Abstract: Disclosed is a gaming machine touch screen system incorporating a flat transparent or nearly transparent layer that contains a series of active elements/actuators/chambers that enable a vertical displacement of the touch screen top surface. These active elements displace the top surface of the touch screen upon command of the gaming machine to provide features perceptible to the player's touch.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gaming machine touch screen system incorporating a flat transparent or nearly transparent layer that contains a series of active elements/actuators/chambers that enable a vertical displacement of the touch screen top surface. These active elements displace the top surface of the touch screen upon command of the gaming machine to provide features perceptible to the player's touch.

Abstract: An electronic game system (100, FIG. 1) displays game element images (246, FIG. 2) within multiple game element areas (240). If a triggering event occurs (312, FIG. 3), a set of video images (402, FIG. 4) is overlayed over one or more of the game element images. Portions of the game element images may be visible during at least a portion of the duration of the set of video images. Various game element images (504, FIG. 5) can be replaced with altered images (608, FIG. 6) and/or other game element images (702, FIG. 7) while the set of video images is being displayed, thus causing the appearance that the set of video images is interacting with the game elements. Embodiments are incorporated into a wagering game system, such as an electronic slot machine game.

Abstract: A gaming device including at least a first reel in a first reel set linked to at least a first reel in a second reel set and at least a second reel in the first reel set not linked to any reel in any second reel set. In a play of the game, symbols are independently generated for each reel set. After an award evaluation, the gaming device removes zero, one, or more symbols from the reels in the reel sets. If any empty symbol positions are formed on the first reel in the second reel set, the gaming device transfers one or more symbols from the first reel of the first reel set to the linked first reel of the second reel set to occupy the empty symbol positions. The gaming device generates symbols to fill the empty symbol positions and provides any awards for any winning symbol combinations.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a plurality of linked gaming machines and a controller coupled to the gaming machines. The gaming machines are used for playing one or more wagering games having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome. Each gaming machine includes at least one wager-input device for receiving a first type of wager, which allows the player to play the wagering game, and the second type of wager, which allows the player to be eligible for a progressive jackpot. The controller determines a first cumulative value of the first type of wagers, a second cumulative value of the second type of wagers, and a distributable wager pool that is derived from a portion of the first cumulative value and a portion of the second cumulative value. The distributable wager pool can fund the progressive jackpot.

Abstract: A gaming device including at least a first reel in a first reel set linked to at least a first reel in a second reel set and at least a second reel in the first reel set not linked to any reel in any second reel set. In a play of the game, symbols are independently generated for each reel set. After an award evaluation, the gaming device removes zero, one, or more symbols from the reels in the reel sets. If any empty symbol positions are formed on the first reel in the second reel set, the gaming device transfers one or more symbols from the first reel of the first reel set to the linked first reel of the second reel set to occupy the empty symbol positions. The gaming device generates symbols to fill the empty symbol positions and provides any awards for any winning symbol combinations.

Abstract: A gaming device including at least a first reel in a first reel set linked to at least a first reel in a second reel set and at least a second reel in the first reel set not linked to any reel in any second reel set. In a play of the game, symbols are independently generated for each reel set. After an award evaluation, the gaming device removes zero, one, or more symbols from the reels in the reel sets. If any empty symbol positions are formed on the first reel in the second reel set, the gaming device transfers one or more symbols from the first reel of the first reel set to the linked first reel of the second reel set to occupy the empty symbol positions. The gaming device generates symbols to fill the empty symbol positions and provides any awards for any winning symbol combinations.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to gaming machines with a top box having a reconfigurable pointer. The reconfigurable pointer identifies a particular game outcome and is alterable for different games. According to one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a first display located within a main cabinet for presenting a main game, and a second display located in a top box for presenting a second game. In one embodiment, the main cabinet also includes a virtual button deck for controlling the main game and the second game.

Abstract: A communication feature or a plurality of communication features allows a player to know that he or she has selected a special event to be conducted in the wagering game. Generally, the player must meet certain criteria (e.g., play the maximum number of paylines) or, perhaps, make an additional wager to be eligible for the special event. The communication features may include (i) an indicator within the player-input device that is used to allow the player to select the special event, (ii) a banner that is displayed prior to and during the wagering game that indicates that the special event is activated, (iii) a placard that is displayed prior to the wagering game that indicates that the special event is activated, and/or (iv) the altering of one or more symbols that are used to indicate the randomly selected outcome of the wagering game.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a gesture enhanced game play system that includes a display subsystem, a sensor subsystem, and one or more computing subsystems. The display subsystem is configured to display images related to one or more games to be played on at least a first game playing surface. The images include a virtual game layout having a number of demarcations of at least one area associated with the play of the one or more games. The sensor subsystem is configured to detect at least one physical aspect of at least one game related piece when the game related piece is at least proximate the virtual game layout. The one or more computing subsystems communicatively coupled to the display subsystem to control the images displayed by the display subsystem. Additionally, one or more computing subsystems are communicatively coupled to the sensor subsystem to receive information indicative of the at least one physical aspect of the game related piece sensed by the sensor subsystem.

Abstract: The gaming device disclosed herein includes a plurality of matrices of symbol positions. At least a first reel in a first reel set or matrix is associated with or linked to at least a first reel in a second reel set or matrix and at least a second reel in the first reel set not associated with or linked to any reel in any second reel set. In a play of the game, symbols are independently generated for each reel set and the symbols displayed for each reel set are independently evaluated to provide any awards for any winning symbol combinations. After the evaluation, the gaming device removes zero, one, or more symbols from reels in the reel sets. If any empty symbol positions are formed on the first reel in the second reel set, the gaming device shifts or transfers one or more symbols from the first reel of the first reel set to the linked first reel of the second reel set to occupy the one or more empty symbol positions.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus for conducting a wagering game comprises an electro-mechanical award display including a plurality of physical elements. A processor is operative to record a wager to play the wagering game and, in response to a predetermined criterion, move the physical elements between an extended position and a retracted position to indicate a game outcome.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a plurality of linked gaming machines and a controller coupled to the gaming machines. The gaming machines are used for playing one or more wagering games having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome. Each gaming machine includes at least one wager-input device for receiving a first type of wager, which allows the player to play the wagering game, and the second type of wager, which allows the player to be eligible for a progressive jackpot. The controller determines a first cumulative value of the first type of wagers, a second cumulative value of the second type of wagers, and a distributable wager pool that is derived from a portion of the first cumulative value and a portion of the second cumulative value. The distributable wager pool can fund the progressive jackpot.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a plurality of linked gaming machines and a controller coupled to the gaming machines. The gaming machines are used for playing one or more wagering games having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome. Each gaming machine includes at least one wager-input device for receiving a first type of wager, which allows the player to play the wagering game, and the second type of wager, which allows the player to be eligible for a progressive jackpot. The controller determines a first cumulative value of the first type of wagers, a second cumulative value of the second type of wagers, and a distributable wager pool that is derived from a portion of the first cumulative value and a portion of the second cumulative value. The distributable wager pool can fund the progressive jackpot.

Abstract: A symbol matching gaming machine and method of conducting a wagering game on the gaming machine are disclosed. The machine receives a wager from a player and portrays an array of symbols at respective positions in the array. The machine indicates to the player any pairs of symbols in the array that may be swapped to create a predefined, award-generating symbol combination. In response to receiving a selection from the player of one of the any pairs of symbols to swap, the machine swaps the selected pair of symbols and provides an award associated with the symbol combination. The player may continue to select pairs of symbols to swap and earn awards until a predefined, award-generating symbol combination can no longer be created by swapping symbols.