slot machine linked in a progressive gaming system. The progressive system broadcasts the progressive jackpot value to be won by the player when a progressive event occurs in the play of the slot machine by the player. The player places a wager of U units on at least one payline of the slot machine having a maximum wager of M units. The placed wager is received by the slot machine. The player is then paid a fractional amount less than the broadcast progressive jackpot amount based on the wager of U units, where U is less than M and when the progressive event(s) occurs in the play of the slot machine. Other embodiments and variations of the methods of the present invention are discussed herein.
1. Overview
In
The term “gaming terminal” is used in its broadest sense to be synonymous with, but not limited to, gaming system, gaming device, gaming machine, etc. A gaming terminal can be, but not limited to, stand-alone, incorporated into another gaming terminal, etc. A gaming terminal can also be connected to, but not limited to, a network, the Internet, a progressive system, a telecommunications network, etc. It is to be appreciated that conventional gaming terminal 1200 designs are vigorous and encompass a wide variety of conventional designs to incorporate any number of conventional casino games of chance.
The progressive controller 2 can be any of a number of conventional progressive controllers modified according to the teachings of the present invention contained therein. One such conventional progressive controller 2 is available from Mikohn Gaming Corporation known as CASINOLINK Linked Progressive Jackpot System.
In
The communication network 50 can be any conventional communication network utilizing any of a number of other conventional networks. This could include any hardwired, wireless, and/or telecommunication network including the Internet communicating with each group 30 of gaming terminals 40. The communication network 50 could include conventional switches, modems, routers, telephone connections, T1 or DSL lines, external firewalls, etc. In one embodiment, the progressive controller 2 can be located in a given casino and hardwired through cabling 50 to each group 30 and each group 30 could be an island of gaming terminals 40 located at various locations in the casino. In another embodiment, the groups 30 can be located in different casinos, in different locations, etc. How the progressive controller 2 communicates with each group 30 is performed in many different conventional designs. The communication network 50 in
Each group 30 may comprise any number of gaming terminals 40 and the gaming terminals 40 may incorporate any suitable casino game of chance (with or without bonus games) such as a slot game, a video slot game, video poker, video keno, etc. The location of each group 30, the number of gaming terminals 40, and the nature of each individual casino game of chance in the gaming terminal 40 is a matter of design choice under the teachings of the present invention.
Each group 30, in one embodiment, has a modem 16 connected to a router 18 which is connected to an Ethernet 19. On the Ethernet 19 is the Input/Output controller 22 which is connected through a conventional RS-485 communication port 2 to the serial bus 25 which, in one embodiment, is a half-duplex serial bus 25. An overhead display 28 is connected to the bus 25 as are interface cards 26. These components provide two-way data communication between each interface card 26 and the communication network 50. The functional components discussed above are found in the aforesaid CASINOLINK system and it is to be expressly understood that a number of other functional system approaches could likewise be modified under the teachings of the present invention as discussed later.
As shown in
Under the teachings of the present invention, each gaming terminal 40 in each group 30, in addition to the conventional displaying 60 of the value 80, has access 62 to the value 80. Based on this access 62, the game control 70 delivers to players of the gaming terminal 40 awards based upon the value 80. In one embodiment, these are fractional progressive awards. As will be explained in the ensuing, when a fractional award is made by the game control 70 of the gaming terminal 40, the award is delivered from the gaming terminal 40 responsible for the fractional progressive award over the communication network 50 into the progressive controller 2 which then modifies the current value of the progressive jackpot by subtracting the fractional progressive award made so that a new value 80 is broadcast into displays 28 and 60 to reflect an updated value. Of course, as this occurs, contributions may also be made to increase the progressive value 80.
A group 30 includes any desired number of gaming terminals GTN. A group 30 herein may include one gaming terminal, in which case, the modem may communicate directly with the gaming terminal.
