Universal progressive game pool

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods that allow gaming machines to participate in a progressive pool and offer a progressive award regardless of the game installed on the gaming machine. The present invention also permits gaming machine participation in a progressive pool regardless of wager amount. This permits larger progressive awards and awards that grow faster since more games and gaming machines may participate in building a progressive pool award. It also opens the attraction of a large progressive pool award to more games, gaming machines and gaming establishments.

1 . A gaming system that provides a progressive pool to gaming machines, the gaming system comprising: 
 a first gaming machine that permits play of a first game type;    a second gaming machine that permits play of a second game type that is different from the first game type; and    a progressive pool administrator configured to a) manage a progressive pool award that is winnable at the first gaming machine and the second gaming machine and b) receive a first progressive contribution generated at the first gaming machine and add at least a portion of the first progressive contribution to the progressive pool award and receive a second progressive contribution generated at the second gaming machine and add at least a portion of the second progressive contribution to the progressive pool award, wherein the first progressive contribution is different than the second progressive contribution.