IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,355,521
Granted Patent B2
US 9,355,521 · App. 12/916,373 · Granted May 31, 2016

System and method for providing supplemental funds to progressive jackpots

Inventor: Marcus King (Las Vegas, NV)
Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
G07F17/3258
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,355,521
App. No.
12/916,373
Granted
May 31, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a gaming system for playing a progressive game, wherein the progressive game has an initial increment rate and threshold limit, and each time the progressive game is played a contribution is made to a progressive jackpot's current value. The system includes: a display screen for displaying a gaming presentation, one or more player-activated buttons for receiving player input, and a processor that executes game software and processes input from the player-activated buttons. In this gaming system, each contribution increases the current value until the jackpot reaches the threshold limit, wherein once the threshold limit has been reached, the progressive jackpot uses a secondary increment, to speed up, slow down, or stop the amount contributed to the progressive jackpot. The progressive jackpot's current value is reset to a lower reset value, when a jackpot is won by a player. Further, the progressive game implements a hidden increment that channels contributions to an overflow amount. The progressive game is configured to increase a starting jackpot amount to more than the reset value after a jackpot win by adding the overflow amount to the reset value, thereby encouraging more game play.

Claims (52)

1. A gaming system for playing a progressive game, wherein the progressive game has an initial increment rate and threshold limit, and each time the progressive game is played a contribution is made to a progressive jackpot's current value, the system comprising:

a display screen for displaying a gaming presentation;

an acceptor for receiving a wager;

one or more player-activated buttons for receiving player input; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes game software and processes input from the player-activated buttons;

wherein each contribution increases the current value until the jackpot reaches the threshold limit, wherein once the threshold limit has been reached, the progressive jackpot uses a secondary increment, to speed up, slow down, or stop the amount contributed to the progressive jackpot, and wherein the progressive jackpot's current value is reset to a reset value, when a jackpot is won by a player; and

wherein the progressive game implements a hidden increment that channels contributions to an overflow amount after the threshold limit has been reached, and wherein the progressive game is configured to increase a next starting jackpot amount to more than the reset value after a next jackpot win by adding the overflow amount to the reset value, thereby encouraging more game play.

2. A gaming system for playing a progressive game, wherein the progressive game has an initial increment rate and threshold limit, and each time the progressive game is played a contribution is made to a progressive jackpot's current value, the system comprising:

a display screen for displaying a gaming presentation;

an acceptor for receiving a wager;

one or more player-activated buttons for receiving player input; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes game software and processes input from the player-activated buttons;

wherein each contribution increases the current value until the jackpot reaches the threshold limit, wherein once the threshold limit has been reached, the progressive jackpot uses a secondary increment, to speed up, slow down, or stop the amount contributed to the progressive jackpot, and wherein the progressive jackpot's current value is reset to a reset value, when a jackpot is won by a player; and

wherein the progressive game implements a hidden increment that channels contributions to an overflow amount, and wherein the progressive game is configured to increase a starting jackpot amount to more than the reset value after a jackpot win by adding the overflow amount to the reset value, thereby encouraging more game play.

3. A gaming system for playing a progressive game, wherein the progressive game has an initial increment rate and threshold limit, and each time the progressive game is played a contribution is made to a progressive jackpot's current value, the system comprising:

a display screen for displaying a gaming presentation;

an acceptor for receiving a wager;

one or more player-activated buttons for receiving player input; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes game software and processes input from the player-activated buttons;

wherein each contribution increases the current value until the jackpot reaches the threshold limit, wherein once the threshold limit has been reached, the progressive jackpot uses a secondary increment, to speed up, slow down, or stop the amount contributed to the progressive jackpot, and wherein the progressive jackpot's current value is reset to a reset value, when a jackpot is won by a player; and

wherein the progressive game implements a hidden increment that channels contributions to an overflow amount, and wherein the progressive game is configured to increase a starting jackpot amount to more than the reset value after a jackpot win by adding a percentage of the overflow amount to the reset value for a pre-determined number of jackpots, thereby encouraging more game play.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the reset value is static and remains constant across a link within a jurisdiction, and wherein changing the reset value requires an initial revenue amount needed to fund the jackpot to be increased.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system enables the overflow amount to be used to create a reserve pool to fund future jackpots, thereby lessening capital required to fund future progressive jackpots.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the contribution is defined by the increment rate.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the player-activated buttons are physical buttons.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the player-activated buttons are virtual buttons.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the availability of the progressive game is restricted based on the size of the wager, the placement of the wager.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein a percentage of the wager is used to fund the progressive game.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the probability of winning the progressive game is dependent on the size of the wager.

