Gaming systems with configurable jackpot award strategies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016379446-A1
Application number	US-201615259795-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 8, 2016
Priority date	Mar 23, 2012
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

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

1 - 24 . (canceled)

25 . A gaming system comprising:
a wager input device configured to receive a game play event from a player, said wager input device comprising at least one of a switch and a touch screen; an acceptor configured to receive a coupon; and a processor coupled to said wager input device and programmed to:
determine a target quantity of games played based at least in part on a random number;
determine whether a jackpot trigger condition is satisfied based at least in part on at least one of the game play event and whether an actual quantity of games played is greater than or equal to the determined target quantity of games played; and
award a jackpot credit to a plurality of players comprising a circle of friends in response to the jackpot trigger condition being satisfied.

26 . A gaming system in accordance with claim 25 , wherein said processor is further programmed to:
adjust a game play counter based on at least one game play event; and determine whether the actual quantity of games played is greater than or equal to the determined target quantity of games played based at least in part on the game play counter.

27 . A gaming system in accordance with claim 26 , wherein said processor is further programmed to adjust the game play counter based on at least one of the following: 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.

28 . A gaming system in accordance with claim 25 , wherein the actual quantity of games played is determined based upon a plurality of games played by a plurality of players at a plurality of gaming machines.

29 . A gaming system in accordance with claim 25 , wherein said processor is further programmed to determine whether the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied at least in part by:
determining an actual set of game tokens awarded to the player; and determining whether the actual set of game tokens matches a target set of game tokens.

30 . A gaming system in accordance with claim 25 , wherein said processor is further programmed to determine whether the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied at least in part by:
determining an actual set of game tokens awarded to the player; and determining whether the actual set of game tokens is within a range of a target set of game tokens.

31 . A gaming system in accordance with claim 30 , wherein said processor is further programmed to determine the actual set of game tokens awarded to the player by determining a set of game tokens awarded during a session of game play.

32 . A gaming system in accordance with claim 30 , wherein said processor is further programmed to determine the actual set of game tokens awarded to the player by determining a set of game tokens associated with a player account corresponding to the player.

33 . A gaming system in accordance with claim 30 , wherein said processor is further programmed to determine the actual set of game tokens awarded to the player by determining a set of game tokens associated with a gaming machine.

34 . A gaming system comprising:
a wager input device configured to receive a game play event from a player, said wager input device comprising at least one of a switch and a touch screen; an acceptor configured to receive a coupon; and a processor coupled to said wager input device and programmed to:
determine a target quantity of games played based at least in part on a random number;
adjust a game play counter based on the game play event;
determine whether a jackpot trigger condition is satisfied based at least in part on at least one of the game play event and whether an actual quantity of games played is greater than or equal to the determined target quantity of games played based at least in part on the game play counter; and
award a jackpot credit to the player when the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied.

35 . A gaming system comprising:
a wager input device configured to receive a game play event from a player, said wager input device comprising at least one of a switch and a touch screen; an acceptor configured to receive a coupon; and a processor coupled to said wager input device and programmed to:
determine a target quantity of games played based at least in part on a random number, wherein the target quantity of games is between a predetermined minimum value and a predetermined maximum value;
determine whether a jackpot trigger condition is satisfied based at least in part on at least one of the game play event and whether an actual quantity of games played is greater than or equal to the determined target quantity of games played; and
award a jackpot credit to the player when the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied.

36 . A gaming system comprising:
a wager input device; a processor coupled to said wager input device and programmed to:
determine a target quantity of games played;
determine whether a jackpot trigger condition is satisfied based on a comparison of an actual quantity of games played to a determined target quantity of games played; and
award a jackpot credit to the player in response to the jackpot trigger condition being satisfied.

37 . A method for use with a gaming system, said method comprising:
receiving, by at least one gaming server, a game play event from a wager input device associated with a gaming machine, the wager input device including at least one of a switch and a touch screen; determining, by the at least one gaming server, a target quantity of games played based at least in part on a random number; determining, by the at least one gaming server, whether a jackpot trigger condition is satisfied based at least in part on at least one of the game play event and whether an actual quantity of games played is greater than or equal to the determined target quantity of games played; and awarding, by the at least one gaming server, a jackpot credit to a player of the gaming machine when the jackpot trigger condition is satisfied.

38 . A method in accordance with claim 37 , 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.

39 . A method in accordance with claim 37 , further comprising:
adjusting, by the at least one gaming server, a game play counter based on at least one game play event; and determining, by the at least one gaming server, whether the actual quantity of games played is greater than or equal to the determined target quantity of games based at least in part on the game play counter.

40 . A method in accordance with claim 39 , further comprising adjusting, by the at least one gaming server, the game play counter based on at least one of the following: 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.

41 . A method in accordance with claim 37 , wherein the target quantity of games played is between a predetermined minimum value and a predetermined maximum value.

42 . A method in accordance with claim 37 , further comprising determining, by the at least one gaming server, the actual quantity of games played based upon a plurality of games played by a plurality of players at a plurality of gaming machines.

43 . A method in accordance with claim 37 , furth

Assignees

• Video Gaming Tech Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G07F17/3258 Primary

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

• G07F17/34

  depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines · CPC title

• G07F17/3246

  involving coins and/or banknotes · CPC title

• G07F17/3225

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

• G07F17/3248

  involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value · CPC title