Progressive Jackpot Value Caps for Predictable Award Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic gaming systems lack a mechanism to consistently award progressive jackpots at a desired frequency independent of the rate of player wagers, leading to unpredictable jackpot award timing and potential operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a progressive jackpot system with a time cap mechanism, where the jackpot is awarded based on a selected time duration or a mystery value, ensuring consistent award frequency regardless of wager accumulation rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If progressive jackpot awards are based solely on wager accumulation rate, then jackpot award timing becomes unpredictable, but operational control and predictability are improved by implementing a time cap mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the jackpot evaluation criteria by incorporating both wager accumulation thresholds and time-based caps. The time cap parameter allows the system to adapt the award timing mechanism, switching between value-driven and time-driven award triggers based on pre-configured parameters, thereby improving predictability without rigidifying the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces time cap parameters as an additional variable in the jackpot evaluation process. By changing the parameters from purely monetary thresholds to include temporal dimensions, the system achieves more predictable award timing while maintaining operational flexibility through configurable time cap values.
2Productivity
If jackpot awards are made frequently to ensure player engagement, then player engagement improves, but operational control and budget management deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The time cap mechanism establishes periodic evaluation intervals for jackpot awards. Instead of continuous or purely event-driven awards, the system evaluates jackpot eligibility at defined time intervals, creating a rhythmic pattern of potential awards that balances player engagement with controlled budget expenditure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration of time cap parameters and wager thresholds before operation begins. This preliminary setup allows operators to pre-determine the frequency and cost characteristics of jackpot awards, enabling better budget management while maintaining engaging award frequencies through carefully calibrated parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming system for evaluating a jackpot using a time cap is provided. The system includes a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory which when executed, cause the processor to at least store, in the memory, a jackpot including time cap parameters and a value of the jackpot. The instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to select a time cap based on the time cap parameters. The instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to determine, in response to a game instance, that the selected time cap has been reached. The instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to credit, in response to the determination, the value of the progressive jackpot to a player credit balance.