IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,481,430

Granted Patent B1

US 7,481,430 · App. 09/499,592 · Granted Jan 27, 2009

Slot machine having multiple progressive jackpots

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,481,430
App. No.: 09/499,592
Granted: Jan 27, 2009
Kind: B1

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A progressive jackpot slot machine, or group of slot machines, is described herein. A plurality of progressive jackpots are accumulated as the slot machine is played. In the preferred embodiment, a first progressive jackpot is accumulated at a first rate, and a second progressive jackpot is accumulated at a rate higher than the first rate. Additional jackpots accumulate at higher rates. The betting of additional monetary amounts enables the player to win additional jackpots. This provides added incentive for the player to bet additional monetary amounts.

Claims (169)

1. A gaming method for a gaming system comprising one or more gaming machines, the gaming method comprising the steps of:

providing a first progressive jackpot and a second progressive jackpot for the one or more gaming machines, the first progressive jackpot being funded by a first percentage of each wager placed through the one or more gaming machines and the second progressive jackpot being funded by a second percentage of each wager placed through the one or more gaming machines;

receiving a respective wager through one of the one or more gaming machines in the gaming system;

displaying a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

paying the first progressive jackpot if the gaming result is a winning progressive jackpot result and if the respective wager is at least a first wager amount;

paying the second progressive jackpot if the gaming result is the winning progressive jackpot result and if the respective wager is at least a second wager amount, the second wager amount being larger than the first wager amount;

making a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result;

increasing the first progressive jackpot in response to receiving the respective wager; and

increasing the second progressive jackpot in response to receiving the respective wager, wherein the increase in the second progressive jackpot is larger than the increase in the first progressive jackpot.

2. A gaming method for a gaming system comprising one or more gaming machines, the gaming method comprising:

receiving a respective wager through one of the one or more gaming machines in the gaming system;

displaying a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

paying the first progressive jackpot if the gaming result is a winning progressive jackpot result and if the respective wager is at least a first wager amount;

paying the first progressive jackpot and the second progressive jackpot if the gaming result is the winning progressive jackpot result and if the respective wager is at least a second wager amount, the second wager amount being larger than the first wager amount; and

making a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result.

3. A gaming method comprising the steps of:

providing a first progressive jackpot and a second progressive jackpot for a gaming system;

receiving a wager in the gaming system;

displaying a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

paying the first progressive jackpot if the gaming result is a winning progressive jackpot result and if the wager is at least a first wager amount;

paying the second progressive jackpot if the gaming result is the winning progressive jackpot result and if the wager is at least a second wager amount, the second wager amount being larger than the first wager amount; and

the gaming system comprises a single gaming machine.

4. A gaming method comprising the steps of:

providing a first progressive jackpot and a second progressive jackpot for a gaming system, the first progressive jackpot being funded by a first percentage of each wager placed through the gaming system and the second progressive jackpot being funded by a second percentage of each wager placed through the gaming system;

receiving a respective wager in the gaming system;

displaying a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

paying the first progressive jackpot if the gaming result is a winning progressive jackpot result and if the respective wager is at least a first wager amount;

making a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result;

wherein the gaming system comprises a plurality of linked gaming machines;

wherein the first and the second progressive jackpots are common to all linked gaming machines; and

wherein the first and the second progressive jackpots are increased in response to a wager received by any unique linked gaming machine.

5. A gaming method for a gaming system comprising one or more gaming machines, the gaming method comprising the steps of:

receiving a respective wager in the gaming system;

displaying a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

paying the first progressive jackpot if the gaming result is a winning progressive jackpot result and if the respective wager is at least a first wager amount;

making a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result; and

wherein the respective wager activates a single payline through the combination of symbols.

6. A gaming method for a gaming system comprising one or more gaming machines, the gaming method comprising the steps of:

receiving a respective wager in the gaming system;

displaying a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

paying the first progressive jackpot if the gaming result is a winning progressive jackpot result and if the respective wager is at least a first wager amount;

making a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result; and

wherein the wager activates a plurality of paylines through the combination of symbols.

7. A gaming method for a gaming system comprising one or more gaming machines, the gaming method comprising the steps of:

receiving a respective wager in the gaming system;

displaying a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

paying the first progressive jackpot if the gaming result is a winning progressive jackpot result and if the respective wager is at least a first wager amount;

making a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result; and

wherein a number of paylines activated by the second wager amount is identical to a number of paylines activated by the first wager amount.

8. A gaming method for a gaming system comprising one or more gaming machines, the gaming method comprising the steps of:

receiving a respective wager in the gaming system;

displaying a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

paying the first progressive jackpot if the gaming result is a winning progressive jackpot result and if the respective wager is at least a first wager amount;

making a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result; and

wherein a number of paylines activated by the second wager amount is larger than a number of paylines activated by the first wager amount.

9. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a wager detector;

a first progressive jackpot associated with the gaming machine and a second progressive jackpot associated with the gaming machine, the first progressive jackpot being funded by a first percentage of each wager placed through the gaming machine and the second progressive jackpot being funded by a second percentage of each wager placed through the gaming machine;

wherein the gaming machine displays a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

wherein the gaming system pays the first progressive jackpot if the gaming result is a winning progressive jackpot result and if a respective wager sensed by the detector is at least a first wager amount;

wherein the gaming system pays the second progressive jackpot if the gaming result is the winning progressive jackpot result and if the respective wager sensed by the detector is at least a second wager amount, the second wager amount being larger than the first wager amount;

wherein the gaming system makes a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result; and

wherein in response to the detector receiving the respective wager, the gaming system increases the first progressive jackpot and increases the second progressive jackpot, the increase in the second progressive jackpot being larger than the increase in the first progressive jackpot.

10. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a wager detector;

wherein the gaming machine displays a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

wherein the gaming system makes a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result; and

wherein the gaming system pays the first progressive jackpot and the second progressive jackpot if the gaming result is the winning progressive jackpot result and if the respective wager is at least a second wager amount, the second wager amount being larger than the first wager amount.

11. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a wager detector;

wherein the gaming machine displays a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

wherein the gaming system makes a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result;

wherein the gaming machine resets the first progressive jackpot to a first predetermined reset amount after paying the first progressive jackpot, and resets the second progressive jackpot to a second predetermined reset amount after paying the second progressive jackpot; and

wherein the first and the second predetermined reset amounts are larger than zero.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second predetermined reset amount is larger than the first predetermined reset amount.

13. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of linked gaming machines, each linked gaming machine comprising a respective wager detector;

a first progressive jackpot associated with the plurality of linked gaming machines and a second progressive jackpot associated with the plurality of linked gaming machines, the first progressive jackpot being funded by a first percentage of each wager placed through the gaming system and the second progressive jackpot being funded by a second percentage of each wager placed through the gaming system;

wherein a respective one of the gaming machines displays a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

wherein the gaming system pays the first progressive jackpot if the gaming result is a winning progressive jackpot result and if a respective wager sensed by the detector of the respective one of the gaming machines is at least a first wager amount;

wherein the gaming system pays the second progressive jackpot if the gaming result is the winning progressive jackpot result and if the respective wager sensed by the detector of the respective one of the gaming machines is at least a second wager amount, the second wager amount being larger than the first wager amount;

wherein the first and the second progressive jackpots are common to all linked gaming machines; and

wherein the first and the second progressive jackpots are increased in response to a respective wager received by any respective one of the linked gaming machines.

14. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a wager detector;

wherein the gaming machine displays a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

wherein the gaming system makes a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result; and

wherein the respective wager activates a single payline for the gaming machine.

15. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a wager detector;

wherein the gaming machine displays a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

wherein the gaming system makes a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result; and

wherein the respective wager activates a plurality of paylines for the gaming machine.

16. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a wager detector;

wherein the gaming machine displays a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

wherein the gaming system makes a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result; and

wherein a number of paylines activated by the second wager amount is identical to a number of paylines activated by the first wager amount.

17. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a wager detector;

wherein the gaming machine displays a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

wherein the gaming system makes a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result; and

wherein a number of paylines activated by the second wager amount is larger than a number of paylines activated by the first wager amount.

18. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a wager detector;

wherein the gaming machine displays a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

wherein if the gaming result is a winning progressive jackpot result, the gaming system pays the largest of either the first progressive jackpot or the second progressive jackpot; and

wherein the gaming system makes a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein in response to the detector receiving a wager, the gaming system increases the first progressive jackpot and increases the second progressive jackpot, wherein the increase in the second progressive jackpot is larger than the increase in the first progressive jackpot.

20. The system of claim 18 :

wherein the gaming system resets the first progressive jackpot to a first predetermined reset amount after paying the first progressive jackpot, and resets the second progressive jackpot to a second predetermined reset amount after paying the second progressive jackpot; and

wherein the first and the second predetermined reset amounts are larger than zero.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the second predetermined reset amount is larger than the first predetermined reset amount.

22. The system of claim 18 , wherein the gaming system comprises a single gaming machine.

23. The system of claim 18 :

wherein the gaming system comprises a plurality of linked gaming machines;

wherein the first and the second progressive jackpots are common to all linked gaming machines; and

wherein the first and the second progressive jackpots are increased in response to a wager received by any unique linked gaming machine.

24. The system of claim 18 , wherein a wager sensed by the detector activates a single payline for the gaming machine.

25. The system of claim 18 , wherein a wager sensed by the detector activates a plurality of paylines for the gaming machine.

