Method and System for Determining a Progressive Multiplier

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and systems for determining a progressive multiplier in a bonus game associated with a networked game of chance played over a communication network. The progressive multiplier may be determined over the course of one or more rounds of the bonus game and may be awarded to a player who wagers in the game of chance or is awarded winnings in the game of chance. The value of the resulting progressive multiplier may then be applied to the player's wager or winnings to increase or decrease the value of the wager or the winnings. By offering players the opportunity to increase the yield of their wagers or winnings, an operator of the game of chance may increase the attractiveness of the game of chance to players.

1 . A method, in a server device, for determining a progressive multiplier for a client device, the server device and the client device coupled by a communication network, the method comprising:
 maintaining an ordered list of positions, each position containing a multiplier value;   associating the client device with a first-stage position in the ordered list of positions;   offering, to the client device, an option to change its association to a second-stage position;   if the client device does not accept the option, then awarding the multiplier value contained in the first-stage position to the client device as the progressive multiplier; and   if the client device accepts the option, then:
 determining the second-stage position in the ordered list of positions; and 
 associating the client device with the second-stage position. 
   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to associating the client device with the second-stage position, awarding the multiplier value contained in the second-stage position to the client device as the progressive multiplier.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the progressive multiplier is an integer and is associated with a winnings from a game of chance operable at the server device, the method further comprising:
 multiplying a value of the winnings from the game of chance by the value of the progressive multiplier.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the progressive multiplier is an integer and is associated with a wager from a game of chance operable at the server device, the method further comprising:
 multiplying a value of the wager from the game of chance by the value of the progressive multiplier.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining, at the server device, a threshold number of options;   determining that the client device has already accepted the threshold number of options; and   responsive to associating the client device with the second-stage position, awarding the multiplier value contained in the second-stage position to the client device as the progressive multiplier.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second-stage position contains an action, and wherein associating the client device with the second-stage position comprises performing the action contained in the second-stage position. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the action contained in the second-stage position responsively associates the client device with a third-stage position in the ordered list of positions. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein associating the client device with the second-stage position comprises generating a first offset from the first-stage position and determining the second-stage position comprises applying the first offset to the first-stage position to establish the second-stage position. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the value of the first offset is an integer. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein generating the first offset comprises randomly generating the first offset. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the second-stage position comprises:
 maintaining, at the server device, a special offset value;   generating a first offset;   determining that a value of the first offset matches the special offset value;   generating a second offset;   determining an intermediate-stage position by applying the first offset to the first-stage position; and   determining the second-stage position by applying the second offset to the intermediate- stage position.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each position in the ordered list of positions is indexed and the positions in the ordered list of positions are ordered according to their respective indices. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in at least one of the positions in the ordered list of positions contains an initially hidden multiplier value, wherein the server device comprises a memory, and wherein the method further comprises:
 revealing the initially hidden multiplier value upon associating the client device with a position that contains the initially hidden multiplier value; and   storing the initially hidden multiplier value in the memory.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein awarding the multiplier value contained in the first-stage position to the client device as the progressive multiplier comprises:
 retrieving, from the memory, the initially hidden multiplier value; and   awarding a combination of the multiplier value contained in the first-stage position and the initially hidden multiplier value.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multiplier value is an integer. 
   
   
       16 . A method for determining a progressive multiplier for a client device, the method comprising:
 maintaining, in a server device, an ordered list of positions from, each position containing a multiplier value chosen without replacement from the range of 1 to 100, the ordered list of positions ordered according to their respective multiplier values, wherein at least one position in the ordered list of positions includes an action that specifies responsively associating the client device with a respective target position in the ordered list of positions;   associating the client device with a first-stage position in the ordered list of positions, the first-stage position containing a first multiplier value;   transmitting, to the client device, an option to change the client device's association with the first-stage position;   receiving an indication that the client device has accepted the option to change the client device's association with the first-stage position;   randomly generating an integer in the range of  1  to  6 ;   adding the integer to the first multiplier value contained in the first-stage position to determine a second multiplier value;   associating the client device with a second-stage position that contains the second multiplier value;   determining if the second-stage position contains an action;   if the second-stage position contains the action, then responsively associating the client device with the respective target position specified by the action; and   if the second-stage position does not contain the action, then upon a determination that the server device is not to offer the client device another option, awarding the multiplier value contained in the second-stage position to the client device as the progressive multiplier.   
   
