Game and Method Having a Guaranteed Progressive Award Feature

Abstract

Disclosed are example games, machines, systems and methods for providing a game including a feature that terminates only after a player wins at least one progressive award.

1 . A game comprising:
 a primary game having a set of outcomes, at least one of the set of outcomes determined after a play; and   a feature game playable after determination of a primary game outcome associated with the feature game, the feature game concluding upon a player winning at least one of a plurality of progressive awards associated with the feature game.   
   
   
       2 . The game of  claim 1  further comprising a wager, wherein play of the feature game is restricted by the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       3 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the primary game comprises at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackiack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       4 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the primary game comprises a poker game. 
   
   
       5 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the primary game comprises a keno game. 
   
   
       6 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the primary game comprises a blackjack game. 
   
   
       7 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the primary game comprises a bingo game. 
   
   
       8 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the primary game comprises a roulette game. 
   
   
       9 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the primary game comprises a wheel game. 
   
   
       10 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the feature game comprises at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       11 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the secondary game comprises a poker game. 
   
   
       12 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the secondary game comprises a keno game. 
   
   
       13 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the secondary game comprises a blackjack game. 
   
   
       14 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the secondary game comprises a bingo game. 
   
   
       15 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the secondary game comprises a roulette game. 
   
   
       16 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the secondary game comprises a wheel game. 
   
   
       17 . The game of  claim 1 , the one of a plurality of progressive awards being associated with at least one of a stand-alone progressive, a bank-wide progressive, a casino-wide progressive, a wide-area progressive, and a personal progressive. 
   
   
       18 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the progressive award is associated with a bank-wide progressive. 
   
   
       19 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the progressive award is associated with a casino-wide progressive. 
   
   
       20 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the progressive award is associated with a wide-area progressive. 
   
   
       21 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the progressive award is associated with a personal progressive. 
   
   
       22 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the progressive award won by the player is scaled based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       23 . The game of  claim 1  wherein the probability of playing the feature game is based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       24 . The game of  claim 1  wherein a maximum number of feature game plays is allocated and, in the event the maximum number of feature game plays is exhausted without the player winning a progressive award, the player is paid a consolation prize. 
   
   
       25 . A game comprising:
 a set of outcomes, at least one of the set of outcomes determined after a play;   the game concluding only upon player winning at least one of a plurality of progressive awards associated with the set of outcomes.   
   
   
       26 . The game of  claim 25  further comprising a wager, wherein play of the game is restricted by the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       27 . The game of  claim 25  wherein the game comprises at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       28 . The game of  claim 25  wherein the game comprises a poker game. 
   
   
       29 . The game of  claim 25  wherein the game comprises a keno game. 
   
   
       30 . The game of  claim 25  wherein the game comprises a blackjack game. 
   
   
       31 . The game of  claim 25  wherein the game comprises a bingo game. 
   
   
       32 . The game of  claim 25  wherein the game comprises a roulette game. 
   
   
       33 . The game of  claim 25  wherein the game comprises a wheel game. 
   
   
       34 . The game of  claim 25 , the one of a plurality of progressive awards associated with at least one of a stand-alone progressive, a bank-wide progressive, a casino-wide progressive, a wide-area progressive, and a personal progressive. 
   
   
       35 . The game of  claim 25  wherein the progressive award is associated with a bank progressive. 
   
   
       36 . The game of  claim 25  wherein the progressive award is associated with a casino-wide progressive. 
   
   
       37 . The game of  claim 25  wherein the progressive award is associated with a wide-area progressive. 
   
   
       38 . The game of  claim 25  wherein the progressive award is associated with a personal progressive. 
   
