Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS FOR PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to jackpot gambling games in general,
and to a method and apparatus for combining landbase and online jackpot games
in particular.
DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART
A gambling game typically functions in a way that a player places an
initial bet, which is a wager towards a certain outcome of a specific event.
If the
outcome is successful for the player, the wager wins him or her an amount that
is
either a fixed sum, or a multiple of the placed bet. In any case, the won
amount is
specified by the game rules. If the outcome is unsuccessful for the player,
the
entire bet or a part of it, depending on the game rules is lost. There can be
one or
more different winning amounts in a game, which are related to different
possible
outcomes. The term jackpot, or progressive jackpot, generally relates to
winning
an accumulated sum in a gambling game, such as a slot machine or a video poker
machine. In jackpot games, one or more of the winning amounts, won as a result
of one or more specific outcomes, are not fixed by the game rules, but vary
according to the bets previously placed by players. These amounts are named
jackpots and function as follows: initially, the game operator initializes the
jackpot with a starting amount, called the seed. Then, a predetermined portion
of
each bet in the specific gaming device, is devoted to the outcome that has the
jackpot as its win. This portion is called the contribution rate. Thus, the
more
people play, the higher bets are, and the higher the contribution rate, the
larger the
jackpot grows. Eventually, one or more players achieve the predetermined
outcome, and hit the jackpot, i.e. win the entire amou.nt the jackpot has
grown to.
If more than one player hit the jackpot, the amount will divide between them
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according to the game rules. Once the jackpot was hit, the operator will re-
seed
the jackpot with a new seed amount, or less than that if only part of the
jackpot
was won, and the cycle will continue. Jackpot games are attractive to
operators
since although a jackpot can grow to substantial sums, which can attract
players,
the operator's risk is nevertheless limited to the seed amount, although a
typical
jackpot win is substantially higher than the seed amount. Progressive jackpot
games can be played both using landbased devices, i.e., actual machines, such
as
those placed in a casino, and through online gaming devices, such as games
offered in personal computers. In order to add additional excitement and raise
the
la jackpot win of a traditional device, a number of landbased gaming devices
had
been connected to a common jackpot. This arrangement offers higher winning
sums, and therefore more attractive game devices, since contributions are
collected from players using a number of gaming machines.
However, even devices associated with a common jackpot can still
suffer from reduced attraction level resulting from few players using the
devices.
The same problem may hurt the operators of online games, including both
downloadable games and web-based gatnes.
There is therefore a need for a method and apparatus for connecting a
multiplicity of game devices of various types in a common jackpot, in order to
2o enable large winning when hitting a jackpot, and thus provide additional
attraction
to each game.
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SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT IlVVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method and
apparatus for combining landbased gaming terminals and online stations in a
common progressive jackpot game. The common jackpot enables winning large
sums, thus increasing the appeal of the game for players using both terminals
and
stations, while still limiting the risk of the game operator, which is limited
to the
seed sum.
In accordance with the present invention, there is thus provided a
progressive jackpot apparatus, the apparatus comprising one or more
lo landbased gaming terminals, one or more online stations; and one or more
servers connected to the landbased gaming terminals or to the online
stations, wherein the landbased gaming terminals and the online gaming
stations have a common jackpot. Optionally, one or more of the landbased
gaming terminals or the online gaming stations enables a player to play a slot
1s machine game or a video poker game. Within the apparatus, one or more of
the landbased gaming terminals are dedicated gaming terminals. Within the
apparatus, one or more of the online gaming stations are personal computers.
The apparatus can further comprise a landbase game server, the landbase
game server connected to one or more landbased gaming terminal. The
20 landbase game server can be connected to or to one or more landbased
gaming terminals through any one or more of the following: local area
network, wide area network, or wireless network. The apparatus can further
an online game server, the online game server connected to one or more
online gaming stations. Optionally, the online game server can be connected
25 to the one or more online stations through the internet.
Another aspect of the disclosed invention relates to a method of
providing a progressive jackpot apparatus, the method comprising the steps
of providing one or more landbased gaming terminal; providing software to
be run on one or more online gaming station; and providing one or more
30 servers connected to one or more landbased gaming terminal or to one or
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more online gaming stations, wherein the landbased gaming terminals and
the online gaming stations have a common jackpot. Optionally, one or more
of the landbased gaming terminals or the online gaming stations enables a
player to play a slot machine game or a video poker game. Within the
method, one or more of the landbased gaming terminals is a dedicated
gaming terminal. Optionally, one or more or the online gaming stations are
personal computers. The method can further comprise a step of providing a
landbased game server, the landbased game server connected to one or more
landbased gaming terminal. The landbased game server is optionally
la connected to one or more landbased gaming terminals through one of the
following: local area network, wide area network, or wireless network. The
method can further comprise a step of providing an online game server, the
online game server connected to one or more online gaming station.
