Progressive gaming device and method of use

Abstract

A gaming device provides several progressive jackpots that can be randomly funded. The gaming device includes a gaming apparatus that allows a player to play a game and a controller. The controller can determine if a jackpot qualifig event has occurred. A display device displays several progressive jackpots. A random number generator and the controller select at least one of the progressive jackpots to be awarded to a player. The invention also includes a gaming method. A player is allowed to place a wager and play a game of chance. A game outcome is determined. The game outcome can be a jackpot qualifying event and a game payout. If the game outcome is the jackpot qualifying event, several progressive jackpots are displayed to the player. At least one of the progressive jackpots is selected to be awarded to the player.

1 . A gaining device comprising:
 (A) a first controller having a first random number generator, the first controller configured to:
 (a) accept a primary game wager; 
 (b) determine a primary game outcome, the primary game outcome including a primary game payout and a jackpot qualifying event; 
 (c) award a primary game prize if the primary game outcome is a primary game payout; 
   (B) a second controller in communication with the first controller, the second controller having a second random number generator, the second controller configured to:
 (a) display a plurality of progressive jackpots, if the primary game outcome is a jackpot qualifying event; and 
 (b) award at least one of the plurality of progressive jackpots. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein all of the progressive jackpots are awarded. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the progressive jackpots is a hidden jackpot. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein all of the progressive jackpots are randomly incremented. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein all of the progressive jackpots are incremented equally. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein a jackpot contribution from the primary game wager is randomly distributed to the plurality of progressive jackpots by randomly changing a percentage of the jackpot contribution to each progressive jackpot. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming device of  claim 6 , wherein the random percentage is determined by a third random number generator. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein a jackpot contribution from the primary game wager is randomly distributed to the plurality of progressive jackpots by randomly selecting a pre-determined distribution from a plurality of distributions. 
     
     
         9 . A method of gaming, comprising, not all necessarily in the order shown:
 (A) accepting a wager;   (B) generating a first random number using a first random number generator, the first random number generator associated with a primary game outcome, the primary game outcome including a progressive jackpot qualifying event and a primary game payout;   (C) playing a primary game;   (D) generating a second random number using a second random number generator, if the primary game outcome is the progressive jackpot qualifying event, the second random number associated with a plurality of progressive jackpots;   (E) displaying the plurality of progressive jackpots; and   (F) awarding at least one of the plurality of progressive jackpots.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising awarding all of the progressive jackpots. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the progressive jackpots is a hidden jackpot. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising randomly incrementing each of the progressive jackpots. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein all of the progressive jackpots are incremented equally. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a jackpot contribution from a primary game wager is randomly distributed to the plurality of progressive jackpots by randomly changing a percentage of the jackpot contribution to each progressive jackpot. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming device of  claim 14 , wherein the random percentage is determined by a third random number generator. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming device of  claim 9 , wherein a jackpot contribution from a primary game wager is randomly distributed to the plurality of progressive jackpots by randomly selecting a pre-determined distribution from a plurality of distributions. 
     
     
         17 . A gaming method comprising, but not necessarily in the order shown:
 (A) allowing a player to place a wager and play a game of chance;   (B) determining a first game outcome, the first game outcome comprising ajackpot qualifying event and a first game payout;   (C) if the first game outcome comprises the jackpot qualifying event:
 (a) displaying a plurality of progressive jackpots 
 (b) selecting at least one of the progressive jackpots to be awarded; and 
 (c) awarding the at least one progressive jackpot to the player. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising if the first game outcome is the first game payout:
 (A) determining a progressive jackpot contribution from the wager; and   (B) randomly distributing the progressive jackpot contribution to each of the progressive jackpots.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , fiuther comprising if the first game outcome is the first game payout:
 (A) determining a progressive jackpot contribution from the wager; and   (B) randomly distributing the progressive jackpot contribution to each of the progressive jackpots by randomly selecting a pre-determined distribution from a plurality of distributions.   
     
     
         20 . A gaming device comprising:
 (A) gaming means for allowing a player to play a game;   (B) controller means for determining a jackpot qualifying event;   (C) display means for displaying a plurality of progressive jackpots;   (D) random number means for selecting at least one of the progressive jackpots to be awarded; and   (E) award means for awarding the progressive jackpots.   
     
     
         21 . The gaming device of  claim 20 , wherein the random number means selects at least two of the progressive jackpots to award. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming device of  claim 20 , wherein the random number means selects all of the progressive jackpots to award. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming device of  claim 20 , further comprising distribution means for randomly distributing a contribution amount to each of the progressive jackpots.