   
       39 . The game of  claim 25  wherein the progressive award won by the player is scaled based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       40 . A method of operating a game, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining at least one of a set of outcomes for a primary game;   upon the occurrence of a predefined primary game outcome, determining at least one of a set of outcomes for a feature game; and   continuing to determine outcomes for the feature game until a feature game outcome occurs that is associated with at least one of a plurality of progressive awards.   
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising the steps of:
 accepting a wager; and restricting play of the feature game based on the amount of the wager.   
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the primary game comprises at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the primary game comprises a poker game. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the primary game comprises a keno game. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the primary game comprises a blackjack game. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the primary game comprises a bingo game. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the primary game comprises a roulette game. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the primary game comprises a wheel game. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the feature game comprises at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the feature game comprises a poker game. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the feature game comprises a keno game. 
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the feature game comprises a blackjack game. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the feature game comprises a bingo game. 
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the feature game comprises a roulette game. 
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the feature game comprises a wheel game. 
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 40 , the one of a plurality of progressive awards associated with at least one of a stand alone progressive, a bank-wide progressive, a casino-wide progressive, a wide-area progressive, and a personal progressive. 
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the progressive award is associated with a bank-wide progressive. 
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the progressive award is associated with a casino-wide progressive. 
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the progressive award is associated with a wide-area progressive. 
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the progressive award is associated with a personal progressive. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the progressive award won by the player is scaled based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the probability of playing the feature game is based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising the steps of:
 allocating a number of feature game plays and, in the event the number of feature game plays is exhausted without the player winning a progressive award, paying the player a consolation prize.   
   
   
       64 . A method of operating a game, the method comprising the steps of: determining at least one of a set of outcomes for the game; and continuing play of the game until a winning outcome occurs that is associated with at least one of a plurality of progressive awards. 
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 64  further comprising the steps of:
 accepting a wager; and   restricting play of the game based on the amount of the wager.   
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the game comprises at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the game comprises a poker game. 
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the game comprises a keno game. 
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the game comprises a blackjack game. 
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the game comprises a bingo game. 
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the game comprises a roulette game. 
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the game comprises a wheel game. 
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 64 , the one of a plurality of progressive awards associated with at least one of a stand-alone progressive, a bank-wide progressive, a casino-wide progressive, a wide-area progressive, and a personal progressive. 
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the progressive award is associated with a bank-wide progressive. 
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the progressive award is associated with a casino-wide progressive. 
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the progressive award is associated with a wide-area progressive. 
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the progressive award is associated with a personal progressive. 
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the progressive award won by a player is scaled based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       79 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a processor operatively coupled to a set of controls operable by a player;   a primary game and a feature game operable by the processor in accordance with the player-operable controls;   upon a triggering event, the feature game activatable over a sequence of one or more plays, the sequence of plays concluding upon an award to the player of at least one of a plurality of progressive awards associated with the feature game.   
   
   
       80 . The gaming machine of  claim 79  further comprising a wager input mechanism operable by the player, wherein play of the feature game is restricted by the amount of a wager placed by the player by way of the wager input mechanism. 
   
   
       81 . The gaming machine of  claim 79 , the primary game comprising at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       82 . The gaming machine of  claim 79 , the feature game comprising at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       83 . The gaming machine of  claim 79 , the plurality of progressive awards comprising at least one of a stand-alone progressive, a bank-wide progressive, a casino-wide progressive, a wide-area progressive and a personal progressive award. 
   
   
       84 . The gaming machine of  claim 79  wherein the amount of the progressive award awarded to the player is scaled based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       85 . The gaming machine of  claim 79  wherein the probability of the triggering event occurring is based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       86 . The gaming machine of  claim 79 , the feature game comprising only progressive awards. 
   
   
       87 . The gaming machine of  claim 79 , the feature game comprising non-progressive awards. 
   
   
       88 . The gaming machine of  claim 79  wherein, upon the triggering event, a maximum number of feature game plays is allocated and, in the event the maximum number of feature game plays is exhausted without the player winning a primary progressive award, paying the player a consolation prize. 
   
   
       89 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a processor operatively coupled to a set of controls operable by a player;   a wagering game operable by the processor in accordance with the set of controls,   upon a triggering event, the wagering game activatable for a sequence of one or more plays, said sequence of plays concluding upon an award to the player of at least one of a plurality of progressive awards associated with the game.   
   
   
       90 . The gaming machine of  claim 89 , the game comprising at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       91 . The gaming machine of  claim 89 , the plurality of progressive awards comprising at least one of one of a stand-alone progressive, a bank-wide progressive, a casino-wide progressive, a wide-area progressive and a personal progressive award. 
   
