Abstract: A gaming method that includes causing a first video image to be generated, wherein the first video image represents a first game selected from the group of first games consisting of video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno and video bingo. The method further includes causing a second video image to be generated, wherein said second video image represents an instant bonus game. The method also includes providing said instant bonus game to a player without requiring play of said first game and evaluating a first outcome of said first game when said first game is selected by said player. The method also includes evaluating a second outcome of said instant bonus game when said instant bonus game is selected by said player and determining a first value payout associated with said first outcome of said first game when said first game is selected by said player, and determining a second value payout associated with said instant bonus game when said instant bonus game is selected by said player.

Abstract: Disclosed are gaming machines, gaming machine reels, and configurable reel strips, including related methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, for electronically altering and replacing information shown on a reel of a gaming machine. A reel strip with a configurable surface is provided on the reel. The configurable surface includes a bi-stable material such as electronic paper. The configurable surface of the reel strip has a plurality of configurable regions of the bi-stable material. The configurable regions can be configured to display information such as designated symbols of a game of chance. In this way, the displayed symbols can be replaced without having to physically replace the reel strip or reel. Generally, symbol information is output for display on the configurable regions during a power on state. The bi-stable nature of the configurable regions enables the designated symbols to also be displayed during a power off state.

Abstract: A plasma spray gun comprises a nozzle, an upstream powder injector, and a downstream powder injector. The upstream powder injector is disposed outside the nozzle and axially adjacent a nozzle outlet. The downstream powder injector is disposed axially downstream of the first upstream powder injector. The downstream powder injector is operative in a first coating mode, and the upstream powder injector is operative in a second coating mode.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for managing licenses in gaming networks. Some aspects of the invention are provided as a license manager module that operates as part of a server-based system for provisioning and configuring gaming machines. Security and authentication techniques are provided to prevent unauthorized gaming software usage. Such gaming software may be, for example, downloaded to gaming machines in the network under the control of a gaming establishment's game management server that is in communication with a license manager device. In preferred implementations, a gaming machine is prevented from executing software for a game of chance unless the license for that game is valid and has not expired.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for managing licenses in gaming networks. Some aspects of the invention are provided as a license manager module that operates as part of a server-based system for provisioning and configuring gaming machines. Security and authentication techniques are provided to prevent unauthorized gaming software usage. Such gaming software may be, for example, downloaded to gaming machines in the network under the control of a gaming establishment's game management server that is in communication with a license manager device. In preferred implementations, a gaming machine is prevented from executing software for a game of chance unless the license for that game is valid and has not expired.

Abstract: Different mechanisms are provided to enable a gaming machine to download files/images, move/copy the files/images from one folder to another without breaking authentication, and resume interrupted file manipulation operations such as move/copy operations and/or download operations which have been interrupted by a power hit. In this way, the technique of the present invention is able to provide a self-diagnostic system for ensuring authenticated, atomic transactions, and for automatically handling detected error conditions. Additionally the technique of the present invention is able to provide a mechanism for seamlessly updating gaming machine components at runtime. This may include, for example, the automatic mounting and/or unmounting of selected games to/from the gaming machine memory during runtime.

Abstract: A gaming machine method and apparatus may have a rotatable object configured to rotate about a first point that is also an axis of rotation, and a plurality of segments provided on the rotatable object, each plurality of segments having an area proportional to a probability of success of winning a prize, wherein the plurality of segments radiate from a second point. In other embodiments, the segments may be formed to create visual effects when the rotatable object is spun.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine is designed to execute a modular gaming software architecture. A plurality of gaming software modules may be loaded into RAM on the gaming machine and executed to play a game of chance. Many of the gaming software modules are designed to communicate via application program interfaces so that the logic in many of the gaming software modules may be designed independently of each other. In particular, the modular gaming software architecture allows a game flow software module used to generate a game of chance on the gaming machine to be decoupled from a game presentation software module used to present the game chance. Thus, a group of games may be designed where the games share a common game flow software module but use different game presentation software modules to change the look and feel of the game.

Abstract: Open architecture communication systems and methods are provided that allow flexible data transmission between gaming machines and other devices and nodes within a gaming machine network. The gaming machine and other devices employ a communication interface that sends and receives data via a common communication protocol and via common communication hardware. The communication interface and common communication protocol allow data transfer between gaming machines and other network nodes such as gaming service servers, despite the presence of different proprietary gaming machine functions and proprietary communication protocols and despite the presence of various proprietary hardware and proprietary communication protocols relied on by the servers.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine is designed to execute a modular gaming software architecture. A plurality of gaming software modules may be loaded into RAM on the gaming machine and executed to play a game of chance. Many of the gaming software modules are designed to communicate via application program interfaces so that the logic in many of the gaming software modules may be designed independently of each other. In particular, the modular gaming software architecture allows a game flow software module used to generate a game of chance on the gaming machine to be decoupled from a game presentation software module used to present the game chance. Thus, a group of games may be designed where the games share a common game flow software module but use different game presentation software modules to change the look and feel of the game.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides method and apparatus for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine. While a game of chance is being played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived from a three-dimensional object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a display screen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of the game outcome presentation. To add excitement to the game, a 3-D position of the 3-D object and other features of the 3-D gaming environment may be controlled by a game player. Nearly an unlimited variety of virtual objects, such as slot reels, gaming machines and casinos, may be modeled in the 3-D gaming environment.

