Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for determining the award of a set of prizes where each prize in the set has a respective prize value. The apparatus includes memory for storing prize data indicative of the prize values in the set. An input device is responsive to input signals from a respective plurality of gaming terminals for providing an increment signal. An increment device accesses the prize data to select at least two prize values from the set to define respective current prize values, and is responsive to the increment signal for incrementing in parallel a plurality of accumulated values toward the respective current prize values. A comparator is responsive to the current prize values and the accumulated values for determining if one of the current prize values is to be awarded and, if so, generating an award signal and removing from the set the prize value corresponding to the one of the current prize values.

Abstract: A method for conducting tournament game play in a gaming network comprising a plurality of inter-linked gaming machines. The method comprise determining whether a tournament trigger condition has been met during a non-tournament play period during which players of the gaming machines are able to play respective primary games thereon. Responsive to determining that the tournament trigger condition has been met, a tournament entry period is commenced during which players of the gaming machines that meet a tournament participation criterion are offered the opportunity to enter a tournament in which a major tournament prize is awardable. Upon the tournament entry period closing, a tournament play period is commenced during which players of each of the inter-linked gaming machines are able to continue play of the respective primary games.

Abstract: The preferred method of awarding a jackpot includes the step 10 of initialising a variable representing the jackpot amount and the step 11 of initialising a variable representing a lump sum. At step 12 a signal including data indicative of gaming activity is received by the controller 2, which calculates first and second increments in dependence upon said data at steps 13 and 14. The jackpot amount is incremented by the first increment at step 13 and, in response to a trigger, the jackpot amount is incremented by the lump sum at step 16. When an award of the jackpot is triggered at step 18, the CPU executes an allocation routine 19 to determine the EGM to which to award the jackpot.

Abstract: A system for providing a plurality of games is disclosed in which a plurality of user-operable terminals (1) provide respective players with a primary game, and generate primary game information messages relating to the primary game. A second game controller (2) receives the primary game messages and uses the information contained therein to administer a secondary game having an associated prize. The secondary game controller generates a tertiary game trigger message when the secondary game is won, and a tertiary game controller (5) responds the tertiary game trigger message by offering the secondary game winning player an opportunity to play a tertiary game using all or a portion of the secondary game prize as a stake.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for determining the award of a set of prizes where each prize in the set has a respective prize value. The apparatus includes memory for storing prize data indicative of the prize values in the set. An input device is responsive to input signals from a respective plurality of gaming terminals for providing an increment signal. An increment device accesses the prize data to select at least two prize values from the set to define respective current prize values, and is responsive to the increment signal for incrementing in parallel a plurality of accumulated values toward the respective current prize values. A comparator is responsive to the current prize values and the accumulated values for determining if one of the current prize values is to be awarded and, if so, generating an award signal and removing from the set the prize value corresponding to the one of the current prize values.

Abstract: A system for providing a plurality of games is disclosed in which a plurality of user-operable terminals (1) provide respective players with a primary game, and generate primary game information messages relating to the primary game. A second game controller (2) receives the primary game messages and uses the information contained therein to administer a secondary game having an associated prize. The secondary game controller generates a tertiary game trigger message when the secondary game is won, and a tertiary game controller (5) responds the tertiary game trigger message by offering the secondary game winning player an opportunity to play a tertiary game using all or a portion of the secondary game prize as a stake.