Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise accepting, in the regulated gaming machine, funds from a player and enabling the player to play a wager-based game having a plurality of stages and enabling, for a game session, game play and wagers at a current stage of the game. A determination may then be made whether game play has reached a stage complete state in which all requirements necessary for transitioning game play to a next or another stage of the plurality of stages, as may be a determination whether this is a first time, during the game session, that the game play has reached the stage complete state for the current stage. An incentive may be offered to the player to transition game play to the next or another stage when game play has reached the stage complete state for the first time and not offering the player the incentive otherwise.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise accepting funds from a player and correspondingly establishing player game credits. A game and a progress indicator may be provided, with the game comprising a plurality of enabled in-game assets and at least one previously unavailable in-game asset. Each of the plurality of enabled in-game assets may be configured to generate a wagering opportunity when interacted with by the player. Game play may be enabled by receiving at least one player interaction, via a user interface of the regulated gaming machine, with at least some of the enabled plurality of in-game assets. For each generated wagering opportunity, it may be determined determining whether the received player interaction(s) resulted in a successful or an unsuccessful interaction with the enabled in-game asset with which the player interacted.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise accepting funds, in the regulated gaming machine, from a player and correspondingly establishing player game credits enabling the player to play a wager-based skillful game and enabling game play and receiving player input from a user interface of the regulated gaming machine as the player interacts with in-game assets. The gaming machine may then determine whether sufficient player input has been received and game play has occurred to determine a skill level of the player. When sufficient game play has occurred, the skill level of the player may be determined, and the determined skill level may be compared to at least a first predetermined threshold skill level and a second predetermined threshold skill level.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise accepting, in the regulated gaming machine, funds from a player and enabling the player to play a wager-based game that comprises a plurality of game levels. A plurality of payout schedules may be provided, each of which defining a respectively different Return to Player (RTP) percentage. The performance of the player during each of the plurality of game levels may be monitored and, during each of the plurality of game levels, a number of performance indicia may be awarded and displayed, depending upon the monitored player performance, such that a higher player performance is awarded a greater number of performance indicia than is a comparatively lower player performance. When game play has reached an end of a current level of the plurality of game levels, a bonus reward may be awarded, a value of the bonus reward being determined using a selected one of the plurality of payout schedules.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise providing a game configured to interact with a player and to generate a skill-influenced random outcome comprising a generated random pattern, skewed by received skillful player interactions, within an arrangement of a predetermined plurality of elements, each random pattern being associated with an equally random probability of being generated. The player may be provided with an opportunity to select the winning pattern. To do so, an opportunity may be provided, and the player may select, a desired pattern of the predetermined plurality of elements as the pattern on which the player wishes to place a wager. The skill-influenced random outcome may then be generated and displayed, the skill-influenced random outcome comprising the skewed random pattern, skewed by the received player interactions, within the arrangement of the predetermined plurality of elements.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise accepting funds from the player and correspondingly establishing player game credits. A game may be provided, comprising a plurality of in-game assets, each of which being configured to generate a wagering opportunity when interacted with by the player. One or more player interactions may be received with at least some of the plurality of in-game assets. For each generated wagering opportunity, the method may determine whether the received player interaction(s) resulted in successful or unsuccessful interaction(s) with the in-game asset with which the player interacted and, for each successful interaction, a wagering event may be generated, each of which requiring at least a predetermined amount of time for the gaming machine to process.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise accepting funds, in the regulated gaming machine, from a player and correspondingly establishing player game credits. A game may be provided that comprises a plurality of in-game assets, each of which being configured to generate a wagering opportunity when interacted with by the player. One or more player interactions may be received, with at least one the plurality of in-game assets. For each generated wagering opportunity, it may be determined whether the received player interaction(s) resulted in a successful or an unsuccessful interaction with the in-game asset. For each successful interaction, a time elapsed until successful interaction and a wagering event may be generated. For one or more of the generated wagering events, the determined time elapsed until successful interaction may be used to select one of a plurality of payout schedules, each of which being associated with a different return to player (RTP) percentage.

Abstract: A method of determining rewards due to a player playing a regulated gaming machine may include configuring player interaction with a plurality of games assets to give rise to first Wagering Opportunities and a selectively available second Wagering Opportunity. The game may be further configured to have an overall minimum return to player (RTP) and an overall maximum RTP. Using the accepted funds and a first payout schedule that defines a first RTP that is at least as great as the minimum overall RTP, it may be determined whether and how much to reward the player whenever the player interacts with the first Wagering Opportunities to generate first Wagering Events. For at least some of the first Wagering Events generated, a portion of a reward due to the player may be virtually contributed to a bounty.

