Progressive jackpot gaming systems and methods

Abstract

Various embodiments of progressive gaming systems and methods are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, comprises providing a progressive jackpot, and biasing a chance of winning the progressive jackpot based on a wager amount.

1 . A gaming method, comprising:
 providing a progressive jackpot; and   biasing a chance of winning the progressive jackpot based on a wager amount.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising awarding the progressive jackpot to a winning player based on a predefined event independent of a game event attained by the winning player at a corresponding game machine. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein awarding the progressive jackpot based on a game event comprises awarding based on the progressive jackpot reaching a predefined dollar amount, on a predefined date and time, on an amount wagered at a game machine, or on a predefined number of game plays. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein awarding comprises randomly awarding. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing comprises making the progressive jackpot available to a plurality of players for potential award. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein biasing comprises biasing the chance of winning the progressive jackpot based on an average wager amount or a total wager amount. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein biasing comprises biasing the chance of winning during a session defined by a beginning play time and ending play time corresponding to when the progressive jackpot is potentially available for award for each player in the system. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein biasing comprises increasing the likelihood of a player winning based on the wager amount corresponding to the player. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein biasing comprises comparing wager amounts corresponding to a plurality of players and weighting each of the wager amounts in a random number equation corresponding to a progressive jackpot winner calculation. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising associating each of the wager amounts with a corresponding player of the plurality of players. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising augmenting the progressive jackpot based on the wager amount. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming system, comprising:
 a memory with gaming software; and   a processor configured with the gaming software to bias a chance of winning a progressive jackpot based on a wager amount.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more display devices that display the progressive jackpot to a plurality of players. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of gaming machines communicatively coupled to the processor, the gaming machines configured to provide wagers with corresponding wager amounts to the processor during a defined session. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured with the gaming software to augment the progressive jackpot in proportion to each of the wager amounts. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured with the gaming software to award the progressive jackpot to a winning player based on a predefined event independent of a game event attained by the winning player in a corresponding game machine. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the predefined event comprises a predefined dollar amount, a predefined date and time, an amount wagered at a game machine, or a predefined number of game plays. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the wager amount comprises a total wager amount for a player or an average wager amount for the player. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured with the gaming software to bias by comparing wager amounts corresponding to a plurality of players and solve a progressive jackpot winner calculation by weighting each of the wager amounts in a random number equation. 
   
   
       20 . A system, comprising:
 means for providing a progressive jackpot;   means for biasing a chance of winning the progressive jackpot based on a wager amount; and   means for awarding the progressive jackpot to a winning player based on a predefined event independent of a game event attained by the winning player at a corresponding game machine.   
   
   
       21 . A computer readable medium having a computer program for awarding a progressive jackpot, comprising:
 logic configured to provide a progressive jackpot;   logic configured to bias a chance of winning the progressive jackpot based on a wager amount; and   logic configured to award the progressive jackpot to a winning player based on a predefined event independent of a game event attained by the winning player at a corresponding game machine.