Wagering game with alternating picks
View Patent ↗Method and system are disclosed for conducting a wagering game having increased excitement and enjoyment over existing wagering games. The method and system involve a bank of wagering game terminals connected to a bank controller. Each wagering game terminal allows players to play a basic wagering game that is independent of other wagering game terminals. The wagering game terminals also allow players to play a bonus game where players take turns playing to win a portion of a jackpot. The portion awarded to each player may be the actual amount won by that player, or it may be a percentage of the entire jackpot based on the actual amount won by the player relative to other players. In one implementation, only players at wagering game terminals that exceed a minimum level of wagering activity may play the bonus game.
1. A wagering game system, comprising:
a plurality of wagering game terminals, each wagering game terminal conducting a wagering game in which an outcome is randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes, each wagering game terminal including a display that displays the outcome; and
a network to which said wagering game terminals are connected, said network initiating a special-event game on eligible ones of said wagering game terminals upon occurrence of a special-event outcome;
wherein said special-event game allows a player at one of said eligible wagering game terminals to take turns playing with at least one other player at another eligible wagering game terminal to win, during each turn, a portion of a same jackpot, said player competing against said at least one other player for portions of said same jackpot, said portions of said same jackpot being awarded during said corresponding turns, said jackpot decreasing as said portions are awarded during said corresponding turn, and
wherein said display at each eligible wagering game terminal displays a jackpot-remaining indicator that shows said jackpot as said jackpot decreases.
2. The wagering game system according to claim 1 , wherein said special-event game includes a player-selection game in which players take turns selecting picks from an array of picks, each pick revealing a credit amount or a game-termination symbol when selected.
3. The wagering game system according to claim 2 , wherein said jackpot is distributed as random credit amounts and at random locations in said array of picks.
4. The wagering game system according to claim 1 , wherein said special-event game is concluded when all players at eligible ones of said wagering game terminals have been terminated.
5. The wagering game system according to claim 1 , wherein said special-event game is concluded when all portions of said jackpot have been won and said jackpot-remaining indicator is decreased to zero.
6. The wagering game system according to claim 1 , wherein said special-event game is concluded when each player at said eligible ones of said wagering game terminals has completed a predetermined number of turns.
7. The wagering game system according to claim 1 , wherein said wagering game is a slot machine game and said special-event outcome includes a special symbol on said slot machine game.
8. A wagering terminal, comprising:
a wager input for accepting a wager from a player at said wagering game terminal; and
a display for displaying a wagering game, said wagering game having an outcome that is randomly selected from a plurality of outcomes, said plurality of outcomes including a special-event outcome;
wherein said special-event outcome triggers a special-event game on said wagering game terminal in which said player alternates turns playing with other players at other wagering game terminals to win, during each turn, a portion of a same jackpot, said portion of said same jackpot being awarded during said corresponding turn, said jackpot decreasing as said portion is awarded during said corresponding turn, and
wherein said display displays a jackpot-remaining indicator that shows said jackpot as said jackpot decreases.
9. The wagering terminal according to claim 8 , wherein said special-event game includes a player-selection game in which players take turns selecting picks from an array of picks, each pick revealing a credit amount or a game-termination symbol when selected.
10. The wagering terminal according to claim 9 , wherein said jackpot is distributed as random credit amounts and at random locations in said array of picks.
11. The wagering terminal according to claim 8 , wherein said special-event game is concluded when all players at said wagering game terminals have been terminated.
12. The wagering terminal according to claim 8 , wherein said special-event game is concluded when all portions of said jackpot have been won and said jackpot-remaining indicator is decreased to zero.
13. The wagering terminal according to claim 8 , wherein said special-event game is concluded when each player at said wagering game terminals has completed a predetermined number of turns.
14. The wagering terminal according to claim 8 , wherein said wagering game is a slot machine game and said special-event outcome includes a special symbol on said slot machine game.
15. A method of apportioning a same jackpot amongst multiple wagering game terminals, comprising:
conducting a wagering game on said wagering game terminals, each wagering game having an outcome that is randomly selected from a plurality of wagering game outcomes, said plurality of wagering game outcomes including a special-event outcome;
displaying said special-event outcome on one of the wagering game terminals, said special-event outcome being randomly selected from said plurality of wagering game outcomes;
upon occurrence of said special-event outcome being displayed on one of the wagering game terminals, initiating on eligible ones of said wagering game terminals a special-event game in which a player at one of said eligible wagering game terminals takes turns playing against at least one other player at another eligible wagering game terminal to win, during each turn, a portion of a same jackpot, a portion of a same jackpot, each turn having a turn outcome, and
displaying each turn outcome on said eligible wagering game terminals; and
upon occurrence of a winning turn outcome, awarding said player a portion of said jackpot during said player's turn playing said special-event game, said jackpot decreasing by said portion of said jackpot, and displaying a jackpot-remaining indicator that shows said jackpot as said jackpot decreases.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein said special-event game includes a player-selection game in which players take turns selecting picks from an array of picks, each pick revealing a credit amount or a game-termination symbol when selected.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein said jackpot is distributed as random credit amounts and at random locations in said array of picks.
18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein said special-event game is concluded when all players at eligible ones of said wagering game terminals have been terminated.
19. The method according to claim 15 , wherein said special-event game is concluded when all portions of said jackpot has been won and said jackpot-remaining indicator is decreased to zero.
20. The method according to claim 15 , wherein said special-event game is concluded when each player at said eligible ones of said wagering game terminals has completed a predetermined number of turns.