Method for providing a super jackpot for gaming machines

A method and system are set forth of providing for a super jackpot to be awarded should a qualifying super jackpot combination be obtained by any player playing gaming machines supplied by a supplier to a host facility. The machines are independent, each having a super jackpot combination obtainable based upon a predetermined probability. The host facilities each pay periodic contributions which go to a super jackpot fund. The contribution stream is sufficient to at least fund the super jackpot prior to having to pay it out to a player. The periodic contributions may be fixed. The super jackpot fund may progressively increase over time until the winning combination is obtained.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a method for providing a super jackpot for 
independent, remotely located, unlinked gaming machines. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Gaming machines such electro-mechanical and video display slot machines are 
well known and popular gaming devices. As but an example, 
electro-mechanical machines typically include three or four reels each 
having indicia disposed about the peripheries separated by blanks. A 
player, to play the machine, enters a wager such as by inserting one or 
more quarters or tokens and initializes the machine by pulling a handle or 
pressing a button. Initialization rotates the reels to display 
combinations of indicia and blanks on a designated payline. If a 
predetermined winning combination appears on the payline, the machine pays 
the player. If no winning payout combination appears, there is no payoff, 
and the wager is lost and retained by the machine. 
For any machine, the wager placed by the player for each hand or spin is 
called the "play". For any spin the maximum that can be wagered is the 
"maximum play". For dollar slot machines, the maximum play is typically 
two or three dollars and for quarter machines, the maximum play is 
typically three coins. 
Over a period of time such as a twenty-four hour period, a week, a month or 
a year, the total "play" defines the "handle" for the machine, i.e. the 
amount of wagers dropped by the players into the particular machine over 
the relevant time period. For any selected period of time, e.g. a month, 
the handle minus the amount paid to players for winning combination 
payouts defines the "drop" or "hold" for the machine. Thus hold is the 
gross profit realized by the machine. Depending upon who owns and hosts 
the machine, this hold may be profit to a casino, slot machine owner or 
slot machine lessee who placed the machine at the particular location. 
Recently it has been known to provide progressive, super jackpots funded by 
a portion of the play of each of a plurality of electronically linked or 
networked machines. Each machine, in addition to the other symbols or 
combination which provide for lessor payouts, includes symbols indicative 
of a super jackpot which, if aligned on the payline, provides a huge 
jackpot payout. These super jackpots may be ten thousand or a million 
times the amount of the maximum play or more. For example, a three dollar 
play in a dollar machine may result in super jackpot of millions. 
The networked super jackpot machines as described above are linked within 
the casino and, through dedicated telephone lines, to other machines in 
casinos in different, remote locations. It has become popular for a 
sponsor, an entity separate from the host location of the machine such as 
a casino, to install the networked machines in the casinos and the casinos 
would either charge a space rental fee to the sponsor, or share in the 
hold, or a combination thereof. 
The networked machines are each electronically linked to a remote processor 
which allocates a portion of each play to contribute to the progressively 
increasing super jackpot. The linking also provides other information to 
the processor including signals a representative that a jackpot 
combination has been obtained. The processor also issues signals to 
displays associated with the machines to notify players at the remote 
locations of the current amount of the progressive jackpot. 
As stated above, some of these progressive jackpots start at, for example, 
three million dollars for dollar slot machines based on a maximum play of 
three dollars. These progressive jackpots grow, based upon the portion of 
the play allocated to the super jackpot, the total play and the 
probabilities of a super jackpot combination appearing on a machine. 
When a super jackpot appears, the network game sponsor, instead of the 
casino, pays the super jackpot to the player. The arrangement between the 
hosting casino and the sponsor may require the casino to pay lessor 
jackpots which cannot be paid by the individual machines. In some 
networked games of the type described above, the super jackpot is paid 
over time, e.g. twenty years, enabling the sponsor to purchase annuities 
to pay super jackpots and thus, fund them at a discount compared to their 
face value. 
