CA2233039A1

CA2233039A1 - Multivenue jackpot system

Info

Publication number: CA2233039A1
Application number: CA002233039A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Stephen John Found; Alex Millar; Eddie Shell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Bytecraft Systems Pty Ltd; Wintech Investments Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1995-09-26
Filing date: 1996-09-26
Publication date: 1997-04-03
Also published as: NZ318340A; AUPN564395A0; US20010049303A1; WO1997012338A1; GB2323303A; GB2323303B; GB9806519D0

Abstract

Multivenue jackpot system comprising a central control system (6), connecting via a communications network (4) to a jackpot controller (32) at multiple gaming venues (26). Each gaming venue (26) having multiple electronic gaming machines (28) (i.e. poker, slot, video machines) which include hard meters and a jackpot interface (56) for linking via a venue network (30) to the jackpot controller (32). The gaming machines (28) are capable of playing independent games and participating in a multiple gaming machine jackpot game. The central control system (6) increments on the basis of the hard meter signals and/or awards a jackpot sum from a jackpot pool to a selected gaming machine (28).
The jackpot interface (56) is a separate circuit board capable of being fitted to a standard gaming machine (28). Jackpot award criteria include random time, predetermined levels, usage factor of gaming machine (28) and gaming venues (26).

Description

CA 02233039 1998-03-2~
., - WO 97/12338 PCT/AU9C/OO~C~

MULTIVENUE JACKPOT SYSTEM

~ This invention relates to a multivenue jackpot system.

The object of the present invention is a multivenue jackpot system which ;~ s a number of venues wherc ele.,~ullic gaming .,. ~h;.~ ~s (EGMs) are located and a central control system which is remote from and controls the EGMs.

According to the present invention there is provided a multivenue ]ackpot system10 COll~y~ lg a central control system and a plurality of ~;aming venues, each gaming venue inrlurling-a jackpot controllcr coupled for col.llllu.-ication with said central control system by way of a communications network;
a plurality of electronic gaming m~rhinPs (EGMs) each inrlll~ing hard meters and15 EGM logic for ge-lel~tillg input signals for the hard meters; and a venue network coupled to said jackpot controller;
wherein each electronic gaming m~rhin~ includes a jackpot interface coupled to the electronic gaming ",~rl,;"~ and the venue network, each said jackpot interface being coupled to Illoni~or said hard meter input signals, and said ccntral control system including a jackpot 20 sum which is incremented and/or awarded to a selected electronic gaming m~rhinr in acco~-ia.lce with said input signals.

Preferably, each second interface means compri~çs a circuit board which can be coupled to an otherwise standard EGM.
The invention also provides a multivenue jackpot svstem comprising:
a central control system;
co....... il";r~ti-~n~ intPlf~re forcouplingthe central control system to a cn.,.. ,.ir~tirn~
ll~,Lw-~l h;
a plurality of gaming venues;
each gaming venue inrl~r1in~ a jackpot controller coupled for co,llic ~ jon with said Su~5 111 UTE SHEET ~RULE 26) _ W O 97/12338 PCT/AU~G/00~t6 central control system by way of the cl -, - " ", ~ .e ll~tWUlk, a plurality of electronic gaming m~- hinrc (EGM) each inrln-ling hard meters and EGM logic for generating input signals for thc hard meters, and a venue network and wherein each electronic gaming m~rhinr inrl--d~s a jackpot interf~ce for coupling the electronic gaming m~chin~ to the venue ll~lwulk and S wh~,lcill the jackpot int~rf~r~ is coupled to monitor said hard meter input signals and wherein the central control system establishes a jackpot which is based upon the OCCullcllC~ of a random event, and upon oc~;ullcillce of the random event the central control system selects a winning venue and wllclGill the jackpot controller at the winning venue is arranged to select a winning EGM by reference to hard meter input signals derived from the EGM logic.
In one form, the random event may c-".~ e the passing of a randomly selected time.
In another forrn, the random cvent may be triggering of a nl~ltly value and selecting the venue that caused the trigger.

These and other novel features of the system will become apparent from the following dcscli~tion of examples of the invention, in which:
Figurc 1 is a block diagram of an electronic gaming system of the invention;
hgure 2 is a block diagram of the venue config-lration;
Figure 3 is a ~ gT~mm~tic l~yl~s~ tion showing data flows at the central control20 system;
Figurc 4 is a block diagram of a jackpot interface board (JIB);
Figure 5 is a block diagram of the jackpot controller;
Figures 6 to 9 are circuit ~ gr~m~ for one impleml~nt~tinn of an IP module;
Figures 10 to 18 are block ~ ~m~ of glue logic in the IP module;
Figure 19 is a flow chart showing boot loading of the jackpot interface board;
Figure 20 is a ~ gr~mm~tjc lc~lesc..~ ~tion of the major process steps carried out by the central controller (JCC);
Figure 21~ ;r~lly illllstr~tps ml~ ~s in the win se~ e of the system; and Figure 22 is a flow chart illu~lldth~g the major functional steps of the jackpot30 controller.

Sl,~ 111 ~JTE SHEET (RULE 26) - W O 97/12338 PCT/AU~6J~6~

The illl-st~te~l gaming system of the i--~ ,llioll inrludes a jackpot control centre (JCC) 6 which is coupled to a wide area network (WAN) 4. The wide area llclw~.k may co.~
a public ~ele~.l.~...~ system. The JCC 6 may include a central co.llpulGr 8 which inrlll~es a real time UNIX based opr ~ ; .g system which, gt~n~r~lly spe~ing, m~int~inc overall control of the S system. The central co. ,.~ -r 8 is coupled by first and second local area l-elwu-h~ (LAN~ 10 and 19 to a ~ d~y central ~o...l.ulc. 12, which comes into operation should there be a fault in the central cOlllyuler 8. Duplicate LANs are used for greater system ~c.l~ y. Thc LANs 1-) and 19 are also conn~ctefl to a cn . . ~ l PC 14 which can be used for input and output of instructions at a high level in the system and monitor progress jackpot applir~tinn~
10 The ICC 6 also includes a number of front end processing (FEP) devices 15 conn~cte~l to the LANs 10 and 19. The front end processing devices 15 cs~e~ lly comprise high speed modems for coupling the first and second LANs 10 and 19 to the wide area network 4.

