Blockchain Jackpot Pooling Using EGM Proof-of-Work Rewards

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic gaming machines (EGMs) with linked progressives require additional hardware and central servers, increasing costs and potential security vulnerabilities, while traditional systems lack efficient methods to enhance progressive jackpots.

Innovation Solution

A blockchain system that leverages the computing power of EGMs for proof of work tasks, using mining rewards to increment progressive jackpots in cryptocurrency, eliminating the need for additional hardware and central servers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional linked progressive systems are implemented with central servers and additional hardware, then progressive jackpots can be pooled between multiple EGMs, but device complexity and security vulnerabilities increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogressive pooling capabilityVSAvoidhardware and server infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the central server and additional hardware components from the progressive jackpot system, replacing them with a blockchain network where EGMs directly communicate with each other. The progressive jackpot data is stored and managed on the blockchain ledger itself, eliminating the need for centralized infrastructure while maintaining the ability to pool progressives across multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The blockchain network serves as an intermediary layer between EGMs, enabling secure peer-to-peer communication and data sharing without requiring direct hardware connections or centralized server mediation. The distributed ledger technology provides the intermediary mechanism for tracking progressive contributions and determining winners across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional hardware and central servers are deployed for linked progressives, then jackpot pooling is enabled, but cost and security risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelinked progressive functionalityVSAvoidsecurity vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The EGMs perform proof-of-work computations independently using their own processing power to validate and add blocks to the blockchain. Each device contributes computational effort to secure the network and earn mining rewards, eliminating the need for centralized server management and reducing security vulnerabilities associated with central points of failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical infrastructure of central servers and dedicated hardware with a software-based blockchain protocol that runs on existing EGM infrastructure. The security model shifts from centralized physical security to distributed cryptographic security, where the network's security is derived from the collective computational power of participating devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If EGM computing power is utilized for proof of work, then mining rewards can increment progressives, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogressive increment efficiencyVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially wasteful energy consumption of proof-of-work computations into a beneficial mechanism for incrementing progressive jackpots. Mining rewards earned through energy-intensive computations are automatically added to the progressive pool, transforming energy expenditure into value creation for the gaming system. Players benefit from increased progressive amounts funded by the computational effort of the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS20260080746A1Gaming systems with blockchain jackpots

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A blockchain system comprising a plurality of electronic gaming devices configured to perform proof of work computations configured to: collect transaction data from a blockchain; create a block body that includes the transaction data; transmit a message to a set of electronic gaming devices that includes the block body; receive, from a first electronic gaming device, a success message that includes at least a nonce string; create a new block for the blockchain that includes at least the block body and the nonce string; transmit the new block into the blockchain, thereby causing the new block to be added to the blockchain; identify a mining reward on the blockchain based on the adding of the new block, the mining reward being in a first value of cryptocurrency supported by the blockchain; and increment a progressive jackpot by the first value, the progressive jackpot being provided in the cryptocurrency.