Gaming machine, system and method with progressive game feature

This application is a continuation in part application of, and claims benefit to, International Application No. PCT/IB07/54118 filed 9 Oct. 2007 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Application No. PCT/IB07/54118 is in turn based on, and claims benefit to, Australian Patent Application No. 2006904518 filed 18 Aug. 2006. This application also claims the benefit of Australian Patent Application No. 2007209823 filed Aug. 17, 2007, which is based on the same Australian Patent Application No. 200690458, which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention generally relates to gaming apparatus and methods of gaming. A particular embodiment of the present invention relates to gaming apparatus and methods of gaming that offer a progressive prize.

With the increase of gambling at gaming venues has come increased competition between gaming venues to obtain a larger share of the total gambling spend. Gaming venue operators have therefore continuously looked for new variations and types of games in order to attract both new and return customers to their venues.

In response to this need, suppliers of gaming devices and systems have attempted to provide the sought after variety, while still developing games that comply with the relevant regulations in the jurisdiction of the gaming venue operator. Suppliers of gaming devices therefore are faced with restrictions on the types of games and gaming apparatus that are allowable, both in terms of the prevailing regulations and in terms of providing a return on investment to the gaming venue operators.

In addition, it is important that a player be able to understand the operation of a game quickly so that the player can start to quickly play the game and therefore extract maximum entertainment from the game.

Progressive jackpots may be offered on gaming machines. A progressive controller may be programmed to accumulate a percentage of the turnover bet on the machine, that percentage being accumulated in a progressive pool. On the occurrence of a predetermined event, the amount of money in the pool may be awarded to a player.

Recently progressive jackpot gaming systems have been implemented which operate across a group of linked gaming machines, accumulating a percentage of turnover bet on all of the linked machines into one or more progressive pools. Again the contents of a particular progressive pool may be awarded to a player when certain trigger conditions are met.

While the modified player progressive systems have increased player interest, the lack of actual or perceived player involvement in the increment of either standalone or linked progressive systems can mean that players may easily tire of playing these systems.

Any reference in this specification to the prior art does not constitute an admission that such prior art was well known or forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming comprising:

conducting a progressive game where a progressive prize may be awarded during feature games awarded in accordance with at least one game rule;

determining during each awarded feature game whether to award the progressive prize; and

upon the progressive prize not being awarded, incrementing the progressive prize by a fixed amount.

In an embodiment, a plurality of progressive prizes may be awarded during the progressive game, each progressive prize being associated with a different one of a plurality of different feature games which may be awarded, and wherein upon the progressive prize not being awarded during a feature, the progressive prize associated with that feature is incremented by a fixed amount specified for that feature.

In an embodiment, awarding a feature game comprises awarding an entitlement to select a feature game, receiving a feature game selection and awarding the selected feature game.

In an embodiment, each feature game has a different probability of awarding the associated prize.

In an embodiment, the fixed amount is different for each feature.