   
       92 . The gaming machine of  claim 89  wherein the value of one of the plurality of progressive awards is scaled based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       93 . A method of operating a gaming machine played by a player, the method including the steps of:
 determining at least one of a set of possible outcomes for a primary game;   upon an occurrence of a predefined primary game outcome, determining at least one of a set of possible outcomes for a feature game; and   continuing to determine at least one of a set of possible outcomes for the feature game until an outcome is determined that is associated with at least one of a plurality of progressive awards.   
   
   
       94 . The method of  claim 93  further comprising the steps of: accepting a wager from the player; and restricting play of the feature game based on the amount of the wager. 
   
   
       95 . The method of  claim 93 , the primary game comprising at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       96 . The method of  claim 93 , the feature game comprising at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       97 . The method of  claim 93 , the plurality of progressive awards comprising at least one of a stand-alone progressive, a bankwide progressive, a casino-wide progressive, a wide-area progressive and a personal progressive award. 
   
   
       98 . The method of  claim 93  wherein the value of one of the plurality of progressive awards is scaled based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       99 . The method of  claim 93  wherein the probability of a predefined primary game outcome triggering play of the feature game is based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       100 . The method of  claim 93  further comprising the steps of allocating a number of feature game plays and, in the event the number of feature game plays is exhausted without the player winning a primary progressive award, paying the player a consolation prize. 
   
   
       101 . A method of operating a gaming machine played by a player, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining at least one of a set of potential outcomes for play of a game installed on the gaming machine; and   continuing to determine outcomes of the game until an outcome is determined that is associated with at least one of a plurality of progressive awards.   
   
   
       102 . The method of  claim 101  further comprising the steps of:
 accepting a wager from the player; and restricting play of the game based on the amount of the wager.   
   
   
       103 . The method of  claim 101  wherein the game comprises at least one of a reelbased game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       104 . The method of  claim 101 , the plurality of progressive awards comprising at least one of a stand-alone progressive, a bank-wide progressive, a casino-wide progressive, a wide-area progressive and a personal progressive. 
   
   
       105 . The method of  claim 101  wherein the value of one of the plurality of progressive awards is scaled based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       106 . A networked gaming system including:
 a plurality of gaming machines connected through a network to a host computer, at least one of the gaming machines including a game operable by a player, the game comprising a primary game and a feature game, upon a triggering event, the feature game activatable over a sequence of one or more plays, the sequence of plays concluding upon an award of at least one of a plurality of progressive awards associated with the feature game.   
   
   
       107 . The system of  claim 106  further comprising a wager input mechanism operable by the player, wherein play of the feature game is restricted by the amount of a wager placed by the player by way of the wager input mechanism. 
   
   
       108 . The system of  claim 106  wherein the primary game comprises at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       109 . The system of  claim 106  wherein the feature game comprises at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       110 . The system of  claim 106 , the plurality of progressive awards including at least one of a stand-alone progressive, a bank-wide progressive, a casino-wide progressive, a wide-area progressive and a personal progressive award. 
   
   
       111 . The system of  claim 106  wherein the amount awarded to the player is scaled based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       112 . The system of  claim 106  wherein the probability of the triggering event occurring is based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       113 . The system of  claim 106  wherein, upon the triggering event, a maximum number of feature game plays is predetermined or randomly determined and, in the event the maximum number of feature game plays is exhausted without the player winning a progressive award, the game awards a consolation prize. 
   
   
       114 . The system of  claim 106  wherein the gaming machines are connected for competitive play. 
   
   
       115 . The system of  claim 106  wherein the gaming machines are connected for cooperative play. 
   
   
       116 . The system of  claim 106  wherein a random outcome is associated with each play of the primary game. 
   
   
       117 . The system of  claim 106  wherein a random outcome is associated with each play of the feature game. 
   
   
       118 . The system of  claim 106 , the feature game comprising only progressive awards. 
   
   
       119 . The system of  claim 106 , the feature game comprising non-progressive awards. 
   
   
       120 . A networked gaming system including:
 a plurality of gaming machines connected through a network to a host computer, at least one of the gaming machines including a wagering game operable by a player, upon a triggering event, the wagering game activatable for a sequence of one or more plays, said sequence of plays concluding upon an award to the player of at least one of a plurality of progressive awards associated with the game.   
   
