Abstract: A layout pattern of a plurality of possible layout patterns for wagering game machines is determined. An input indicating a location of a wagering game machine within the layout patter is received. A mapping of the wagering game machine to the location within the layout pattern is stored.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are one or more examples of generating a communication directed to a contact of a wagering game player account. In some embodiments, a gaming system can perform operations to determine an identity of an individual located within a given physical location and present, on a display device, a virtual identifier associated with the contact. The individual is indicated as a contact in a wagering game player account. The display device is associated with the wagering game player account. The gaming system can further perform an operation to detect a user input related to the virtual identifier presented on the display device. Further, the gaming system can perform an operation to send a communication to a device associated with the contact in response to detecting the user input.

Abstract: A gaming system includes features to relay sensitive information to a player while keeping the sensitive information private from non-players. According to one aspect the gaming system comprises one or more input devices, one or more display devices for displaying a wagering game including sensitive and non-sensitive information, one or more processors, and one or more memory devices. The memory devices store instructions that cause the gaming system to display a plurality of images. The displayed images do not include the sensitive information. The instructions also cause the gaming system to provide an interactive feature configured to receive a predetermined user interaction via at least one of the one or more input devices. The instructions further cause the gaming system to display, in response to the predetermined user interaction with the interactive feature, a plurality of images, the displayed images including the sensitive information.

Abstract: This describes generating casino floor maps. In some embodiments, the casino monitoring system can analyze captured data of casino floor objects. The system can determine metadata related to any of the casino floor objects and generate one or more overlay objects for each of the casino floor objects. The system can create a casino floor map by superimposing the overlay objects over the captured data (e.g., superimpose the overlay objects onto a live video stream). The system can present the floor map on any suitable device. The system can detect a selection of the overlay objects on the casino floor map and present metadata for a casino floor object associated with the selected overlay object. The system can also determine details of people on a casino floor via close-range biometric scans and measurements. The system can use the scans and measurements to assist people in the casino.

Abstract: A gaming chair for use with a gaming machine that conducts a wagering game, the chair includes a seat and a tactile device for providing tactile sensations via the seat according to at least one of events occurring in the wagering game, and player input through an input device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing input in a wagering game machine are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a button panel for a wagering game machine. The button panel comprises a main button circuit board. The button panel also comprises at least one socket mounted to the main button circuit board. The button panel comprises a number of display components plugged into the at least one socket, wherein each display component comprises a display coupled to a display circuit board, wherein at least one switch used to determine a button press is mounted on each display circuit board.

Abstract: A gaming terminal for conducting a wagering game includes a main body having a cabinet door and a top box positioned above the main body. The cabinet door has a closed position and an open position. The top box includes a crown that is moveable from a first position that prohibits access to the top box to a second position that provides access to the top box. The gaming terminal further includes a latching assembly for securing and releasing the crown. The latching assembly is configured to release the crown in response to the cabinet door being in the open position so as to permit movement of the crown from the first position to the second position. The latching assembly is further configured to secure the crown in response to the crown being moved from the second position to the first position when the cabinet door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A spinning reel slot machine has increased versatility, while having reels that are aesthetically similar to traditional mechanical reels. In one embodiment, the slot machine includes a plurality of optical fibers having first ends optically coupled to a surface of an image display device and seconds ends defining a curved display surface for displaying simulated mechanical reels to a player. In another embodiment, one or more of the mechanical reels has a transparent window at a location where a symbol would normally be present. A video display displays a video symbol in the transparent window. In yet a further embodiment, one of the plurality of mechanical reels has a miniature image display located at selected ones of the symbol regions for providing video symbols for the game. In yet further embodiments, a symbol region can produce more than one symbol in response to exposure at certain wavelengths or polarizations of light.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a cabinet frame, a display, and an emotive lighting area. The cabinet frame has a cabinet surface visible to and facing a player position in front of the gaming machine. The display is mounted to the cabinet frame and is configured to display a randomly selected outcome from a wagering game. The emotive lighting area is integrated with the cabinet frame on the cabinet surface, proximate the display, and is separate from the display. The emotive lighting area includes a light source and a reflective surface, each of the light source and the reflective surface being concealed within the cabinet frame such that they are not viewable from the player position, the reflective surface configured to receive light directly from the light source and to reflect the light to a viewable area.

