Patent ID: 8096874

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including: (i) at least one display device operable to display a primary game, said primary game operable upon a wager, and (ii) at least one input device; at least one controller configured to communicate with said gaming devices, said at least one controller programmed to: (a) maintain at least one progressive award; (b) cause the maintained at least one progressive award to be displayed; (c) increment said at least one displayed progressive award based on the wagers placed on the plays of the primary games at said gaming devices; (d) determine if a designated progressive award increase event occurs, said determination based, at least in part, on the wagers placed on the plays of the primary games at said gaming devices; (e) if said designated progressive award increase event occurs, increment, independent of any wagers placed on the plays of the primary games at said gaming devices, said at least one displayed progressive award by a supplemental amount; and (f) if a progressive award triggering event occurs, provide at least said at least one displayed progressive award to at least one of a plurality of players of the gaming devices.