Abstract: A slot machine cabinet including a bill validator. The bill validator is mounted horizontally yielding significant legroom for players and reducing the footprint of the slot machine cabinet. The cabinet includes a horizontal top door and a vertical front door. The top door supports on top thereof a touchscreen monitor and the front door includes a slot for inserting currency, tickets and vouchers into the bill validator. The front door may also include slots for inserting magnetic cards and dispensing receipt tickets.

Abstract: A gaming machine having a utility shelf movably attached thereto wherein the utility shelf is adapted to move between a stowed position and a play position where the stowed position is substantially non-horizontal and the play position is substantially horizontal. In this manner, gaming machine players may play bingo (or other live, card-based games) simultaneously while playing a gaming machine.

Abstract: A slot machine cabinet including a bill validator. The bill validator is mounted horizontally yielding significant legroom for players and reducing the footprint of the slot machine cabinet. The cabinet includes a horizontal top door and a vertical front door. The top door supports on top thereof a touchscreen monitor and the front door includes a slot for inserting currency, tickets and vouchers into the bill validator. The front door may also include slots for inserting magnetic cards and dispensing receipt tickets.

Abstract: A transparent, automatic ball blower configured to generate random outcomes for a game by air-mixing Ping-Pong-style balls in a mixing chamber. During game play, the balls extracted from the mixing chamber via an extractor pipe are subsequently carried by a computer-controlled, motorized ball carrier mechanism to an inlet of a ball accumulator compartment. The ball accumulator compartment may be located proximate to the ball mixing chamber. The ball carrier mechanism moves and drops the extracted balls, one-at-a-time, into the ball accumulator compartment. The balls fall into the ball accumulator compartment by means of gravity alone. The balls fill the ball accumulator compartment which, in one version, accommodates a single vertical layer of balls allowing visual inspection of the balls. At the end of game play, the balls are released from the ball accumulator compartment into the mixing chamber through a computer-controlled, motorized ball release gate.

Abstract: A casino game is implemented on the basis of a wireless mobile player unit adapted to play poker, slots, bingo and other casino games. The unit obtains random game outcomes from a central computer over a radio channel utilizing a data authentication and/or encryption technique relying on a database of authentication keys. The authentication key database and, optionally, key selection criteria are downloaded into the unit from the central computer via a secure communication channel. The data authentication key database is preferably used only once, and is replaced with a new database for each session. Alternatively, a database of keys may be resident on the player unit and an encryption selection sequence or algorithm is securely downloaded before the start of a gaming session, which is then used to choose a different authentication key for each transaction occurring during the session. Authentication keys may also be used as encryption keys to further protect the data.

Abstract: Floor-agent-operated wireless barcode reader for reading the barcodes imprinted on bingo packs along with barcode labels affixed to player loyalty cards and portable and/or stationary bingo player units. The two or three barcodes read by the barcode reader are transmitted over a WiFi channel to a central file server that downloads bingo player units identified by the barcodes with the bingo packs bar-coded identification and/or contents over a local area network. In addition, the central file server tracks player spend utilizing the bar-coded player identification.

Abstract: A system and method for awarding bonus prizes is paid responsive to the last two or more bingo balls called during a bingo game (e.g., last five balls form a predetermined combination of bingo letters). For example, if the last five balls called in a bingo game are an “O” ball, preceded by a “G” ball, preceded by an “N” ball, preceded by an “I” ball, and preceded by a “B” ball, the last five balls called or selected in the bingo game spell the word “BINGO” and accordingly, the winning bingo card is paid a jackpot prize. Another example of a bonus combination is the last three balls spelling the word “BIG.” Yet another example of a bonus combination is the word “BIG” being spelled by bingo balls selected by a pair of ball blowers working in tandem.