Optionally, the online game server is connected to the one or more online
gaming station via the internet.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully
from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings
in
which:
5 Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a network comprising online
gaming devices and landbased gaming devices participating in a common jackpot,
in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention; and
Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a jackpot gaming device, in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention.
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DETAILED DESCR.IPTIQN OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by
providing a novel method and a system which connect together in a common
jackpot, online and Iandbased gaming devices. The disclosed invention
comprises
a network of one or more devices, such as personal computers in which a player
can play an online casino game away from a casino, and one or more Iandbased
gaming devices, in which players can play, for example in a casino. Thus, a
player
using in a landbased device, is participating in a jackpot game which is
played by
online players in distributed locations, in the same country or worldwide. An
lo online player, on the other hand, is participating in a jackpot with all
other online
players, and with players of landbased devices. Using this scheme, the prize
offered in a jackpot game, can increase in advanced pace, depending on the
number and bet size of online and landbased players. Thus, the attraction of
both
the online and landbased devices increases, while the operator's risk
remaining
limited to the initially paid seed amount. Preferably, all devices in a shared
jackpot share the same bet size, but this limitation is not mandatory, as long
as the
rules are known.
Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which is a schematic illustration of a
network implementing the disclosed invention. The network, generally
referenced
10 comprises one or more landbased terminals 12, 14, or 16. Terminals 12, 14
or
16 are physical gaming devices, preferably placed in a publicly accessible
location, such as a casino and connected to a network. Terminals 12, 14, or 16
can
be located in one location, or be distributed in a multiplicity of physical
locations.
In addition, terminals 12, 14, or 16 can demonstrate the same game, for
example
the same slot machine with the same content or pictures, similar slot machines
employing the same or different rules and the same or different content or
pictures, or different games. However, when different games are used, for
example different slot machines, or a combination of a slot machine and a
video
poker, the rules have to be described in a precise manner, stating inter alia
the
3o outcomes that bring about a jackpot hit in the various games. In a typical
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enviromnent, terminals 12, 14, or 16 all provide the same game, or at least
similar
games with identical rules, including for example the coin size associated
with the
game. Terminals 12, 14, or 16 are typically computing platforms such as a
personal computer based on PC or Windows, or a network computer. Preferably,
the computing platforms associated with terminals 12, 14, or 16 are industrial
PCs.
Terminals 12, 14, or 16 are connected through a communication
network 20, such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), a
wireless communication network, the internet, or the like. Communication
la network 20 is preferably secured, for example by applying SSL protocol to
the
communications going through the network, or parts thereof. All landbased
terminals 12, 14, or 16 are connected to a landbase game server 24. Server 24
is
preferably also a computing platform, such as a personal computer, a mainframe
computer, or any other type of computing platform that is provisioned with a
memory device (not shown), a CPU or microprocessor device, and several UQ
ports (not shown). Alternatively, server 24 can be a DSP chip, an ASIC device
storing the commands and data necessary to execute the methods of the present
invention. In a similar manner, stations 30, 32, or 34 are typically personal
computers, but can also be mainframe computers or terminals thereof, either
privately owned, or otherwise accessible by a player, for example a terminal
at an
internet cafe. Typically, stations 30, 32 and 34 are distributed over various
geographic locations. Stations 30, 32, 34 provide access either to web-based
games, played over a communication channel such as the internet, or to locally
installed games, running on the local station with minimal communication with
a
server. While terminals 12, 14, or 16 cater to the needs of landbased devices,
stations 30, 32 or 34 are intended to be used by a person at his home, office,
internet cafe or the like. The differences between the two platforms include
for
example: landbased terminals offer the option to receive cash payment while
online stations are limited to credit card, debit card or similar payment
options;
sa landbased terminals are optimized for touch-screen usage, thus eliminating
the
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need for a keyboard or a pointing device which are likely to be used at an
online
station; the graphic offered at a landbased terminal is typically richer than
the
graphic offered by a online station; a landbased terminal is dedicated to
gaming
and does not enable other usages, while an online station can be used for
multiple
applications, including but not limited to gaming; an online station is player-
oriented, catering to a recognized player, while a landbased terminal is game-
oriented and does not address a specific player. Stations 30, 32 and 34
communicate through a communication media such as the internet 40 with an
online game server 44. Online game server 44 is preferably also a computing
la platform, such as a personal computer, a mainframe computer, or any other
type
of computing platform that is provisioned with a memory device (not shown), a
CPU or microprocessor device, and several IIO ports (not shown).