The system may also include a m~n~emerlt information system 21 which ~lovides 5 mzm~ nnrnt ~ and account data plOcf c~ii g which may be carricd out on an off-line basis. The m~n~g~men~ information system 21 also inr~ es a management i.lrollllalioll system (MIS) computer 23 which olJeldtcs a jackpot data base (JDB) which for; ~I~ re can be implemcnted on lNGRES data base. The co..-~uler '3 is coupled to the LANs 10 and 19 by means of a router 2~ Alternatively, the co.n~L~tGr 23 could be coupled directly to dual 20 LANs 10 and 19 The system includes a number of venues 26, one of which is shown in Figure 1. Inpractice there would be a number of venues 26 which are coupled to the JCC 6 by means of the wide area ll~Lwolh 4 The venue 26 may cOlll~lisc a casino, gambling hall or other site at 25 which gambling is ~GIlllilled by the relevant ~uth~rities~ The venue includes a number of ~ cle~tlullic gaming machines (EGMs) 28 which are coupled to a venue jackpot LAN 30. The EGMs 28 can be operated indepenriently for gaming such as by playing poker or the like or may be CO.. f~-l.. 1 to anotherl.. ,lw~lh (notshown) for cf .. ~ tion~ within the venue. The EGMs can also be conrle~l together within the venue or within a number of dir~elcllt venues 30 for playing jackpot games subject to the control of the JCC 6.

Sl~ UTE SHEET (RULE 26) - W O 97/12338 PCT/AU~6,'~~CC8 -Each venue 26 inrl~ cs a jackpot controller 32 which is coupled to the venue jackpot LAN 30 and to a n~ lwolh ~ n device (N~I'LJ) 34 via a bus 33. The l~ wulk It....;..,it;n"
device 34 may c~ .. ;ce a modem and is coupled to the wide area network 4. Each of the EGMs 28 inrlll~lPs a jackpot inteR~ce board (JIB) 56 which provides cou~ g to the venuc S jackpot LAN 30 in a manner which permits the EGMs to participate in jackpots which arc ~pplir~ble to a selected number of EGMs at the venue, all EGMs at thc venue, or scl~et.,d EGMs at dirr~.~,.lt venues, as will be fir 5~ ri below. The venue 26 includes jackpot displays 38 and 40 which are controlled by the jackpot controller 32. The display 38 may c~ ,. ;ce one or more LED displays which are located in ~ lllhlcllt positions at the venue to display prize 10 money and other i . .r ~ io.- relating to jackpots. The display 40 may comprise video display monitors which display similar information. The displays 38 and 40 are of course dirrc~
to the video displays (not shown) which form part of the EGMs 28.

Figure shows in more detail an alldl~gclllent for the hardware configuration at a 15 venue. In this ~rr~n~ment, the video displays 40 are driven by a video display interface 46.
.~imil7~rly, the LED displays 38 are driven by LED display interfaces 48. Tntçrf~res 46 and/or 48 may be embodied in a PC. The alld~ ,ent inrl~ es a slip printer 50 and bar code reader 52 which are r~ol~pl~ rl by means of a ~-i~h~,~dl int~ re 54 to the venue jackpot LAN 30. Thc slip printer 50 and bar code reader 52 can be used as part of a jackpot win procedure which 20 will be described below.

~ n the prcferred implç~nrnt~tion of the invention, the JIBs 56 are jnt~lli~nt devices which greatly f~ciiit~tc linking together of the EGMs 28 to participate in a jackpot game which is subject to the control of the jackpot controller 32 as well as the JCC 6.
The main functions of the JCC 6 are:
1. To configurc and reconfigure jackpot controllers 32 and peripherals.

2. To start, stop and restart jackpots.

3. To ..~ .;.. software coullltls for co~ contributions from EGMs.
30 4. To identify when a jackpot has been won and take a~uy~iat~ action.
5. To check the illt~ y of the software and ha~dwalG in the jackpot system at any timc.

S~J~;j 111 ~JTE SHEET (RULE 26~

6. To log information packets that are sent by the jackpot controllers 32.
7. To issue jackpot tickets.
8. To validate jackpot tickets.
9. To be able to provide any ;llf~ tion about the status of any part of the jackpot S system as required.

The EGMs 28 can be of standard types apart from the inclusion of the JIB board 56.
EGMs normally include logic means for playing the normal games on the EGM such as poker, black jack or the like. The logic g~n~ ~tl-s hard meter input signals for hard meters which arc 10 provided in the EGM. The hard meters inrli~~~te such things as credit played (which is the amount of cash which has been wagered), cash out (which is the amount of cash which has been paid out by the EGM), cash in (which is the amount of cash inserted into the m~t~hin~.), and credit won (which is the amount of money which has been won on that m~chine) In the system of the invention, the JIBs 56 are responsive to the hard meter input signals and lS c.~..,...,..,;. 1~ relevant ~ g~s to the jackpot controller 32 at the venue via the venuc jackpot LAN 30. The jackpot controller 3 ~ co,..",~ tes with the JCC 6 via the network 4 so that in accoldal.ce with the h~e--lio-l, a jackpot game can be carried out by effectively mo" ;1o- ;"~v the hard meter input signals at a number of venues. A jackpot can be configured in the JCC
6 to have a random jackpot value and a jackpot pool is established and is incremented in O accordance with hard meter input signals which have been ~ at~d by the variouspartiriratin~ EGMs. When a hard meter input signal increments the jackpot pool so that it rcaches or exceeds the random jackpot value, that conslilul~s a jackpot win and the systcm Opf ~ .1. s to identify the EGM which g~ ... ".~1 the hard meter input signal which ~ ..r~t~ ~1 the win.
''S
e An even simpler jackpot game is to make the jackpot a fixed amount and to g.,.~ te a random time within a specified time frame (1 hr, 24 hrs, etc...). When that time arrives a venue is r~n~ mly selected and then the jackpot controller 32 at that venue makes the next 31~ EGM to make a contribution the winner. A slightly fairer model is to randomly select the venue from a list that is weighted according to each venue's average total co-~ ulion rates SU~S 1 1 1 UTE SHEET (RULE 26) - W O 97/12338 PCT/AU96,~C5C~

over a sel~rtecl period. Again the jackpot controller 32 is notified and the next EGM to make a contribution is the winner.