As can be appreciated, the electronic networking and play allocation 
enables the sponsor to provide these progressive, super jackpots. These 
super jackpots, in turn, entice players to play these machines in the 
hopes of obtaining the super jackpot. Where the progressive super jackpot 
reaches certain levels, the number of players playing the machines can be 
such as to create lines of players at these machines. As can further be 
appreciated, the increase in the number of players increases the handle 
for the machine, the amount of hold and therefore the revenue to those 
sharing in the machines' profits. 
These super jackpot machines are typically installed in casinos due to the 
cost of the machine, processing network and telephone line costs necessary 
to establish the linking and the funding of the super jackpots. Casinos 
typically experience sufficient drop and hold for the machines to not only 
pay fixed expenses associated with the acquisition, installation and 
networking of the machines, funding of the jackpot, but provide a profit 
margin for the casino and super jackpot sponsor. 
These various factors have worked for the most part to exclude these super 
jackpot machines from an entire market for gaming services in facilities 
such as restaurants, bars, convenience stores, supermarkets and the like 
in which relatively small numbers of machines are located. While these 
facilities may host a plurality of either unlinked, independent video 
poker gaming machines or provide for intrafacility linking of the 
machines, super jackpots of the type described above, have not been 
provided because it is uneconomical to link or network such machines in 
these markets. Therefore there is insufficient handle and hold to provide 
for the hosting of these machines at these types of facilities and to fund 
the super jackpots. 
In many instances these video poker gaming machines are provided by an 
outside supplier, who may own the machines outright or lease them from a 
manufacturer. The supplier, which may be what is referred to as a slot 
machine route operator, would install the machines in a facility and pay 
the facility a monthly fee, retaining the hold on the machines as gross 
profit. If the facility has suitable licensure from the proper 
authorities, it may install and operate its own machines, may enter into a 
share agreement with the slot machine route operator to share a portion of 
the hold or may enter in some type of hybrid agreement wherein the route 
operator pays a monthly fee and the facility shares in the hold. 
In those instances where the facility, e.g. bar, shares in the hold, any 
large jackpots affect the bars share since it is taken out of the total 
handle for the relevant time period. The sharing of the jackpot payout in 
proportion to the share of the handle has also precluded smaller venues 
from hosting large payout slot machines. The may be insufficient handle to 
recover from being hit with a large jackpot. 
There is, therefore, a need to provide to these noncasino and smaller 
casino markets a method for providing super jackpot machines, heretofore 
foreclosed from such facilities, so that this market too can share in 
revenues produced thereby. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
There is, therefore, provided according to the present invention, a method 
for providing super jackpot gaming machines to markets heretofore 
economically foreclosed from hosting such machines. 
The method includes a supplier supplying at least one, independent, machine 
to each of a plurality of remote host facilities which may be a bar, 
restaurant, supermarket, convenience store or the like. Each machine 
includes a super jackpot combination having a predetermined probability of 
occurring. Play of the machine by players at the host facility produces 
revenues to the supplier and the host facility. 
To establish a super jackpot fund, the method includes assessing a one time 
or periodic fee for each machine supplied, paid by at least one of the 
supplier and host facilities. If the supplier of the machine is other than 
the super jackpot provider, then either the supplier or each of the host 
facilities or both can pay a fee to the jackpot provider to fund the super 
jackpot. On the other hand, if the supplier and super jackpot fund 
provider are one and the same, the fee is assessed against each of the 
host facility. This fee is less than the assessed entities revenues 
received from each machine so that, even with paying the assessed fee, the 
facility will experience a profit from the machines. The funding of the 
super jackpot from the assessed fees is at a level, in comparison to the 
probability of the super jackpot occurring, sufficient to at least fund 
the super jackpot in advance of the super jackpot occurring. 
Finally, the method includes paying the super jackpot to a player who 
obtained the qualifying super jackpot combination. 
The super jackpot fund provider, as stated above, can be the machine 
supplier such as a vending machine route operator, a machine manufacturer 
or an entirely separate entity which simply administers the super jackpot 
fund, receives the fees therefor and pays the super jackpot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Turning to the drawing, the method, according to the present invention, 
includes the installation and operation of gaming machines 10 shown for 
purposes of illustration as the electro-mechanical slot machines. One or 
more independent gaming machines 10 are installed in each of a number of 
remote host facilities 12, which may be bars, restaurants, convenience 
stores, supermarkets or the like or any combination thereof. 
