Patent ID: 8147320

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a progressive jackpot awarded in response to a jackpot win event; a first gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the first gaming machine accepting a first wager; and a second gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the second gaming machine accepting a second wager that is greater than the first wager; wherein a first player making the first wager at the first gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot if the jackpot win event is associated with the first gaming machine; wherein a second player making the second wager at the second gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot plus an expected value equalizing award if the jackpot win event is associated with the second gaming machine; and wherein the progressive jackpot comprises a base amount and an incremental amount, wherein the expected value equalizing award is equal to a special award comprising a prize associated with a player selected element on the second gaming machine, the player selected element selected from a plurality of player selectable elements, and wherein the expected value equalizing award is equal to the product of (i) the difference between the second and first wagers divided by the first wager; and (ii) the progressive jackpot.