Alternatively,
server 44 can be a DSP chip, an ASIC device storing the commands and data
necessary to execute the methods of the present invention. Servers 24 and 44
are
connected to a common jackpot server 50, which maintains the current status of
the jackpot and updates servers 24 and 44, which in turn update the terminals
12,
14, 16, 30, 32 and 34. It will be appreciated that the funetionality of each
of
servers 24, 44, and 50 can be distributed among one or more physical servers,
whether co-located or geographically distributed. Alternatively, the
funetionality
of two or all of servers 24, 44, and 50 can be located on the same computing
platform. The number of servers and workload distribution can also vary
dynamically, wherein more servers are added when the number of concurrent
players increases. It will be appreciated that he disclosed architecture is
exemplary
only, and other architectures can be designed without departing from the
spirit of the
disclosed invention. Server 50 is further connected to management tezminal 54,
used by an operator of an apparatus of the disclosed invention, Management
terminal 54 provides an operator with the options required for maintaining the
balance of the jackpot, including transferring seed money or betting money,
withdrawing payments, collecting earnings, or the like. Alternatively, server
24 or
server 44 can either comprise an application, or be connected to one or more
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computing platforms serving as application servers, which provide the above-
mentioned functionality. The communication between the components of the
system can be in various preferably secured formats, depending, for example,
on
factors such as the expected number of online players, the number of landbased
devices, whether the online games are downloaded and installed or played over
the web, or the like.
Figure 2 is an illustration of a terminal, such as a monitor of a personal
computer, running a slot machine game. The game is either downloaded and
installed on the user's computing platform prior to playing, or is run as a
web-
lo based application. Either way, if the player is playing online, and
actually
gambling (as opposed to "fun" mode), the computing platform is connected via a
local area network, a wide area network, a wireless connection, a modem or any
other medium to the internet. Thus, whenever the user hits spin button 204,
BET
ONE button 205 or BET iVIAY button 206 an existing account having a balance as
displayed in balance display 212 is debited in the sum appearing on the total
bet
display label 214, which is calculated according to the numbers appearing in
lines
number display 216 and in line bet display 218. The player's win, if any, is
displayed in win display 220.
As detailed above, a portion of each bet is dedicated to the progressive
common jackpot, and if an outcome of a bet by a user occurs, for example five
apples in row 208, the user hits the jackpot and his or her account is
credited.
When hitting the jackpot, the user wins all, or part of the common jackpot, as
accumulated from online stations as well as landbased terminals. Optionally,
the
game plays an audio of falling coins on such occasion, in order to provide the
user
with the excitement of wining in a landbased device.
Referring now to Fig. 3, showing a similar game to the game shown in
Fig. 2, as played in a landbased device. The shown device is a slot machine,
comprising either physical rolling wheels, or electronic simulation of such
wheels.
The user can input the payment in coins, bills, voucher nurnber, credit card,
or a
so dedicated card into slot 306. After inputting the payment, the user selects
BET
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ONE button 305 or BET MAX button 307, and then hits SPIN button 304. Then,
an existing account having a balance as displayed in balance display 312 is
debited in the sum appearing on the total bet display Iabe1314, which is
calculated
according to the numbers appearing in lines number display 316 and in line bet
5 display 318. The player's win, if any, is displayed in win display 320.If an
^utcome designated as a jackpot, such as five apples at line 304 occurs, the
player
hits the jackpot, and receives the sum that had been accumulated from all
devices,
including online stations and landbased terminals that participate in the
common
jackpot.
10 It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the disclosed
invention can be extended to additional types of devices, such as roulettes,
pachinko, poker, black jack or the like. Furthermore, games of different
types, or
of the same type but different betting sums, can be connected together in a
common jackpot, provided that the winning rules offer equal winning chances
for
equal sums. The used devices can also be extended to include the right to
participate in an automatic betting at a predetermined time, similarly to a
lottery
game. A person having ordinary skilled in the art will appreciate that there
exist
multiple methods for connecting devices of different types, particularly
online and
landbased devices, without departing form the spirit of the disclosed
invention.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present
invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described
hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the
claims which follow.