Abstract: Novel methods, devices and systems are described for forming displays and creating environments in a casino. Some implementations of the invention provide configurable gaming machine skins, which may be formed from electronic paper or the like. Casino environments may be created in accordance with a game theme and/or to indicate a group of players. The environment may include configurable surfaces of gaming machines and/or nearby surfaces, such as walls, floors and ceilings. Projected light and/or an audio system may be used to enhance the immersive and dynamic environment. Preferably, some or all of these features may be changed automatically when a game theme changes.

Abstract: A wager gaming machine may be configured not only to provide wagering games, but also to communicate with one or more hosts that can provide information and/or services pertaining to local wager gaming events, including but not limited to local tournaments, local restaurants, local messages (e.g., messages from other players in the gaming establishment), local social events, local sporting events, local dating opportunities, etc. Other hosts may provide information and/or services pertaining to business or finance (e.g., stock quotes), sports, news, weather, etc. Processes for conveying audio, video, etc., from host devices may be separate from processes used to control wager game presentations. At least some such processes may be able to output an associated “skin” on a video system of the wager gaming machine. These processes may involve providing one or more “widgets.

Abstract: Various gaming-related services are provided, including but not limited to security services, harm minimization services, player identification services, bonusing/progressive services, accounting services, financial/banking services, network tunneling services, cheating detection services, etc. Such services may be provided, at least in part, by software agents that can be configured for different platforms and/or operating systems. Some software-based player tracking methods of the invention can aggregate data from multiple devices used by a player for gaming.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to different techniques for managing the storage of accumulated information in selected non-volatile memory sources at a gaming machine. In one implementation of the present invention relates to a technique for automatically and dynamically swapping critical data and/or other game related information between the non-volatile RAM and the alternate storage (e.g., disk drive) of a gaming machine as new games are activated and/or existing games are deactivated at the gaming machine.

Abstract: Games may be divided into different portions having differing preservation needs. These different portions may be saved to set locations for set periods of time when a downloaded game that was available on a given gaming terminal must be disabled, removed or otherwise made unavailable on the gaming terminal. The removal process may be automated or controlled remotely, although this is not strictly required. Further, preservation of games may be implemented using directories of the various game components for multiple downloaded games available to a gaming terminal.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides a gaming machine with a plurality of software units providing player tracking services. The software player tracking units eliminate the need for a separate hardware player tracking unit. The player tracking devices, including the card reader, are accessible to the master gaming controller on the gaming machine and may be utilized by the master gaming controller for other gaming applications. The player tracking software incorporates communication protocols for communicating with a variety of player tracking devices. Communication protocols, device interfaces and device drivers for operating the player tracking devices and performing player tracking services may be added or upgraded by loading the player tracking software to a memory mounted within the gaming machine.

Abstract: A disclosed authentication instrument is used to authorize various services at a hotel-casino complex, such as but not limited to in-room gaming, in-room sports wagering, room access, safe access, mini-bar access, Electronic Fund Transfers (EFT), player tracking services and in-room entertainment services (e.g., video games and movie channels). A smart card, an electronic token and a magnetic striped card are examples of hardware that may be used as authentication instruments. For in-room gaming, the authentication instrument may be used to authorize, in a secure and legal manner, in-room game play sessions on an entertainment terminal connected to a remote gaming machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating gaming machine software is disclosed. In one embodiment the method and apparatus is used to authenticate the contents of a removable media. Use of a removable media provides means to store large amounts of software on a single media to install software, perform software updates, diagnose gaming machines, authenticate software, or configure gaming machines. An authentication file may contain a listing of each file on the removable media and an associated hash value calculated with a hash function. The hash values are calculated and stored in an authentication file and encryption of the one or more hash values may occur. A hash value re-calculation is performed on each file at a later time to determine the hash value at the time of use. The recalculated hash values are compared to the decrypted hash values stored in the authentication file.

Abstract: A gaming machine displays multiple game outcome presentations to one or more players playing the gaming machine. A player may initiate a new game on the gaming machine while the outcome of a previous game is being presented to the player. For a number of different games, two or more game outcomes may be presented simultaneously to the player on the gaming machine. The game outcome presentations for two or more of the games may appear to interact. However, the game outcomes determined by the gaming machine are independent of one another and do not depend on the game outcome presentation. Many different combinations of games may be played simultaneously on the gaming machine.