Shared Progressive Gaming System and Method

Abstract

The present invention provides a progressive system for paying out a primary progressive prize and a secondary progressive prize. The system includes a progressive controller, a plurality of game devices each configured to execute a game of chance, and a network interconnecting the progressive controller and the game devices. A funding module is executable by the progressive controller to maintain primary and secondary progressive awards and detect occurrence of a win event on any of the game devices. Upon occurrence of the win event, the funding module awards the primary progressive award, and also determines a distribution of the secondary progressive award. The system further includes a prize server and a prize expiration and reissue module executable by the prize server which determines an expiration period for a prize issued by any of the game devices, and then funds the prize to the secondary progressive award upon expiration of the expiration period.

1 . A progressive system for paying out a primary progressive prize and a secondary progressive prize, said progressive system comprising:
 a progressive controller;   a plurality of game devices, each configured to execute a game of chance;   a network interconnecting said progressive controller and said plurality of game devices;   a funding module executable by said progressive controller, said funding module configured to:
 maintain a primary progressive award and a secondary progressive award; 
 detect occurrence of a win event on any of said plurality of game devices; 
 award said primary progressive award upon occurrence of said win event; and 
 determine a distribution of said secondary progressive award upon occurrence of said win event; 
   a prize server; and   a prize expiration and reissue module executable by the prize server, said prize expiration and reissue module configured to:
 determine an expiration period for a prize issued by at least one of said plurality of game devices; and 
 fund said prize to said secondary progressive award upon expiration of said expiration period. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method for providing a primary progressive prize and a secondary progressive prize in a gaming system having a progressive controller coupled for communication to a plurality of game devices, said method comprising:
 maintaining a primary progressive award by the progressive controller;   maintaining at least one secondary progressive award by the progressive controller;   monitoring each of the game devices for a primary progressive win event;   using the primary progressive win event to initiate distribution of the secondary progressive award;   determining an expiration period for prizes issued by the game devices;   funding the prizes to the secondary progressive award upon expiration of the expiration period.