Gaming System Operator-Funded Incremental Awards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic gaming systems lack the ability to offer unique and incentivizing progressive link awards that differentiate gaming experiences across different venues and operators, relying solely on player contributions for jackpot funding.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system that includes a central controller capable of generating pre-funded incremental link awards, allowing operators to configure parameters such as funding sources, award curves, and triggers, enabling the addition of incremental awards to progressive links or individual game awards, funded by operators or third parties, to create unique gaming experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If progressive jackpots are funded solely by player contributions, then the system maintains simplicity in funding mechanism, but the ability to offer unique and incentivizing awards across different venues is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The funding mechanism is segmented into two distinct sources: player contributions and operator-funded incremental awards. This segmentation allows each funding source to serve a different purpose - player contributions maintain the progressive jackpot while operator funding provides venue-specific incentives, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary component - the incremental award - that bridges player contributions and operator incentives. This intermediary allows operators to add value to the progressive jackpot without disrupting the existing player contribution mechanism, enabling unique venue offerings while maintaining system simplicity
2Reliability
If operators add incremental awards funded by operators or third parties, then player engagement and excitement are enhanced, but the funding structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the progressive jackpot (funded by players) with the incremental award (funded by operators or third parties) into a unified award structure. This combination enhances player engagement by offering higher potential payouts while distributing funding complexity across multiple sources, with each source maintaining its own funding stream
Solution Approach 2:
The incremental award is pre-funded by operators or third parties before being added to the progressive jackpot. This preliminary action allows operators to control and guarantee the additional award amount, enhancing reliability of player engagement incentives while separating the funding timing and structure from the progressive jackpot accumulation
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming system providing a progressive link includes a game controller arranged to facilitate play of a game by a player in association with a progressive link, the progressive link including a progressive award; and an incremental award stored in a memory, the incremental award associated with and funded apart from the progressive award associated with the progressive link. The game controller is to award the progressive award plus the incremental award to a player based on a criterion established by an operator associated with the progressive link.