Server based gaming system having multiple progressive awards

摘要

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine.

主权项

1. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including:
a housing;at least one display device supported by the housing;a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including:
(i) an acceptor,(ii) a validator, and(iii) a cashout device;at least one processor; andat least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to:
(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor:
(i) identify, via the validator, the received physical item, and(ii) establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item,(b) display a play of a game upon a placement of a wager, and(c) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance; and a controller programmed to operate with said plurality of gaming devices to:
(a) maintain a progressive award,(b) during a first period of time:
(i) associate the maintained progressive award with a first one of the gaming devices,(ii) cause the first one of the gaming devices to display the maintained progressive award, and(iii) if a first triggering event occurs, cause the maintained progressive award to be provided to a player of the first one of the gaming devices,(c) if a transfer event occurs, transfer at least part of the progressive award to a second one of the gaming devices, and(d) during a second period of time after the occurrence of the transfer event:
(i) associate the maintained progressive award with the second one of the gaming devices,(ii) cause the second one of the gaming devices to display the maintained progressive award, and(iii) if a second triggering event occurs, cause the maintained progressive award to be provided to a player of the second one of the gaming devices.