Abstract: The invention provides a gaming machine comprising a display for displaying a game in which game symbols are randomly displayed in an array of game positions. A game controller designates at least one of the game positions as a special game position in the array and randomly determines a bonus prize associated with the special game position. A special symbol appearing in the special game position in the play causes the game controller to award the bonus prize associated with the special game position. A method is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display for displaying a game and an electronic game controller for controlling the display of said game symbols on said display. The game includes game symbols arranged into a first array of symbol positions. The electronic game controller causes the display of a second array for displaying at least one special symbol in a symbol position that visually appears greater in size than said symbol positions of said first array, the at least one special symbol resulting in the award of one of more game enhancing elements. The at least one special symbol is randomly selected by said electronic game controller and is different to said game symbols displayed in said first array. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine comprises a display for displaying game symbols for playing a first game of chance, and an electronic game controller for controlling the display of the game symbols on the display. In response to a trigger event in the first game, a second game of chance is displayed, where the appearance of one or more special symbols causes the award of one or more tokens associated with one or more token values. At the end of the second game, an accumulated token value is determined and if it is equal to a predetermined number, a plurality of third games of chance is displayed and is selectable by the player. The third games displayed depend on the accumulated token value. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a gaming machine comprising a display for displaying a game comprising game symbols arranged into an array of game positions. A controller controls the display of randomly selected game symbols on the display in an array of game positions, preferably arranged into reels. One or more bonus positions are also displayed above the reels, the bonus positions each being associated with a reel. The bonus positions each display a bonus symbol associated with a game enhancing element, such as a credit prize, free games or a jackpot. When a trigger is displayed in a game position of a reel, the controller must award the game enhancing element associated with the bonus symbol displayed in the bonus position associated with the reel. A method is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides an electronic gaming machine (1) comprising an electronic game controller (4) and a display (7) that shows a first game array (11) and two or more second game arrays (30). Each second game array (30) is associated with a respective designated predetermined position (33) of a plurality of predetermined positions (13) on the first game array (11). The appearance of one or more special symbols (25) in one or more of the designated predetermined positions (33) causes the electronic game controller (4) to make each second game array (30) associated with the one or more designated predetermined positions (33) available to the player for play simultaneously with the first game array (11).

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine comprises a display for displaying a game and an electronic game controller for controlling the display of game symbols on the display. The electronic game controller enables the player to select a bet option from a plurality of bet options. A first bet option has a first number of predetermined combinations of symbol positions and a second bet option has a second number of predetermined combinations of symbol positions. The first and second bet options and the first and second numbers are different to each other. In response to an in-game trigger event, the number of symbol positions in the array changes based on the selected bet option. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display for displaying a first game and an electronic game controller for controlling the display of game symbols on the display. The appearance of one or more special symbols in the first game results in the award of one or more tokens to a player, the tokens being associated with at least one token value. The electronic game controller determines an accumulated token value from the token values of the tokens awarded to the player. In response to the occurrence of a trigger event, a second game is displayed, where a multiplier is applied to increase the value of any prizes awarded in the second game, the value of the multiplier being associated with the accumulated token value. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: Described herein is technology for enabling authentication of software instructions used in gaming machines. More specifically, the technology is directed to a situation where an electronic gaming machine operates based on two separate sets of software, being base data and game data.