12. A gaming system for playing a progressive game, wherein the progressive game has an initial increment rate and threshold limit, and each time the progressive game is played a contribution is made to a progressive jackpot's current value, the system comprising:

a display screen for displaying a gaming presentation;

one or more player-activated buttons for receiving player input; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes game software and processes input from the player-activated buttons;

wherein each contribution increases the current value until the jackpot reaches the threshold limit, wherein once the threshold limit has been reached, the progressive jackpot uses a secondary increment, to speed up, slow down, or stop the amount contributed to the progressive jackpot, and wherein the progressive jackpot's current value is reset to a reset value, when a jackpot is won by a player; and

wherein the progressive game implements a hidden increment that channels contributions to an overflow amount, and wherein the progressive game is configured to increase a starting jackpot amount to more than the reset value after a jackpot win by adding the overflow amount to the reset value, thereby encouraging more game play.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the hidden increment implemented by the progressive game that channels contributions to the overflow amount beginning before the threshold limit has been reached.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein increasing the next starting jackpot amount to greater than the reset value by adding the overflow amount to the reset value, assists in funding a next jackpot when the next jackpot is initially reset by using the overflow amount to contribute to the next jackpot instead of a previous jackpot in which the contributions were made to the overflow amount.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the next jackpot starting amount, which is equal to the reset value plus the overflow amount, is worth more than a previous winning jackpot amount, during which time the overflow amount from the jackpot game play was generated, due to a large size of the overflow amount.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the reset value is static and remains constant across a link within a jurisdiction, and wherein changing the reset value requires a initial revenue amount needed to fund the jackpot to be increased.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the system enables the overflow amount to be used to create a reserve pool to fund future jackpots, thereby lessening capital required to fund future progressive jackpots.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the contribution is defined by the increment rate.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the player-activated buttons are physical buttons.

20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the player-activated buttons are virtual buttons.

21. The system of claim 13 , wherein the availability of the progressive game is restricted based on the size of the wager, the placement of the wager.

22. The system of claim 13 , wherein a percentage of the wager is used to fund the progressive game.

23. The system of claim 13 , wherein the probability of winning the progressive game is dependent on the size of the wager.

24. A gaming system for playing a progressive game, wherein the progressive game has an initial increment rate and threshold limit, and each time the progressive game is played a contribution is made to a progressive jackpot's current value, the system comprising:

a display screen for displaying a gaming presentation;

one or more player-activated buttons for receiving player input; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes game software and processes input from the player-activated buttons;

wherein each contribution increases the current value until the jackpot reaches the threshold limit, wherein once the threshold limit has been reached, the progressive jackpot uses a secondary increment, to speed up, slow down, or stop the amount contributed to the progressive jackpot, and wherein the progressive jackpot's current value is reset to a lower reset value, when a jackpot is won by a player; and

wherein the progressive game implements a hidden increment that channels contributions to an overflow amount, and wherein the progressive game is configured to increase a starting jackpot amount to more than the reset value after a jackpot win by adding a percentage of the overflow amount to the reset value for a pre-determined number of jackpots, thereby encouraging more game play.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2025
From: LNW GAMING, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071340/0404 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: SG GAMING, INC.
To: LNW GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 062669/0341 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2022
From: SG GAMING INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059793/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 18, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051641/0820 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045909/0513 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044889/0662 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC; ARCADE PLANET, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC; BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SIERRA DESIGN GROUP
Reel/Frame 034501/0049 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2013
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031745/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2010
From: KING, MARCUS
To: BALLY GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 025360/0788 →
Continuity (1)
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