   
       17 . A method, in a server device, for determining a progressive multiplier for a client device, the server device and the client device coupled by a communication network, the method comprising:
 maintaining an ordered list of positions, each position containing a multiplier value, wherein the client device is associated with a first-stage position in the ordered list of positions;   determining, based on the first-stage position, a second-stage position in the ordered list of positions;   associating the client device with the second-stage position; and   awarding the multiplier value contained in the second-stage position to the client device as the progressive multiplier.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein determining the second-stage position comprises generating an offset from the first-stage position and applying the offset to the first-stage position to establish the second-stage position. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the value of the offset is an integer. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein generating the offset comprises randomly generating the offset. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each position in the ordered list of positions is indexed and the positions in the ordered list of positions are ordered according to their respective indices. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, in at least one of the positions in the ordered list of positions, the multiplier value is initially hidden, wherein the server device comprises a memory, and wherein the method further comprises:
 revealing the initially hidden multiplier value upon associating the client device with a position that contains the initially hidden multiplier value; and   storing the initially hidden multiplier value in the memory.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein awarding the multiplier value contained in the second-stage position to the client device as the progressive multiplier comprises:
 retrieving, from the memory, the initially hidden multiplier value; and   awarding a combination of the multiplier value contained in the second-stage position and the initially hidden multiplier value.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the progressive multiplier is an integer and is associated with a wager from a game of chance operable at the server device, the method further comprising:
 multiplying a value of the wager from the game of chance by the value of the progressive multiplier.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the progressive multiplier is an integer and is associated with a winnings from a game of chance operable at the server device, the method further comprising:
 multiplying a value of the winning from the game of chance by the value of the progressive multiplier.   
   
   
       26 . A server device, coupled to a client device via a communication network, the server device comprising:
 a central processing unit (CPU);   a memory;   a communication network interface; and   machine instructions, operable by the CPU and stored in the memory, containing logic to execute the steps of:
 maintaining an ordered list of positions, each position containing a multiplier value, wherein the client device is associated with a first-stage position in the ordered list of positions; 
 receiving, from the client device via the communication network interface, a request to change the client device's association to a second-stage position in the ordered list of positions 
 responsive to receiving the request, determining the second-stage position; 
 associating the client device with the second-stage position; 
 transmitting, to the client device via the communication network interface, an indication of the second-stage position; 
 awarding the multiplier value contained in the second-stage position to the client device as the progressive multiplier; and 
 transmitting, to the client device via the communication network interface, an indication that the client device has been awarded the multiplier value contained in the second-stage position. 
   
   
   
       27 . The server device of  claim 26 , wherein determining the second-stage position in the ordered list of positions further comprises machine instructions, operable by the CPU and stored in the memory, containing logic to execute the steps of:
 generating an offset from the first-stage position; and   applying the offset to the first-stage position to establish the second-stage position.   
   
   
       28 . The server device of  claim 27 , wherein the offset is an integer. 
   
   
       29 . The server device of  claim 27 , wherein generating the offset comprises randomly generating the offset. 
   
   
       30 . The server device of  claim 26 , wherein each position in the ordered list of positions is indexed and the positions in the ordered list of positions are ordered according to their respective indices. 
   
   
       31 . The server device of  claim 26 , wherein, in at least one of the positions in the ordered list of positions, the multiplier value is initially hidden, wherein the server device further comprises machine instructions, operable by the CPU and stored in the memory, containing logic to execute the steps of:
 revealing the initially hidden multiplier value upon associating the client device with a position that contains the initially hidden multiplier value; and   storing the initially hidden multiplier value in the memory.   
   
   
       32 . The server device of  claim 31 , wherein awarding the multiplier value contained in the second-stage position to the client device as the progressive multiplier includes the server device further comprising machine instructions, operable by the CPU and stored in the memory, containing logic to execute the steps of:
 retrieving, from the memory, the initially hidden multiplier value; and   awarding a combination of the multiplier value contained in the second-stage position and the initially hidden multiplier value.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the progressive multiplier is an integer and is associated with a wager from a game of chance operable at the server device, the method further comprising:
 multiplying a value of the wager from the game of chance by the value of the progressive multiplier.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the progressive multiplier is an integer and is associated with a winnings from a game of chance operable at the server device, the method further comprising:
 multiplying a value of the winning from the game of chance by the value of the progressive multiplier.