Abstract: A hanger for a pair of sandals includes a pair of substantially rigid, foldable, planar wings, each wing having a support hook integrally formed with an elongate body member and a fold line extending between lateral sides of the body member for separating the support hook from the body member. An end portion of the body member remote from the support hook has a slot formed in one of its lateral sides for defining a laterally opening sandals engaging hook. The wings have substantially identical support hooks, which are arranged in overlapping registry and connected to each other. The wings fold outwardly along the fold lines for defining a cavity therebetween for accommodating a pair of sandals in sole-to-sole facing relationship therewithin, each sandal being supported by its thongs or straps from one of the sandals engaging hooks.

Abstract: Methods and systems for securing select data on a gaming device are disclosed. The gaming device includes writeable memory such as RAM and/or hard drive that contains the select data. The select data may for example be gaming data associated with operating the gaming device. The gaming device also includes one or more mechanisms for determining whether it is a trusted device (e.g., whether it has been compromised). The gaming device also includes mechanisms for immediately removing the select data from writeable memory when it is determined that the gaming device is not trusted.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. In one embodiment, the gaming system provides players with one or more loyalty incentives, such as one or more loyalty awards, utilizing one or more loyalty incentive award sequences. In one embodiment, the gaming system determines a loyalty award to provide to a player and then determines an appropriate loyalty award sequence to utilize to provide the player the determined loyalty award, wherein the loyalty award sequence is determined based on the individual gaming device that the player is currently playing.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that offer a personalized set of recommended games to an individual. The systems and methods collect personal game selection information for a person, such as demographic information and/or previous gaming experience data. The collected information is then analyzed and used to select a set of recommended games from all possible games (e.g., offered by a gaming establishment) that the person is likely to enjoy. The set of recommended games is then offered to the person when they are identified at or near a gaming machine or when the person provides the personal game selection information to a gaming machine.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that offer a personalized set of recommended games to an individual. The systems and methods collect personal game selection information for a person, such as demographic information and/or previous gaming experience data. The collected information is then analyzed and used to select a set of recommended games from all possible games (e.g., offered by a gaming establishment) that the person is likely to enjoy. The set of recommended games is then offered to the person when they are identified at or near a gaming machine or when the person provides the personal game selection information to a gaming machine.

Abstract: A gaming device operable upon a wager by at least one player includes: (i) a display device; (ii) first and second entities displayed on the display device, the first entity representing the player; (iii) at least one input device configured to enable the player to choose an offensive play and a defensive play fore the first entity; (iv) wherein the display device is countered to display the offensive and defensive plays being countered by a defensive and offensive play, respectively, for the second entity; and (v) a processor configured to determine an outcome for the player based on at least one of (a) a comparison of the offensive play for the first entity to the defensive play for the second player, and (b) a comparison of the defensive play for the first entity to the offensive play for the second entity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing free-play credits in a video poker game are disclosed. The methods and apparatus enable a video poker player to play a plurality of poker hands. The poker game awards free-play credits for lower ranking hands (e.g., below a threshold such as a straight) and monetary credits for higher ranking hands (e.g., at or above a threshold such as a straight). Free-play credits have a lower value than monetary credits. As a result of this lower value, awarding free-play credits instead of monetary credits creates a surplus of money that can be used to further reward the player without changing the overall payback percentage of the poker game. The surplus can be used to increase the payback of the higher ranking hands (e.g., increase the jackpot associated with a royal flush) and/or as a bonus award for frequent players (e.g., award one bonus free-play credit for every twentieth free-play credit earned).

Abstract: A gaming system is provided in which multiple gaming machines are linked. Each of the machines plays its game and generates at least one outcome. The top or best outcome of each machine is submitted, e.g., to a comparator or server computer for ranking. An award is provided for a certain percentage such as one-half of the highest ranked outcomes. The award is made available to the gaming machine, but a player must be wagering on the associated outcome producing event (such as the payline) to receive the award. For example, if a player plays only payline one of a multi-line slot machine and payline five of that machine generates the highest ranked result of all linked gaming machines, the award is made available to the gaming machine, but the player does not receive the award. In an embodiment, each linked gaming machine participates in play (all paylines) regardless of whether a player is playing that gaming machine.