System and method for providing a communal jackpot

Abstract

A system for providing a communal jackpot includes a plurality of gaming machines. Each gaming machine provides an individual game of chance to a player wagering at each respective gaming machine. A communal jackpot controller is in communication with each of the gaming machines. The communal jackpot controller provides a communal jackpot game to the players wagering at each gaming machine and awards the communal jackpot to a plurality of players according to predetermined eligibility criterion when triggered.

1 . A system for providing a communal jackpot, the system including:
 a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine providing an individual game of chance to a player wagering at each respective gaming machine,   a communal jackpot controller in communication with each of the gaming machines, the communal jackpot controller providing a communal jackpot game to the players wagering at each gaming machine, the communal jackpot controller awarding the communal jackpot to a plurality of players according to predetermined eligibility criterion when triggered.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the communal jackpot has a value and a percentage of each player's wager on the individual game of chance is allocated to the value of the communal jackpot. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2  wherein the communal jackpot is triggered when the value of the communal jackpot crosses a threshold trigger value. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3  wherein the threshold trigger value is random. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 4  wherein the threshold value is randomly predetermined by the communal jackpot controller. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 5  wherein the threshold value is set between a minimum jackpot limit and a maximum jackpot limit. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 6  wherein each of the players is eligible to receive a portion of the communal jackpot according to one or more of the following criteria: the player having an active wager on the individual game provided at their respective gaming machine; the value of the player's wager on the individual game being above a minimum eligibility threshold; the physical location of the gaming machine; the player being enrolled in a venue loyalty scheme; the average wager of the gamer on the individual game during the course of a predetermine time period; player statistics associated with the loyalty scheme; the player electing to place an additional ante bet; a random selection of a plurality of players; the player placing a wager on the individual game where that wager is higher than the average wager of a predetermine percentage of other players' wagers; the player wagering the maximum wager available on the individual game; the magnitude of a player's wager relative to other players' wagers'; or any other suitable criteria or criterion. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 7  wherein the percentage of each player's wager on the individual game of chance that is allocated to the value of the communal jackpot is added individually and the player whose contribution causes the value of the communal jackpot to cross the threshold trigger value is awarded a predetermined percentage of the communal jackpot. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8  wherein the predetermine percentage is selected from one of: 10%; 20%; 30%; 40%; 50%; 60%; 70%; 80%; or 90%. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9  wherein the remaining value of the communal jackpot is awarded to the remaining eligible players. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 10  wherein the remaining value of the communal jackpot is awarded to the remaining eligible players in equal portions. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 11  wherein the gaming machines for providing an individual game of chance are located at a single venue. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 11  wherein the gaming machines for providing an individual game of chance are located at multiple venues and the jackpot controller is in communication with the gaming machines across those venues. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 13  wherein the communication is preferably via, the Internet, a VPN, WAN, or the like. 
     
     
         15 . A method for providing a communal jackpot, the method including the steps of:
 providing a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine providing an individual game of chance to a player wagering at each respective gaming machine,   providing a communal jackpot controller in communication with each of the gaming machines, the communal jackpot controller providing a communal jackpot game to the players wagering at each gaming machine, the communal jackpot controller awarding the communal jackpot to a plurality of players according to predetermined eligibility criterion when triggered.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the communal jackpot games includes:
 determining, or selecting a previously determined, lower jackpot value; 
 determining, or selecting a previously determined, upper jackpot value; 
 randomly determining a jackpot win value between the lower jackpot value and the upper jackpot value; 
 randomly determining a threshold value between the jackpot win value and the upper jackpot value; and 
 communicating the threshold value to a player of a gaming machine. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein including the step of updating a variable jackpot value in response to a play of a gaming machine, wherein a jackpot game is won when the variable jackpot value is at or above the jackpot win value. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein including the step of providing a value to the communal jackpot and allocating a percentage of each player's wager on the individual game of chance to the value of the communal jackpot. 
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 1  including at least one jackpot display in communication with the jackpot controller and viewable by a player at each of the plurality of gaming machines and wherein the jackpot controller:
 determines, or has a previously determined, the lower jackpot value; 
 determines, or has a previously determined, the upper jackpot value; 
 randomly determines the jackpot win value between the lower jackpot value and the upper jackpot value; 
 randomly determines the threshold value between the jackpot win value and the upper jackpot value; and 
 causes the threshold value to be displayed on at least one the jackpot display. 
 
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 19  wherein the jackpot controller is responsive to game plays on the or each gaming machine to update a variable jackpot value, the jackpot controller determining that a jackpot game has been won when the variable jackpot value is at or above the jackpot win value.