Granted Patent B2

US 9,311,779 · App. 13/720,833 · Granted Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

Claims (62)

1. A multi-site progressive processing method for providing an opportunity to win a progressive prize using a progressive processing system, wherein the progressive prize has a progressive prize value that increases according to a progressive prize growth rate, the progressive processing method comprising:

selecting how many properties are incorporated into the multi-site progressive prize opportunity;

connecting a plurality of gaming machines at respective selected properties via a communication network, the plurality of gaming machines being eligible to award the progressive prize;

detecting, via an input device of at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;

receiving inputs from active players initiating wagering games at the plurality of gaming machines including an input indicative of a wager drawn from the credit balance;

selecting a selectable targeted progressive prize value;

selecting a selectable targeted progressive prize time, which is a theoretical average time when the progressive prize is awarded;

determining, via at least one of one or more controllers of the progressive processing system, one or more enticement factors including an erratic movement enticement factor to determine the progressive prize growth rate, wherein the erratic movement enticement factor contributes erratic movement to the progressive prize value growth rate that causes the progressive growth rate to erratically move in a+/−5% range, and wherein the progressive prize growth rate is determined using the selectable targeted progressive prize value, the selectable targeted progressive prize time, and the one or more enticement factors;

incrementing, via at least one of the one or more controllers, the progressive prize value in accordance with the progressive prize growth rate during a progressive processing bonus period;

determining, via at least one of the one or more controllers, when the progressive prize is triggered during the progressive processing bonus period using a random number generation algorithm, and freezing the progressive prize value; and

randomly selecting, via at least one of the one or more controllers, one or more winners from the active players at the plurality of gaming machines, the one or more winners receiving respective awards based on the frozen progressive prize value.

2. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 1 , further comprising designating eligible players from players at at slot machines and table games.

3. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 1 , further comprising designating eligible players from active players with cards, active players without cards, or all active players.

4. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 1 , further comprising notifying signage display controllers of a current progressive value and that a winner is to be drawn.

5. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 1 , further comprising sending winners'data to signage display controllers for display on signage.

6. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 1 , further comprising sending notification of the progressive prize to one or more gaming machines at which the one or more winning players are located.

7. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 1 , wherein the progressive prize growth rate grows according to a payout curve that is front-loaded to increase quickly in a beginning of the progressive processing bonus period and taper off later in the progressive processing bonus period.

8. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 1 , wherein the progressive prize growth rate grows according to a payout curve that enables selecting and dragging points on the payout curve, after which a number of time slices and an associated probability of winning are reverse calculated.

9. A multi-site progressive processing method for providing an opportunity to win a progressive prize implemented on a progressive processing system, wherein the progressive prize has a progressive prize value that increases according to a progressive prize growth rate, the progressive processing method comprising:

determining how many properties are incorporated into the multi-site progressive prize opportunity;

connecting a plurality of gaming machines at respective incorporated properties via a communication network, the plurality of gaming machines being eligible to award the progressive prize;

detecting, via an input device of at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;

receiving inputs from active players initiating wagering games at the plurality of gaming machines including an input indicative of a wager drawn from the credit balance;

determining a selectable targeted progressive prize value;

determining a selectable targeted progressive prize time, which is a theoretical average time when the progressive prize is awarded;

receiving one or more enticement factors including an erratic movement enticement factor, wherein the erratic movement enticement factor contributes erratic movement to the progressive prize growth rate that causes the progressive growth rate to erratically move in a+/−5% range;

calculating, via at least one of one or more controllers of the progressive processing system, the progressive prize growth rate using the selectable targeted progressive prize value, the selectable targeted progressive prize time, and the one or more enticement factors using the server of the progressive processing system;

incrementing, via at least one of the one or more controllers, the progressive prize value in accordance with the progressive prize growth rate during a progressive processing bonus period;

executing, via at least one of the one or more controllers, a random number generation algorithm to test and determine if there is a progressive prize win, before identifying one or more winners of the progressive prize;

if a progressive prize win has not been identified, incrementing the progressive prize value by the progressive prize growth rate; and

if a progressive prize win has been identified, freezing, via at least one of the one or more controllers, the progressive prize value and determining, via at least one of the one or more controllers, one or more winners of the progressive prize.

10. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 9 , further comprising designating eligible players from players at players at slot machines and table games.

11. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 9 , further comprising designating eligible players from active players with cards, active players without cards, or all active players.

12. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 9 , wherein the progressive prize growth rate grows according to a payout curve that is front-loaded to increase quickly in a beginning of the progressive processing bonus period and taper off later in the progressive processing bonus period.

13. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 9 , wherein the progressive prize growth rate grows according to a payout curve that enables selecting and dragging points on the payout curve, after which a number of time slices and an associated probability of winning are reverse calculated.

14. A multi-site progressive processing method for providing an opportunity to win a progressive prize using a progressive processing system and awarding the progressive prize having a progressive prize value, the method comprising:

selecting how many properties are incorporated into the multi-site progressive prize opportunity;

connecting one or more gaming machines at each of the selected properties to the progressive processing system via a communication network, the one or more gaming machines being eligible to award the progressive prize;

obtaining a targeted progressive prize amount to be awarded and a targeted time in which the progressive prize is to be awarded, which is a theoretical average time when the progressive prize is awarded;

detecting, via an input device of at least one of the respective one or more gaming machines, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;

receiving an input from one or more active players initiating plays of respective base games, the input including an input indicative of a wager drawn from the credit balance, the one or more active players playing at the one or more gaming machines via the communication network;

determining, via one or more controllers of the progressive processing system, if a progressive prize event has occurred, before identifying at least one winning player of the one or more active players;

incrementing, by at least one of the one or more controllers executing a random number generator, the progressive prize value by a progressive prize growth rate that is calculated, via at least one of the one or more controllers, using the targeted progressive prize amount to be awarded, the targeted time in which the progressive prize is to be awarded, and an erratic movement enticement factor,

wherein the erratic movement enticement factor contributes erratic movement to the progressive prize growth rate that causes the progressive growth rate to erratically move in a+/−10% range; and

in response to a progressive prize event occurring, freezing, by at least one of the one or more controllers, the progressive prize value and determining, by at least one of the one or more controllers executing the random number generator, the at least one winning player of the one or more active players and awarding the progressive prize to the at least one winning player.

15. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 14 , further comprising designating eligible players from the one or more active players at slot machines and table games.

16. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 14 , further comprising designating eligible players from active players with cards, active players without cards, or all active players.

17. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 14 , wherein the progressive prize growth rate grows according to a payout curve that is front-loaded to increase quickly in a beginning of a progressive game and taper off later in the progressive game.

18. The multi-site progressive processing method of claim 14 , wherein the progressive prize growth rate grows according to a payout curve that enables selecting and dragging points on the payout curve, after which a number of time slices and an associated probability of winning are reverse calculated.

19. A method of awarding a progressive prize having a progressive prize value using a progressive processing system, comprising:

obtaining a targeted progressive prize amount to be awarded;

obtaining a targeted time in which the progressive prize is to be awarded, wherein the targeted time is a theoretical average time when the progressive prize is awarded;

connecting a plurality of gaming machines at respective properties via a communication network, the plurality of gaming machines being eligible to award the progressive prize;

detecting, via an input device of at least one of the plurality of gaming machines, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance;

receiving inputs from active player initiating wagering games at the plurality of gaming machines including an input indicative of a wager drawn from the credit balance;

determining, via at least one of one or more controllers of the progressive processing system, if a progressive prize event has occurred, before identifying a winning player;

if the award event has not occurred, incrementing, by at least one of the one or more controllers, the progressive prize value using the targeted progressive prize amount to be awarded, the targeted time in which the progressive prize is to be awarded, and an erratic movement enticement factor, wherein the erratic movement enticement factor contributes erratic movement to a progressive prize growth rate that causes the progressive growth rate to erratically move in a+/−15% range; and

if the award event has occurred, randomly determining, via at least one of the one or more controllers, a winning player of the active players at the plurality of gaming machines.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising designating eligible players from players at slot machines, players at table games, or players at slot machines and table games.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising designating eligible players from active players with cards, active players without cards, or all active players.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the progressive prize growth rate grows according to a payout curve that is front-loaded to increase quickly in a beginning of a progressive game and taper off later in the progressive game.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the progressive prize growth rate grows according to a payout curve that enables selecting and dragging points on the payout curve, after which a number of time slices and an associated probability of winning are reverse calculated.

Assignments (9)