Method for operating networked gaming devices

Abstract

A system for monitoring and configuring gaming devices interconnected over a high-speed network is disclosed. The system can support a file server, one or more floor controllers, one or more pit terminals, and other terminals all interconnected over the network. Each gaming device includes an electronic module which allows the gaming device to communicate with a floor controller over a current loop network. The electronic module includes a player tracking module and a data communication node. The player tracking module includes a card reader for detecting a player tracking card inserted therein which identifies the player. The data communication node communicates with both the floor controller and the gaming device. The data communication node communicates with the gaming device over a serial interface through which the data communication node transmits reconfiguration commands. The gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule responsive to the reconfiguration commands to provide a variety of promotional bonuses such as multiple jackpot bonuses, mystery jackpot bonuses, progressive jackpot bonuses, or player specific bonuses.

1. A method of operating gaming devices configured to play a preselected game interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:
 permitting players to play the preselected game at the gaming devices; 
 paying to each device in accordance with a first payout table after each game; 
 monitoring the activity of the gaming devices over the network; 
 detecting the amount of money played on the gaming devices; 
 allocating a predetermined percentage of the money played to a bonus pool; 
 determining the level of the bonus pool; 
 activating a bonus payout table in a gaming device after the bonus pool level exceeds a turn-on level; 
 permitting continued play of the preselected game at the gaming devices; and 
 paying the gaming-device in accordance with both payout tables after each game for so long as the bonus payout table remains activated. 
 
     
     
       2. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer according to  claim 1  comprising deactivating the bonus payout table when the bonus pool falls below a turn-off level. 
     
     
       3. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer according to  claim 1  comprising:
 determining the time period since the last bonus table activation; and 
 deactivating the bonus payout table when the time period exceeds a minimum period of time. 
 
     
     
       4. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer according to  claim 1  comprising:
 determining the level of play for a gaming device; 
 deactivating the bonus payout table in the gaming device when the level of play fails below a predetermined level. 
 
     
     
       5. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer according to  claim 4  comprising:
 determining the time of day; 
 deactivating the bonus payout table when the time of day is not within a predetermined period of time. 
 
     
     
       6. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer according to  claim 1  comprising:
 detecting the amount of money paid as bonuses on the gaming devices; 
 modifying the bonus pool by the amount of money paid as bonuses; 
 determining the level of the bonus pool; and 
 deactivating a bonus payout table in a gaming device when the bonus pool level falls below a turn-off level. 
 
     
     
       7. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer according to  claim 6  wherein the turn-on level is above the turn-off level. 
     
     
       8. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:
 monitoring the activity of the gaming devices; 
 detecting the amount of money played on the gaming devices; 
 allocating a predetermined percentage of the money played to a bonus pool; 
 determining the level of the bonus pool; 
 activating a bonus payout table in a gaming device after the bonus pool level exceeds a turn-on level; 
 detecting the amount of money paid as bonuses on the gaming devices; 
 modifying the bonus pool by the amount of money paid as bonuses; 
 determining the level of the bonus pool; and 
 deactivating the bonus payout table in the gaming device after the bonus pool level falls below a turn-off level, said turn-on level being above said turn-off level. 
 
     
     
       9. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:
 allowing play to occur on the gaming devices; 
 paying to each device in accordance with a first payout schedule after each game; 
 sending a reconfiguration command from the host computer to a gaming device over the network; 
 receiving the reconfiguration command at the gaming device; 
 reconfiguring the gaming device responsive to the received reconfiguration command wherein the gaming device reconfigures its payout schedule in accordance with the received reconfiguration command; 
 allowing additional play to occur on the gaming devices; 
 paying to the reconfigured device in accordance with the first payout schedule and a bonus payout schedule after each game for so long as the gaming device remains reconfigured; 
 detecting the amount of money played on the gaming devices; 
 allocating a predetermined percentage of the money played to a bonus pool; 
 determining the level of the bonus pool; and 
 sending the reconfiguration command after the bonus pool level exceeds a turn-on level. 
 
     
     
       10. A method of operating gaming devices according to  claim 9  comprising paying to the reconfigured device in accordance with only the first payout schedule after the bonus pool falls below a turn-off level. 
     
     
       11. A method of operating gaming devices according to  claim 9  comprising:
 determining the level of play for a gaming device; and 
 paying to the reconfigured device in accordance with only the first payout schedule after the level of play falls below a predetermined level. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of operating gaming devices according to  claim 9  comprising:
 detecting the amount of money paid as bonuses on the gaming devices; 
 modifying the bonus pool by the amount of money paid as bonuses; 
 determining the level of the bonus pool; and 
 paying to the reconfigured device in accordance with only the first payout schedule after the bonus pool level falls below a turn-off level. 
 
     
     
       13. A method of operating gaming devices according to  claim 12  wherein the turn-on level is above the turn-off level. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1  wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
 activating bonus payout tables in each of a preselected group of the gaming devices; and 
 paying to the gaming devices in the preselected group in accordance with both payout tables after each game for so long as the bonus payout tables remain activated. 
 
     
     
       15. A method of operating gaming devices configured to play a preselected game interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:
 permitting players to play the preselected game at the gaming devices;   paying to each device in accordance with a payout table after each game;   monitoring the activity of the gaming devices over the network;   detecting the amount of money played on the gaming devices;   allocating a predetermined percentage of the money played to a bonus pool;   determining the level of the bonus pool;   activating a bonus payout schedule associated with the gaming devices after the bonus pool level exceeds a turn-on level;   permitting continued play of the preselected game at the gaming devices;   paying each gaming device in accordance with the payout table after each game; and   paying the gaming devices in accordance with the bonus payout schedule for so long as it remains activated.   
     
     
       16. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer according to claim 15 comprising deactivating the bonus payout schedule when the bonus pool falls below a turn-off level. 
     
     
       17. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer according to claim 15 comprising:
 determining the time period since the last bonus payout schedule activation; and   deactivating the bonus payout schedule when the time period exceeds a minimum period of time.   
     
     
       18. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer according to claim 15 comprising:
 determining the level of play for a gaming device;   deactivating the bonus payout schedule in the gaming device when the level of play falls below a predetermined level.   
     
     
       19. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer according to claim 18 comprising:
 determining the time of day;   deactivating the bonus payout schedule when the time of day is not within a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
       20. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer according to claim 15 comprising:
 detecting the amount of money paid as bonuses on the gaming devices;   modifying the bonus pool by the amount of money paid as bonuses;   determining the level of the bonus pool; and   deactivating the bonus payout schedule in a gaming device when the bonus pool level falls below a turn-off level.   
     
     
       21. A method of operating gaming devices interconnected by a computer network to a host computer according to claim 20 wherein the turn-on level is above the turn-off level. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 15 wherein paying the gaming devices in accordance with the bonus payout schedule for so long as it remains activated comprises paying one of the gaming devices responsive to transmission of a pay command from the host computer to said one gaming device. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22 wherein paying one of the gaming devices comprises applying credits to a credit meter on the gaming devices.