Abstract: A reel-type secondary game is played simultaneously with a conventional reel-type main game on a gaming machine. The secondary game is initiated only after the player meets certain criteria, such as betting additional credits. Once the secondary game is initiated, one or more special symbols are added to the leftmost reel and the rightmost reel used in the main game, but not the reels in-between. The added special symbols do not affect the symbols used in the main game. All the reels containing the symbols used in the main game and the one or more special symbols are rotated and randomly stopped. Awards are granted for winning symbol combinations obtained in the main game. If the special symbols align with a certain stop position, a special bonus game is played or the player wins a progressive jackpot.

Abstract: In a system of linked gaming machines, upon a certain triggering event occurring, eligible gaming machines simultaneously receive a signal for initiating a free game bonus round. The players that have been playing the gaming machines will then play a certain number of free games in a competition with other players involved in the same bonus round. A free game pot, common to all the linked machines involved in the free games, pays all awards for the free games. Since the free game pot must fully support the free games prior to a free game round being initiated, and the requirement for the free game pot amount dynamically changes based on the number of eligible machines to be involved in the free game round, the percentage from the wagers for paid games allocated to the free game pot is dynamically adjusted.

Abstract: At least one gaming machine in a network of gaming machines includes displays for a main game and a bonus game. The bonus game is activated when a particular outcome of the main game is achieved. A jackpot that is common to a plurality of the gaming machines in the network may be awarded when certain criteria are achieved in the bonus game. The certain criteria may occur entirely within the bonus game, or may be distributed between the main game and the bonus game. The certain criteria may be, for example, the display of a particular symbol or symbol combination, or a particular outcome of the bonus game.

Abstract: A gaming machine is described wherein a player first plays a primary game, such as the spinning and stopping of mechanical or video reels displaying symbols. A plurality of progressive jackpots is displayed to the player, where the progressive jackpots are incremented at different random rates. Upon a jackpot-winning outcome of the primary game, the number of different progressive jackpots paid to the player depends on the number of credits bet by the player. The jackpots are incremented upon jackpot-incrementing symbols being displayed by the reels. In one embodiment, the jackpot above each column of symbols gets incremented upon a special symbol, such as a credit value, being displayed in that column.

Abstract: A secure smart card or other secure modular memory device is plugged into (or otherwise connected to) a port of a game controller board internal to a gaming machine, where it is not accessible to a player. The smart card is programmed to detect an encrypted “challenge” message from the host CPU and output an encrypted “response.” If the host CPU determines that the response has the expected properties, then the host CPU verifies that the game program (an application program) is also is authentic, and the game can be played. The challenge/request exchange may be performed periodically to ensure the smart card is still installed. If the response is improper, then the host CPU will issue a halt command to halt play of the game.

Abstract: A gaming machine is described wherein a player first plays a primary game, such as the spinning and stopping of mechanical or video reels displaying symbols. A plurality of progressive jackpots is displayed to the player. Upon a jackpot-winning outcome of the primary game, the number of different progressive jackpots paid to the player depends on the number of credits bet by the player. In one embodiment, the jackpot above each column of symbols gets incremented upon a special symbol, such as a credit value, being displayed in that column. As the jackpots are won, other jackpots are shifted over the columns to replace the won jackpots. In another embodiment, the determination of which jackpot is won depends on the outcome of the primary game.

Abstract: For each bet on a slot machine game, such as a conventional reel-type game, a fraction of a free game is stored in the machine's memory, where the stored free game fraction is associated with the amount bet. Thus, each possible bet amount option is associated with a particular free game pot in memory. Each paid-for play may accumulate any free game fraction, such as 1/10, ?, ¼, ?, etc. The player is notified of the accumulated free games on a video screen so the player wants to keep playing so as to not waste any stored free game fractions. The player may play stored whole free games at any time by actuating a button. The free game pots may be easily added to existing games without significant regulatory involvement and does not affect the casino's profit.

Abstract: A secure smart card or other secure modular memory device is plugged into (or otherwise connected to) a port of a game controller board internal to a gaming machine. The smart card is programmed to detect an encrypted “challenge” message from the host CPU and output an encrypted “response.” If the host CPU determines that the response has the expected properties, then the host CPU verifies that the game program is authentic (i.e., the game program is accurate and authorized for use by that particular gaming machine and customer), and the game can be played. The challenge/request exchange may be performed before every game is played on the machine or at any other time. If the response is improper, then the host CPU will issue a halt command to halt play of the game. By controlling access to the properly programmed smart card, gaming machines cannot run unauthorized copies of the game program.

Abstract: Instead of individual paylines being applied across an A×B matrix of symbols to determine winning combinations of symbols, a unique group (or block) of adjacent symbol positions is activated for each possible bet amount. The possible bet amounts are limited. After the player bets, only the associated group of adjacent symbol positions is highlighted on the display screen so the player can focus on only the relevant symbol positions. After the reels are spun and randomly stopped, symbols at the highlighted symbol positions, limited to one symbol per reel per combination, are combined to create symbol combinations to determine the award to be paid. The technique of highlighting blocks of adjacent symbol positions, and not using individual paylines, enables the player to comprehend, in real time, developing winning combinations of symbols as the reels stop from left to right.