Figure 4 is a block ~ ~m showing the main L~ l blocks of the JIB 56. Briefly, S the J~B 56 carried out a variety of functions but its main function however is to enable the EGM 28 to which it is co....c~ l via hard meters to participate in a jackpot game involving a number of EGMs which are linked together at a venue 26 and at a number of venues 26. The JIB 56 monitors input signals to hard meters of the EGM via connPct-)r 120 and enables t~ Ç~l of hard meter input signals to the jackpot controller 3 It also enables the jackpot 10 controller to check the status of logic seal switches, audit keys and door seals and the like which are normally provided on the EGMs 28. It also ~uyeli~ oses mes~gt s on the EGM
display relevant to the jackpot in which the EGM is particir~tin~

The JIB 56 co~ a llliclo~loccssol 16, a scrial ch.............. ~.;f ~I;r,n~ port 18, a memory 15 20 and a network interface 2''. The IIB inrlu-l~s a system bus 78 coupled between the microprocessor 16 and the llelw...h interface 22. The nctwork hlt~lrdcc 22 may co.n~ c known forms of interfaced device such as ethemet cards or the like. The ll~wo~k interface ''2 is coupled to the vcnue jackpot LAN 30. Data flows behveen the EGM and venue jackpot LAN 30 through the interface device ~2 and is formatted by the microprocessor 16 in 20 accul~k~llce with hlr ~ "".tiO~l stored in the ~llellloly 20. The memory 20 also inr~luc~e$ softwarc for impl~m~nt~tion of ploce~ss;..g steps by the l..ic.o~locessor relating to jackpot implemçntAtion, data co.. ~ tion and video displays. The JIB 56 also i~ es a c~.. l.. ;cations bus 29 which can enable additional serial co.. ...~iC~tinnc.

The int~rf~r~ port also inrl~ s a video mixing device 42 which receives video in data from the EGM logic and provides video out data for the EGM display. The vidco mixing dcvice 42 is coupled to the mi~lo~loc~ssor 16 which provides a control l~e~ ig... for controlling video mixing of the video signals applied to the EGM display. The devicc 42 is 30 ~rr~n~;ecl tO ~uy~ yOSe jackpot i,lrollliation on thc normal EGM display. ~It~ n~l ivc.ly~ it can be arranged to blank out the normal display when the jackpot i..ro~ tion is displayed.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) - W O 97/12338 PCT/AU~G/C~6C~

Reference is made to a co~ ; . .g Australian patent ~ppliC~tion filed c~.~ ;.... ol.~ly herewith in respect of an invention entitled "Jackpot Display System for an Electronic G~min~ Machine", the content of which is h~colyoldtcd herein by lGf.,l~nee.
The co~ g applic~tinn describes an example of cil~uilly for the 3IB 56 in greater detail.

Figure S is a block r~ m of the jackpot controller 3 ~. The jackpot controller can be implemented on a PC platform. It co~ .ises a processor 60 which preferably c~...~ s a Motoroia MVME 162-223A which is similar in some ,e;,l.e~ l~ to a PC ~1~OS;~ 1 for spc~..rle applications. The processor 60 inrlucles a CPU 62, flash memory 64 (e.g. lMB), DRAM
10 ~ .,y 66 (e.g. 1-~MB parity DE~AM and 16-3~MB ECC DRAM~ and SRAM memory 68 (e.g. 128K - MB SRAM with battery backup~. The processor 60 inr~ s a serial portcontroller 70 such as an 85230 serial I/O controller, coupled to a serial port Co,.,lccLor 74. The processor 60 also includes an ethernet controller 76 (e.g. 182596CA) coupled to a DB--15 ethernet conn~ct(!r 78. The processor 60 also inrlu~ies a coprocessor 80, such as a 53C710 15 SCSI coprocessor, coupled to a SCSI corm~ctor 82. The ylocesaor 60 also inrllldes two IP
ports 84 and 86. The lP ports are for receipt of "industry pack" modules which are particular circuit modules designed to assist the processor 60 in a~ordd.lce with the ~~ uilGd application.

In the iiluctr~t.o~i embodiment of the jackpot controller 3 ', an IP module 88 is couplecl to the IP port 86. The IP module 88 is coupled to the network t~rrnin~tion device 34 via the bus 33 for C~ --- ;rstion with the JCC 6. The processor 60 cn....l-llllicates with the JIBs 56 through the ethernet co.,..P~-tor 78 which is co.~l~ruled to the venue jackpot LAN 30. The ~.vc.,;,so. 60 also is coupled to a disk drive 90 via the co..l~r.l~r 82. The O~Ud~illg system and 25 the oper~tinn~l software of the jackpot controller 3 ~ are stored on the disk drive in UNIX file system format.

~ The IP module 88 can be implemented in a number of ways d~,pc.. di,lg on the UiL~ lllC~l~S for eaLl~ out the jackpot system. In particular, the IP modulc can consist of 30 two physically se~,~.,.te boards with di~r~,~nt funr~inn~ that are covci.~d below. Figure 6 is a more detailed block diagram of the IP module 88.

SlJ~ UTE SHEET (RULE 26) - W O 97/12338 PCT/AU~G~ 6C6 The IP module 88 inrlucles a cnnn~ctor 92 which is co~ clcd to the IP port 86 of the processor 60. The conn~ctor 92 is coupled to an IP module address bus 94, IP module data bus 96 and an IP module control bus 98. The buses 94, 96 and 98 are coupled to a DUART
device 10û (e.g. AM85C30) which is ,.. ,.. ~ ~9 to control serial co.. ications with the JCC
6. Serial cr.. ~ o~ can be made at an RS 232 co~ P~Lor 102 via a level cO~ .k,. 104.
Alternatively, serial c-.. l.. ications can be made through an RS 422 co.lne~lol 106 via a level and protocol converter 108. The IP module 88 includes a memory 110 which is co..l.lecl to the buses 94, 96 and 98. Software and data is stored in the memory for enabling the jackpot controller to participate in multivenue ~ackpots as explained below. A memory ~U~ iso, 10 circuit 11'~ is coupled to the memory 110 to provide for battery backup should the power supply fail. The IP module 88 includes an electronically programable logic device (EPLD) 114 (e.g. EPM7064LC84) which provides various "glue logic" functions for the module 88.
The EPLD 114 is coupled to a battery monitor circuit 116, an over lt"lpe,ature circuit 118 and an alarm circuit 1''0. The EPLD 114 is also coupled to an LED indicating device l~.
15 Control signals for controlling the LED are ge"~rdt~:d by the EPLD 114 from signals whieh could include MEMSEL and from the logic seal latch 139 and voltage co.l.paldtors 147 and 148 (Figure 9).

