Abstract: A gaming system is provided. The gaming system allows users to access applications via gaming communication devices coupled to a communication network. At least a portion of the network may be wireless. The gaming applications include gambling, financial, entertainment service, and other types of transactions. The system may include a user location determination feature to prevent users from conducting transactions from unauthorized areas. The gaming system may incorporate a user profile feature according to which certain information regarding users of the system may be maintained. Such information can include, without limitation, information relating to preferences, finances, activities participated in by the users, and trends and habits of the users.

Abstract: A wagering game account management system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations include presenting a graphical user interface that includes a graphical control associated with a credit account belonging to a wagering game player; detecting a selection of the graphical control that initiates a financial transaction to transfer money from the credit account to a wagering game session account; determining access information stored in a player profile, the access information to access the credit account; determining an amount to transfer from the credit account to the wagering game session account balance; determining one or more rules limiting use of the credit account; and enforcing the one or more limitation rules on the use of the credit account.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel bonusing system implemented on gaming machines and associated network devices on a network. According to some implementations, a central system qualifies or eliminates sites and/or types of gaming devices for participation based on criteria such as contribution level, games available, date range, location, device manufacturer, denominations available, etc. In some implementations, the qualification or elimination process is performed at a site (e.g., by a site controller) according to criteria obtained from the central system. The methods of the present invention may be de-coupled from player tracking methods.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer readable storage for automatically deciding slot machine configuration changes. Slot machine usage is electronically monitored and ideal settings are determined from the usage. Slot machines can then be updated electronically according to the ideal settings, either automatically or upon operator approval.

Abstract: A controller of gaming machines includes an input/output module adapted to receive signals that represent a current status of a parameter of the gaming machines. A microprocessing unit generates for each gaming machine(s) an icon having variable visual indicia indicative of a value of the parameter being monitored. The microprocessing unit automatically changes in substantially real-time the visual indicia associated with the icon to reflect a change in the status of the parameter of an associated first gaming machine in accordance with a first received signal.

Abstract: According to a gaming system 300, when BET information has been received from a gaming machine 1, it is determined either no offer of a special payout to the gaming machine 1 of a transmission source of the BET information, or a size of the special payout to be offered to the gaming machine of the transmission source of the BET information is determined, in the external control device 200. When the size of the special payout has been determined, a numeric symbol is displayed to each of display regions from a first display region 500a to a fifth display region 500e in a lower image display panel 141. A sum of numeric values corresponding to a predetermined number of these numeric symbols is a total point value corresponding to the size of the determined special payout.

Abstract: A system for adding funds to a handheld gaming machine. The system includes a portable digital wallet that wirelessly communicates with a handheld gaming machine (“handheld”). The digital wallet stores an amount of funds or funds associated with a remotely stored player account, and is used by the player to add credits to a handheld. The credit meter may be stored remotely, though the player perceives that the funds are actually being transferred via the digital wallet. Other funding techniques include a kiosk that accepts cash or credit/debit cards and dispenses tickets or other media that encodes information representing an amount of funds. The player uses this media to add credits to the handheld. The media may be player-dependent such that the player's identity is somehow linked to the media or it may be player-agnostic such that the player's identity is not linked to the funds associated with the media.

Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game comprises receiving a wager, and generating a randomly selected first outcome of a first wagering game, the first outcome comprising a first plurality of symbols arranged in a first matrix. The method further comprises generating a randomly selected second outcome of a second wagering game, the second outcome comprising a second plurality of symbols arranged in a second matrix, and simultaneously displaying the first outcome and the second outcome on at least one display. The method further comprises detecting an occurrence of a triggering event, in response to the triggering event, copying a first special symbol occurring in the first outcome into the second outcome to yield a modified second outcome, and evaluating the first outcome and the modified second outcome for winning combinations of symbols.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to determine that a second resource is available to be shared in place of a first resource located in a first wagering game machine operable to receive a wager associated with a wagering game. The second resource may be located apart from the first wagering game, perhaps in a second wagering game machine, or in a wagering game server.

Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed herein that provides game play in exchange for monetary input per game played. The gaming system includes: a game server, a plurality of game units connected to the game server via a network, and a progressive controller. The progressive controller enables time based progressive gaming in which a progressive award is incremented by time unit. The progressive controller manages the progressive award that is incremented over time at random intervals rather than being incremented by coin input.

Abstract: The disclosed pari-mutuel wagering method is directed to a sequential selection of two, three or four horses and the finishing position of the first horse in the selected sequence. A winning ticket is determined by three factors. These three factors include the correct sequential order of the selected horses, the correct finishing position for the first horse in the sequence and a corresponding finishing position selection by the racetrack based on a random draw.