In
In each gaming terminal 40 of each group the value 80 is displayed 220 in either or both the overhead display 28 and display 60. Whether or not there are other displays of this value 80 in, at, or near the gaming terminal 40 is not material to the present invention. Game control 70, under the teachings of the present invention, receives the value 80 for use in play 230 of the casino game of chance GC and for display 220 before, during, and/or after the play of the casino game of chance. A wager is received 230 from a player at the casino game of chance resident in the gaming terminal 40 being played. The fractional amount 90 based on the received wager and the broadcast current progressive jackpot amount 80 is determined 235 by software in the gaming terminal 40. Such determination 235 can occur when the wager is received, at any time during the play of the casino game of chance, or when the progressive event occurs. When a progressive event occurs in the play 230 of the casino game of chance, the game control 70 determines 240 whether to award the full or a fractional portion of the progressive. If the progressive event does not occur, the play normally ends 250. The term “progressive event” is whatever “event” is configured or designed into the casino game of chance. There exist a wide variety of “progressive events” available for casino games of chance linked together in a progressive system. Furthermore, in some progressive systems, different groups of gaming terminals may have different progressive events. Many “progressive events” are conventional and include, but are not limited to the random appearance of a predetermined game outcome such as three 7s or a hearts royal flush. The present invention works with any desired progressive event including conventional progressive events or progressive events designed for casino games not yet in existence. The determination of the fractional progressive award can occur in response to receiving the wager, during play of the casino game of chance and/or when the progressive event occurs.
If the progressive event occurs during play 230, then in stage 240 the award is made. The winning event is displayed 260 with the amount 90 to be awarded. The displaying 260 can occur to the player and/or to all gaming terminals in the group 30 and/or to all groups 30. The amount 90 is then outputted 270 from the gaming terminal 40 through 280 the communication network 50 to the progressive controller 2. Progressive controller 2 computes 200 a new progressive value by deducting the delivered award 90 as will be explained in greater detail later. The process of
The present invention pertains to the gaming terminal 40 using the broadcast value 80 from the progressive controller 20 in the play 230 of the casino game of chance as by awarding 240 fractional progressive amounts 90 based on conventional progressive events occurring in the play 230. Next, the present invention provides a return communication method from the gaming terminal 40 to the progressive controller 20 as represented by steps 260, 270, and 280 to the progressive controller 2 wherein the fractional progressive award value 90 is delivered. In all conventional progressive controller systems play 230 of the casino game of chance never involves the determination and awarding of a fractional amount 90 of the broadcast progressive value 80 as determined automatically by the game control 70 in the gaming terminal.
In summary of
2. Gaming Terminal 40
In
The gaming terminal 40 of the present invention utilizes computer 300 which could be any suitable controller, microprocessor, etc. accessing either internal or external memory 310 over a suitable communication path 302. The present invention is not limited to the type of computer 300, type of memory 310 or type of communication path 302.
The game display 320 comprises many different types of game displays including, but not limited to mechanical, electronic, video, or combinations thereof. The game display 320 displays to a player the base game casino game of chance and/or any bonus games. The game display 320 may include a single display or a plurality of displays. The nature and design of the display for the casino game of chance is immaterial as many different commercially available devices can be used.
Player input 330 may also comprise one or many different conventional input devices 330 which would include separate buttons, switches, etc. The player input 330 may also be incorporated into the game display 320 when the game display is also a touch screen. Indeed, the player input 330 may be separate and/or part of the game display 320. The nature and design of the player input 330 for the casino game of chance is vigorous as many different commercially available devices can be used.
The wager/award input/output 340 is also conventionally known and includes a wide variety of coin in, currency reader, ticket reader, credit in, coin out, ticket out, credit display, credit out, award of payoffs and prizes during the play of the game, etc. The nature and design of the wager/award input/output 340 for the casino game of chance is vigorous as many different commercially available devices can be used for individually or collectively for the input/output 340.
