Gaming device and method having multiple progressive award levels and a secondary game for advancing through the progressive award levels

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The gaming system includes a plurality of different types of progressive awards adapted to be provided to one or more players of the gaming machines in the gaming system. In one embodiment, one or more progressive awards are each associated with an outcome of a primary game, such as a designated symbol combination, wherein if the associated primary game outcome is generated, such progressive award is provided to a player. In one embodiment, one or more progressive awards are each associated with a progressive hit value, wherein when each progressive award increments to its respective progressive hit value, a triggering event occurs, such progressive award is provided to a player and the player is provided the opportunity to one or more additional progressive awards.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A gaming system comprising:
 at least one display device;   at least one input device;   at least one processor; and   at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to:
 (a) display at least one of:
 (i) a primary wagering game, and 
 (ii) a secondary game; 
 
 (b) provide a progressive award to a player if a first triggering event occurs; and 
 (c) provide the progressive award to the player if a second, different triggering event occurs in association with the secondary game. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein said progressive award is associated with a range of values and a progressive award hit value. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 2 , wherein the first triggering event occurs based on the progressive award reaching the progressive award hit value. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 2 , wherein the range of values of said progressive award defines a minimum value and a maximum value that can be provided to the player 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the first triggering event occurs based on a generation of a designated outcome in the primary wagering game. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the first triggering event occurs independent of any displayed event in any play of said primary wagering game. 
     
     
         7 . A gaming system comprising:
 a controller programmed to maintain a progressive award; and   a plurality of gaming machines in communication with the controller, each gaming machine including:
 at least one display device; 
 at least one input device; 
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: 
 (a) display at least one of:
 (i) a primary wagering game, and 
 (ii) a secondary game; 
 
 (b) provide the progressive award to a player if a first triggering event occurs; and 
 (c) provide the progressive award to the player if a second, different triggering event occurs in association with the secondary game. 
   
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 7 , wherein said progressive award is associated with a range of values and a progressive award hit value. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the first triggering event occurs based on the progressive award reaching the progressive award hit value. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 8 , wherein the range of values of said progressive award defines a minimum value and a maximum value that can be provided to the player 
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 7 , wherein the first triggering event occurs based on a generation of a designated outcome in the primary wagering game associated with one of the gaming machines. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 7 , wherein the first triggering event occurs independent of any displayed events in any plays of said primary wagering games associated with any of the gaming machines. 
     
     
         13 . A gaming system comprising:
 a controller programmed to maintain a progressive award; and   a plurality of gaming machines in communication with the controller, each gaming machine including:
 at least one display device; 
 at least one input device; 
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: 
 (a) display at least one of:
 (i) a primary wagering game, and 
 (ii) a secondary game; 
 
 (b) provide the progressive award to a player if a designated outcome associated with the progressive award is generated in the primary wagering game; and 
 (c) provide the progressive award to the player if a triggering event occurs in association with the secondary game. 
   
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the secondary game includes a plurality of symbols, wherein at least one of said symbols is associated with a number of points greater than zero. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming system of  claim 14 , wherein in the secondary game, a plurality of said symbols are generated and any points associated with any generated symbols are accumulated. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the triggering event occurs if a designated quantity of points are accumulated. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 13 , wherein the secondary game includes a plurality of symbols, wherein at least one of said symbols includes a sub-symbol associated with a number of points greater than zero. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein in the secondary game, a plurality of said symbols are generated and any points associated with any generated sub-symbols are accumulated. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming system of  claim 18 , wherein the triggering event occurs if a designated quantity of points are accumulated. 
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
 (a) causing at least one display device to display at least one of:
 (i) a primary wagering game, and 
 (ii) a secondary game; 
   (b) providing a progressive award to a player if a first triggering event occurs; and   (c) providing the progressive award to the player if a second, different triggering event occurs in association with the secondary game.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said progressive award is associated with a range of values and a progressive award hit value. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first triggering event occurs based on the progressive award reaching the progressive award hit value. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the range of values of said progressive award defines a minimum value and a maximum value that can be provided to the player 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first triggering event occurs based on a generation of a designated outcome in the primary wagering game. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first triggering event occurs independent of any displayed event in any play of said primary wagering game. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , which is provided through a data network. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the data network is an internet. 
     
     
         28 . A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
 (a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to maintain a progressive award;   (b) causing at least one display device of at least one of a plurality of gaming machines to display at least one of:
 (i) a primary wagering game, and 
 (ii) a secondary game; 
   (c) providing the progressive award to a player if a first triggering event occurs; and   (d) providing the progressive award to the player if a second, different triggering event occurs in association with the secondary game.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said progressive award is associated with a range of values and a progressive award hit value. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the first triggering event occurs based on the progressive award reaching the progressive award hit value. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the range of values of said progressive award defines a minimum value and a maximum value that can be provided to the player 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first triggering event occurs based on a generation of a designated outcome in the primary wagering game associated with one of the gaming machines. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first triggering event occurs independent of any displayed events in any plays of said primary wagering games associated with any of the gaming machines. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , which is provided through a data network. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the data network is an internet. 
     
     
         36 . A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
 (a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to maintain a progressive award;   (b) causing at least one display device of at least one of a plurality of gaming machines to display at least one of:
 (i) a primary wagering game, and 
 (ii) a secondary game; 
   (c) providing the progressive award to a player if a designated outcome associated with the progressive award is generated in the primary wagering game; and   (d) providing the progressive award to the player if a triggering event occurs in association with the secondary game.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the secondary game includes a plurality of symbols, wherein at least one of said symbols is associated with a number of points greater than zero. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , which includes:
 (i) generating a plurality of symbols in the secondary game, and   (ii) accumulating any points associated with any generated symbols.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the triggering event occurs if a designated quantity of points are accumulated. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the secondary game includes a plurality of symbols, wherein at least one of said symbols includes a sub-symbol associated with a number of points greater than zero. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , which includes:
 (i) generating a plurality of symbols in the secondary game, and   (ii) accumulating any points associated with any generated sub-symbols.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the triggering event occurs if a designated quantity of points are accumulated. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36 , which is provided through a data network. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the data network is an internet.