Abstract: A group of linked gaming machines generates one or more progressive jackpots, common to all the linked machines, where the amount of each jackpot is increased by a percentage of the wagers made by the players. In accordance with the invention, in order to provide incentive for the player to keep playing the machines and to add additional excitement, non-jackpot awards are paid out to players of the linked gaming machines based on triggering thresholds met by each jackpot. One type of triggering threshold may be a threshold value reached by a jackpot. Upon a jackpot reaching the threshold, one or more players will win an award. After an award win, another threshold level will then be set for the jackpot. Since the frequency of the awards being granted is generally higher than the frequency of the full jackpots being won, the players will anticipate awards being granted and will continue to play the machines.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming machine carries out a main game, such as a spinning reel type game, either using physical reels or simulated reels on a video screen. A special combination of symbols activates a video bonus game. The bonus game comprises a matrix of hidden values in the form of icons that may be selected by the player. The values that may be selected are displayed to the player in an order unrelated to the arrangement of the hidden values in the matrix so the player sees what she can possibly win. The player then makes her selections to win the hidden awards. In one embodiment, the player only makes a predetermined number of selections. In another embodiment, the player makes selections until an end-of-game value is selected. After each selection, the displayed values may change.

Abstract: The present invention is a small tablet that wirelessly communicates with a stationary gaming machine. The player makes bets using the tablet. The gaming machine, and not the tablet, determines the outcome of the game and transmits the award information to the tablet. The gaming machine may be an ordinary slot machine displaying random symbols in an array or displaying another game. The player using the tablet views the display on the gaming machine to see the outcome of a game, so the tablet does not need a large display to play a game. The player who operates the gaming machine bets independently from the player using the tablet. In another embodiment, the gaming machine is operated automatically, and multiple players with tablets independently bet on a common game.

Abstract: A system of linked gaming machines is disclosed herein. Upon a certain triggering event occurring, eligible gaming machines simultaneously receive a signal for initiating a free game bonus round. The players that have been playing the gaming machines will then play a certain number of free games in a competition with other players involved in the same bonus round. The player awarded the most credits or points from the play of the free games is awarded a special jackpot. Other jackpot games (e.g., split jackpot) are also envisioned. In another embodiment, a jackpot award or any award to the players may be granted based on the outcomes of the free games. In one embodiment, the base awards to the player(s) for the bonus round are multiplied by a multiplier that may be based on the number of players, based on the players' rankings, based on other outcomes of the bonus round, or a fixed or random multiplier.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a video gaming machine displays an array of symbols, and an award is granted based on any winning symbol combinations across activated pay lines. As a secondary game, after the initial display of the symbols, the player may designate one species of symbol in the array. Then, one of the symbols in the array is selected at random by the gaming machine. If the symbol designated by the player is the one selected by the machine, the player wins a special award. The secondary game may be activated pursuant to any of a variety of events, or activated after each game. The player may designate the symbol species by means of a touch screen or any other type of controller.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the game, a matrix of symbols is displayed on a display screen. The matrix may be a 3×3 array of symbols or any other configuration. Each symbol has a selectable direction indicator that points to another symbol or out of the matrix. The direction indicators are randomly selected. An award is based on paths created by the direction indicators. The award may be determined by the path from an entrance into the matrix to an exit out of the matrix, or the award may be based on the patterns formed by the paths. The game may be a main game or a bonus game and can be displayed on a display screen or by motor-driven reels.

Abstract: A slant top slot machine is described where a raised translucent or transparent housing for light emitting diodes (LEDs) surrounds the main display area of the machine. In the case of a video machine, the raised housing surrounds the video screen. Light from multicolored LEDs in the housing, when illuminated, is emitted downward from the sides of the raised housing to illuminate the front surface of the slant top surface. In one embodiment, the slant top surface is brushed stainless steel so that the LED light reflects off the stainless steel surface and reradiates the light outward toward the player. In an embodiment where the raised housing raises the video screen and the LEDs above the front surface, the screen is optically separated from the rest of the machine, and the player can more easily concentrate on the game since other features on the front surface appear to be in the background.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a game played on a gaming device that displays a randomly selected array of symbols, where the symbols across one or more paylines are evaluated by circuitry to determine an award to be granted. A trigger event, such as the occurrence of a certain plurality of special symbols, initiates a series of free games. The number of free games and an award multiplier associated with each free game are dependent on the particular type of special symbols making up the trigger event.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a game played on a gaming device that displays a randomly selected array of symbols, where the symbols across one or more paylines are evaluated by circuitry to determine an award to be granted. A trigger event, such as the occurrence of a special symbol (e.g., a $ symbol), initiates a special feature. Once the trigger event occurs, one of a plurality of features is randomly selected and applied to the symbols in the existing array of symbols, and an award is then granted based on the results. An example of the group of available features is: 1) multiply the number of $ symbols in the array by X credits; 2) randomly place a $ symbol on reels 1, 2, 4, and 5; 3) change certain predetermined symbols to the $ symbol; and 4) fill two, three, or four reels (randomly selected) with the $ symbol.

Abstract: A backlight for a reel assembly is disclosed comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). An array of red, green, and blue diodes are positioned behind a translucent reel strip to backlight three adjacent symbols on a reel strip. The LEDs are individually controllable to vary the color output of the LED array for a full spectrum of colors including white. Groups of LEDs can be illuminated to optimally illuminate any number of symbols of any size. The LEDs may be controlled to highlight special symbols such as by blinking or changing colors. LEDs are also arranged on both sides of the reel strip in a vertical array so as to outline the edges of the reel strip.

Abstract: Upon a trigger event occurring during a main game on a video slot machine, a number of free games having a special feature are awarded to the player. For each trigger event that occurs during the free games, the lowest value symbol displayed for each free spin becomes a wild symbol or other high value symbol. The converted symbols remain converted during the entire free game session in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the converted symbols revert back to the original symbol if no further trigger event occurs in the free games. The accumulation of high value symbols over multiple spins increases the chances of the player winning an especially large award, such as a jackpot.