The input/output 26 is a communication module (interface card) that enables communication with the I/O controller 22 on bus 25 (and thence through the communication network 50 with the progressive controller 20) in any one of numerous conventional fashions. The nature and design of the input/output 26 for the gaming terminal 40 is vigorous as many different commercially available devices can be used.
It is expressly understood that the functional block diagram gaming terminal 40 is represented in different functional descriptions with different components based upon gaming terminal design requirements and the like. Hence the functional blocks shown and their interconnection are meant to be illustrative and not limiting to the teachings of the present invention. Under the teachings of the present invention, the broadcast progressive value 80 delivered from the progressive controller 2 through the communication network 50 is delivered into the I/O 26 and stored in register 352 (or hardware of software buffer) for subsequent delivery to the computer 300 for the embodiment shown in
When a fractional portion of the value 80 award occurs in the play 230 of the casino game of chance, the computer under software control displays this award 90 in displays 60 and 320 (and may further display celebration of this winning event in celebration displays, multimedia, etc.) (not shown). When this occurs, the computer 300 under software control outputs the fractional amount 90 to the output register 354 (or hardware or software buffer) in I/O 26 for delivery to I/O controller 22 (and thence through 280 the communication network 50 to the progressive controller 20). It is to be understood that I/O registers 352 and 254 are shown separate, but need not be so as any I/O interface could be utilized.
The calculations of the fractional amount 90 in the embodiment set forth in
3. Fractional Progressive Awards
The following methods of the present invention accomplish the goal of allowing players to be eligible for a fractional portion 90 of the progressive jackpot 80 with, for example, less than maximum wagers (or other game function). In one embodiment, the progressive jackpot pay out is prorated according to the amount of the wager placed (coin-in) 340 by the player.
Under a first embodiment as shown in
By way of example for the first embodiment and as shown in
Several alternate embodiments exist for the first-stage (of one or more stages) of a base-game jackpot qualification means. In describing these alternatives, the following example of 5 trigger symbols on a jackpot-eligible payline as the winning combination is used. However, the method of the present invention is equally applicable with any other combination of symbols on a payline. The approach is applicable under many conditions, but by way of further example assume the casino game of chance is a 9-line, 45-coin game. Hence the maximum bet M per payline is 5 coins and the lowest bet L per payline is 1 coin. These embodiments are summarized in the following table for a multi-bet, multi-payline casino game of chance such as this example of a 5 coin, 9 payline game:
The first embodiment, as already described, allows the player to be eligible for a fractional portion 90 of the progressive jackpot amount 80 by wagering any amount U on any payline from L to M. To provide an incentive for the casino game of chance player to bet M, the payoff percentage P similar to that shown in
In a second embodiment, the player is eligible for at least a fractional portion 90 of the jackpot 80 provided the player has placed any bet on all paylines (rows 2 and 3 in the above table). In the example of 5 coins and 9 paylines, the player would have to wager U on all 9 paylines, but again, the player need not bet the maximum M (U=5) on all 9 paylines and need only bet L (U=1) on each of the 9 paylines. In this second embodiment, the progressive event for winning the progressive jackpot may be, e.g., the alignment of 5 common symbols on any one of the 9 paylines (row 2 in the above table) or it may be the alignment of 5 common symbols on a prescribed payline (e.g., the 9th payline)(row 3 in the above table). In this second embodiment, what is advantageous is that the player wagering on all 9 paylines is eligible to win a portion of the progressive jackpot even if not wagering the theoretical maximum M on each play. This is shown in
As mentioned, the numerical calculations could, in modified embodiments of the present invention, be performed, either in whole or in part, in other processors found in the interface 26, the I/O controller 22 and/or the progressive controller 2 (or elsewhere). For example and with reference to
In one variation of the present invention, the progressive jackpot is won in two stages, the first stage comprises the aligning of traditional symbols on the base game (i.e., a predefined winning combination in the casino game of chance) and the second stage is a trivia (or strategy) game. First, the player must meet predefined criteria on the base game. This first step of qualification of a player is accomplished, e.g., by aligning 5 trigger symbols left to right on any active payline in a slot casino game of chance. The word “qualifying” is used in its broadest sense herein and is not limited to aligning 5 trigger symbols as it could be any predefined event in the game such as, for example, a random symbol appearance, a random coin-in occurrence, a predefined symbol outcome in combination with a prescribed wager and number of lines played, etc. Thereafter, as a second step of qualification, a trivia question is posed on-screen to the player. If the player is right in answering the trivia question, then the player has successfully completed both stages of qualification and therefore wins the progressive jackpot. If wrong on the trivia stage, then the player wins a consolation prize of 25% of the jackpot. In some embodiments, a two-stage process need not be used and in which case the traditional one-step means of qualifying on the base game is used as discussed above. Alternately, a multi-stage process could be used.
