Method for Establishing Promotional Progressive Jackpot Pools as a Function of a Historical Composite Value

Abstract

A method for establishing promotional progressive jackpot and hidden pools associated with a plurality of gaming machines playable by a plurality of players. The gaming machine may be playable in first and second modes selectable by the player. The method includes opening a data session on the host computer (player tracking database) in response to a first input by one of the players on a selected gaming machine, allowing the player to select one of the first and second modes and to play the gaming machine in the selected one of the first and second modes, and recording information in the data session on the host computer. The method further includes the steps of closing the data session in response to the player choosing to play the game in the other of the first and second modes, establishing a first incremental value as a function of the recorded information in the data session and adding the first incremental value to a promotional progressive jackpot pool, and awarding at least a portion of the promotional progressive jackpot pool to a winning one of the players in response to an occurrence of predetermined promotional progressive jackpot conditions. Moreover, the method broadens the traditional scope of the progressive jackpot system to incorporate all slot machines and other casino revenue sources to be part of the promotional progressive jackpot system.

1 . A method for establishing a promotional progressive jackpot pool, the method including the steps of:
 providing a plurality of gaming machines playable by a plurality of players, each gaming machine being playable in first and second modes selectable by the player, the promotional progressive jackpot pool being associated with the plurality of gaming machines;   opening a first data session on the host computer in response to a first input by one of the players on a selected one of the gaming machines;   allowing the player to select one of the first and second modes and to play the gaming machine in the selected one of the first and second modes;   recording information, in the first data session on the host computer, related to the player's play of the selected one of the gaming machines during the first data session;   closing the first data session in response to the player choosing to play the game in the other of the first and second modes;   establishing a historical composite value as a function of the recorded information in the data session;   opening a second data session on the host computer in response to a second input by one of the players on another selected one of the gaming machines;   allowing the player to play a game on the another selected one of the gaming machines during the second data session;   establishing a first incremental value as a function of the historical composite value from the first data session in response to play of the game by the player in the second data session and adding the first incremental value to a promotional progressive jackpot pool; and,   awarding at least a portion of the promotional progressive jackpot pool to a winning one of the players in response to an occurrence of predetermined promotional progressive jackpot conditions.   
   
   
       2 . A method for establishing a promotional progressive jackpot pool associated with a gaming machine usable by a plurality of players, the gaming machine operatively connected to a computer, said method including the steps of:
 allowing a first player to establish a first input into the gaming machine for logging into and/or playing and/or using the gaming machine and sending a signal in response to the first input;   determining a first incremental value as a function of a historical composite value in response to receiving the signal from the gaming machine the historical composite value being established as a function of the first is prior use of the gaming machine; and   responsively adding the first incremental value to the promotional progressive jackpot pool.   
   
   
       3 . A method, as set forth in  claim 2 , including the step of establishing the historical composite value as a function of at least one of wagers, amount won, amount lost and purchases over a period of time. 
   
   
       4 . A method, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the first input is related to the first player's usage of a plurality of gaming machines. 
   
   
       5 . A method, as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the first input is one of a wager, an amount lost, an amount won, an identity of the player, a purchase, and logging into the gaming machine by the player. 
   
   
       6 . A method, as set forth in  claim 4 , including the step of establishing the historical composite value as a function of the data in the player database over a period of time. 
   
   
       7 . A method, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the first input is related to the usage of the gaming machine by the plurality of players. 
   
   
       8 . A method, as set forth in  claim 7 , including the step of establishing the historical composite value as a function of the data in the machine database over a period of time. 
   
   
       9 . A method, as set forth in  claim 2 , including the step of contributing to the promotional progressive jackpot pool by a plurality of gaming machines. 
   
   
       10 . A method, as set forth in  claim 2 , including the step of awarding at least a portion of the promotional progressive jackpot pool to one of the players when predetermined conditions are met. 
   
   
       11 . A method, as set forth in  claim 2 , including the steps of:
 determining a second incremental value as a second function of the historical composite value in response to receiving the signal from the gaming machine in response to the first input and adding the second incremental value to a hidden pool;   establishing a maximum value for the hidden pool and accumulating the second incremental value until the hidden pool reaches the maximum value; and,   transferring the hidden pool into the promotional progressive jackpot pool after the awarding of the promotional progressive jackpot pool.   
   
   
       12 . A system for establishing a promotional progressive jackpot pool, comprising:
 a host computer; and,   at least one gaming machine usable by a plurality of players, the at least one gaming machine being operatively connected to the host computer, the at least one gaming machine for allowing a first player to establish a first input into the gaming machine for logging into and/or playing and/or using the gaming machine and sending a signal in response to the first input, the host computer for receiving the signal and responsively determining a first incremental value as a function of a historical composite value in response to receiving the signal from the gaming machine and responsively adding the first incremental value to the promotional progressive jackpot pool. The historical composite value being established as a function of the first is prior use of the gaming machine   
   
   
       13 . The system, as set forth in  claim 12 , the host computer for establishing the historical composite value as a function of at least one of wagers, amount won, amount lost and purchases over a period of time. 
   
   
       14 . The system, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the first input is related to the first player's usage of a plurality of gaming machines. 
   
   
       15 . The system, as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the first input is one of a wager, an amount lost, an amount won, an identity of the player, a purchase, and logging into the gaming machine by the player. 
   
   
       16 . The system, as set forth in  claim 14 , the host computer for establishing the historical composite value as a function of the data in the player database over a period of time. 
   
   
       17 . The system, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the first input is related to the usage of the gaming machine by the plurality of players. 
   
   
       18 . The system, as set forth in  claim 17 , the host computer for establishing the historical composite value as a function of the data in the machine database over a period of time. 
   
   
       19 . The system, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein each of a plurality of gaming machines contributes to the promotional progressive jackpot pool 
   
   
       20 . The system, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the promotional progressive jackpot pool is awarded to one of the players when predetermined conditions are met. 
   
   
       21 . The system, as set forth in  claim 12 , the host computer for determining a second incremental value as a second function of a historical composite value in response to receiving the signal from the gaming machine in response to the first input and adding the second incremental value to a hidden pool, for establishing a maximum value for the hidden pool and accumulating the second incremental value until the hidden pool reaches the maximum value, and for transferring the hidden pool into the promotional progressive jackpot pool after the awarding of the promotional progressive jackpot pool. 
   
   
       22 . A method, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each of the gaming machines may be one a mechanical reel slot machine, a video slot machine, a video poker machine, video arcade games, virtual gaming machines, internet or online gaming machine, an interface to a table management system for table games, online bingo, online keno, point of sale terminals, online hotel folios, kiosk devices, any other device connected to the host computer and/or other revenue generating device. 
   
   
       23 . A method, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein each of the gaming machines may be one a mechanical reel slot machine, a video slot machine, a video poker machine, video arcade games, virtual gaming machines, internet or online gaming machine, an interface to a table management system for table games, online bingo, online keno, point of sale terminals, online hotel folios, kiosk devices, any other device connected to the host computer and/or other revenue generating device. 
   
   
       24 . A system, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein each of the gaming machines may be one a mechanical reel slot machine, a video slot machine, a video poker machine, video arcade games, virtual gaming machines, internet or online gaming machine, an interface to a table management system for table games, online bingo, online keno, point of sale terminals, online hotel folios, kiosk devices, any other device connected to the host computer and/or other revenue generating device.