Slot machine having multiple progressive jackpots

Abstract

Provided is a variable jackpot meter feature for progressive games (either single or multiple tiered), which may be embodied in a game, a method of conducting or providing the game, or a system or program product. The meter coordinates graphics to the increasing value of the progressive jackpots. At its reset value, the progressive meter may be displayed in its least exciting graphical state indicating low “heat.” As the progressive meter value grows, the associated graphics would increase to indicate the amount has grown. By the time the progressive meter's value has reached or exceeded the progressive's expected value, the graphics may be in their most excited/active/hottest state. This state reinforces to the player that the progressive is a high value and it is a good time to try to win the prize.

1 . A gaming method comprising the following steps executed by one or more processors in a gaming system:
 (a) maintaining an animated meter display showing a current level for a progressive jackpot;   (b) receiving a current value of the progressive jackpot;   (c) comparing the current value to an expected value range table, and adjusting a graphic jackpot display animation if the current value is in a new range relative to a range associated with a previous graphic jackpot display animation; and   (d) the expected value range table including a first range entirely below an expected win value of the progressive jackpot, a second range including the expected win value of the progressive jackpot, and a third range entirely above the expected win value of the progressive jackpot.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising setting a value in the expected value range table based at least in part on calculating an expected win value for the progressive jackpot, and setting the second range in the expected value range table including the expected win value, the second range associated with animated graphics depicting a hot state. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  in which the expected win value is a statistical average win value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising calculating at least one additional statistically significant jackpot value and setting at least one of the first or third ranges based at least in part on such calculation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising creating the third range above the second range, the third range associated with animated graphics depicting a hotter state than the second range. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  in which the animated meter display and the expected value range table include data for multiple progressive jackpots available to be won in a common base game. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising operating the base game including the multiple progressive jackpots. 
     
     
         8 . A system for providing a wagering game for a player, the system
 comprising at least one electronic gaming machine interacting with at least one server, the system programmed for:   (a) maintaining an animated meter display showing a progressive jackpot level;   (b) receiving a current value of a progressive jackpot;   (c) comparing the current value to an expected value range table, and adjusting a graphic jackpot display animation if the current value is in a new range relative to a range associated with a previous graphic jackpot display animation; and   (d) the expected value range table including a first range entirely below an expected win value of the progressive jackpot, a second range including the expected win value of the progressive jackpot, and a third range entirely above the expected win value of the progressive jackpot.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  further programmed for setting a value in the expected value range table based at least in part on calculating an expected win value for the progressive jackpot, and setting the second range in the expected value range table including the expected win value, the second range associated with animated graphics depicting a hot state. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  in which the expected win value is a statistical average win value. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  further programmed for calculating at least one additional statistically significant jackpot value and setting at least one of the first or third ranges based at least in part on such calculation. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising creating the third range above the second range, the third range associated with animated graphics depicting a hotter state than the second range. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  in which the animated meter display and the expected value range table include data for multiple progressive jackpots available to be won in a common base game. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising operating the base game including the multiple progressive jackpots. 
     
     
         15 . A program product embodied in one or more non-transitory tangible
 computer readable media, the program product including code executable by a gaming machine and at least one gaming server for:   (a) maintaining an animated meter display showing a progressive jackpot level;   (b) receiving a current value of a progressive jackpot;   (c) comparing the current value to an expected value range table, and adjusting a graphic jackpot display animation if the current value is in a new range relative to a range associated with a previous graphic jackpot display animation; and   (d) the expected value range table including a first range entirely below an expected win value of the progressive jackpot, a second range including the expected win value of the progressive jackpot, and a third range entirely above the expected win value of the progressive jackpot.   
     
     
         16 . The program product of  claim 15 , further executable for setting a value in the expected value range table based at least in part on calculating an expected win value for the progressive jackpot, and setting the second range in the expected value range table including the expected win value, the second range associated with animated graphics depicting a hot state. 
     
     
         17 . The program product of  claim 16 , in which the expected win value is a statistical average win value. 
     
     
         18 . The program product of  claim 16 , further executable for calculating at least one additional statistically significant jackpot value and setting at least one of the first or third ranges based at least in part on such calculation. 
     
     
         19 . The program product of  claim 16 , further executable for creating a the third range above the second range, the third range associated with animated graphics depicting a hotter state than the second range. 
     
     
         20 . The program product of  claim 15 , in which the animated meter display and the expected value range table include data for multiple progressive jackpots available to be won in a common base game. 
     
     
         21 . The program product of  claim 20 , further executable for operating the base game including the multiple progressive jackpots.