The IP module 88 also includes logic seal detection ~;h~;uiLl~ 1''3 coupled to a logic '~0 seal switch (not shown) via connector 124. The jackpot controller 3'' is located within a secure holl~in~ which, when opened, c~ s the state of the logic seal switch coupled to the co.,.~r~-lo~ 124 and this will be sensed by the logic seal circuit 123 and this causes the jackpot controller to stop the jackpot game by senllinE a~lupliate m~ss~ges to the particir~ti EGMs. To restart the jackpots at the venue, a special collllllal.d will be sent from the JCC 6 ''5 and received by the jackpot controller 32. The IP module 88 also inrlu~les an ûptional EPROM 125 (e.g. 27519) which can be used for further enha-lc~---e..ts.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show more detai!s of the IP module 88. It will be seen that the lûgic bus 93 extends from the co....f~-~Ol 92 to the DUART 100 and EPROM 1'75. The bus 93 is also 3û conrl~-l to the EPLD 114 which, as ll-~ iolled above, is ~ ngef~ to provide glue logic for the circuit colll~ll~,llls for the IP mod~ale 88. The EPLD 114 provides six main functional blocks:

SIJD~ 111 LITE SHEET (RULE 26) - W O 97/12338 PCT/AU~ ~C~ -_9 _ ac~owledge signal ~ , VO and lll.,lllGly read si~l ~e~ luyl achlowledgc signal generation; VO and memory write signal ~ on; memory decode, control signal generation; and status ;l~ro~ n storagc. The acknowledge signal is ~ene~teci from the trailing edges of the read and write signals. It is an open coll~ctor output. On reset the 5 achl~ wledge output is tri-stated. An i.-l~ read signal is ~ atcd when eithcr IOSEL
or MEMSEL is active and the R/W signal is in read state. The INTSEL signal is delayed before generating the read output; this is to allow the hllelluyt source to clear its hllLllu~t output before reading the h.~ u~l vector. The intermediate read signal is combined with the reset line to produce the I/O read signal. This is required because the serial co.. ;r~tif nc 10 controller ~~ u..c~. both its read and write lines to be held low to reset it. The VO and l-le~llo~y write signals are generated when either a MEMSEL or IOSEL is active and the R/W line is in the writc state. The r/O write line is combined with the reset line beca~lse the serial c~ u..ications controller requires both its read and write lines to be held low during rcset.

The DUART provides serial c~ uicntions with JCC6. It is selected when an VO
read or write occurs or an i..le~.u~t acknowledge occurs, provided rOSEL is active.

The memory 110 co...~.ises first and second SRAMs 126 and 1''7 and is selccted by the lines MEMO and MEM1. MEM0 is gentor~te~i from a combination of BS0, D13, D14 and 20 MEMSEL. MEM1 is g-,ne~dlt;d in a similar manner except BS1 is used instead of BS0. The m~norirS 126 and 1'~7 can store data .cp.es~ g hard meter input signals from the various EGMs which are coupled to the jackpot controller 32. Normally the hard meter input to the credit played hard meter will be stored and this inform~ti~n is vital to correct playing of the jackpot and acco.diulgly the l,.c.l~olies are .lupl jr~tes of one another so as to provide se~;u,ily 25 should one of them fail. Some gaming authorities require that certain ;..fo....i.l;n.. be m~int~in~-l in two physical locations and three logical locations. The SRAMs 126 and 127 provide the physical locations. One of these SRAMs has two copies of the data, the other SRAM has a single copy of the data. ~h~. L~.. ~ are used to m~int~in the integrity of the data.
If a single copy of the sensilivc data becomes col~uyk~d~ then it is lcco~eled by using onc of 30 the other good copies. If for some reason there are three good copies, but they are ~l.rrC~
a majority vote is used to decide which copy to replace. The memories 126 and 127 are Sll~;i l 11 UTE SHEET (RULE 26) - W O 97tl2338 PCT/AU9G~ 6 eoupled to memory suyelvi~or eireuits 128 and 129 (e.g. DS1210) whieh opcrate with the A~:jO~ t~d baekup to bc~ . ;. c to m~int~in high signal levels at the CE inputs of the memnri~S
should power fail so as to prevent data held in the memories being collu~lcd when power is r.n"". .;I~,d The DUART 100 is u~ d via the logie bus 93 to interfaee eireuits 130 and 5 131 (e.g. SN75173) whieh eonvert RS 4~ signals from the co....rclor 106. The eireuit also ;"~ t~lf s a CO1lVC1~1 132 (e.g. SN75172) whieh eollvcll~ TTL signals to RS 422 signals whieh are o..~ cl to the co.~lc~u. 106. Inputs and outputs from the coll~/elLtl~ 130, 131 and 133 are eoupled to the comlc~lor 106 via proteetion diodes 134, t~ linn l~ si~lul~ 135 and current limiting resistors 136.
In some appliratinn~ it may be applopliate to coll.lllullicate with the ICC 6 at RS 232 levels and in this case, the ~P module 88 in~hld.os a converter 137 (e.g. MAX211) whieh is arranged to convert signals from TTL to RS 232 and vice ~ ersa for coupling to the RS 232 output connector 102.
The logie seal eircuit 123 is iilnstr~t~(l in more detail in Figure 9. The input cn....f ~
124 is rnnnrete~ to a logie seal switch (not shown) which is eouplç~ via line 138 to an cight bit latch 139. The latch 139 is coupled to the logic bus 93 so that an eight bit number ean be written into and read from the latch by the CPU 62 of the processor 60. ~f the logic seal switch 20 ~ ..~s state, the lateh 139 will be reset and this will be sensed by the CPU 62 thus in~lir~ting tha!t the logic seal has been broken. This information will also be collllllullic~te~l to the JCC
which will suspend participation of the EGMs in the jackpot game which are eoupled to the jaekpot eontroller having its logic seal switch open. The lateh 139 is eoupled to a lllClllOly supervisor ehip 140 (e.g. DS1210) which OpLlatCS to provide power to the latch 139 and also 25 to eonnect a battery baekup thereto if the normal power supply is low. The eireuit 140 also O~ldl~S to prevent co,lu~,Lion to the number stored in the latch 139 if power fails. The CPU
62 ean be alldllg~,d to write the eight bit number on lines do-d7 onee but preferably it is ~rl to write dirrtlcl~t numbers periodieally so as to provide for ~d-litinn~l seeurity.

Figure 9 also illustrates in more detail the over lelllpelature eireuit 118. It inrlurles a e~ lQr 141 whieh is eo.~n~ ed to a lelllpclature sensing deviee (not shown) which is SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) located at a str~te~ic location, say on a hcat sink courled to the CPU 64. The co~ . 141 is coupled to one input to a comr~r~t-)r 142 which has a reference level applied to its other input from a zener diode 143. The con~ aLoL 142 produces an output signal TEMPOV on line 144 when an over ~ -ature is sensed. The COlll~alalOl could be ~e~ to trip at 5 65~C and reset at about 60~C, for example.

