Slot gaming system

Abstract

A slot gaming system in which a number of slot machines are interconnected by a network and each slot machine is able to be used in a conventional manner for such a machine, and which has the possibility of a second, collateral bet, which is live for a particular time, the result of the bet being determined on any one of the players on the network having a predetermined success on the first bet. In one embodiment, the slot gaming system can only be triggered by a player who is entitled to share in the result of the second bet. The payout on the second bet to the players entitled thereto is dependent on the degree of success of the player who has won the first bet. The particular time during which the second bet is live can be selected to be of the order of the play cycle of the machine, for example, three to four seconds. Thus, the live second bets, which cause the players to share in the prize associated therewith can have been placed over a time period which overlaps the selected time.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . A slot gaming system, comprising:
 a plurality of slot machines interconnected in a network, each slot machine of said plurality of slot machines being capable of accepting a first bet and a second bet, said first bet being a primary bet and said second bet being a collateral bet, said collateral bet being live for a predetermined period of time, a result for said second bet being triggered on any one said slot machine of said plurality of slot machines having a predetermined success on said first bet.   
   
   
       29 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 28 , wherein the result for said second bet is triggered only by at least one said slot machine having a live second bet and having the predetermined success on said first bet. 
   
   
       30 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 28 , wherein a payout for said second bet to players is dependent on a degree of level of success on said first bet on at least one said slot machine triggering success of said second bet. 
   
   
       31 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 28 , wherein said collateral bet is live for a predetermined period of time that is coordinated with a play cycle of said plurality of slot machines. 
   
   
       32 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 31 , wherein the predetermined period of time is three to four seconds, wherein live said collateral bets cause players to share a prize associated therewith. 
   
   
       33 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 28 , wherein said collateral bet is live for a predetermined period of time that is longer in duration than a play cycle of said plurality of slot machines. 
   
   
       34 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 28 , further comprising a collateral game having a predetermined number of levels of success in said collateral game with each of said levels of success having a different pool. 
   
   
       35 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 34 , wherein a bet on said collateral game must be by credits that are a multiple of said levels of success for said collateral game. 
   
   
       36 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 34 , wherein a result corresponding to one level of success of said levels of success triggers that said one level of success, thereafter a portion of withdrawn from a pool and the pool is divided among said plurality of slot machines that were live when the result was achieved. 
   
   
       37 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 28 , wherein said plurality of slot machines have an additional game feature that provides an insurance bet capable of effecting a result of play if a given said slot machine having said additional game feature is successful in obtaining a result beneficial to a player of said given said slot machine. 
   
   
       38 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 28 , wherein each said slot machine of said plurality of slot machines includes first input means for allowing a player to enter a first game, and second input means for allowing providing the player an option of placing a second bet for entering a second game. 
   
   
       39 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 38 , further comprising third input means for each said slot machine of said plurality of slot machines, wherein a playing exercising the option of placing the second bet for entering the second game, has an additional option of placing an insurance bet on any said slot machine of said plurality of slot machines in said network. 
   
   
       40 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 28 , wherein each said slot machine of said plurality of slot machines in said network has an input for indicating that said second bet has been taken, an electronic timer able to be initiated via a play button for a primary game of each said slot machine, and being applied as one input in a series of AND gates equal to a number of levels of results in a secondary game of the input to each said AND gate being an operation of said electronic timer, wherein operation of said AND gate is identified by said network so that a number of said plurality of slot machines participating in the result are able to be ascertained and a payout for each said slot machine of said plurality of slot machines is able to be calculated and credit applied to each said slot machine entitled to the payout. 
   
   
       41 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 28 , further comprising means for enabling said plurality of slot machines in said network to provide an indication to players when an additional game is to commence, so that the players have an option of playing when a likelihood of success in the additional game is optimum. 
   
   
       42 . The slot gaming system according to  claim 28 , further comprising means for enabling a player of any said slot machine of said plurality of slot machines to enter into an additional game over a number of plays of said slot machine without having to place a separate bet on each game.