Networked gaming system and method with a multiple-progressive wheel game

Abstract

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

1 . A networked gaming system including:
 a plurality of gaming machines connected through a network to a server, at least one of the gaming machines including a game operable by a player, the game comprising a first game and a second game; upon a triggering event, the second game activatable over a plurality of plays, the second game comprising a wheel and a plurality of progressive awards, each progressive award associated with a separate one of the second game plays.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the triggering event comprises the occurrence of a specific one of a set of possible first game outcomes. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming system of  claim 1  further comprising a wager input mechanism operable by the player wherein play of the second game is restricted by the amount of a wager placed by the player by way of the wager input mechanism. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming system of  claim 1  further comprising a game management unit operatively coupled to at least one of the gaming machines and to the network. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , the first game comprising 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. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein the gaming machines are connected for competitive play. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming system of  claim 1  where the gaming machines are connected for cooperative play. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein a random outcome is associated with each play of the second game. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming system of  claim 1  wherein game outcomes are determined by the server. 
   
   
       10 . 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 first game; upon the occurrence of a triggering event, determining a plurality of a set of possible outcomes for a second game, the second game comprising a wheel and a plurality of progressive awards, each progressive award associated with a separate one of the plurality of second game outcomes. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the triggering event comprises a predefined one of the set of first game outcomes. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of connecting the plurality of gaming machines for cooperative play of the second game. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of connecting the plurality of gaming machines for competitive play of the second game. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the gaming machines reside in at least one casino. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising displaying the second game on a player tracking system display at each of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming system of  claim 10  wherein a random outcome is associated with each of the plurality of second game outcomes. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming system of  claim 10  further comprising a gaming display control computer. 
   
   
       18 . 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 a trigger operable in conjunction with the game for causing the game to play a feature game, the feature game comprising a wheel, a plurality of outcomes and a plurality of progressive awards, each progressive award associated with a separate one of the plurality of outcomes. 
   
   
       19 . The networked gaming system of  claim 18  wherein the game is controlled by the network computer. 
   
   
       20 . The networked gaming system of  claim 18  wherein the game is controlled by the at least one of the gaming machines. 
   
   
       21 . The networked gaming system of  claim 18 , the game comprising a random outcome associated with each play of the game. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the one or more gaming machines are located in at least one casino. 
   
   
       23 . A networked gaming system including: a host computer; a progressive controller accessible through the host computer operable to generate multiple progressive pools; a plurality of gaming machines connected through a network to the host computer and progressive controller, at least one of the gaming machines including a game operable by a player, the game comprising a first game and a second game; upon a triggering event, the second game activatable over a plurality of plays, the second game comprising a wheel, each of the second game plays associated with a separate one of the multiple progressive pools. 
   
   
       24 . The gaming system of  claim 23  further comprising a game management unit operatively coupled to at least one of the gaming machines and to the network. 
   
   
       25 . A method of operating a networked gaming system, the method including the steps of: connecting a plurality of gaming machines comprising a game to a host computer; providing access to a progressive controller associated with the host computer; generating a plurality of progressive pools controlled by the progressive controller; for one of the games, selecting at least one of a set of possible outcomes for a first game; upon the occurrence of a triggering event, determining a plurality of a set of possible outcomes for a second game, the second game comprising a wheel, each of the determined outcomes associated with a separate one of the progressive pools.