26. The system of claim 18 , wherein a number of paylines activated by a second wager amount is identical to a number of paylines activated by a first wager amount, the second wager amount being larger than the first wager amount.

27. The system of claim 18 , wherein a number of paylines activated by a second wager amount is larger than a number of paylines activated by a first wager amount, the second wager amount being larger than the first wager amount.

28. A gaming method for a gaming system comprising one or more gaming machines, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first progressive jackpot and a second progressive jackpot for, the one or more gaming machines, the first progressive jackpot being funded by a first percentage of each wager placed through the one or more gaming machines and the second progressive jackpot being funded by a second percentage of each wager placed through the one or more gaming machines;

receiving a respective wager in the gaming system;

displaying a number of rotating elements which come to rest showing a combination of symbols representing a gaming result;

if the gaming result is a winning progressive jackpot result, paying the largest of either the first progressive jackpot or the second progressive jackpot; and

making a monetary payout if the gaming result is a winning result which is not the winning progressive jackpot result.

29. The gaming method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of:

increasing the first progressive jackpot in response to receiving the respective wager; and

30. The gaming method of claim 28 , further comprising resetting the first progressive jackpot to a first predetermined reset amount after paying the first progressive jackpot, and resetting the second progressive jackpot to a second predetermined reset amount after paying the second progressive jackpot; wherein the first and the second predetermined reset amounts are larger than zero.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the second predetermined reset amount is larger than the first predetermined reset amount.

32. The gaming method of claim 28 , wherein the gaming system comprises a single gaming machine.

33. The gaming method of claim 28 wherein the gaming system comprises a plurality of linked gaming machines;

wherein the first and the second progressive jackpots are common to all linked gaming machines; and

wherein the first and the second progressive jackpots are increased in response to a wager received by any unique linked gaming machine.

34. The gaming method of claim 28 , wherein the respective wager activates a single payline for a gaming machine.

35. The gaming method of claim 28 , wherein the respective wager activates a plurality of paylines for the gaming machine.

36. The gaming method of claim 28 , wherein a number of paylines activated by a second wager amount is identical to a number of paylines activated by a first wager amount, the second wager amount being larger than the first wager amount.

37. The gaming method of claim 28 , wherein a number of paylines activated by a second wager amount is larger than a number of paylines activated by a first wager amount, the second wager amount being larger than the first wager amount.

Assignments (14)

TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT REEL 058948, FRAME 0265 Recorded Jul 1, 2025

From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT

To: EVERI HOLDINGS INC.

Reel/Frame 071791/0236 →

PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SHORT-FORM) Recorded Feb 2, 2022

From: EVERI HOLDINGS INC.

To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT

Reel/Frame 058948/0265 →

CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR'S NAME AND THE FIRST ASSIGNEE'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 057111 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Aug 13, 2021

From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC

To: EVERI PAYMENTS INC.; EVERI HOLDINGS INC.; EVERI GAMES HOLDING INC.; GCA MTL, LLC; CENTRAL CREDIT, LLC; EVERI INTERACTIVE LLC; EVERI GAMES INC.

Reel/Frame 057184/0244 →

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2021

From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC

To: EVERI PAYMENTS INC.; EVERI GAMES INC.; WESTERN MONEY SYSTEMS

Reel/Frame 057112/0843 →

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2021

From: JEFFERIES FIANANCE LLC

To: EVERY PAYMENTS INC.; EVERI HOLDINGS INC.; EVERI GAMES HOLDING INC.; GCA MTL, LLC; CENTRAL CREDIT, LLC; EVERI INTERACTIVE LLC; EVERI GAMES INC.

Reel/Frame 057111/0001 →

PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 24, 2020

From: EVERI HOLDINGS INC.; EVERI PAYMENTS INC.; GCA MTL, LLC; CENTRAL CREDIT, LLC; EVERI GAMES INC.; EVERI GAMES HOLDING INC.; EVERI INTERACTIVE LLC

To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT

Reel/Frame 052494/0463 →

PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 11, 2017

From: EVERI GAMES INC.; EVERI PAYMENTS INC.; GLOBAL PAYMENTS, INC.; JACKPOT DIGITAL INC.; MULTIMEDIA GAMES, INC., N/K/A EVERI GAMES INC.; WESTERN MONEY SYSTEMS

To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT

Reel/Frame 042484/0715 →

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2017

From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

To: EVERI PAYMENTS INC. (F/K/A GLOBAL CASH ACCESS, INC.); EVERI GAMES INC. (F/K/A MULTIMEDIA GAMES, INC.)

Reel/Frame 042438/0640 →

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2017

From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

To: EVERI PAYMENTS INC. (F/K/A GLOBAL CASH ACCESS, INC.); EVERI GAMES INC. (F/K/A MULTIMEDIA GAMES, INC.)

Reel/Frame 042440/0076 →

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2017

From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT