System for initiating a group play feature on a plurality of casino games

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed ______.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

Many games of chance and gaming machines have been developed that have various features designed to capture and maintain player interest. Traditionally, games garner player interest by providing the player with the opportunity to win cash awards based upon a player\'s wager. For example, games may include one or more bonus games or the opportunity to win progressive jackpots in order to maintain player interest.

Additionally, over the years, games have grown in both sophistication and in the types of gaming features used to maintain a player\'s interest. For example, the mechanical reels of traditional gaming machines have been replaced with video depictions of spinning reels. These video gaming machines may provide a richer gaming experience for players by including graphics or animation as part of the game. However, there is a continuing need for games that provide player excitement and diversity of game play without creating overly complex games that unacceptably diminish player comfort.

Briefly, and in general terms, various embodiments are directed to a group play feature of a gaming system including a plurality of gaming machines associated with one another. There may also be a plurality of indicators with one indicator associated with each gaming machine. A bonus feature module is in communication with the plurality of gaming machines and the plurality of indicators, wherein a triggering event in one of the plurality of gaming machines triggers a bonus feature. The bonus feature module activates the plurality of indicators in a sequential order until the bonus feature module stops the sequential progression of the indicators, leaving only one gaming machine\'s indicator(s) activated. The player at this machine is awarded a bonus.

In one embodiment, there is a network server in communication with the plurality of gaming machines, and the system may also include a player tracking system in communication with the network server, wherein the player tracking system includes a database of player accounts.

In one embodiment, the bonus feature module is stored on the network server, however, the bonus feature module may be stored on a bonus server, wherein the bonus server is in communication with the plurality of gaming machines, and possibly in connection with the network server. In another embodiment, the bonus feature module is stored on one of the plurality of gaming machines.

In one embodiment, the plurality of gaming machines used with the system are positioned together in a circular bank, and there may be eight gaming machines positioned together. It will be appreciated, however, that, there may be any number of gaming machines used with the system. Further, the associated gaming machines can be positioned in any formation.

In a certain embodiment, the system includes a central display unit disposed on top of the plurality of gaming machines in the circular bank, wherein the plurality of indicators are located on the central display unit. The plurality of indicators may be lights disposed on the seat backs of chairs positioned around the gaming machines or lights positioned on the central display unit or anywhere on or around the gaming machines. In one embodiment, the plurality of indicators or lights illuminate in a sequential circular motion around the circular bank indicating or highlighting each individual gaming machine at a time when the bonus feature is triggered. More than one light may be illuminated or flashed at a time to highlight one gaming machine if the one gaming machine is associated with more than one light. The frequency of illuminating the lights sequentially in a circular motion around the circular bank may increase or decrease to create more excitement among the players.

Still in another embodiment, the system may also include a plurality of sensors each associated with one of the plurality of gaming machines and in communication with the bonus feature module. The sensors communicate to the bonus feature module the presence of a player at a gaming machine. Pressure sensors, heat sensors, motion sensors, or the like, can be used to detect the presence of a player at a gaming machine. In this way, only occupied gaming machines may be used during the bonus feature.

One embodiment of a gaming system including a bonus feature operates by initiating a game on at least one of a plurality of gaming machines associated with one another and arranged in a circular bank or any other shape, pattern, or random pattern on the casino floor. The gaming system determines whether a triggering event has occurred on any of the plurality of gaming machines. If a triggering event occurs, the system initiates a bonus feature on all of the plurality of gaming machines. In one embodiment, the system activates an announcement when the bonus feature is triggered. The announcement may be visual, audible, or both to generate excitement that the bonus feature is about to start. The bonus feature includes illuminating indicators or lights associated with each of the plurality of gaming machines in a sequential order around the circular bank for an amount of time. In this embodiment, the lights associated with each gaming machine light up one after the other to highlight one gaming machine at a time. A frequency of illuminating the indicators or lights associated with each gaming machine in a sequential order around the bank of associated gaming machines may be increased or decreased to enhance the excitement of the bonus feature. The sequential order of illuminating the lights comes to a stop, leaving only one indicator illuminated to designate a winner of the bonus feature. A bonus is awarded to the winner of the bonus feature, and the bonus may be monetary or any other prize or items, as decided by the administrator of the bonus feature system.

In another embodiment, the excitement of playing the gaming machines can be enhanced by providing additional means of excitement at each player location. For example, the player seats can vibrate by placing a vibration device within the seat as light passes by the player. Still further, other tactile providers can be used in the seat or at the gaming machine to increase the excitement when the bonus feature becomes activated.

In a certain embodiment, the trigger event to start the bonus feature is a winning outcome, a randomly selected game outcome, a specialized bonus symbol, a predetermined number of maximum wagers, a predetermined number of paylines played, a player card level, time of play, frequency of play, a mystery pay, or a combination thereof. The trigger may also be based upon a player\'s gaming activity, level within a club, based upon chance, or on a skill based outcome.

In one embodiment, the system may determine or track which of the plurality of gaming machines are being activated by a player. Therefore, when awarding a bonus to the winner, a gaming machine not being activated or occupied by a player is prevented from being awarded a bonus. The frequency or likelihood of a bonus award can be randomly awarded to a player or the bonus can be weighted so that players with high club rankings, greater play activity, higher wagering activity and the like are more likely to be awarded the bonus. This can be accomplished using the networked system or bonus module to monitor and track the players at each gaming machine to properly weight the prize award.

This concept can also be used with tournaments, progressives, and system based gaming to award prizes to a player. For example, the system may define a winner of a system based game prize, and then the gaming machine lights flash in sequential order and stop on the winning gaming machine previously selected by the system.

Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example, the features of the various embodiments.