System and method for administering a progressive jackpot limited to a bonus round

Abstract

A method and apparatus that can be used by a casino to maintain a bonus round progressive jackpot that can be earned during a bonus round. When a player plays a slot machine and gains entry into a bonus round, the player then has the opportunity to win the bonus round progressive jackpot. The bonus round can involve player skill, and the lack of player skill can cause a contribution of a monetary amount to the bonus round progressive jackpot so that the player, or a successive player, has an opportunity to win the bonus round progressive jackpot.

1 . A gaming machine for implementing a wagering game, the gaming machine comprising:
 a computer, performing:   receiving, from a player, a wager on the gaming machine;   spinning reels on the gaming machine to generate a random result;   determining if the random result triggers a bonus round, and if so, then triggering the bonus round;   if the bonus round is triggered, then performing:   completing, by the player, a current bonus round which involves action(s) by the player incorporating skill;   determining and awarding to the player an actual award earned by the player in the current bonus round based at least one of the player's actions in the current bonus round;   identifying an optimal award that can be earned by the player in the current bonus round; and   comparing the optimal award to the actual award, and if the actual award is less than the optimal award, then contributing a contribution to a bonus round progressive jackpot; and   an output device to output results of the computer.   
   
   
       2 . The machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the contribution is equal to the optimal award minus the actual award. 
   
   
       3 . The machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the contribution is a random number based on: the optimal award minus the actual award. 
   
   
       4 . The machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein during the allowing, if the player wins the bonus round progressive jackpot, then the actual award is the bonus round progressive jackpot. 
   
   
       5 . The machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein during the allowing, if the player wins the bonus round progressive jackpot, then the actual award is a portion of the bonus round progressive jackpot. 
   
   
       6 . The machine as recited in  claim 5 , wherein if the player wins the bonus round progressive jackpot, then the bonus round progressive jackpot is reset a next time the bonus round is triggered. 
   
   
       7 . The machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bonus round progressive jackpot operates only on the gaming machine. 
   
   
       8 . The machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bonus round progressive jackpot operates only for the player identified by a comp card inserted into the gaming machine. 
   
   
       9 . The machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bonus round progressive jackpot operates for a shared bank of at least two machines. 
   
   
       10 . The machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bonus round requires a player to watch an animation and make a skilled pick based on the animation. 
   
   
       11 . The machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bonus round requires the player to select an element from two or more elements in order to guess a nondisclosed element chosen randomly. 
   
   
       12 . The machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bonus round requires the player to shoot onscreen targets. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming machine to implement a wagering game, the gaming machine comprising:
 a computer, performing:   receiving, from a player, a wager on the gaming machine;   spinning reels on the gaming machine to generate a random result;   determining if the random result triggers a bonus round, and if so, then performing:   triggering and completing the bonus round;   if the bonus round is triggered, and if the player wins the bonus round progressive jackpot, then awarding the player at least a portion of the bonus round progressive jackpot; and if the bonus round is triggered, then determining whether to contribute to the bonus round progressive jackpot, and if so, then contributing a contribution to the bonus round progressive jackpot; and   an output device outputting results of the computer,   wherein the contribution is based on an optimal bonus round award for the bonus round minus an actual bonus award earned in the bonus round.   
   
   
       14 . The machine as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the determining whether to contribute evaluates if the player has won the bonus round progressive jackpot, and if not, then the determining whether to contribute determines to contribute to the progressive jackpot. 
   
   
       15 . The machine as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the determining whether to contribute determines whether to contribute based on a skill of actions the player has taken in the bonus round. 
   
   
       16 . A gaming machine to implement a wagering game, the gaming machine comprising:
 a computer, performing:   receiving, from a player, a wager on the gaming machine;   spinning reels on the gaming machine to generate a random result;   determining if the random result triggers a bonus round, and if so, then performing:   triggering an completing the bonus round;   if the bonus round is triggered, and if the player wins the bonus round progressive jackpot, then awarding the player at least a portion of the bonus round progressive jackpot; and   if the bonus round is triggered, then determining whether to contribute to the bonus round progressive jackpot, and if so, then contributing a contribution to the bonus round progressive jackpot; and   an output device outputting results of the computer,   wherein the contribution is a random number based on: an optimal bonus round award for the bonus round minus an actual bonus award earned in the bonus round.   
   
   
       17 . A gaming machine to implement successive bonus rounds in a wagering game, the gaming machine comprising:
 a computer, performing:   receiving, from a player, a wager on the gaming machine;   spinning reels on the gaming machine, and triggering a first bonus round which involves skill;   in the first bonus round, taking a non-optimal action by the player which results in a first bonus round award disbursed to the player being less than an optimal bonus award for the first bonus round if the player had taken an optimal action and also results in a contribution being made to a bonus round progressive jackpot;   receiving a further wager on the gaming machine by the player, spinning reels on the gaming machine, and triggering a second bonus round which involves skill;   in the second bonus round, if the player takes optimal action then a second bonus round award is disbursed to the player that comprises an optimal bonus award for the second bonus round plus a compensating amount which is some or all of the bonus round progressive jackpot; and   an output device to output results of the computer.   
   
   
       18 . The machine as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the compensating amount equals the optimal bonus award for the first bonus round minus the first bonus round award. 
   
   
       19 . The machine as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the compensating amount is a random number with an expected value equal to the optimal bonus award for the first bonus round minus the first bonus round award. 
   
   
       20 . The machine as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a lower the actual award, a higher the contribution is. 
   
   
       21 . The machine as recited in  claim 17 , wherein a lower the first bonus round award, a higher the contribution is.