Each of the game machines 10 is self-contained, independent and not linked 
or networked with any other gaming machines or external processors. By 
independent what is meant is that the machines 10 are not linked for 
communication with any other machines or with a remotely located processor 
in a manner heretofore employed for a super jackpot network of machines of 
the type described above. In other words, each gaming machine 10 is a 
stand alone unit. 
As illustrated, and as well known in the art, each gaming machine 10 of the 
electro-mechanical, spinning wheel type, includes a number of reels 14, 
each having a plurality of indicia distributed about the reel 14 in a 
manner well known in the art. The indicia may be well known "bar", "7"s, 
depictions of fruit such as cherries, lemons and oranges or any other 
indicia. These indicia may be spaced by blanks. 
An internal processor controls the operation of each gaming machine 10. In 
well known fashion when initialized, the processor controls a motor to 
initiate the spinning of the reels 14 which thereafter stop so as to align 
the indicia and/or blanks along a payline 16. Depending upon the 
combination of indicia and blanks aligned on the payline 16, either a 
winning combination or a losing combination is obtained. Depending upon 
the winning combination obtained, the machine 10 dispenses coins or adds 
to an inventory of credits signifying that this particular winning 
combination payout has been made. If a losing combination is obtained, 
there is no payout and any wager is retained by the machine 10. 
In accordance with the method of the present invention, each of the gaming 
machines 10 includes indicia on the reels 14 which, if aligned on the 
payline 16, signify that a super jackpot has been obtained. The number of 
reels 14, indicia and blanks on each reel 14 and the number and 
distribution of the super jackpot indicia can be adjusted to obtain a 
predetermined probability that a super jackpot combination will be 
obtained at the payline 16. As but an example, the probabilities of 
obtaining the super jackpot combination at the payline 16 may be one in 
three million. 
By super jackpot what is meant is that the payout when a super jackpot 
combination is obtained is at least approximately one million and 
preferably three millions times the single spin maximum play for the 
machine 10. 
As shown in the drawing, players shown generally 18, at each host facility 
12, play the gaming machines 10 by making wagers at the machines 10. 
Players 18, may make the wagers by inserting coins or tokens into the 
gaming machine 10 or by inserting paper currency in a bill reader (not 
shown) associated with each machine. As stated above, each of the gaming 
machines 10 has a maximum play which may be, for dollar machines, three 
dollars per play or for quarter machines, three quarters. The players 18 
may make lesser wagers; however, this will effect the payout schedule. 
Further, the super jackpot can only be obtained with maximum play. 
As illustrated in the drawing, the play of the gaming machines 10 by 
players 18 results in the players inserting wagers collectively referred 
to as handle 20 into the machines represented as the combined play over a 
time period, such as a month or year. 
As also illustrated in the drawing, when a winning combination is obtained 
on the payline 16, the gaming machines 10 make payouts 22 to the players 
18. A payout schedule is associated with each machine 10 to describe the 
amount of the payout versus the amount of play and the winning combination 
obtained. The payout will vary, depending upon the winning combination and 
the amount of play. For relatively small payouts, the gaming machines 10 
make the payouts by either accumulating credits, which can either be 
played by the player 18 or collected, or by immediately dispensing tokens. 
For some larger payouts, it may be necessary to have a cashier make the 
payment in cash since the gaming machines 10 may not hold sufficient 
tokens to make the payouts. 
In that the host facility 12 is relatively a small operation, it is 
impractical for it to purchase and operate the gaming machines 10 on its 
own. Further, the host facility 12 may not have the requisite gaming 
licensure to enable it to legally own and operate such devices. Still 
further, even were the host facility 12 licensed to provide such machines, 
there may be insufficient handle 20 to support the offering of large 
jackpots at the machines 10. Accordingly, the gaming machines 10 are 
supplied to the host facility 12 by an outside entity shown in the drawing 
as a slot route operator 24. The operator 24 is an independent company 
which obtains the gaming machines 10 and licensure and makes arrangements 
with the host facilities 12 to install and maintain the gaming machines 10 
thereat. In this fashion, the host facility 12 does not have the capital 
expense to acquire the machines nor the ongoing duty to maintain and 
service them nor the expense of obtaining a license. The operator 24 may 
provide gaming machines 10 to a number of host facilities 12. 
