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 method for providing a progressive award to gaming machines, the method comprising: 
 creating a progressive pool that includes a set of outcomes for the progressive award;    distributing a first deck of outcomes included in the progressive pool to a first gaming machine that permits play of a first game type;    distributing a second deck of outcomes included in the progressive pool to a second gaming machine that permits play of a second game type.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the progressive pool is created by a progressive pool administrator that initially sends the first deck of outcomes and the second deck of outcomes.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the progressive pool administrator also randomizes the outcomes before distribution of the decks.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first gaming machine selects an outcome from first the deck of outcomes.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first gaming machine receives the first deck of outcomes from a progressive pool manager.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the progressive pool manager selects an outcome from the first deck of outcomes and sends the selected outcome to the first gaming machine.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the progressive pool manager selects and sends an outcome from the first deck of outcomes each time a game is played at the first gaming machine.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the second gaming machine receives the second deck of outcomes from the progressive pool manager.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the second gaming machine receives the second deck of outcomes in response to a request from the second gaming machine.  
   
   
       10 . A method for awarding a progressive award to a gaming machine, the method comprising: 
 receiving a wager from a player at a gaming machine;    determining a ratio between the wager and a reference wager for the progressive award;    receiving a winning outcome for the progressive award;    altering the progressive award using the ratio to create an altered progressive award; and    providing notice to the player of the winning outcome.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the progressive award comprises a contribution from a second gaming machine that runs a game type that is different from a game type offered by the first gaming machine.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the wager initiates a game at the gaming machine  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the altered progressive award is less than the progressive award.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the reference wager is a maximum wager for the progressive pool.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the ratio comprises a ratio of the wager to the maximum wager for the progressive pool.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the altered progressive award comprises the progressive award multiplied by the ratio.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the wager comprises a maximum wager permitted by the gaming machine.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising awarding the altered progressive award.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising requesting confirmation from the player after providing notice to the player of the winning outcome.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising awarding the altered progressive award after the player provides confirmation.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising applying a time limit for confirmation.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the gaming machine permits incremental wagers.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising broadcasting a new progressive award after reducing the progressive award by the altered progressive award.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the new progressive award is broadcast in real time.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising broadcasting the altered progressive award at the gaming machine.  
   
   
       26 . A method for providing a progressive award to gaming machines, the method comprising: 
 sending an outcome included in a progressive pool to a first gaming machine that permits play of a first game type;    sending an outcome included in a progressive pool to a second gaming machine that permits play of a second game type;    sending an outcome included in a game pool to the gaming machine.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the progressive pool outcome and the game pool outcome are substantially simultaneously sent to the gaming machine.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the progressive pool outcome is sent to the first gaming machine in a progressive pool deck of outcomes.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the progressive pool deck of outcomes has been randomized before sending the progressive pool deck to the first gaming machine.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising selecting the progressive pool outcome from the progressive pool deck of outcomes.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the game pool outcome is sent to the gaming machine in a game pool deck of outcomes.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 26  wherein a progressive pool manager sends the outcome to the gaming machine.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the progressive pool manager selects the progressive pool outcome from a deck of progressive pool outcomes and sends the selected outcome to the first gaming machine.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the progressive pool manager selects and sends a progressive pool outcome each time a game is played at the gaming machine.