Progressive gaming system and method of use

Abstract

A progressive prize gaming system including (1) at least one display device having (a) a plurality of prize objects, (b) a prize object holder that holds the prize objects in an individually controlled manner, and (c) a prize object display mechanism for display of selected prize objects to a player; (2) a plurality of gaming devices; and (3) a control device configured to select at least one of the prize objects in the prize object holder and display the selected prize object in order to convey information related to a progressive prize to the player, is disclosed. The progressive prize gaming system may also include a progressive prize display as part of the display device where prize information related to the progressive prize may be displayed. A method for operating the aforementioned progressive prize gaming system is also disclosed where at least one prize object is selected and exhibited to the player to convey information related to the progressive prize.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 897,181 filed on Jul. 22, 2004, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,083,168. The present application is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 937,018 filed on Sep. 9, 2004. The present application is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 205,230 filed on Aug. 15, 2005. The present application also claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60 / 747,393, filed on May 16, 2006. The above referenced applications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entireties.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a gaming device and method of use involving the selection of one or more prize objects to convey the awarding of a progressive prize. More specifically, the invention involves prize objects held in an individually con...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0040] the ability to convey a random game outcome by selectively trapping prize objects in receptacle elements;

[0041] provide an enhanced degree of anticipation by the player by allowing prize objects to pass through various receptacle elements repeatedly before finally trapping a prize object in a specified receptacle element to convey the game outcome;

[0042] provide a decreased susceptibility to the effects of environmental contamination from static electricity, dust and other contaminants that may negatively affect the randomness of game results;

[0043] provide a decreased susceptibility to tampering and cheating during play of the game resulting in a fair game outcome as perceived by the game player;

Problems solved by technology

Many players are reluctant to try completely new games because they must spend time to learn the new game.

However, before the present invention, the Keno display device has been unsuitable for use with gaming devices.

One of the reasons this is so is because Keno is susceptible to environmental influences.

As the balls are jumbled in the Keno ball device, static electricity, dust, and contaminants build up on the balls.

This may cause the balls to stick to each other or to components in the display device thereby influencing the randomness of the game.

Another reason the game of Keno has been unsuitable as an indicator for a gaming device is that it requires a great deal of human involvement.

Not only does this require excessive human involvement for an automated gaming device (the greater the human involvement, the greater the cost of operating the game), the game is also susceptible to tampering and cheating.

Because of their susceptibility to environmental influences and tampering and their dependence on human operators and maintenance personnel, Keno games are not allowed in at least one major gaming jurisdiction.

Furthermore, these disadvantages have prevented Keno display devices and other devices that use jumbled balls from being modified for use with gaming devices.

Although Bingo devices are well known and provide an attractive display, they suffer from the same problems as Keno devices.

However, Rivero is not intended to show the player the ball that is released from the drum.

In addition, in the Rivero device the balls are in a cage and quite exposed to the environment and the potential for tampering.

However, all of the balls are simulations generated by software and no physical balls are actually displayed to the player.

One of the disadvantages with Rivero and Travis et al. is that no actual physical balls are used to display the outcome of a game.

This is not desirable because players prefer to see physical objects rather than electronic simulations of the physical objects.

Moreover, players tend to believe that a game device is misleading when the device purports to display a simulation of an object rather than the object itself.

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