Restricted-access progressive game for a gaming machine

Abstract

A method of operating a progressive wagering game comprises conducting multiple sessions of a wagering game at a gaming terminal by receiving wagers from first and second players and providing access to a restricted-access progressive game to only the first player. The progressive game has a progressive jackpot funded by a portion of the first player's wagers. Alternatively stated, the method includes denying access to the progressive game to the second player such that only the first player is eligible to win the jackpot. Further, the restricted-access progressive game may comprise conducting, at a gaming terminal, a first set of sessions of a wagering game with a first group of players, and a second set of sessions of a wagering game with a second group of players. A first progressive jackpot is eligible to only the first group, while a second progressive jackpot is eligible to only the second group.

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       8 . A method of operating a progressive wagering game at a gaming terminal, comprising: 
 conducting a first session of a wagering game at said gaming terminal, said conducting including receiving a wager from a first player, a portion of said wager being allocated to a progressive jackpot;    conducting a second session of said wagering game at said gaming terminal by a second player; and    denying access to said progressive wagering game to said second player such that, between said first and second players, only said first player is eligible to win said progressive jackpot.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said denying includes determining whether said second player has access to said progressive wagering game, said determining is performed by a control system dedicated to operating said progressive wagering game.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said control system is remotely located from said gaming terminal.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , further including conducting a third session of a wagering game at said gaming terminal, said conducting including receiving a wager from a third player, a portion of said wager from said third player being allocated to said progressive jackpot, said first player and said third player being eligible to win said progressive jackpot.  
   
   
       12 . A method of operating a progressive wagering game at a gaming terminal, comprising: 
 conducting multiple sessions of a wagering game at said gaming terminal, said multiple sessions including receiving wagers from a first player and a second player; and    providing access to a progressive game to only said first player, said progressive game having a progressive jackpot that is funded by a portion of said wagers received from said first player.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said providing access includes receiving an identification of said first player.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said providing includes determining whether said identification is associated with said progressive game.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said determining is performed by a control system dedicated to operating said progressive game.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said control system is remotely located from said gaming terminal.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said multiple sessions include receiving a wager from a third player and a portion of said wager from said third player being allocated to said progressive jackpot, and further including providing access to said progressive game to said third player.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said providing occurs in response to said first player playing a predetermined number of plays of said wagering game.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said providing occurs in response to said first player inputting a predetermined amount of wagers of said wagering game.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said providing occurs in response to said first player wagering the maximum amount on said progressive game.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said providing occurs in response to said first player making a side wager so as to become eligible for said progressive jackpot.  
   
   
       22 . A method of operating progressive wagering games at a gaming terminal, comprising: 
 conducting a first set of sessions of a wagering game at said gaming terminal, said conducting including receiving wagers from a first group of players, a portion of said wagers from said first group of players being allocated to a first progressive jackpot;    conducting a second set of sessions of a wagering game at said gaming terminal, said conducting including receiving wagers from a second group of players, a portion of said wagers from said second group of players being allocated to a second progressive jackpot that is distinct from said first progressive jackpot;    awarding said first progressive jackpot to a member of said first group of players; and    awarding said second progressive jackpot to a member of said second group of players.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said first group includes only one player.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said second group includes only one player.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein none of said first group of players belong to said second group of players.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein some of said first group of players belong to said second group of players.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22 , further including conducting some of said first set of sessions of a wagering game at a second gaming terminal, said conducting at said second gaming terminal including receiving wagers from members of said first group of players, a portion of said wagers from said first group of players at said second gaming terminal being allocated to said first progressive jackpot.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22 , further including conducting some of said first set of sessions of a different type of wagering game at a second gaming terminal, said conducting at said second gaming terminal including receiving wagers from members of said first group of players, a portion of said wagers from said first group of players at said second gaming terminal being allocated to said first progressive jackpot.  
   
   
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