Method and Apparatus for Operating Networked Gaming Devices

Abstract

A system for monitoring and configuring gaming devices interconnected over a high-speed network is disclosed. The system can support a file server, one or more floor controllers, one or more pit terminals, and other terminals all interconnected over the network. Each gaming device includes an electronic module which allows the gaming device to communicate with a floor controller over a current loop network. The electronic module includes a player tracking module and a data communication node. The player tracking module includes a card reader for detecting a player tracking card inserted therein which identifies the player. The data communication node communicates with both the floor controller and the gaming device. The data communication node communicates with the gaming device over a serial interface through which the data communication node transmits reconfiguration commands. The gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule responsive to the reconfiguration commands to provide a variety of promotional bonuses such as multiple jackpot bonuses, mystery jackpot bonuses, progressive jackpot bonuses, or player specific bonuses.

1 . A method of providing a game on a gaming machine, said method comprising: 
 receiving an input signal indicating a wager amount on a play of the game;    determining an outcome to the play of the game;    determining a first award associated with the outcome according to a payout schedule stored on the gaming machine; and    determining whether to pay a second award in addition to the first award wherein the outcome determined for the play of the game is not used to determine whether to pay the second award.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second award is paid on a random basis.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award depends upon the wager amount.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 calculating a random value wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award depends upon the random value.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award depends upon a sum of wagers made during the play of a plurality of games.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award depends upon a number of games initiated.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award depends upon a sum of wagers made during the play of a plurality of games over a time period.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award depends upon a number of games initiated over a time period.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: outputting to at least one display one or more of the outcome, the first award, the second award or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one display is one of a mechanical display or a video display.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second award is a progressive award.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: receiving from a remote host a second award amount for the second award.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: selecting from a plurality of award amounts a second award amount to pay for the second award.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: receiving from a remote host the plurality of award amounts.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: receiving from a remote host a progressive award amount to pay for the second award.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , determining a first award amount for the first award to be zero and determining a second award amount greater than zero for the second award.  
   
   
       17 . A networked gaming system comprising: 
 a floor controller;    a plurality of gaming machines operable to communicate with the floor controller, wherein each of said plurality of gaming machines includes a payout table for specifying standard payouts payable at each of the gaming machines that correspond to outcomes displayed on each of the gaming machines;    wherein each of the gaming machines is configured to determine whether to provide a bonus payout after an outcome is displayed and wherein said bonus payout is in addition to the standard payouts paid by each of the gaming machines and wherein the determination of whether to pay the bonus payout is not based on the outcome displayed at each of the gaming machines providing the bonus payout; and wherein the determination of whether to pay the bonus payout is based, at least in part, on information communicated between the floor controller and each of the gaming machines providing the bonus payout.    
   
   
       18 . The networked gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein the bonus payout is a progressive award.  
   
   
       19 . The networked gaming system of  claim 17 , further comprising a bonus pool maintained by the floor controller, wherein the bonus pool funds the bonus payout.  
   
   
       20 . The networked gaming system of  claim 19 , wherein a predetermined percentage of coins-in received at said plurality of gaming machines is allocated to the bonus pool.  
   
   
       21 . The networked gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein the floor controller and each of said gaming machines providing the bonus payout are designed to communicate information relating to coin-in at each of said gaming machines providing the bonus payout.  
   
   
       22 . The networked gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein said bonus payout is provided in response to a bonus event being triggered one of the gaming machines.  
   
   
       23 . The networked gaming system of  claim 22 , wherein in response to the bonus event being triggered, at least one additional outcome is displayed prior to providing the bonus payout.  
   
   
       24 . The networked gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein a first bonus payout is provided on a first gaming machine at proximately a same time as a second bonus payout is provided on a second gaming machine.  
   
   
       25 . The networked gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein networked gaming system is operable to allow the bonus payout to be triggered on only one gaming machine at a time.  
   
   
       26 . The networked gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein information transmitted between the floor controller and one or more of the plurality of gaming machines is used to provide the bonus payout.  
   
   
       27 . A networked gaming system comprising: 
 a remote host;    a plurality of gaming machines operable to communicate with the remote host, each gaming machine comprising: 
 a display for displaying a game;  
 a first input mechanism operable to receive money or indicia credit for wagers on a play of the game;  
 a second input mechanism operable to receive an input indicating a wager amount on the play of the game;  
 at least one processor operable to execute software for controlling the play of the game;  
 at least one memory for storing the software and a payout schedule wherein the software comprises; 
 a) logic for determining an outcome for the play of the game and a first award associated with the outcome wherein the first award and the outcome are related according to information stored in the payout schedule;  
 b) logic for determining whether to pay a second award in addition to the first award wherein the outcome determined for the play of the game is not used to determine whether to pay the second award;  
 
 a communication interface for communicating with the remote host; and  
   a network for allowing communications between the remote host and the plurality of gaming machines.    
   
   
       28 . The networked gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein the second award is a progressive award.  
   
   
       29 . The networked gaming system of  claim 28 , wherein the remote host is operable to calculate a progressive award amount for the progressive award using wager information received from the plurality of gaming machines.  
   
   
       30 . The networked gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein the remote is operable to communicate an award amount for the second award to each of the plurality of gaming machines.  
   
   
       31 . The networked gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award is made on a random basis.  
   
   
       32 . The networked gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award depends on a number of games initiated by a particular user.  
   
   
       33 . The networked gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein the determination of whether to pay the second award depends on a sum of wagers made during the play of a plurality of games by a particular user.  
   
   
       34 . The networked gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein the determination of whether to play the second award depends on a randomly calculated value.  
   
   
       35 . The networked gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein each gaming machine is operable to provide a second award amount greater than zero for the second award when a first award amount for the first award is zero.