Abstract: Gaming terminals, gaming systems, display device support assemblies, and methods of mounting a display device to a gaming terminal are presented herein. A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game is disclosed. The gaming terminal includes a cabinet, an input device for receiving wagers to play the wagering game, and a display device for displaying information related to the wagering game. The gaming terminal also includes a mounting assembly which affixes the display device proximate the top of the cabinet. The mounting assembly pivotably supports the display device such that a lateral side of the display device can be selectively swung from a first position over the top of the cabinet to a second position over a front of the cabinet where the display device is removable from the cabinet.

Abstract: A hand-held game apparatus and a game program are provided which allow a user to play a game while going back and forth between a narrow-range image and a broad-range image of map. The user can manipulate a touch panel which mounted on a display section for displaying the broad-range image. If the user manipulates the touch panel to point to a coordinate position on the broad-range image, thus designating coordinates for the narrow-range image, a changed narrow-range is displayed. If the user indicates a moving direction on the broad-range image, thus designating a scroll direction, the displayed broad-range image is moved (scrolled).

Abstract: A method, system, and software for preventing cheating during online gaming, including a first online gaming server computer system configured to gather information regarding cheaters detected during online gaming; a second online gaming server computer system configured to receive the information; and a central database configured for aggregating the received information regarding cheaters detected during online gaming gathered by the first online gaming server computer system along with information stored on the central database regarding cheaters detected during online gaming gathered from a plurality of online gaming server computer systems. The aggregated information from the central database regarding cheaters detected is made available to the second online gaming server computer system, and cheaters identified in the aggregated information are prevented from online gaming on the second online gaming server computer system based on the aggregated information from the central database.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a multi-player wireless video-game session is disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless device is configured to establish a wireless ad-hoc connection with another wireless device capable of serving a video game over the ad-hoc network. The wireless device is capable of communicating with the ad-hoc connection through other networks such that a video-game player in one region may move between geographic regions without loss of game play and/or may join other video games associated with other networks. In one embodiment, in response to the user joining the video game, a selection of characters along with personalities and behaviors based on attributes supplied by the user is presented to the user for selection thereof. In another embodiment, the user may transfer a selected personality to another character associated with the video game, such as a computer operated video-game character.

Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving a wager and a display for displaying a wagering game having a plurality of reels comprised of a plurality of symbols. A controller operates to (i) detect receipt of the wager; (ii) activate a play of the wagering game by spinning the reels on the display; (iii) display at least one play enhancement icon on the display; (iv) cause the spinning reels to stop and the display to display a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game; and (v) enhance the randomly selected outcome of the wagering game in response to the at least one play enhancement icon on the display at any time including at least one of before spinning the reels on the display, during spinning the reels on the display, and after spinning the reels on the display.

Abstract: An enhanced gaming system utilizes a touch panel as a user control device for game play features which provides users with the enhanced flexibility and interactivity of a video gaming device in a gaming device environment. The enhanced gaming system includes a set of reels, a panel, and a user control device. The panel overlays a set of reels. The set of reels are visible through at least one portion of the panel. The user control interface includes a substantially transparent touch panel overlaying the reels. In one embodiment, the user control interface enables a user control of reel spin direction in correspondence with direction in which the touch panel is touched by the user. In another aspect, the user control interface enables a user control of reel spin speed in correspondence with the speed in which the user touches the touch panel.

Abstract: A hand-held game apparatus and game program allow a user to play a game while going back and forth between a narrow-range map and a broad-range map-game. The player can manipulate a touch panel mounted on a display for displaying the broad-range map. If the player manipulates the touch panel to point to a coordinate position on the broad-range map, thus designating coordinates for a narrow-range map to display, an image of the narrow-range map, which is changed as desired, is displayed. If the player indicates a moving direction on the broad-range map to designate a scroll direction, the displayed broad-range map is moved (scrolled).

Abstract: A gaming machine includes manufacturer-limited parameter values or parameter value combinations selectable by an operator during gaming machine set-up. The parameter values preferably include different maximum pay lines associated with different denominations and are limited to those which have been determined by the manufacturer to provide optimum game play. The different maximum pay lines may be associated with different math models having substantially the same payback percentage values. Subsequent operator selection of the parameter values during gaming machine setup allows the gaming machine having a single game theme or a gaming machine having multiple game themes to be configured with different maximum pay lines for each single game theme. Thus, the player can play a single theme wagering game with a first maximum pay line value and with a second maximum pay line value where the second maximum pay line value differs from the first maximum pay line value.

Abstract: A gaming network includes a discovery service, gaming machines and services providers. The discovery service receives service information from the service providers and publishes the service information to gaming machines and other entities on the gaming network. The discovery service and service providers may be implemented as web services with a gaming services framework. The gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture that includes gaming machines and servers. Systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts.