Patent ID: 8128491

Claim:
A gaming system comprising a controller programmed to maintain a first game progressive award; a first gaming machine configured to communicate with the controller, said first gaming machine including: at least one first gaming machine display device; at least one first gaming machine input device; at least one first gaming machine processor; and at least one first gaming machine memory device which stores a plurality of first gaming machine instructions, which when executed by the at least one first gaming machine processor, cause the at least one first gaming machine processor to operate with the at least one first gaming machine display device and the at least one first gaming machine input device to: (i) enable a first player to place a first game wager to play a first game, and (ii) upon placement by the first player of the first game wager of a first designated amount on the play of said first game: (a) randomly determine whether to provide the first player the first game progressive award, said determination based on a first probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of the first player winning the first game progressive award, and (b) display to the first player any awards determined to be provided to the first player; and a second gaming machine configured to communicate with the controller, said second gaming machine including: at least one second gaming machine display device; at least one second gaming machine input device; at least one second gaming machine processor; and at least one second gaming machine memory device which stores a plurality of second gaming machine instructions, which when executed by the at least one second gaming machine processor, cause the at least one second gaming machine processor to operate with the at least one second gaming machine display device and the at least one second gaming machine input device to: (i) enable a second player to place a second game wager on a play of a second game, and (ii) upon placement by the second player of both: (a) the second game wager of a second designated amount on the play of the second game, and (b) a side wager of a third designated amount on the play of the second game: (a) randomly determine whether to provide the second player the first game progressive award, said determination based on a second probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of the second player winning the first game progressive award, wherein any award from the second gaming machine is independent of the amount of the side wager, and the second probability is substantially equal to the first probability if the third designated amount is at least a predefined portion of the first designated amount, said predefined portion greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent, and (b) display to the second player any awards determined to be provided to the second player.