Multivenue jackpot system

Abstract

Multivenue jackpot system comprising a central control system ( 6 ), connecting via a communications network ( 4 ) to a jackpot controller ( 32 ) at multiple gaming venues ( 26 ). Each gaming venue ( 26 ) having multiple electronic gaming machines ( 28 ) (i.e. poker, slot, video machines which include hard meters and a jackpot interface ( 56 ) for linking via a venue network ( 30 ) to the jackpot controller ( 32 ). The gaming machines ( 28 ) are capable of playing independent games and participating in a multiple gaming machine jackpot game. The central control system ( 6 ) increments on the basis of the hard meter signals and/or awards a jackpot sum from a jackpot pool to a selected gaming machine ( 28 ). The jackpot interface ( 56 ) is a separate circuit board capable of being fitted to a standard gaming machine ( 28 ). Jackpot award criteria include random time, predetermined levels, usage factor of gaming machine ( 28 ) and gaming venues ( 26 ).

1 . A multivenue jackpot system comprising a central control system and a plurality of gaming venues, each gaming venue including: 
 a jackpot controller coupled for communication with said central control system by way of a communications network;    a plurality of electronic gaming machines (EGMs) each including hard meters and EGM logic for generating input signals for the hard meters; and    a venue network coupled to said jackpot controller;    wherein each electronic gaming machine includes a jackpot interface coupled to the electronic gaming machine and the venue network, each said jackpot interface being coupled to monitor said hard meter input signals, and said central control system including a jackpot sum which is incremented and/or awarded to a selected electronic gaming machine in accordance with said input signals.    
     
     
         2 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein each said jackpot interface comprises a circuit board adapted to be coupled to an otherwise standard electronic gaming machine.  
     
     
         3 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein each said jackpot interface is responsive to the hard meter input signals of the respective EGM to communicate corresponding first data messages to the respective jackpot controller.  
     
     
         4 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 3   , wherein said first data messages are sent from a said jackpot interface when a selected amount of money has been played on the corresponding EGM during a preceding selected time period.  
     
     
         5 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 3   , wherein each said jackpot controller communicates second data messages to said central control system by way of said communications network, the second data messages being sent from each jackpot controller every predetermined period of time, wherein said second data messages contain information of the hard meter input signals of the EGMs coupled to the corresponding said jackpot controller.  
     
     
         6 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 5   , wherein said jackpot sum is incremented in response to said second data messages.  
     
     
         7 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 5   , wherein said jackpot sum is awarded in response to a said second data message.  
     
     
         8 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 5   , wherein said second data messages include information identifying the EGMs corresponding to the hard meter input signals.  
     
     
         9 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 6   , wherein said jackpot sum is awarded in response to a said second data message.  
     
     
         10 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 9   , wherein said second data messages include information identifying the EGMs corresponding to the hard meter input signals.  
     
     
         11 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 10   , wherein said jackpot sum is incremented by said central control system on the basis of the information of the hard meter input signals corresponding to individual said EGMs, and wherein said jackpot sum is awarded to a particular said EGM for which the hard meter input signals cause said jackpot sum to reach a predetermined jackpot total.  
     
     
         12 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 7   , wherein said central control system communicates a third data message to said jackpot controllers indicating the award of said jackpot sum and identifying a particular EGM to which the jackpot sum is awarded.  
     
     
         13 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 12   , wherein the jackpot controller to which said particular EGM is coupled includes means for indicating the award of the jackpot sum to the particular EGM.  
     
     
         14 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 13   , wherein each said jackpot controller includes a ticket issuing device for issuing a ticket indicative of a said jackpot award.  
     
     
         15 . A multivenue jackpot system comprising: 
 a central control system;    communications interface for coupling the central control system to a communications network;    a plurality of gaming venues;    each gaming venue including a jackpot controller coupled for communication with said central control system by way of the communications network, a plurality of electronic gaming machines (EGM) each including hard meters and EGM logic for generating input signals for the hard meters, and a venue network and wherein each electronic gaming machine includes a jackpot interface for coupling the electronic gaming machine to the venue network and wherein the jackpot interface is coupled to monitor said hard meter input signals and wherein the central control system establishes a jackpot which is based upon the occurrence of a random event, and upon occurrence of the random event the central control system selects a winning venue and wherein the jackpot controller at the winning venue is arranged to select a winning EGM by reference to hard meter input signals derived from the EGM logic.    
     
     
         16 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 15   , wherein said random event comprises the passing of a randomly selected time.  
     
     
         17 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 15   , wherein each said jackpot interface comprises a circuit board adapted to be coupled to an otherwise standard electronic gaming machine.  
     
     
         18 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 15   , wherein each said jackpot interface is responsive to the hard meter input signals of the respective EGM to communicate corresponding first data messages to the respective jackpot controller.  
     
     
         19 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 18   , wherein said first data messages are sent from a said jackpot interface when a selected amount of money has been played on the corresponding EGM during a preceding selected time period.  
     
     
         20 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 18   , wherein each said jackpot controller communicates second data messages to said central control system by way of said communications network, the second data messages being sent from each jackpot controller every predetermined period of time, wherein said second data messages contain information of the hard meter input signals of the EGMs coupled to the corresponding said jackpot controller.  
     
     
         21 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 20   , wherein said second data messages include information identifying the EGMs corresponding to the hard meter input signals.  
     
     
         22 . A multivenue jackpot system according to    claim 18   , wherein said random event comprises the triggering of a mystery jackpot value, in response to receipt of a said second data message, and wherein said central control system communicates a third data message to the jackpot controller from which the second data message which triggered the mystery jackpot value was received.  
     
     
         23 . A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in    claim 22   , wherein the jackpot controller which triggered the mystery jackpot value is responsive to receipt of said third data message to select a winning EGM coupled thereto for award of the jackpot on the basis of said first data messages received from the plurality of EGMs coupled thereto.