Figure 9 also illl-ctr~tec the battery monitor circuit 116. It co~ es first and second co~ o~s 145 and 146 which are coupled to receive inputs on lines 147 and 148 from the backup bd~ i. s for the memories 126 and 1 '7. Other inputs to the comr~r~to~ 145 and 146 10 CQII~ e a reference level derived from a zener diode 149. When the co.~ d~UlS 145 or 146 detect a low battery condition, a LOWBAT signal is produced on output line 150.

Figure 9 also illl~ s the alarm circuit 120. The alarm circuit 1 0 has inputs 151 and 152 from the EPLD 114. The input 151 can be select~cl for muting an audible alarm produccd 15 by alarm lo~ pe~k~-r 153 whereas signals on the line 152 from the EPLD 114 can be used to change the frequency of the audible alarm in accordance with thc type of alarm which is fl-otecterl The alarm circuit includes a timer 157 (such as an LM555) which is nonn~lly held in a reset state by a mute signal on input 151. When an over~ cl~ture fault is ~letçcted or the logic area seal is broken, the alarm is set off. The alarm can only be reset under the 20 control of sorlwdic~. The two tone feature is implel~le-l~. d by switching in or out dirr~,~ent value capacitors, into the timer circuit, by means of lldllsi~lol 159.

Figures 10 to 18 ~i~a~ lly illustrate some of the glue logic functions yl~vidcd by the EPLD 114. It will be a~ . iated that these functions could be implemented by 25 providing discrete logic con.~,ol.c~ in the circuitry but it is preferred that they be implemerlte-l in an electronically programmable device for simplicity and flexibility should the circuit parameters need to be modified.
.

The EPLD 114 is programmed so as to provide an address latch circuit 160 which 30 stores the address i.lro.l,lation from the multiplexcr address/data lines. Figure 11 shows the memory latch 160 in greater detail. It will be seen that the memory latch 160 IIIII~ AIIY

SIJ~S I ~ I UTE SHEET (RULE 26) CA 02233039 l998-03-25 - W O 97/12338 PCT/AU9~i~C~

inrl~lcles two eight bit latehes 164 and 165.

The EPLD 114 inrh-cie5 status logic 167 (shown in greater detail in Figure 12) whieh has an input 168 for receipt of LAREA signals from the logie seal cil~;uill~ 123. The logie 167 S includes an input 169 for receipt of TEMPOV signals from the cireuit 118. The logie 167 inrllllles an input 170 for reeeipt of LOWBAT signals from the battery monitor eireuit 116.
The logic 167 produces an LED signal output on line 171 for eoupling to the status in~lir~tir~g LED 127. It has an output on line 177 for produeing MUTE signals on line 151 for muting the alarm circuit 120. It also produces FREQSEL for selecting the tone produced by the 10 lou-lcpe~ker 153, as shown in Figures 9 and 17.

The EPLD 114 also inrludes a memory select logic 173 which has inputs on lines 174 from the CPU 62 via eontrol bus 98. The input signals on lines 174 del~ lc how data is stored in the m~mori~S 126 and 177. The memory logie ch~;uill~ 173 iS shown in more dehil 15 in Figure 13.

The EPLD 114 inrlnf1~s DUART selector logic 176 which enables the CPU 62 to address the DUART 100 whenever it writes to it or reads from it. The selector logie 176 is shown in more detail in Figure 14. Output on output line 176 has an 8530 output signal whieh 20 is eoupled to the CE input of DUART 180 to enable the ap~ liate selection to be made, as seen in Figure 7.

The EPLD 114 inrl~l~es write select ~,hc~ ly 178 which has inputs from the logie bus 75 93 to produee outputs on lines 179 and 180 for ~~n~l~ling writing of data to the DUART 100 and memories 126 and 127 l~,;,pc. ~ ly. This eireuit is shown in more detail in Figure 15.

The EPLD 114 ;"rl,l~ S aeknowledge signal logie 181 whieh has inputs derived from the logie bus 93 and produees an input acknowle~lgm~nt signal on output line 182 for 30 providing an aeknowl~m~nt signal for the DUART 100 for in-lir~ting to the CPU 62 that the current read or write function has been completed. The logic 181 is shown in more detail in S~ JTE SHEET (RULE 26) _ CA 02233039 l998-03-25 - W O 97/12338 PCT/AU9~ C~C- -Figure 16.

The EPLD 114 inrlllries read logie ~h~;uill~ 183 which has inputs from the logie bus 93 and yl~luecs outputs on output lines 184 and 185 for enabling reading of signals from the S logie bus to the DUART 100 and for reading signals from the bus into the IllclllGl;CS 126 and 127 ll s~e~ liv~ily. The read logic 181 is shown in more detail in Figure 17.

The EPLD 114 includes acknowledge signal logic 186 which gcl~erates acknowledge signals ACK on its output line 187. The logic 186 has inputs derived ~om the logie bus 93 10 and its output line 187 is direetlv coupled to the conneetor 92 (pin 48) to provide aeknowledgment signais to the CPU 62 to provide an indieation that reading or writing sequences have been completed. The logic 186 is shown in more detail in Figure 18.

~t will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the various logieal 15 carried out by the EPLD 114 ean be implenle..l~d in a variety of ways.

The JIB software collsi~ls of three basie parts:
1. The Boot Loader Program 2. The Main Mode Program 3. The laekpot Interface Module (JIM) The first two parts are executed physieally by the microprocessor 16 from its software stored in memory 20 and lGfcl. ncc is made to the afo,c,..~.~lioned patent application. The JIM
is an interfaee between the IrB and a Jaekpot Application Program and is eYer~e~ on the 25 jackpot controller 3 ' together with the lackpot Application Program.

The Boot Loader Program opel~Ltes to boot load the JIB 56. A flow chart of the ~O~ll is shown in Figure 19. When the JIB starts up it c,~e~ales as a eut down or ~;...~-iil;~d JIB. It does not support the full range of cr~mm~nrl~ but instead the set of co.. ~ rcquired 30 to ~lrO~ software integrity (including signature) checks and sorlwale download. The boot is always to be present in the memory 20 of the JIB; and for it to contain the ability SU~ 1 1 1 UTE SHEET (RULE 26) - W O 97/1~338 PCT/AU96/'~0~ -to download new versions of the main code, which is the fully functional software, whieh is inruttçd thereto from time to time by the JCC 6.