Abstract: A system and method using one or more remote controllers to control hands-free ball blowers. The remote controllers may be used by bingo callers and/or a designated bingo player. In addition, the remote controllers are configured to enable bingo callers to override a designated bingo player's control of the ball-blowers if needed, e.g., if a player delays a drawing of a bingo ball for too long a time. The system and method allows players to be more interactive with bingo games and similar draw-type games.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ball blower apparatus for facilitating games of chance. The ball blower apparatus has a motor-driven ball carriage mechanism that captures air-ejected balls from a ball mixing chamber and carries the captured ball to an inlet of a ball return tube that extends downward to a bottom of the ball mixing chamber. Captured balls travel down the tube under air pressure generated by an air blower. The air pressure also prevents the balls from electro-statically clinging to walls of the tube. The balls may be bar-coded and scanned by a barcode reader while being handled by the ball carriage mechanism. A computer interfaced with the barcode reader automatically controls the operation of the ball blower including the operation of the carriage motor, air blower(s) and a solenoid that controls the egress of balls from the ball return tube into the mixing chamber. A TV camera may also be utilized to capture and visually display numbers associated with the balls.

Abstract: A casino game is implemented on the basis of a wireless mobile player unit adapted to play poker, slots, bingo and other casino games. The unit obtains random game outcomes from a central computer over a radio channel utilizing a data encryption technique relying on an authentication key. The authentication key is downloaded into the unit from the central computer via a secure wired communication channel while the unit is stored, recharged and locked in a dispensing kiosk controlled by the central computer. A player rents the unit from the kiosk, plays it throughout the casino and returns the unit to the kiosk to obtain prizes and/or bonus points earned. The central computer tracks the inventory of the units in the kiosk and on the casino floor.

Abstract: Described is an improved bingo flashboard that doubles as a verifier of winning bingo cards due to the capability to distinctly display a winning subset of bingo numbers called in a bingo game. In addition to highlighting the winning bingo numbers, the flashboard preferably highlights the winning bingo pattern and also displays the identification number of the winning bingo card along with the prize level and the prize amount of the winning bingo card. The flashboard is in communication with and controlled by a bingo caller terminal.

Abstract: A bingo pack printed by a printer responsive to a computer consisting of a plurality of bingo pages imprinted with at least one bingo card and a reference corresponding to a bingo game, including but not limited to, a game name, a game number and/or a bingo pattern. A bingo pack is dispensed to a player from a self-service computer-controlled printing kiosk. The kiosk displays a menu of available bingo packs on a touchscreen display and accepts currency, credit cards and refund vouchers. Bingo packs dispensed from the kiosk may be printed on paper of various colors, indicating a prize level. Each bingo page comprising a printed bingo pack may be imprinted with a pack identification number, date, bingo hall name, advertisement, coupon, sweepstakes identification, player's name and/or player identification number. In addition to paper bingo cards, kiosks may transmit electronic bingo cards to electronic bingo player units.

Abstract: A bingo pack printed by a printer responsive to a computer consisting of a plurality of bingo pages imprinted with at least one bingo card and a reference corresponding to a bingo game, including but not limited to, a game name, a game number and/or a bingo pattern. A bingo pack is dispensed to a player from a self-service computer-controlled printing kiosk. The kiosk displays a menu of available bingo packs on a touchscreen display and accepts currency, credit cards and refund vouchers. Bingo packs dispensed from the kiosk may be printed on paper of various colors, indicating a prize level. Each bingo page comprising a printed bingo pack may be imprinted with a pack identification number, date, bingo hall name, advertisement, coupon, sweepstakes identification, player's name and/or player identification number. In addition to paper bingo cards, kiosks may transmit electronic bingo cards to electronic bingo player units.

Abstract: A casino game is implemented on the basis of a wireless mobile player unit adapted to play poker, slots, bingo and other casino games. The unit obtains random game outcomes from a central computer over a radio channel utilizing a data encryption technique relying on an authentication key. The authentication key is downloaded into the unit from the central computer via a secure wired communication channel while the unit is stored, recharged and locked in a dispensing kiosk controlled by the central computer. A player rents the unit from the kiosk, plays it throughout the casino and returns the unit to the kiosk to obtain prizes and/or bonus points earned. The central computer tracks the inventory of the units in the kiosk and on the casino floor.

