Method for awarding variable bonus awards to gaming machines over a network
US6231445A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 15, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F17/3244
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for awarding bonuses over a gaming network having a plurality of gaming machines interconnected by a network. Play is allowed to occur on the plurality of gaming machines. A bonus period is initiating for which a bonus-triggering event (e.g. a winning combination) and an initial bonus amount is determined. The reel combinations obtained from normal play over the machines are detected and compared to the wining combination determined at the start of the bonus period. A match of the combination obtained with the winning combination initiates a bonus-triggering event that results in the bonus amount being paid out to the gaming machine which had the winning combination. In a preferred embodiment, the initial bonus amount is decremented over the bonus period so that the bonus amount won is greater if the winning combination appears at the beginning of the bonus period as opposed to near the end.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.