Patent ID: 8353761

Claim:
A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a progressive game program to implement a progressive game on a gaming system, wherein the gaming system includes one or more gaming machines connected to a server, and wherein the progressive game has a progressive prize with a progressive prize value that increases according to a progressive prize growth rate until a winning time period occurs, the progressive game program upon execution on the gaming system providing execution of the progressive game comprising: a selectable targeted progressive prize value, wherein the targeted progressive prize value is selectable by an administrator before the progressive game is initiated; a selectable targeted progressive prize time which is a theoretical average time when the progressive prize is awarded, wherein the targeted progressive prize time is selectable by an administrator before the progressive game is initiated, wherein the targeted progressive prize time is divided into time slices, and wherein the system tests for a winning time period at each time slice to determine the winning time slice; an erratic movement enticement factor, wherein the erratic movement enticement factor contributes erratic motion to the progressive prize growth rate that causes the progressive growth rate to erratically increase and decrease in a +/−5% range, wherein the progressive prize growth rate is determined using the selectable targeted progressive prize value, the selectable targeted progressive prize time, and the erratic movement enticement factor, and wherein the progressive prize growth rate is funded from non-wagered funds; and wherein the system tests at each time slice to determine if there is a winning time slice, and wherein the selectable targeted progressive prize time is divided to determine a period of the time slice, which is the time period for testing for a winning time slice; wherein if a winning time slice has not been identified, the progressive prize value is incremented by the progressive prize growth rate; and wherein if a winning time slice has been identified, the system determines one or more winners of the progressive prize, from among players that are eligible at the winning time slice.