In
In summary of the above embodiments based on receiving a wager, the method of the present invention includes: receiving a wager of U units from a player on at least one payline of the casino game of chance (e.g., a slot machine) wherein the maximum wager is M and paying the player an amount less than the progressive jackpot amount based on the wager of U units where U is less than M when the progressive event occurs.
It is expressly understood that the progressive controller 2 is preferably continually updating and increasing the value 80 based upon contributions from all of the gaming terminals being played. It is also to be understood that other gaming terminals 40 may award fractional portions 90 which may come in at the same time which would then have to be deducted. The progressive controller 2 has control over these deductions. The player at the winning gaming terminal 40 who won the $200,000, in this example, is paid that amount through conventional celebration and whatever the sponsoring casino desires to do.
In
The player then plays a casino game of chance 610 and a determination is made in the gaming terminal 40 whether a progressive event occurs in step 620. Whatever the progressive event is, and when it occurs, the gaming terminal 40 pays the player an amount less than or equal to the product of the progressive jackpot and the ratio of U to M in stage 630. Likewise, when the progressive event occurs, a display 635 of the fractional amount being won is made. This can be accompanied by conventional celebration multimedia, etc. This display can occur in a game display 320 or other suitable displays 60 at the gaming terminal 40. As explained above, this then is reported back to the progressive controller.
It is to be expressly understood that this mathematical relationship represents one embodiment of the present invention. Any suitable mathematical relationship or, predetermined configuration by the casino operator of the present invention, could be utilized. For example, the casino operator would have the ability to select fractional progressive awards 90 based upon its own mathematical formulas and/or an arbitrary basis. For example, a casino in
With respect to
The fractional award 90 can be determined based on function other than coin-in. Any suitable base game or bonus game function can be utilized. In one embodiment, U=M and the fractional amounts 90 are obtained when progressive events occur in a bonus round(s) of a bonus game to the base casino game of chance.
For example, if in a game with two-step qualifying procedure, the first step may be to align five YAHTZEE cups on a payline. If the chart in
It is to be understood that many variations are possible and that fractional awards could be greater than 100%. In another example of a broadcast progressive amount 80 of $1,000,000, a third step is added. The first step of this example the fractional potential award is based on wager and the occurrence of the progressive event (e.g., 5 symbols, 4 coin-in per
As another example, a player wagering U=M may qualify in a single-step process on the base game as follows. With 5 banana slug symbols left to right on the 15th payline, the player wins 100% of the progressive amount. With 4 banana slug symbols left to right on the 9th payline, the player wins 5% of the progressive amount 80. Alternatively, with 5 banana slug symbols left to right on any payline other than the 15th, the player wins 25% of the progressive amount.
Indeed, the awarding of less than the top award may be a function of game outcome (as described in the preceding paragraphs), the initiating wager, or both.
The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in this art will however appreciate that other arrangements or embodiments, not precisely set forth, could be practiced under the teachings of the present invention.
This non-provisional application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “Wide Area Progressive Having Fractional Awards” having Ser. No. 60/411,074 filed Sep. 16, 2002 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “Method of Awarding Progressive Jackpots” having Ser. No. 60/350,501 filed on Jan. 24, 2002.
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