   
       121 . The system of  claim 120  wherein the game comprises at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       122 . The system of  claim 120  wherein the game includes a random outcome associated with each play of the game. 
   
   
       123 . The system of  claim 120  wherein one of the plurality of progressive awards is associated with at least one of a stand-alone progressive, a bank-wide progressive, a casino-wide progressive, a wide-area progressive and a personal progressive. 
   
   
       124 . The system of  claim 120  wherein the value of the award to the player is scaled based on the amount of a wager placed by the player. 
   
   
       125 . The system of  claim 120  wherein the gaming machines are connected for competitive play. 
   
   
       126 . The system of  claim 120  wherein the gaming machines are connected for cooperative play. 
   
   
       127 . A method of operating a networked gaming system, the method including the steps of:
 connecting a plurality of gaming machines comprising a game; for one of the games, selecting at least one of a set of possible outcomes for a primary game;   upon an occurrence of a predefined primary game outcome, determining at least one of a set of possible outcomes for a feature game;   and continuing to determine at least one of a set of possible outcomes for the feature game until an outcome is determined that is associated with at least one of a plurality of progressive awards.   
   
   
       128 . The method of  claim 127  further comprising the steps of:
 accepting a wager from a player; and   restricting play of the feature game based on the amount of the wager.   
   
   
       129 . The method of  claim 127 , the primary game comprising at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       130 . The method of  claim 127 , the feature game comprising at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       131 . The method of  claim 127 , the plurality of progressive awards including at least one of a stand-alone progressive, a bank-wide progressive, a casino-wide progressive, a wide-area progressive and a personal progressive award. 
   
   
       132 . The method of  claim 127  wherein the value of at least one of the plurality of progressive awards is scaled based on the amount of a wager placed by a player. 
   
   
       133 . The method of  claim 127  wherein the probability of a predefined primary game outcome triggering play of the feature game is based on the amount of a wager placed by a player of the game. 
   
   
       134 . The method of  claim 127  further comprising the steps of allocating a number of feature game plays and, in the event the number of feature game plays is exhausted without the player winning a progressive award, paying the player a consolation prize. 
   
   
       135 . A method of operating a networked gaming system, the method including the steps of:
 connecting a plurality of gaming machines comprising a game; for one of the games, determining at least one of a set of potential outcomes for play of the game; and continuing to determine outcomes of the game until an outcome is determined that is associated with at least one of a plurality of progressive awards.   
   
   
       136 . The method of  claim 135  further comprising the steps of:
 accepting a wager from a player of the game; and restricting play of the game based on the amount of the wager.   
   
   
       137 . The method of  claim 135 , the game comprising at least one of a reel-based game, a video game, a poker game, a keno game, a blackjack game, a bingo game, a roulette game and a wheel game. 
   
   
       138 . The method of  claim 135 , the plurality of progressive awards including at least one of a stand-alone progressive, a bankwide progressive, a casino-wide progressive, a wide-area progressive and a personal progressive award. 
   
   
       139 . The method of  claim 135  wherein the value of one of the plurality of progressive awards is scaled based on the amount of a wager placed by a player of the game. 
   
   
       140 . The system of  claim 135  wherein the gaming machines are connected through the network for competitive play. 
   
   
       141 . The system of  claim 135  wherein the gaming machines are connected through the network for cooperative play. 
   
   
       142 . A networked gaming system including:
 a network computer;   one or more gaming machines;   a network connecting the network computer to the one or more gaming machines;   a game operable with at least one of the gaming machines and having a set of possible outcomes including a subset of progressive awards; and   a trigger operable in conjunction with the game for causing the game to play repetitively until one of the subset of progressive awards is achieved.   
   
   
       143 . The networked gaming system of  claim 142  wherein the game is controlled by the host computer. 
   
   
       144 . The networked gaming system of  claim 142  wherein the game is controlled by the at least one of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       145 . The networked gaming system of  claim 142 , the game comprising a random outcome associated with each play of the game. 
   
   
       146 . A networked gaming system including: a game having a set of possible progressive award outcomes; and a trigger for causing the game to play until one of the set of progressive award outcomes is achieved. 
   
   
       147 . The networked gaming system of  claim 146 , the game comprising a random outcome associated with each play of the game.