Gaming system and method of varying a jackpot game outcome

Abstract

A jackpot triggering method for symbol-driven jackpot awarding techniques comprises determining the amount of credit bet by a player on the commencement of game play. Whether a substitute symbol substitutes for a particular jackpot symbol varies depending on the amount of credit bet by the player and in turn affects the probability of a jackpot being awarded.

1 . A jackpot triggering method for symbol jackpots, comprising, determining the amount of credit bet by a player on the commencement of game play, providing a substitute symbol that operates to substitute for a nominated symbol, and varying whether the substitute symbol will substitute for a jackpot winning symbol dependent on the amount of credit bet by the player, to thereby affect the probability of a jackpot being awarded. 
   
   
       2 . A jackpot triggering method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein, as the amount of credit bet by the player is increased, the probability of the substitute symbol substituting for a jackpot symbol increases. 
   
   
       3 . A jackpot triggering method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the probability of the substitute symbol substituting for a jackpot symbol is directly proportional to the amount of credit bet. 
   
   
       4 . A jackpot triggering method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein, a plurality of jackpot symbols are provided, each one of the plurality of jackpot symbols being associated with a different jackpot. 
   
   
       5 . A jackpot triggering method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein, on a player increasing the credit bet on a game, the substitute symbol is varied dependent on the amount of credit bet by the player, to allow the substitute symbol to substitute for a sub-set of the plurality of jackpot symbols. 
   
   
       6 . A jackpot triggering method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein, as the amount of credit bet by the player is increased, the number of symbols in the subset of the plurality of symbols increases. 
   
   
       7 . A jackpot triggering method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the symbol that may be substituted for a Jackpot symbol is a WILD symbol. 
   
   
       8 . A jackpot triggering method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the jackpot is awarded upon determining that a designated jackpot symbol combination is displayed during game play. 
   
   
       9 . A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming devices which may participate in a jackpot by making jackpot contributions; and a jackpot controller arranged to: determine the amount of credit bet by a player on the commencement of game play, and vary the type of symbol that may be substituted for a jackpot winning symbol dependent on the determined amount of credit bet by the player, to thereby effect the probability of a jackpot being awarded to the player. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the probability of the substitute symbol substituting for a jackpot symbol increases with the amount of credit bet by the player. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the probability of the substitute symbol substituting for a jackpot symbol is directly proportional to the amount of credit bet by the player. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of jackpot symbols are provided, each one of the plurality of jackpot symbols being associated with a different jackpot. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein on a player increasing the credit bet on a game, the jackpot controller is operable to vary the substitute symbol dependent on the amount of credit bet to thereby allow the substitute symbol to substitute for a sub-set of the plurality of jackpot symbols. 
   
   
       14 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the number of symbols in the sub-set of the plurality of symbols increases with the amount of credit bet by the player. 
   
   
       15 . A gaming system in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the symbol that is substituted for a jackpot symbol is a WILD symbol. 
   
   
       16 . A controller for a gaming device operable to provide, during game play, a substitute symbol that may substitute for a nominated symbol, the controller arranged to: determine an amount of credit bet by a player of the gaming device on commencement of game play, and vary whether the substitute symbol will substitute for a jackpot winning symbol dependent on the determined credit amount, to thereby affect the probability of a jackpot being awarded to the player. 
   
   
       17 . A controller in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising an award module operable to award the jackpot upon determining that a designated jackpot symbol combination is displayed during game play. 
   
   
       18 . A computer readable medium comprising computer program code which when executed implements a jackpot triggering method for symbol jackpots, comprising, determining the amount of credit bet by a player on the commencement of game play, providing a substitute symbol that operates to substitute for a nominated symbol, and varying whether the substitute symbol will substitute for a jackpot winning symbol dependent on the amount of credit bet by the player, to thereby affect the probability of a jackpot being awarded. 
   
   
       19 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein, as the amount of credit bet by the player is increased, the probability of the substitute symbol substituting for a jackpot symbol increases. 
   
   
       20 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the probability of the substitute symbol substituting for a jackpot symbol is directly proportional to the amount of credit bet.