Gaming device and method with enhanced player interactivity

Abstract

A gaming device and method in which a portion of each wager ( 1 ) is divided between at least two escrow accounts. One may serve as a conventional progressive pool ( 1 a ) (possibly networked across a number of gaming devices), while another may serve as a gaming device or player specific cache account ( 1 b ). When the player achieves a predetermined winning combination he triggers a game feature, the ‘Progressive Challenge’, in which the player may elect to exercise the option ( 29 ) to wager none ( 33 ), some ( 32 ) or all ( 31 ) of the amount in the device specific cache account ( 1 b ) in an attempt to win some or the entire amount in the conventional progressive pool account ( 1 a ). If the player fails to win, the amount the player wagered from the device specific cache may be transferred to the conventional progressive pool ( 1 a ). During game play the player may also have the opportunity to win additional Non-Monetary awards which may be used to increase the player's odds to win the ‘Progressive Challenge’. The invention provides for games to be developed that have improved levels of player interactivity and foster player ‘ownership’ that increases time on device and game profitability.

1 . A gaming device, comprising: 
 at least one display device;    at least one player input interface;    at least one processor in communication with said display device, and said player input interface, 
 said processor being programmed to allow a player to make a wager,  
 said processor being programmed to allocate a predetermined percentage of the player's wager into a first escrow account,  
 said processor being programmed to allocate a predetermined percentage of said player's wager into a second escrow account,  
 said processor being programmed to evaluate the outcome of a game, said game having one or more challenge rounds,  
 said processor being programmed to display the results of said game on said display device,  
 said processor being programmed to be capable of awarding said player non-monetary gaming awards during game play, 
 said non-monetary gaming awards being capable of effecting in a predetermined manner, the results of said challenge round,  
 
 said processor being programmed to allow said player to use said player input device to wager an amount determined by said player from the said first escrow account during said challenge round,  
 said processor being programmed to determine the results of said challenge round and transfer said wagered amounts from said first escrow account to said second escrow account if the outcome of said challenge round qualified as a loss,  
 said processor being programmed to determine the results of said challenge round and transfer a predetermined amount from said second escrow account to said player if the outcome of said challenge game was a win.  
   
   
   
       2 . A gaming device as defined in  claim 1 , further including a tracking card reader; 
 said card reader being in communication with a networked player tracking database.    
   
   
       3 . A gaming device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first escrow account is associated and tracked on a networked player tracking account.  
   
   
       4 . A gaming device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said second escrow account is associated with a network of identical gaming devices as defined in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       5 . A gaming device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said game further includes a bonus round.  
   
   
       6 . A gaming device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said game is video poker.  
   
   
       7 . A gaming device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said game is video slots.  
   
   
       8 . A gaming device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said game is video keno.  
   
   
       9 . A gaming device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said game is video blackjack.  
   
   
       10 . A gaming device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said display device is a video device selected from a group consisting of thin film transistor and liquid crystal display and plasma and cathode ray tube and digital light processing and liquid crystal on silicon and organic light emitting diode displays.  
   
   
       11 . A gaming device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said display device is mechanical in nature.  
   
   
       12 . A gaming device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said processor comprising: a central processing unit, and a pay table.  
   
   
       13 . A gaming device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein resolution of said challenge round involves player skill.  
   
   
       14 . A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming devices: 
 each of said gaming devices, comprising; 
 at least one processor; 
 said processor being programmed to allow a player to make a wager,  
 said processor being programmed to allocate a predetermined percentage of the player's wager into a first escrow account,  
 said processor being programmed to allocate a predetermined percentage of said player's wager into a second escrow account,  
 said processor being programmed to evaluate the outcome of a game, said game having one or more challenge rounds,  
 said processor being programmed to be capable of awarding said player non-monetary gaming awards during game play,  
 said non-monetary gaming awards being capable of effecting in a predetermined manner, the results of said challenge round,  
 
 said processor being programmed to allow said player to wager an amount determined by said player from the said first escrow account during said challenge round,  
 said processor being programmed to determine the results of said challenge round and transfer said wagered amounts from said first escrow account to said second escrow account if the outcome of said challenge round qualified as a loss,  
 said processor being programmed to determine the results of said challenge round and transfer a predetermined amount from said second escrow account to said player if the outcome of said challenge game was a win,  
   said gaming devices being interconnected to form a network of gaming devices.    
   
   
       15 . A gaming method, comprising: 
 causing a video image to be generated, said video image representing game play;    allocating a predetermined percentage of a player's wager into a first escrow  4  account,    allocating a predetermined percentage of said player's wager into a second escrow account,    evaluating the outcome of a game, 
 said game having one or more challenge rounds,  
   allowing said player to wager an amount determined by said player from the said first escrow account during said challenge round,    determining the results of said challenge round and transferring said wagered amounts from said first escrow account to said second escrow account if the outcome of said challenge round qualified as a loss,    determining the results of said challenge round and transferring a predetermined amount from said second escrow account to said player if the outcome of said challenge game was a win,    awarding said player non-monetary gaming awards during game play, 
 said non-monetary gaming awards being capable of effecting in a predetermined manner, the results of said challenge round.  
   
   
   
       16 . A gaming method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said gaming method additionally comprises acquiring player tracking data from a networked player tracking database.  
   
   
       17 . A gaming method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said gaming method additionally comprises reading a player tracking card.  
   
   
       18 . A gaming method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said first escrow account is tracked with a networked player tracking account.  
   
   
       19 . A gaming method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said second escrow account is connected to a plurality of identical networked games.  
   
   
       20 . A gaming method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said game further includes a bonus round.  
   
   
       21 . A gaming method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein resolution of said challenge round involves player skill.