Patent ID: 7585223

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: a controller programmed to maintain a first game progressive award; a first gaming device configured to communicate with the controller, said first gaming device including at least one display device, at least one input device, at least one gaming device processor and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: (a) enable a first player to place a first game wager on a play of a first game, (b) determine whether to provide the maintained first game progressive award to the first player, wherein said determination is based on a first probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of the first player winning the maintained first game progressive award, and (c) if the determination is to provide the maintained first game progressive award, display and provide at least part of the maintained first game progressive award to the first player; and a second gaming device configured to communicate with the controller, said second gaming device including at least one display device, at least one input device, at least one gaming device processor, and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: (a) enable a second player to place a side wager on being provided the maintained first game progressive award, and (b) if the side wager is placed: (i) determine whether to provide the maintained first game progressive award to the second player, wherein said determination is based on a second, different probability greater than zero percent and less than one hundred percent of the second player winning the maintained first game progressive award, the second probability is based on an amount of the side wager, and (ii) if the determination is to provide the maintained first game progressive award, display and provide at least part of the maintained first game progressive award to the second player.