Tiered progressive gaming system
A gaming system includes at least one progressive server and a plurality of gaming machines configured to present wagering games to players for play. The at least one progressive server is configured to generate a plurality of progressive jackpots funded at least partially from funds transactions at the gaming machines. Each gaming machine is configured to present at least a first game play option permitting a player to play for a first of the progressive jackpots and a second game play option permitting a player to play for a second of the progressive jackpots, the player permitted to select from the game play options to play for the opportunity to win the progressive jackpot associated therewith. In one embodiment, the system has a tiered configuration where progressive servers are “layered” and associated with different groups or sets of gaming machines.
1. A progressive gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines configured to present one or more games to plurality of players;
at least one first progressive server, said at least one first progressive server configured to present for play a first progressive jackpot award;
at least one primary communication link between said plurality of gaming machines and at least one first progressive server, whereby said plurality of gaming machines are associated with at least one first progressive server to receive first progressive jackpot award information there from;
at least one second progressive server configured to present for play a second progressive jackpot award;
at least one secondary communication link between said second progressive server and at least one first progressive server, whereby said at least one first progressive server is configured as a manager to receive information regarding said second progressive jackpot award and transmit said second progressive jackpot award to said plurality of gaming machines;
said plurality of gaming machines configured to display at least said first progressive jackpot award and said second progressive jackpot award and accept a player jackpot award selection indicating which one of said progressive jackpot awards said player wishes to play for;
said plurality of gaming machines configured to present a game permitting said player to play for said one of said first and second progressive jackpot awards corresponding to said play jackpot award selection but not permitting said player to play for any other of said progressive jackpot award;
each of said plurality of gaming machines configured to generate and transmit funds transaction information there from for receipt by the appropriate server or servers pertaining to play for said first or second progressive jackpot awards; and
wherein said at least one first progressive server is configured to receive said funds transaction information from said plurality of gaming machines and, if said funds transaction information is for use by said first progressive server, utilize said funds transaction information in the play for said first progressive jackpot award and if said funds transaction information is for use by said second progressive server, to transmit said funds information transaction information on to said second progressive server.
2. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of gaming machines can communicate with a plurality of first progressive servers via one or more primary communication links and one or more of said first progressive servers communicate with at least one second progressive server via at least one secondary communication link.
3. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 1 wherein in the event of an interruption in communications in the secondary communication link, said one or more first progressive servers receive and store second progressive jackpot award information, said first progressive servers taking over the functions of the second progressive server relative to play for the second jackpot award.
4. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said interruption is an unintentional break in the secondary communication link.
5. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 3 wherein each first progressive server stores information regarding said second progressive jackpot award from each second progressive server associated therewith.
6. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said funds transaction information comprises gaming machine meter data.
7. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one accounting server, said accounting server in communication with at least one of said first or second progressive servers.
8. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one tertiary or higher progressive server configured to present for play at least one third or higher progressive jackpot award, one or more communication links between such tertiary or higher progressive servers and at least one second progressive server, said tertiary or higher progressive servers configured to exchange information with said first and second progressive servers and gaming machines as said first and second progressive servers.
9. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one tertiary progressive server, at least one third communication link between at least one of said tertiary progressive servers and at least one second progressive server, wherein said tertiary progressive servers are configured to present for play a third progressive jackpot award and wherein said second and first progressive servers are configured to transmit said third progressive jackpot award to said plurality of gaming machines and wherein said funds transaction information if coded to said tertiary progressive server is routed via said first and second progressive servers to said tertiary progressive server.
10. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one first progressive server comprises a server serving a single gaming location and said at least one second progressive server comprises a regional server serving more than one gaming location.
11. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 1 comprising a plurality of first progressive servers, said plurality of gaming machines linked to at least one of said first progressive servers via at least one primary communication link and wherein at least one of said first progressive servers are linked to a second progressive server.
12. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of gaming machines are configured to present a first bingo game having a first progressive jackpot award for play and a second bingo game having a second progressive jackpot award for play.
13. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said system is configured to display current jackpot levels of said first and second progressive jackpot awards to said players of said gaming machines and said gaming machines are configured to receive input from a player thereof of a selection to play at least one game having said first game play configuration or at least one game having said second game play configuration.
14. The progressive gaming system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said player jackpot award selection indicates one of said at least one third or higher progressive jackpot award permitting said player to play for said one of said at least one third or higher progressive jackpot award indicated by said player jackpot award selection but not permitting said player to play for any other of said progressive jackpot awards.