The operator 24 may acquire the machines from a supplier 26 either by 
outright purchase or through a lease represented by transaction 28. In the 
transaction 28, the machines 10 are provided to the operator 24 who in 
turn pays for the same either through a purchase arrangement or through 
periodic lease payments. 
The arrangement through which the operator 24 supplies the gaming machines 
10 to the host facilities 12, can be of various types and are graphically 
illustrated by broken arrows indicating supply 29. While the host 
facilities 12 could purchase the gaming machines 10 outright from either 
the operator 24 or supplier 26, in most situations the host facilities 12 
are relatively small operations such as bars, restaurant, convenience 
stores or the like, who do not wish to incur the capital outlay to 
acquire, maintain and service the gaming machines 10, but instead enter 
into an arrangement wherein the host facility 12 can host the machines for 
the play and enjoyment of its patron players 18 while at the same time 
receive revenues therefrom. In one type of supply 29 the operator 24 
enters into an arrangement with the host facilities 12 to install the 
gaming machines 10, the operator 24 paying the host facility 12 a monthly 
rental fee and the operator 24 keeping the revenues generated by the 
gaming machines 10. In this arrangement, the host facilities 12 have an 
interest in providing a venue for the gaming machines 10, in receiving the 
periodic rental fees which may entice patrons into the facility 12, and in 
enjoyment of the benefits of such patronage by the sale of beverages, food 
or other products to those patrons. Under this type of supply 29, the 
facilities 12 do not participate in any revenues received through 
operation of the gaming machines 10 nor do they bear the capital expense 
of acquisition, maintenance and service of the gaming machines 10. In 
another type of supply 29, the operator 24 installs the gaming machines 10 
in the host facilities 12 and the operator 24 host facilities 12 share in 
the revenues generated through the operations of the gaming machine 10. 
This arrangement may also include the sharing of maintenance cost for the 
machines 10. A further type of arrangement may be a hybrid wherein the 
operator 24 pays the host facility a rental fee and the operator 24 and 
host facilities 12 share in the revenues produced by the operation of the 
gaming machines as well as in the maintenance costs. 
Regardless of the manner of supply 29 of the machines 10 to the host 
facilities 12 described above, which are well known, the players 18 play 
the gaming machines 10 at the host facilities 12 producing the handle 20. 
Winning combinations produce the payouts 22 to the players 18. Over a 
discrete time period such as a month or a year, by way of example, the 
difference between the handle 20 and the payout 22 of any gaming machine 
10 produces a hold 30 graphically represented in the drawing. The 
combination of the holds 30 for all the gaming machines 10 in any 
particular host facility 12 creates a profit revenue from the gaming 
machines 10. If the supply 29 is an outright purchase of the machines by 
the host facilities 12, the host facilities 12 retain the hold 30. If the 
supply 29 is of the type where the operator pays the host facility 12 a 
rental fee, the hold 30 is collected by the operator 24 from time to time 
and is revenue for its operations. In a hybrid type of supply 29, the hold 
30 would be shared by the operator 24 and host facilities 12 in a manner 
profitable to both. 
The arrangements hereinabove set forth for the placing of gaming machines 
10 in host facilities 12 has not provided for the offering of super 
jackpots. Unlike current super jackpot systems, the gaming machines 10 for 
the various remote facilities 12 are not networked. Interfacility 
networking of gaming machines, which is done through telephonic 
communications, in addition to the funding of the super jackpots as 
heretofore practiced in the art, has economically precluded the placing of 
super jackpot offering gaming machines in these non-casino host facilities 
12. It is to be understood that the offering of a super jackpot for the 
gaming machines 10 is an inducement to players 18 to play the gaming 
machines 10 which increases the handle 20 and the amount of the hold 30. 
This is particularly true where the super jackpot is progressive, growing 
periodically or continuously from an initial level until the super jackpot 
is won. Hosting such super jackpot machines further increases the 
patronage of the facility 12 by players 18 who may buy food or beverages 
or other goods. 
With continuing reference to the drawing, and to enable super jackpot 
offering gaming machines 10 to be placed in host facilities 12 of the type 
described above, the method, according to the present invention, includes 
the establishment of a super jackpot fund by a super jackpot provider 32. 
As shown in the drawing, the super jackpot provider 32 may be an entity 
separate and apart from the gaming machine supplier 26 and slot route 
operator 24. Preferably the operator 24, supplier 26 and super jackpot 
provider 32 are one entity, the gaming machine manufacture as illustrated 
by box 34. It is to be further understood that the super jackpot provider 
32 could also be the machine supplier 25 with the independent slot route 
operator 24 obtaining the machines from the supplier/provider in the 
manner as described above and installing the gaming machines 10 in the 
host facilities 12. 
The super jackpot provider 32 establishes and administers a fund which may 
be money or other goods or services such as automobiles, vacations or 
homes, to be paid to a player 18 who, during the play of a gaming machine 
10, obtains a qualifying super jackpot combination. To provide a means to 
contribute revenues to the provider 32 for establish and maintenance of 
the fund, moneys are contributed from one, several or all of the host 
facilities 12, operator 24 and supplier 25. Where funds are to be 
contributed from the host facility 12, each host facility 12 contributes a 
periodic, fee to the provider 32. This fee which may be fixed may be 
contributed weekly, monthly or annually and preferably is less than the 
revenues received by the host facilities 12 from the operation of gaming 
machines 10. For example, if the host facility 12 receives only a periodic 
rental or location fee from the operator 24, a portion of that periodic 
fee would be contributed to the provider 32 as shown by funding 36. In 
this embodiment of the method, according to the present invention, the 
host facilities 12 through their funding 36, fund the super jackpot. 
Alternatively or additionally, the operator 24 may provide funding 38 for 
the super jackpot fund to the provider 32 from its revenues received from 
the operation of the gaming machines 10. For example, where the operator 
24 pays a lease fee to the host facilities 12 and retains the hold 30 
generated by the gaming machines 10 on its own account, a periodic fee 
paid by the operator 24 to the provider 32 would represent the funding 38. 
This fee would be less than the revenues received by operator 24, i.e. the 
hold 30 less the expenses associated with the machine such as lease 
payments to the supplier 26, rental payments to the host facilities 12 as 
well as operational costs associated with the operation of the gaming 
machines 10 to provide a profit to the operator 24. The operator funding 
38 may be in lieu of or in addition to the host facility funding 36a. 
Still further, the machine supplier 26, e.g. manufacturer, can provide 
supplier funding 40 to the provider 32 as a periodic fee which is less 
than its revenues received from the gaming machines 10. For example, if 
the supplier 26 leases the machines to either the operator 24 or host 
facilities 12, the supplier funding 40 would be less than the net revenue 
realized from such leasing arrangements. Again the supplier funding 40 may 
be in lieu of or in addition to the operator funding 38b and host facility 
funding 36a. 
Still further, where the gaming machines 10 are purchased outright, the 
purchase price therefor may include a fee which acts to fund the jackpot 
providers funding of the super jackpot. In this embodiment, the purchaser 
in essence buys the gaming machine 10 with an included funding of the 
super jackpot. The purchase price increment allocate to the funding of the 
included super jackpot is an amount which takes into account the number of 
gaming machines 10 sold or to be sold, the probabilities of the super 
jackpot combination occurring, the price of an annuity to pay the super 
jackpot and the like. 
Whatever the method used, the host facility 12 can acquire and place gaming 
machines 10 in their business which offer super jackpots without risking 
financial loss if the super jackpot combination is obtained. If indeed the 
super jackpot is obtained, the jackpot provided 32 pays the jackpot to the 
player. Further, the host facility 12 can encourage players to achieve the 
super jackpot since it is not at risk of having to pay all or a portion of 
the jackpot. 
