Abstract: Sponsored gaming allows a person to provide benefits to a person playing a game such as a slot machine, video poker, online gambling, etc. A sponsor can make a payment in order to improve the odds of a player winning a jackpot, round, hand or game. A sponsor can make a payment to improve a player's odds or to increase the number of units in a player's bet, or to cause other effects. A method for sponsoring gaming can include accessing a sponsor interface; selecting one or more sponsor variables and transferring value; and altering a game to provide a sponsored benefit to a player in response to the selected one or more sponsor variables. The sponsor variables can include a game or game console, a player, a payout, betting units, and/or a statistical advantage, for example. A host of the game, such as a casino or online betting operator, can receive a portion of the payment or other compensation for allowing the sponsorship.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-CD player with a quick scanning feature where the multi-CD player stores samples of a portion of each of the CD's into a fast access memory device such as a random access memory (RAM). The multi-CD player provides a mode where the stored portions are played back quickly so that a user can select which CD to play based on the playback portions.