Abstract: A data protection method includes identifying data indicative of a software element parameter of a software element to be protected, which may be a hash of the software element image or carrier media image area. The method includes identifying data indicative of a medium parameter of a medium authorized to carry the software element, which may be a unique identifier embedded in a non-image area of the medium. A validation token is defined based on a predefined protocol and written to a non-image area of the medium, which token is a function of the software element parameter and medium parameter. A device for executing the software element uses the same predefined protocol to verify the token prior to allowing execution of the software element. If the software element is copied to another medium, the validation token is not verifiable for the copied software, thereby restricting execution of the copied software element.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic gaming machine comprising a display for displaying a game. The game comprises game symbols and an array of first symbol positions in which the game symbols are able to be displayed and predetermined winning combinations of randomly selected game symbols award prizes to a player. An electronic game controller controls the display of the game symbols on the display and randomly determines whether to display one of the game symbols in each first symbol position. In response to each first symbol position in the array displaying a game symbol, the electronic game controller causes the display of one or more second symbol positions in addition to the first symbol positions and randomly determines whether to display a game symbol in each of the one or more second symbol positions.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display for displaying a game including game symbols arranged into an array of predetermined game positions. An electronic game controller designates at least one of the predetermined game positions as a special game position in the array such that a special symbol appearing in the special game position in a play of the game causes the electronic game controller to award a game enhancing element to the player. The special game position is visually indicated on the array to the player during the play by a graphical element associated with the special game position. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: In an aspect, an electronic gaming machine includes an electronic game controller and a display for playing a plurality of games that are selectable for simultaneous play. Where one or more special symbols appear in a first game of the selected games, the electronic game controller applies one or more game enhancing elements that are associated with the special symbols to each of the selected games. In another aspect, the special symbols are associated with numerical values that are applied to each of the selected games. Gaming methods are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic gaming machine comprising a display for displaying game symbols for playing a game of chance on a plurality of reels. An electronic game controller assigns a number of special symbols to one or more reel strips associated with the reels, the number of special symbols being variable and dependent on a first bet value selected by a player. The appearance of at least two special symbols causes the electronic game controller to activate a bonus game of chance comprising the award of at least one the bonus prize in response to a predetermined outcome of the bonus game of chance. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine has an electronic game controller and a display where game symbols are arranged in an array of predetermined groups, at least one of the groups displaying at least one special symbol in a first play of the game and a subsequent play. In the first play, the electronic game controller selects a first group to display the at least one special symbol and in the subsequent play, the electronic game controller selects a different group to the first group to display the at least one special symbol. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine has an electronic game controller and a display where game symbols are arranged in an array of predetermined groups, at least one of the groups displaying at least one special symbol in a first play of the game and a subsequent play. In the first play, the electronic game controller selects a first group to display the at least one special symbol and in the subsequent play, the electronic game controller selects a different group to the first group to display the at least one special symbol. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: Technology described herein includes an arrangement whereby a hardware-based solution is implemented to enable mirroring of NVRAM data in a master server directly to NVRAM in a sleeper server. Both the master server and sleeper server implement a like motherboard unit, which is configured to implement the mirroring technology. That is, the roles of master and sleeper may be reversed. The master server includes a hardware module that monitors (but does not affect) NVRAM operations at the master server, and replicates those operations via a high speed communications link, such as a fiber optic link, to the sleeper server. The term “high speed communications link” refers to a link with at least 2.5 gigabit speed, and preferably at least 5 gigabit speed. The sleeper server is configured to, when in sleeper mode, suspend control of its own NVRAM module. Instead, the NVRAM module is controlled by a module that is configured to receive NVRAM operations via the fiber optic link, and apply those operations.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display and an electronic game controller. A first game, second game and third game are playable on the display, the second game being triggered during play of the first game and the third game being triggered during play of the second game. A player must make an additional wager to play one of the second and third games and does not need to make a further bet to play the other of the second and third games. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine comprises a display for displaying game symbols for playing a first game of chance, and an electronic game controller for controlling the display of the game symbols on the display. In response to a trigger event in the first game, a second game of chance is displayed, where the appearance of one or more special symbols causes the award of one or more tokens associated with one or more token values. At the end of the second game, an accumulated token value is determined and if it is equal to a predetermined number, a plurality of third games of chance is displayed and is selectable by the player. The third games displayed depend on the accumulated token value. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display for displaying a game including game symbols arranged into an array of predetermined game positions. An electronic game controller designates at least one of the predetermined game positions as a special game position in the array such that a special symbol appearing in the special game position in a play of the game causes the electronic game controller to award a game enhancing element to the player. The special game position is visually indicated on the array to the player during the play by a graphical element associated with the special game position. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: A spinning reel video poker machine that displays an initial array of symbols that may be on a simulation of spinning reels (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5). In response to a trigger additional symbols will become available on the video screen to extend existing paylines or provide new paylines. The new paylines may be part of an extension to an existing array or they may be part of a separate array of symbols or set of reels that becomes available in response to the trigger.