Gaming system, a method of gaming and a jackpot game controller

Abstract

A system, and a method of gaming on the system. The method includes conducting a progressive jackpot game comprising a plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes stored in respective ones of a plurality of jackpot meters, obtaining a jackpot increment; and updating the jackpot meters by selectively incrementing one of the jackpot prizes with the jackpot increment.

1 . A method of gaming comprising:
 conducting a progressive jackpot game comprising a plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes stored in respective ones of a plurality of jackpot meters;   obtaining a jackpot increment; and   updating the jackpot meters by selectively incrementing one of the jackpot prizes with the jackpot increment.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising obtaining a plurality of jackpot increments and incrementing one of the jackpot prizes for each jackpot increment. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , comprising determining that one of the plurality of separate jackpot prizes has reached a prize threshold due to prior jackpot increments, and subsequently updating the jackpot meters by selectively incrementing one of the one or more other jackpot prizes with each jackpot increment. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein selectively incrementing the jackpot prizes comprises randomly determining which of the jackpot prizes to increment in accordance with probabilities set to provide a desired apportionment of the increments between the jackpot prizes. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein selectively incrementing the jackpot prizes comprises incrementing the jackpot prizes in accordance with a designated sequence of increments to apportion the increments between the jackpot prizes. 
     
     
         6 . A jackpot controller, the jackpot controller arranged to:
 conduct a progressive jackpot game comprising a plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes stored in respective ones of a plurality of jackpot meters;   receive a jackpot increment; and   update the jackpot meters by selectively incrementing one of the jackpot prizes with the jackpot increment.   
     
     
         7 . A jackpot controller as claimed in  claim 6 , arranged to receive a plurality of jackpot increments and incrementing one of the jackpot prizes for each jackpot increment. 
     
     
         8 . A jackpot controller as claimed in  claim 7 , arranged to determine that one of the plurality of separate jackpot prizes has reached a prize threshold due to prior jackpot increments, and subsequently update the jackpot meters by selectively incrementing one of the one or more other jackpot prizes with each jackpot increment. 
     
     
         9 . A jackpot controller as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein selectively incrementing the jackpot prizes comprises the jackpot controller randomly determining which of the jackpot prizes to increment in accordance with probabilities set to provide a desired apportionment of the increments between the jackpot prizes. 
     
     
         10 . A jackpot controller as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein selectively incrementing the jackpot prizes comprises the jackpot controller incrementing the jackpot prizes in accordance with a designated sequence of increments to apportion the increments between the jackpot prizes. 
     
     
         11 . A gaming system comprising:
 a jackpot controller;   a plurality of jackpot meters storing respective ones of a plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes; and   a plurality of gaming devices in data communication with the jackpot controller and arranged to communicate jackpot increments to the jackpot controller,   the jackpot controller arranged to receive the jackpot increments and update the jackpot meters by selectively incrementing one of the plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes with each jackpot increment.   
     
     
         12 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the jackpot controller is arranged to determine that one of the plurality of separate jackpot prizes has reached a prize threshold due to prior jackpot increments, and subsequently update the jackpot meters by selectively incrementing one of the one or more other jackpot prizes with each jackpot increment. 
     
     
         13 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein selectively incrementing the jackpot prizes comprises the jackpot controller randomly determining which of the jackpot prizes to increment in accordance with probabilities set to provide a desired apportionment of the increments between the jackpot prizes. 
     
     
         14 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein selectively incrementing the jackpot prizes comprises the jackpot controller incrementing the jackpot prizes in accordance with a designated sequence of increments to apportion the increments between the jackpot prizes. 
     
     
         15 . A jackpot controller comprising:
 a network interface via which the jackpot controller receives jackpot increments;   a plurality of jackpot meters storing jackpot values for respective ones of a plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes; and   an increment processor arranged to process each received jackpot increment to selectively increment one of the jackpot prizes with the jackpot increment.   
     
     
         16 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller the game controller comprising a memory storing jackpot values for respective ones of a plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes, the game controller arranged to conduct a game, obtain jackpot increments based on play of the game, and to selectively increment one of the jackpot prizes with each jackpot increment. 
     
