Patent ID: 7887415

Claim:
A method for providing a random payout from a progressive prize pool, the method comprising: storing, in memory of a computing device, a predetermined average pool size for the progressive prize pool; calculating, by the computing device, a random payout using a function that calculates the random payout using a specified minimum amount, a specified maximum amount, and a specified average value, the specified average value being independently specified between the specified minimum value and specified maximum value, wherein the random payout calculated by the function is included within the specified minimum amount and the specified maximum amount, wherein the function is configured to calculate random payouts that average over time substantially the specified average value; and providing the random payout, wherein when the specified average value is set at an average contribution to the progressive prize pool, an average random payout over time is substantially equal to the average contribution to the progressive prize pool in order to maintain the progressive prize pool at the predetermined average pool size.