The Boot Loader Program inchl(lçs a loop which performs the following main 5 filnrtion~ as dia~ .~ tic~lly shown in Figure 19:
1. ~Cen~ling an '~ am awake' mr~s~gte every 10 secon~
2. ~ntinll~lly ~l~r~Li~g forreceived ethemet p~rl~etc;
3. ~hP.'L ;..g that a packet has been iecciv. d recently from the jackpot controller, and 4. Patting a watchdog (The watchdog circuit reboots the processor should it hang.
Also provided is a power failure detect. This enables important data to be stored in battery backed memory 20 before the power fails completely).

The JIB issues an 'I am awake' message regularly and, when the jackpot controller 32 15 receives these, it will send down series of inisi~ tion m~SSZ~geS and may also begin software download to its memory 20. If software download proceeds then this is fully ~luccs~cd within the boot code. Once the boot code receives the start colllllland it immediately jumps to the main code, which has the responsibility of acknowledging the start comm~n~ The Boot Loader Program may also include provision of a procedure for initiating ell~ly~lion of 20 c~ ----------ir~tions between the JIB 56 and jackpot controller 32 in response to an "e,l~ly~t"
m-sc~ and ~ ly~,lion key from the jackpot controller 3 '.

The Main Mode Program inrllldçs code which supports all possible co.~ c from the jackpot controller 32, in~lllfiing signature, display comm~nllc, event ~rtion~, state setting, 25 version, configuration and software download.

When a start cOl~ ,. . .~ . ..~ is issued to the JIB boot program by the jackpot controller 32, the main code of the JIB is ç~çcl-tecl and an acknowledge signal is sent back to the jackpot controller 32 acknowledging the start cr~.. ~A~ The Main Mode Program ~,lrOlllls the 30 following functions:
1. Receiving network packets and procçcsing the co.. ~ lc a~plu~ tely;

SlJt~S 111 ~JTE SHEET (RULE 26) 2. ~hrrking if a paeket has been reeeived from the jackpot eontroller within the ll collllll~ ie~tions idle time;
3. C~h~cl~ing for any displays whieh have had expired ~ tion;
4. t~hPl~king for events whieh have oeeurred and subsequently pclÇo..lls the 5 configllred actions for those events;
5. ~hrrking that the m~imllm cf "..",..,ir~tit nc idle time is not e~reer~e~l sinee the last time the IIB tr~n~mittecl a n~,lw~ paeket. The JIB will ll,~ a status mçc~c before the m;~;....l... col.l...~.~irations idle time is ç~ ee.1 6. Operating the on board LEDIs; and 7. Preventing the loops from proc~erling if a power failure h~lt~ t oeeurs.

Figure 3 (1izl~,l ~111 11 11~1~ ic~lly illllstT~t~s major data flows within the JCC 6. In partieular, the eentral en.~ . r 8 imple..\. ..lc a jaekpot application module 170, a ~ w~h m~nz~m~nt module 17 and r~icting nelwolh games sueh as a KENO module 174. The eentral C'~ JI' r 15 8 also ex~c~tec a LAN control module 176 which su~,-vises and eontrols access to the LANs 10 and 19. The module 176 eontrols data flows to the front end processors 15 as shown.
Figure 20 is a flow chart showing major software steps performed by the JCC 6.

Preferably the jaekpot controller 3 will have the option to aecept its applieation 20 sonwd.c downlo~ d from ICC 6 for carrying out a jackpot game at the venue. The following security measu.~,s can be implemented for the download: secure e..~ ed links through the WAN 4; the ~ G of the ~OÇlwalc is verified by central C~ 8 before allowing normal operational mode of the jackpot controller 3'~; and the jackpot eontroller keeps a history log of every download.
The downloading can be used for ..,l.Orlll...g the jackpot eontroller software when it is required to update the software. The jackpot eontroller controls the slip printer 50 and bar code reader 52 through the int~rf~-~e 54. The slip printer 50 is used to produce the jackpot win tickets. The bar code reader 52 is used to validate the jackpot tiekets.
Normally, the p~r~metçrs of the jaekpot are established in the jaekpot data base SlJ~ 111 UTE SHEET (RULE 26) - W O 97/12338 PCT/AU~G~'~C~C6 -.1 in the MIS c~ 23 and then t.~ d to thc various venues by JCC 6 wherc they are initially proces~e~l by the jackpot controllers 32. These inputs can be made through by a JDB tenninAI (not shown) by an ~ , ;.ced officer. The jackpot ~-t....ett.~ may include the period for the random time g~ ation, the upper limit of the jackpot, lower limit of the 5 jackpot, percentage contribution from each EGM, restart values etc. After cl.~c~ and verification, the ~ , can be frozen by a special c-.. ~ -~l issued from the JDB
terminal. The locked configuration is then Ll~lllsrt~l~d to the jackpot application software module 170 of the central c~ 8. The llal~r~,l is initiated by a comm~n-1 issued from the cl mmAn~l PC 14.
The jackpot configuration is then trAn~rnitted to the jackpot controllers 32 of the various venues 26. The j~ckpot controllers receive the jackpot configltr~tion, ~clrL~
dependency checks and store it in a battery backed RAM 110. The jackpot controller 32 acknowledges the reception of the confi~lration to the JCC 6 which acknowledges it to the 15 mAnA~m~nt ;~r~ t~ system 21, which in~lnrles thc JDB. From this moment the cntcred confi~nr~tion becomes "active". Any further chAn~es of the p~ le.s on the JDB will be stored in the "pending" state and need to be activated using the process described above.

When the jackpot controller 3 ' receives the jackpot configuration it converts it to the 0 form that is acceptable by the JIBs 56 of the particiratin~ EGMs. When a J~B 56 is coming on-line, the jackpot controller 3 2 transmits the jackpot confi~ dlion thereto via its eth~rn~t ol 78 and venue jackpot LAN 30. Each JIB 56 receives the configuration, stores it in its RAM 20 and sends an acknowledgment to the jackpot controller 32 via the venue jackpot LAN 30. If a JrB 56 is already on-line, a new jackpot configuration can be tr~n~mittl--l to it ~5 by the jackpot controller. Once a J~B 56 receives its jackpot confi~llrAtion, its mi~;,o~loce;.sol 16 causes the video mixing device 42 to overlay the unique number of the EGM on the screen of the EGM.