Again, a single entity 34 may provide all the services of the operator 24, 
supplier 26 and super jackpot prover 32. Furthermore, this entity 34 may 
not be responsible for the maintenance of the gaming machines 10, that 
obligation falling on the host facilities 12 which may, in turn retain the 
services of a independent slot machine maintenance service. 
Regardless of the source of funding of the super jackpot to the provider 
32, each source of funding is such that the net revenues received from the 
operation of gaming machines 10 is greater than the contributions paid to 
the provider 32. In this manner the method provides profit to the host 
facilities 12, operator 24, supplier 26 or any combined entity 34. 
Furthermore, the contribution, referred to above, may not be 
quantitatively fixed but may be paid according to a schedule based upon 
the play 20 of the gaming machines 10 at each host facility 12. For 
example, for host facilities 12 having lesser play, and therefore handle 
and hold, periodic funding 36 provided to the super jackpot provider 32 
may be less than a host facility 12 which experiences greater play 20. The 
scheduled fee contributions may also be based not only upon play, but the 
handle 20 or hold 30. 
The fees contributed to the provider 32 are such as to fund the super 
jackpot to be paid in advance of a super jackpot being obtained by a 
player 18. As stated above, based upon the number of indicia, number of 
super jackpot indicia, and number of reels 14, a discrete probability can 
be calculated as to the number of plays which should occur before a super 
jackpot is obtained. Based upon a number of plays per week or month of the 
gaming machines 10 and the periodic contributions received by the provider 
32, the contributions are such as to produce an income stream to the 
provider 32 sufficient to at least fund the super jackpot prior to it 
occurring and, at the same time, cover operational expenses. Preferably 
the income stream also provides a profit margin to the provider 32. 
While the provider 32 may choose to assemble the jackpot fund from the 
contributions received and pay it in lump sum to any player 18 hitting the 
super jackpot, the provider 32 may, from the contributions income stream, 
pay the super jackpot over a period of time, e.g. five years or twenty 
years. In this manner, the provider 32, from the income stream, can pay 
the periodic payments to the super jackpot winners or, alternatively, can 
purchase annuities providing the same, obtaining a discount in comparison 
to the face value of the super jackpot. 
When a player 18 obtains a qualifying super jackpot combination, the super 
jackpot is paid to the player by the provider 32 or entity 34 as shown at 
42 as either a lump sum, an annuity or a combination thereof. Where the 
super jackpot is incrementally increased over time, when the super jackpot 
is paid, the super jackpot fund available for the next super jackpot 
resets to a preselected minimum such as one million dollars and begins it 
incremental increase anew. 
Still further, where the super jackpot progressively increases from the 
preselected minimum, means may be provided to inform the players 18 at 
each facility 12 of the size of super jackpot. This may be either to a 
display which is manually reset by the provider 32 or reset through radio 
signals or the like. 
While the drawing shows the gaming machine 10 as being electro-mechanical, 
reel slot machines, it is to be understood that the gaming machine 10 can 
be of the type having the video presentation of reels and can be of the 
type having multiple paylines. Further, the gaming machines 10 can be 
other types of machines such as video poker machines where, in a 
qualifying super jackpot, may only result in a sequential royal flush in a 
particular suit or any other suitable gaming machine wherein a super 
jackpot combination has a sufficiently low probability of occurring, e.g. 
one in several million, to enable the super jackpot fund to be funded 
prior to a player 18 hitting the jackpot. 
According to the method and its various embodiments described above, host 
facilities 12 or the type described above, can host super jackpot gaming 
machines 10 to induce greater play of the gaming machines 10 at its 
establishment and increase its revenues, if not from the operation of the 
gaming machines 10 themselves, from the ancillary benefits of increased 
patronage, sales of the goods or providing other services to its patrons 
such as food, drinks and the like. 
While I have shown and described certain embodiments of the present 
invention, it is to be understood that it is subject to many modifications 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.