Gaming systems with configurable jackpot award strategies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10872496-B2
Application number	US-201816151815-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2018
Priority date	Mar 23, 2012
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

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 or a touch screen configured to receive a game play event; and
a processor coupled to the input device and executing instructions stored on a memory which cause the processor to at least:
generate a plurality of game play outcomes in response to receipt of a plurality of game play events, each game play outcome of the plurality of game play outcomes associated with a first player identifier;
store the plurality of game play outcomes and the first player identifier on the memory;
generate a target ratio of winning game play outcomes to non-winning game play outcomes, the target ratio including at least one winning game play outcome and one non-winning game play outcome;
determine a jackpot trigger condition, the jackpot trigger condition including the target ratio;
compare the jackpot trigger condition to the plurality of game play outcomes stored on the memory and associated with the first player identifier to determine that the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied; and
determine an award amount based at least in part on the jackpot trigger condition being satisfied.

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

3. The gaming system in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor 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. The 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. The gaming system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
award a set of game tokens based at least in part on a game play outcome of the plurality of game play outcomes;
determine a target set of game tokens, wherein the jackpot trigger condition is at least in part based on the target set of game tokens; and
determine that the set of game tokens at least one of matches the target set of game tokens and is within a range of the target set of game tokens.

6. The 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.

7. The 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.

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

9. A method for use with a gaming system, said method comprising:
receiving a plurality of game play events from a player via an input device associated with a gaming machine, the input device including at least one of a button or a touch screen;
generating, by at least one processor, a plurality of game play outcomes, each game play outcome of the plurality of game play outcomes generated in response to receipt of a respective game play event of the plurality of game play events and associated with a first player identifier;
storing, by at least one processor, the plurality of game play outcomes and the first player identifier on a memory;
generating, by the at least one processor, a target ratio of winning game play outcomes to non-winning game play outcomes, the target ratio including at least one winning game play outcome and one non-winning game play outcome;
determining, by the at least one processor, a jackpot trigger condition, the jackpot trigger condition including the target ratio;
comparing, by the at least one processor, the jackpot trigger condition to the plurality of game play outcomes stored on the memory and associated with the first player identifier to determine that the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied; and
determining, by the at least one processor, an award amount based at least in part on the jackpot trigger condition being satisfied.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising awarding the award amount is awarded to a plurality of players in response to the jackpot trigger condition being satisfied.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising:
incrementing, by the at least one processor, a game play counter in response to receipt of each game play event of the plurality of game play events;
determining, by the at least one processor, a target quantity of games played based at least in part on a random number, wherein the jackpot trigger condition is at least in part based on the target quantity; and
determining, by the at least one processor, a value of the game play counter satisfies the target quantity of games played.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising adjusting, by the at least one processor, 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.

13. The method in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising determining, by the at least one processor, the game play counter is incremented for a plurality of games played by a plurality of players at a plurality of gaming machines.

14. The method in accordance with claim 9 , 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.

15. The method in accordance with claim 9 , further comprising:
awarding, by the at least one processor, a set of game tokens based at least in part on a game play outcome of the plurality of game play outcomes;
determining, by the at least one processor, a target set of game tokens, wherein the jackpot trigger condition is at least in part based on the target set of game tokens; and
determining, by the at least one processor, that the set of game tokens at least one of matches the target set of game tokens and is within a range of the target set of game tokens.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15 , further comprising retrieving, by the at least one processor, at least one token of the set of game tokens from a player account corresponding to the player.

17. The method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the target ratio of winning and non-winning game play outcomes is based at least in part on a random number.

18. The method in accordance with claim 9 , further comprising:
determining, by the at least one processor

Assignees

• Video Gaming Tech Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G07F17/3211

  Display means · CPC title

• A63F13/00

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

• G07F17/3246

  involving coins and/or banknotes · CPC title

• G07F17/3272

  Games involving multiple players · CPC title

• G07F17/3225

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