Once the confi~lration of a jackpot is su~c~f~ y set up in parfi~ jackpot 30 controllers and EGMs, a start coll,~nal,d mess~e can be issued from thc co..,."i."-1 PC 14 at the JCC 6. Once the jackpot controller 32 receives the start command from the JCC 6, it SUBSTlTUTE SHEET (RULE 26) -- W O 97/12338 I PCT/AU~Gl~6[~ --activates the JIBs 56 of particir~ting EGMs and if ~tt~3ch~1, the interfaces 48 and 54 fôr jackpot displays 38 and 40. ~fter all the jackpot controllers 32 have acknowledged the .cc~ of the hidden prize value, the JCC 6 will cause the jackpot controllers 3Z to activate the JIBs 56 of partirir~ting EGMs and the intrrf~rçc 48 and 54 for jackpot displays 38 and 40 S at the various venues. At each venue, the jackpot controller 32 bro~lr~ctc a jackpot open comm~nti together with a COll- ~poll.lillg mrC~:aF,e to be displayed. All the m~ eS for thc JIBs 56 and interfaces 46 and 48 are identified by m~-ss~e i(l~ntifir~tion signals (m~cc~e IDs) during the configl.ration stage. The jackpot controller 32 therefore need only bloadc~
the message ID to cause the display of the a~ploylial~ m-~.s~ge. The JIBs 56 will overlay the 10 m~c~g~s on thc EGM's screen and messages will be displayed on the monitors 40 and LED
displays 38.

For every $1 played on an EGM, a hard meter input pulse is generated by the EGM
logic to increment its amount played hard meter. The JrB 56 receives this input pulse via 15 c~ IQ~ 120 and increm~nts the software counter that contains the ~cc~nm-1~f~d llUIII'O~ of pulses (~7ns~lnte value). The jackpot software ~cnt~d by the ,l,i- ,o~,ocessor 16 COIIVG1 l:, the counter value into cents by adding 100 for every one detected pulse. The JCC 6 configures the mi..;...ln.. number of contributions before the JIB 56 will report to the jackpot controller 3 '. This is also controlled by a timeout period. For example, if the JIB 56 is configured to 20 report a - ;- -;. - .. -. - co"L~ ulion of, say, $3 with a time out of 5 seconds, once more than $3 has been incrcm~nt.o~l (i.e. 3 pulses to the hard meters) the JIB 56 sends a co.~,.. i-~ti--n packet to the jackpot controller 32 which con~inc the current time stamp and the software counter value. If the venue jackpot LAN 30, is busy, the JrB 56 will retry next time. This means that the software counter can be incremented more than once between each l~ ...icsion.
7s If a Cu"l,il,u~ion of less than the cnnfi~-red m i~.; .n 1~ ~ . . limit (e.g. $3) has been received by the JIB 56 but the time since the first of the u~cL~ol~ed contributions was received is - greater than the liLlcoul period (e.g. S seconds) then the unsent contrihutionc are fO~vaJ~lled to the jackpo. controller 32 in any event.
Every defined period of time the jackpot controller 3 also sends all individual EGM

Sll~;~ JTE SHEET (RULE 26) -- W O 97/12338 PCT/AU9C/C~

cullhil~ulions to the JCC 6 for ri"~ l reco~riliation purposes. At the JCC 6 all the received contributions are stored in a tr~n~ction file 109.

The jaclcpot controller 3'' must continue to co~ llicate with the JCC 6 to colllillUC
5 participation in the jackpot. If the jackpot controller 32 loses the cn...."l...ic~ti->n~ with the JCC 6, the jackpot will be suspended and a~ro~,-iate message will be displayed by all JIBs 56 and optional displays 38 and 40. Likewise, the JIBs must continue to cr~.. ;c~te with the jackpot controller 3~. If a JIB loses co.... ~ ation with the jackpot controller 3~, the J~B
stops accepting contributions from the EGM and can, for example, display a mess~;e. to 10 inform the player that their EGM is no longer in the jackpot.

In the case of a jackpot win, the jackpot controller 3r~ ~.elr(jlllls the following actionc display jackpot win message on a monitor of the jackpot controller for the venue ~tt~nri~nt;
comnn~n-l~ the intlorf~res 46 and 48 to display jackpot win mes-c~;es on the venue displays, the win mecc~ge including EGM identification number as is displayed by the JIB;
r~"""i."~l the JlBs of all non-winning EGMs to display to the players that the jackpot was won by another EGM, this being carried out bv bro~ ctin~ a particular message ~D to the JIBs; and request the JCC 6 to generate a special jackpot win ticket which is printed on the slip printer 50, the ticket being delivered by the venue ~ to the player of the winning EGM.

There are two possible ways to clear the jackpot win condition on an EGM: (1) the venue attendant will clear the error condition that disabled the EGM; or (2) the EGM will S remain disabled until a special clear c~ has been received from the jackpot controller 32 and ori~in;-ting in the JCC 6.

Information relating to the jackpot win ticket will be stored on the JCC 6 so that the player can redeem the ticket any time after the win. An ~nth~ntiratinn number on the ticket 30 can bc ~ c~ d in two formats - a numbcr and a bar code. The bar code reader 52 enables easy ticket validation.

SlJ~;~ 111 UTE SHEET (RULE 26) Figure 22 is a flow chart whieh dia~a.,....~fir~lly sets out the major f~mrti-~n~l steps of the software carried out in the jackpot controller 22 to give effect to the steps ~esclilxd above.

S The lackpot Interface Module (IIM) exec~te.l in jackpot controller 3'' provides a cn~ f~ g interf~r~ between the lackpot Applieation Program exeeuted at the ICC 6 and the IIBs 56. Briefly, the I~B soft~,vare and the jackpot controller software can be viewed as C"~ i"e of the following functional blocks:
1. interface functions used by the rllctom~r ~rpli~tion, this is the set of f~lnr~ion~
10 used by the lackpot Application to co..""ll"icate with the JIB network;
within the IIM, a set of functions used to process most of the interfaee functions;
3. a process which recei-~es network packets on bus 33 and processes them;
4. a process which periodically checks to see if mescages need to be leh ..~ rA
15 and also checks timing of broadcast by the jackpot controller 32 of 'I am alive' mPss~es and 5. a set of support modules which provide fl~t~b~e, ethemet, queue interface functions.

An ~Itçm:ltive jackpot scheme is a mystery jackpot value and in this arrangement the ~0 mystery jackpot value is generated and m~int~ined by the ICC 6.