Abstract: A voice-activated electronic bingo player unit facilitates automatic playing of bingo. Via a microphone, the unit receives bingo caller's game announcements broadcast over a conventional public announcement system. The unit digitally processes the received sound signals, recognizes received voice commands matching standard samples stored in its memory and utilizes the recognized voice commands in lieu of player's manual entries and/or in lieu of conventional game commands received over a gaming network. Via a point of sale terminal, the unit is downloaded with a library of voice samples of a bingo caller who conducts the current bingo session. In order to facilitate the recognition of voice commands, the actual bingo caller's voice announcements are filtered-out from the background noise and compressed by the bingo caller terminal before broadcasting via the public announcement system. The voice-activated bingo caller terminal also drives bingo flashboards.

Abstract: Bingo players are provided with inexpensive electronic pagers that signal the current status of bingo cards purchased by players. A central computer automatically verifies all bingo cards sold to all players each time a new bingo number is called. Over a radio channel, the central computer notifies the electronic pagers of the current status of bingo cards purchased by the respective holders of the pagers. The pagers receive data transmitted by the central computer and display the received data including an identification of the leading bingo card and an indication of a bingo number needed to complete bingo. An identification of the bingo cards being monitored by the pager is input into the pager by a player via the pager's keypad or by a cashier that operates a point-of-sale terminal. The point-of-sale terminal communicates with the central computer and optionally with the electronic pagers as well.

Abstract: Players obtain computer-generated barcoded sales receipts that identify bingo cards the player is to play during a bingo session. The receipts are sold at point-of-sale terminals interconnected to a bingo caller terminal that acts as a file server maintaining a database of all sold bingo cards. The server randomly generates bingo numbers, verifies all cards each time a new number is called and ends the current game when at least one winning card is detected. The bingo caller terminal computes all prizes and maintains databases of the identification numbers of winning cards and corresponding receipts, the prizes paid and the outstanding payout liabilities. The bingo caller terminal initiates a new game upon completion of the current game. Players check the status of their cards by scanning their receipts at self-service terminals upon a game's completion. Players collect winnings at cashier point of sale terminals upon submitting receipts and player-tracking cards.

Abstract: A transparent bingo card overlays a magnetic indicator board. The bingo numbers on the card are marked with a magnetic wand that darkens the area of the magnetic indicator board immediately underneath the bingo number. All marks are erased at the start of new bingo game by an eraser magnet sliding inside of the indicator board. The indicator board incorporates a microprocessor that optically tracks all cards being played by reading data marks on the transparent bingo board.

Abstract: An electronic card and board game for playing bingo, keno, and the like games, wherein the master game board being operated by the caller generates and transmits random bingo numbers and game patterns, and the player's game board receives and processes the bingo numbers and game patterns, and the player's game board receives and processes the received information in conjunction with locally originated data determining the contents of a multiple bingo card. The multiple bingo card is implemented as a replaceable, removable transparent template bearing imprinted bingo numbers. In working position, the card overlays a dot-matrix display incorporated in the player's game board. The display is controlled by a microprocessor. The microprocessor activates the display dots located beneath the bingo numbers matching those transmitted by the master board via a radio channel. The microprocessor computes bingo numbers on the card using the identification number of the card in accordance with a predefined algorithm.

Abstract: An electronic card and board game in which the players and/or leaders of the game are assisted by a microprocessor in the selection of random numbers for the game, and in monitoring the current status of the game as applicable to one or more playing cards bearing information relevant to the game. This information is presented in two distinct forms; the first form being convenient for human perception, and the second form being convenient for machine reading. The current status of the game is displayed upon a game board display shaped as a traditional game card, e.g. "Bingo" card. The display indicates the conditions of: a complete match, a partial match, or no match between the data read-in from a number of game cards and the data entered via a keyboard of the game board or a pseudo-random number generated.