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 gaming terminal for conducting a wagering game includes a main body having a cabinet door and a top box positioned above the main body. The cabinet door has a closed position and an open position. The top box includes a crown that is moveable from a first position that prohibits access to the top box to a second position that provides access to the top box. The gaming terminal further includes a latching assembly for securing and releasing the crown. The latching assembly is configured to release the crown in response to the cabinet door being in the open position so as to permit movement of the crown from the first position to the second position. The latching assembly is further configured to secure the crown in response to the crown being moved from the second position to the first position when the cabinet door is in the closed position.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for dependency verification of content distributed to a gaming machine is described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, over a network and into a gaming machine, data that includes a software component. The method also includes verifying that the gaming machine includes the version or the range of versions of a component, upon determining that the software component is dependent on a version or a range of versions of the component that is part of the gaming machine.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a printed circuit board that is part of a wagering game machine. The printed circuit board includes a processor operable to execute instructions associated with a wagering game. The printed circuit board also includes a hard drive mount that includes an alignment guide and a blind mate connector for electrically coupling a hard drive to a surface mount connection on the printed circuit board. The hard drive is to store wagering game data for the wagering game.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for dependency verification of content distributed to a gaming machine is described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, over a network and into a gaming machine, data that includes a software component. The method also includes verifying that the gaming machine includes the version or the range of versions of a component, upon determining that the software component is dependent on a version or a range of versions of the component that is part of the gaming machine.

Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a gaming machine cabinet having a front, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall are adjacent to the front. The gaming machine further comprises a display, a CPU, and a power supply mounted within the gaming machine cabinet. The gaming machine further comprises a first fan mounted adjacent to the CPU and oriented to pull air from outside the gaming machine cabinet over the CPU along a first air path. The gaming machine further comprises a second fan mounted adjacent to the power supply and oriented to push air exiting the power supply out of the gaming machine cabinet along a second air path. The first air path does not substantially intersect the second air path.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method comprising determining a layout pattern of a plurality of wagering game machines. The layout pattern indicates a plurality of locations within the layout pattern. Display of a representation of the layout pattern with highlighting of a first of the plurality of locations within the layout pattern is requested. Input at one or more of the plurality of wagering game machines in response to said high-lighting is requested. A first of the plurality of wagering game machines is mapped to the first of the plurality of locations based, at least in part, on the input being supplied from the first of the plurality of wagering game machines.

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 wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include receiving emotive light presentation data from a variety of emotive light control sources and determining presentation priorities for the emotive light presentation data. The operations can further include controlling the emotive light presentation data, from the variety of emotive light control sources, based on prioritization of the presentation priorities. In some embodiments, the operations can include controlling priorities based on locations of emotive lighting devices on a wagering game machine. In other embodiments, the operations can include assigning priorities based on wagering game types and other classifications. In yet other embodiments, the operations can utilize priority values to determine lighting prominence, which in conjunction with transparency values, can generate blended, or composite lighting effects.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining a bank gaming effect for presentation on a bank of content presentation devices. The bank of content presentation devices can be associated with a plurality of wagering game machines. The operations can further include receiving presentation status information for the bank of content presentation devices. The presentation status information can indicate one or more events that affect a state of availability of each of the bank of content presentation devices to present the bank gaming effect. The operations can further include determining, based on the presentation status information, one content presentation device, from the bank of content presentation devices, that is ineligible to present the bank gaming effect. The operations can also include excluding the one content presentation device from participation in the bank gaming effect.

Abstract: A handheld gaming machine including one or more actuators for providing vibrational cues or feedback during play of a wagering game to indicate the occurrence of a wagering-game event, such as a change in game rules, an input of a wager, and the like. The change in game rules may include a change in the odds of winning an award during the wagering game, a change in the type of award that can be awarded during the wagering game, eligibility for bonus play, or eligibility to accumulate one or more game elements associated with the wagering game. The vibration can be consistent with a wagering-game theme and can accompany or be a substitute for concurrently played audio sounds. The actuator(s) may include a haptic device such as a haptic touchscreen that overlays the display or an electromagnetic coil acting upon an unbalanced mass.