Data l~ senli..g contributions ~OWdldS that jackpot are ll .n~".illed to the JCC 6 via the jackpot controllers 32 at the various venues 26. The JCC 6 operates a software counter to effectively sum data signals r~ .sGl~ g EGM contributions. Whén the JCC 6 ~1e l~ ~ ", i, .~ c 5 that the jackpot total is reached, it i~lrntifi~s the site where the collllibulion which lead to reaching the jackpot value. The JCC 6 then lldll~lllils a signal to the jackpot controller 32 at the site. The jackpot 32 at that site then declares that the next EGM at that venue to make a col~llil)uLion is the winner of the jackpot.

Figure 21 illustrates a preferred system of the invention which includes display of a Provisional Win me~S~ge at the venue whilst various checks are carried out. In this system S~.~S ~ JTE SHEET (RULE 26) - W O 97/12338 PCT/AU~6/~ 6C_ -- 2~ -whcn a random timc occurs, the JCC 6 randomly selects a venue (using venue weighting list) and sends a Select EGM message to the jackpot controller 32 at the s~1Cct~l venue. The jackpot controller then waits for the next hard meter input signals from any EGM connPcted thereto (and ~l;r;~ i. .g in the jackpot) and checks if the col.c~ 1;, ,g JIB sorlwa~-c passes 5 software intcgrity tests. If yes, a Provisional Win m~ss~t is displayed at the venue and details of the identity of the EGM are sent to the JCC 6. The plo~ iu~lal winning EGM details are sent to the ICC 6 by the jackpot controller 3'~ and the JCC 6 dis~alclles a Win Tickct message to all of the jackpot controllers. Thc jackpot controller receives the Win Tickct mPss~ge and causes an a~lul.liate message to be displayed on the winning EGM screen.
10 Also a message such as lackpot Won is displayed on all other EGM screens at the venue. The jackpot controller also sends an acknowledge (ACK) message to the JCC 6. The jackpot controller causes the w.,.,~g ticket to be printed and displayed on a screen coupled to a venue PC (if provided). The jackpot controller then causes the winning EGM to be disabled so that it cannot proceed with normal play. After th~ jackpot is won, the JCC is ~t-m:ltir~ily 15 rcstarted by a start c~ lllland. The winning EGM will be cleared by a comm~ntl which ori~in~tes in the JCC 6.

Many mo lili~ will be apparent to those skilled in the art without dcp~ulillg from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

SUL;~ JTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A multivenue jackpot system comprising a central control system and a plurality of gaming venues, each gaming venue including:
a jackpot controller coupled for communication with said central control system by way of a communications network;
a plurality of electronic gaming machines (EGMs) each including hard meters and EGM logic for generating input signals for the hard meters; and a venue network coupled to said jackpot controller;
wherein each electronic gaming machine includes a jackpot interface coupled to the electronic gaming machine and the venue network, each said jackpot interface being coupled to monitor said hard meter input signals, and said central control system including a jackpot sum which is incremented and/or awarded to a selected electronic gaming machine in accordance with said input signals.

2. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said jackpot interface comprises a circuit board adapted to be coupled to an otherwise standard electronic gaming machine.

3. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said jackpot interface is responsive to the hard meter input signals of the respective EGM to communicate corresponding first data messages to the respective jackpot controller.

4. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first data messages are sent from a said jackpot interface when a selected amount of money has been played on the corresponding EGM during a preceding selected time period.

5. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said jackpot controller communicates second data messages to said central control system by way of said communications network, the second data messages being sent from each jackpot controller every predetermined period of time, wherein said second data messages contain information of the hard meter input signals of the EGMs coupled to the corresponding said jackpot controller.

6. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said jackpot sum is incremented in response to said second data messages.

7. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said jackpot sum is awarded in response to a said second data message.

8. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second data messages include information identifying the EGMs corresponding to the hard meter input signals.

9. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said jackpot sum is awarded in response to a said second data message.

10. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second data messages include information identifying the EGMs corresponding to the hard meter input signals.

11. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said jackpot sum is incremented by said central control system on the basis of the information of the hard meter input signals corresponding to individual said EGMs, and wherein said jackpot sum is awarded to a particular said EGM for which the hard meter input signals cause said jackpot sum to reach a predetermined jackpot total.

12. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said central control system communicates a third data message to said jackpot controllers indicating the award of said jackpot sum and identifying a particular EGM to which the jackpot sum is awarded.

13. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the jackpot controller to which said particular EGM is coupled includes means for indicating the award of the jackpot sum to the particular EGM.

14. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 13, wherein each said jackpot controller includes a ticket issuing device for issuing a ticket indicative of a said jackpot award.

15. A multivenue jackpot system comprising:
a central control system;
communications interface for coupling the central control system to a communications network;
a plurality of gaming venues;
each gaming venue including a jackpot controller coupled for communication with said central control system by way of the communications network, a plurality of electronic gaming machines (EGM) each including hard meters and EGM logic for generating input signals for the hard meters, and a venue network and wherein each electronic gaming machines includes a jackpot interface for coupling the electronic gaming machine to the venue network and wherein the jackpot interface is coupled to monitor said hard meter input signals and wherein the central control system establishes a jackpot which is based upon the occurrence of a random event, and upon occurrence of the random event the central control system selects a winning venue and wherein the jackpot controller at the winning venue is arranged to select a winning EGM by reference to hard meter input signals derived from the EGM logic.

16. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said random event comprises the passing of a randomly selected time.

17. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 15, wherein each said jackpot interface a circuit board adapted to be coupled to an otherwise electronic gaming machine.

18. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 15, wherein each said jackpot interface is responsive to the hard meter input signals of the respective EGM to communicate corresponding first data messages to the respective jackpot controller.

19. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first data messages are sent from a said jackpot interface when a selected amount of money has been played on the corresponding EGM during a preceding selected time period.

20. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 18, wherein each said jackpot controller communicates second data messages to said central control system by way of said communications network, the second data messages being sent from each jackpot controller every predetermined period of time, wherein said second data messages contain information of the hard meter input signals of the EGMs coupled to the corresponding said jackpot controller.

21. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said second datamessages include information identifying the EGMs corresponding to the hard meter input signals.

22. A multivenue jackpot system according to claim 18, wherein said random eventcomprises the triggering of a mystery jackpot value, in response to receipt of a said second data message, and wherein said central control system communicates a third data message to the jackpot controller from which the second data message which triggered the mystery jackpot value was received.

23. A multivenue jackpot system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the jackpot controller which triggered the mystery jackpot value is responsive to receipt of said third data message to select a winning EGM coupled thereto for award of the jackpot on the basis of said first data messages received from the plurality of EGMs coupled thereto.