Methods and apparatus for a competitive bonus game with variable odds

Abstract

A bonus controller for generating a competitive bonus game in a gaming system, the bonus controller having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The bonus controller being programmed to: receive wagering data corresponding to a casino game, enter a first player associated with a first gaming apparatus into the competitive bonus game when the first player obtains a qualifying win at the casino game, determine odds for the first player to win the competitive bonus game, vary odds of winning the competitive bonus game for at least a second player after entering the first player into the competitive bonus game, the second player having been previously entered into the competitive bonus game, determine an outcome of the competitive bonus game, and transmit data corresponding to the outcome of the competitive bonus game to a display unit.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including:
 at least one display device, and 
 at least one input device; and 
   at least one controller configured to operate with said gaming machines to:
 (a) determine if a qualifying event occurs in association with one of said gaming machines; 
 (b) if the qualifying event occurs in association with one of said gaming machines, associate at least one of a plurality of competitive bonus game entries with said gaming machine, wherein each competitive bonus game entry is associated with a probability of winning a competitive bonus game; 
 (c) thereafter, repeat (a) to (b) at least once, wherein (a) to (b) are repeated until a determination to initiate the competitive bonus game occurs in association with one of said gaming machines, the determination to initiate the competitive bonus game occurring distinct from any occurrence of the qualifying event, and each of said plurality of competitive bonus game entries being associated with said plurality of gaming machines prior to the initiation of said competitive bonus game; and 
 (d) when the determination to initiate the competitive bonus game occurs:
 (i) increase the probability of winning the competitive bonus game of at least one of said competitive bonus game entries associated with the gaming machine associated with the occurrence of the initiation of the competitive bonus game relative to the probability of winning the competitive bonus game of at least one of said competitive bonus game entries associated with at least another one of said gaming machines, and 
 (ii) determine and display an outcome for said initiated competitive bonus game, wherein said determined and displayed outcome is based on the probabilities of winning the competitive bonus game associated with the competitive bonus game entries associated with said gaming machines. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein a quantity of competitive bonus game entries associated with said gaming machines is based, at least in part, on an amount wagered on at least one play of a primary game of said gaming machines. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the determination to initiate the competitive bonus game occurs based on rime. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein said displayed outcome for said initiated competitive bonus game is a progressive award. 
     
     
         5 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including:
 at least one display, and 
 at least one input device; and 
   at least one controller configured to operate with said gaming machines to:
 (a) determine if a qualifying event occurs in association with one of said gaming machines, 
 (b) for each qualifying event which occurs in association with said gaming machine and prior to an initiation of a bonus game:
 (i) associate a probability of winning the bonus game with said gaming machine, said probability of winning the bonus game is relative to the probability of winning the bonus game associated with each of the other gaming machines and is based, at least in part, on an amount wagered on at least one play of the primary game of said gaming machine, and 
 (ii) modify any probability of winning the bonus game for any other gaming machine associated with at least one occurrence of said qualifying event; 
 
 (c) thereafter, repeat (a) to (b) at least once, wherein (a) to (b) are repeated until the bonus game is initiated, the initiation of the bonus game occurring distinct from any occurrence of the qualifying event; and 
 (d) when the bonus game is initiated, determine and display an outcome for said bonus game, wherein said determined and displayed outcome is based on the probabilities of winning the bonus game. 
   
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 5 , wherein an increase in the probability of winning the bonus game for a first one of the gaming machines causes a decrease in the probability of winning the bonus game for a second one of the gaming machines. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 5 , wherein the bonus game is initiated based on time. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 5 , wherein said displayed outcome for said initiated bonus game is a progressive award. 
     
     
         9 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine including:
 at least one display device, and 
 at least one input device; and 
   at least one controller configured to operate with said gaming machines to, upon an occurrence of a competitive bonus game triggering event:
 (a) trigger a play of a competitive bonus game, 
 (b) for each of a plurality of said gaming machines, associate a probability of winning the competitive bonus game, 
 (c) determine if a probability modifying event occurs in association with any of said gaming machines, 
 (d) if the probability modifying event occurs in association with one of said gaming machines, modify the probability of another one of said gaming machines winning the competitive bonus game, 
 (e) determine an outcome for said triggered play of the competitive bonus game, wherein said determined outcome is based on the probabilities of winning the competitive bonus game associated with said gaming machines, and 
 (f) display the determined outcome for said triggered play of the competitive bonus game. 
   
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 9 , wherein an increase in the probability of winning the competitive bonus game for a first one of the gaming machines causes a decrease in the probability of winning the competitive bonus game for a second one of the gaming machines. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 9 , wherein the competitive bonus game triggering event occurs based on time. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 9 , wherein said displayed outcome for said triggered play of the competitive bonus game is a progressive award.