Gaming machine and method having a multiple-progressive wheel component

Abstract

Disclosed are a gaming machine and associated method including a multiple-progressive wheel component. A player may win more than one wheel-based progressive award during play of a single game.

1 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a processor operatively coupled to a set of player-operable controls;   a first game and a second game operable by the processor in accordance with the player-operable controls, each game having a set of possible outcomes;   upon a triggering event, the second game comprising a first wheel activatable over a sequence of one or more plays to determine at least one of the set of second game outcomes; and   a plurality of progressive awards, each progressive award associated with a separate aspect of the triggering event.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising a wager input mechanism operatively coupled to the processor, wherein play of the second game is restricted by an amount of a wager placed through the wager input mechanism. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the player interacts with the second game through the player-operable controls following the occurrence of the triggering event. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first game comprises at least one of a slot machine game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising a video display operatively coupled to the processor. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5  wherein the video display is a wide-screen display. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising a cabinet enclosing the processor. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 7  wherein the cabinet is one of a bar-top cabinet, a slant-top cabinet, an upright cabinet or a table-top cabinet. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising a memory operatively coupled to the processor. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 9  wherein the memory comprises at least one of a hard drive, a CDROM, a DVD or a flash memory. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first wheel is a video representation of a wheel. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first wheel is an electromechanical wheel. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first wheel is stationary. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first wheel is movable. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first wheel comprises a moving pointer. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the first wheel comprises a stationary pointer. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising a second wheel. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine of  claim 17  wherein the second wheel is stationary. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine of  claim 17  wherein the second wheel is movable. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine of  claim 17  wherein the second wheel comprises a moving pointer. 
   
   
       21 . The gaming machine of  claim 17  wherein the second wheel comprises a stationary pointer. 
   
   
       22 . A method of operating a gaming machine played by a player, the method including the steps of:
 accepting a wager from a wager-input mechanism;   initiating play of a first game according to the wager; upon a triggering event associated with the game, initiating play of a second game;   for each of a plurality of progressive awards associated with the second game, determining a second game outcome;   displaying each second game outcome to the player on a display, the display comprising a wheel; and   in the event one or more of the displayed second game outcomes results in the winning of a progressive award, paying each of the won progressive awards.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the triggering event comprises a predefined one of a set of possible first game outcomes. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of restricting play of the second game based on the amount of the wager. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein all of the progressive awards are won during a single play of the second game.