Gaming systems with configurable jackpot award strategies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10304288-B2
Application number	US-201615259795-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2016
Priority date	Mar 23, 2012
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

A gaming machine includes an input device and a processor coupled to the input device. The input device is configured to receive a game play event from a player. The processor is programmed to determine whether a jackpot trigger condition is satisfied based at least in part on the game play event. The jackpot trigger condition includes a target quantity of games played, a target set of game tokens, a target pattern of game symbols, and/or a target pattern of game play outcomes. The processor is further programmed to award a jackpot credit to one or more players when the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gaming system comprising:
an input device comprising at least one of a button and a touch screen configured to receive a game play event from a player;
and
a processor coupled to said input device and programmed to:
generate a game play outcome in response to receipt of the game play event;
determine a target ratio of winning and non-winning game play outcomes, the target ratio at least partially defining a jackpot trigger condition;
determine the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied by the game play outcome; and
award a jackpot credit to the player in response to the jackpot trigger condition being satisfied.

2. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to:
increment a game play counter in response to receipt of the game play event;
determine a target quantity of games played based at least in part on a random number, the target quantity further defining the jackpot trigger condition; and
determine a value of the game play counter satisfies the target quantity of games played.

3. A gaming system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said processor is further programmed to adjust the game play counter based on at least one of: game plays that are associated with a predetermined outcome, game plays that are associated with a bonus event, and game plays that are associated with a wager that is within a predetermined wager range.

4. A gaming system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the game play counter is incremented for a plurality of games played by a plurality of players at a plurality of gaming machines.

5. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to:
award a set of game tokens to the player;
determine a target set of game tokens that further defines the jackpot trigger condition; and
determine the set of game tokens matches the target set of game tokens.

6. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said processor is further programmed to:
award a set of game tokens to the player;
determine a target set of game tokens that further defines the jackpot trigger condition; and
determine the set of game tokens is within a range of the target set of game tokens.

7. A gaming system in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said processor is further programmed to retrieve at least one token of the set of game tokens from a player account corresponding to the player.

8. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the target ratio of winning and non-winning game play outcomes is based at least in part on a random number.

9. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the target ratio of winning and non-winning game play outcomes is based at least in part on a value between a predetermined minimum value and a predetermined maximum value.

10. A gaming system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said processor is further configured to:
determine a target pattern of game play outcomes, the target pattern at least partially defining the jackpot trigger condition; and
determine whether the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied based on a comparison of an actual pattern of game play outcomes to the determined target pattern of game play outcomes.

11. A method for use with a gaming system, said method comprising:
receiving, by at least one gaming server, a game play event from an input device associated with a gaming machine, the input device including at least one of a button and a touch screen;
generating, by the at least one gaming server, a game play outcome in response to receipt of the game play event;
determining, by the at least one gaming server, a target ratio of winning and non-winning game play outcomes, the target ratio at least partially defining a jackpot trigger condition;
determining, by the at least one gaming server, the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied by the game play outcome; and
awarding, by the at least one gaming server, a jackpot credit to a player in response to the jackpot trigger condition being satisfied.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the jackpot credit is awarded to a plurality of players comprising a circle of friends in response to the jackpot trigger condition being satisfied.

13. A method in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising:
incrementing, by the at least one gaming server, a game play counter in response to receipt of the game play event;
determining, by the at least one gaming server, a target quantity of games played based at least in part on a random number, the target quantity further defining the jackpot trigger condition; and
determining, by the at least one gaming server, a value of the game play counter satisfies the target quantity of games played.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 , further comprising adjusting, by the at least one gaming server, the game play counter based on at least one of t: game plays that are associated with a predetermined outcome, game plays that are associated with a bonus event, and game plays that are associated with a wager that is within a predetermined wager range.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13 , further comprising determining, by the at least one gaming server, the game play counter is incremented for a plurality of games played by a plurality of players at a plurality of gaming machines.

16. A method in accordance with Claim 11 , wherein the target ratio of winning and non-winning game play outcomes is based at least in part on a value between a predetermined minimum value and a predetermined maximum value.

17. A method in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising:
awarding, by the at least one gaming server, a set of game tokens to the player;
determining, by the at least one gaming server, a target set of game tokens that further defines the jackpot trigger condition; and
determining, by the at least one gaming server, the set of game tokens matches the target set of game tokens.

18. A method in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising:
awarding, by the at least one gaming server, a set of game tokens to the player;
determining, by the at least one gaming server, a target set of game tokens that further defines the jackpot trigger condition; and
determining, by the at least one gaming server, the set of game tokens is within a range of the target set of game tokens.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 , further comprising retrieving, by the at least one gaming server, at least one token of the set of game from a player account corresponding to the player.

20. A method in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the target ratio of winning and non-winning game play outcomes is based at least in part on a random number.

21. A method in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising:
determining, by the at least one gaming server, a target pattern of game play outcomes, the target pattern at least partially defining the jackpot trigger condition; and
determining, by the at least one gaming server, whether the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied based on a comparison of an actual pattern of game play outcomes to the determined target pattern of game play outcomes.

22. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming machines, wherein each gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines is associated with a respective player and configured to:
execute game play based on a game play event received from the respective player using an input device of

Assignees

• Video Gaming Tech Inc

Inventors

• Milligan Daniel William
• Thacker Christopher John
• Brooks Stephen Wade
• Sprinkle Jason Todd

Classifications

• G07F17/32

  for games, toys, sports, or amusements · CPC title

• A63F13/00

  Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions · CPC title

• G07F17/3211

  Display means · CPC title

• G07F17/3258 Primary

  Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots · CPC title

• G07F17/3225

  Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users · CPC title