Patent ID: 9633512
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: G07F

Claim:
1. A method for implementing a bonus game having sequential phases that follow one another and progress from an initial phase that starts an instance of the bonus game to a concluding phase in which a winner is designated, the bonus game being implemented on a linked group of electronic gaming devices, the method comprising: receiving value at at least some of the gaming devices via at least one of a ticket acceptor and a bill acceptor associated with each gaming device; validating at least one of a bill and a ticket so received; applying at least some of the value as a wager at at least some of the linked gaming devices; tracking gaming activity of a plurality of the gaming devices during multiple plays of at least two of the gaming devices; establishing at least one criterion related to the tracked gaming activity; accumulating tracked gaming activity during the multiple plays; enabling an instance of the bonus game at a first time when the accumulated tracked gaming activity meets the at least one criterion; associating the initial phase of the instance of the with a first player of one of the gaming devices; permitting the first player to play the initial phase of the instance of the bonus game; ending the initial phase of the bonus game; enabling the instance of the bonus game at a second time after the first time when the accumulated tracked activity meets the at least one criterion; thereafter associating a second phase of the instance of the bonus game with a second player of one of the gaming devices, the second player being different from the first player; permitting the second player to play the second phase of the instance of the bonus game; ending play of the instance of the bonus game at the conclusion of each phase and periodically enabling additional phases of the instance of the bonus game for play of each additional phase by one player at a time until the instance of the bonus game is concluded, wherein play of each phase of the instance of the bonus game is determined by one of a plurality of scripts; and cashing out any remaining value on at least some of the gaming devices via a ticket printed by a printer associated with each of the gaming devices.