     
         17 . A method of gaming comprising:
 conducting a progressive jackpot game comprising a plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes stored in respective ones of a plurality of jackpot meters;   determining that a threshold has been reached in respect of one of the jackpot prizes; and   subsequently updating the jackpot meters by incrementing one or more of the other jackpot prizes with jackpot increments intended for the jackpot prize in respect of which a threshold has been met.   
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , comprising updating the jackpot meters by selectively incrementing one of the one or more other jackpot prizes with each jackpot increment. 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein selectively incrementing the jackpot prizes comprises randomly determining which of the jackpot prizes to increment from jackpot prizes which have not reached the threshold. 
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein each jackpot increment is divided amongst jackpot prizes which have not reached the threshold and once a jackpot prize reaches the threshold, increments intended for the jackpot which has reached the threshold are provided to a designated one or more of the one or more other jackpot prizes. 
     
     
         21 . A jackpot controller, the jackpot controller arranged to:
 conduct a progressive jackpot game comprising a plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes stored in respective ones of a plurality of jackpot meters;   determine that a threshold has been reached in respect of one of the jackpot prizes; and   update the jackpot meters by incrementing one or more of the other jackpot prizes with jackpot increments intended for the jackpot prize in respect of which a threshold has been met subsequent to the threshold being met.   
     
     
         22 . A jackpot controller as claimed in  claim 21 , arranged to update the jackpot meters by selectively incrementing one of the one or more other jackpot prizes with each jackpot increment. 
     
     
         23 . A jackpot controller as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein selectively incrementing the jackpot prizes comprises randomly determining which of the jackpot prizes to increment from jackpot prizes which have not reached the threshold. 
     
     
         24 . A jackpot controller as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein each jackpot increment is divided amongst jackpot prizes which have not reached the threshold and once a jackpot prize reaches the threshold, increments intended for the jackpot which has reached the threshold are provided to a designated one or more of the one or more other jackpot prizes. 
     
     
         25 . A gaming system comprising:
 a jackpot controller;   a plurality of jackpot meters storing respective ones of a plurality of jackpot prizes; and   a plurality of gaming devices in data communication with the jackpot controller and arranged to communicate jackpot increments to the jackpot controller,   the jackpot controller arranged to:   determine that a threshold has been reached in respect of one of plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes; and   update the jackpot meters by incrementing one or more of the other jackpot prizes with jackpot increments intended for the jackpot prize in respect of which a threshold has been met subsequent to the threshold being met.   
     
     
         26 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the jackpot controller is arranged to update the jackpot meters by selectively incrementing one of the one or more other jackpot prizes with each jackpot increment. 
     
     
         27 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein selectively incrementing the jackpot prizes comprises randomly determining which of the jackpot prizes to increment from jackpot prizes which have not reached the threshold. 
     
     
         28 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein each jackpot increment is divided amongst jackpot prizes which have not reached the threshold and once a jackpot prize reaches the threshold, increments intended for the jackpot which has reached the threshold are provided to a designated one or more of the one or more other jackpot prizes. 
     
     
         29 . A jackpot controller comprising:
 a network interface via which the jackpot controller receives jackpot increments;   a plurality of jackpot meters storing jackpot values for respective ones of a plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes; and   an increment processor arranged to process each received jackpot increment, determine that a threshold has been reached in respect of one of plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes, and increment one or more of the other jackpot prizes with any jackpot increments intended for the jackpot prize in respect of which a threshold has been met.   
     
     
         30 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to conduct a game, the game controller comprising a memory storing jackpot values for respective ones of a plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes, and being arranged to conduct a game, obtain jackpot increments based on play of the game, determine that a threshold has been reached in respect of one of plurality of separate progressive jackpot prizes, and increment one or more of the other jackpot prizes with any jackpot increments intended for the jackpot prize in respect of which a threshold has been met. 
     
     
         31 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising executing computer program code to conduct, to obtain, and to update. 
     
     
         32 . A method as claimed in  claim 31 , further comprising storing said computer program code in a tangible computer readable medium.