Plural Lots (e.g., Keno, Etc.) Patents (Class 463/18)
  • Patent number: 11837051
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides gaming systems having one or more processors coupled to memory. The gaming system can receive a side wager corresponding to a play of a card game. The gaming system can then provide a plurality of hands for the play of the card game. The gaming system can determine the number of the plurality of hands that satisfy a side wager condition, and calculate a first award amount based on the number of the plurality of hands that satisfy the side wager condition. An account of the player can be credited based on the first award amount. The gaming system can receive wagers that each correspond to a respective hand of the card game. Upon completion of the game, the system can determine an award amount for each of the plurality of hands, and adjust a credit balance of an account based on the award amount for each of the plurality of hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: DK Crown Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle Morris
  • Patent number: 11594104
    Abstract: A gaming device may perform various electronic games, such as a keno game, and may include a game controller configured to control operations of the performed electronic games. During the course of a game performed on the gaming device, the game controller may control various winning scenarios, including alternate winning scenarios. At certain stages in a keno game, a number of markers may be selected. Before, after, or while these markers are selected, the game controller may determine how many bonus markers will be selected. Based on the number of selected bonus markers, the game controller may initiate a bonus draw phase where an additional number of markers may be selected. After all markers have been selected, any selected bonus markers may be added together and the calculated sum may be added to a credit balance associated with a player of the gaming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Daley, Allon Englman, Daniel Mirjavadi, Christopher Brune
  • Patent number: 11468729
    Abstract: A feature for electronic games installed in stand-alone electronic gaming machines, game playing devices, mobile devices and personal electronic devices or on a networked system of gaming machines, game playing devices mobile devices and personal electronic devices where prior to starting the game, the player can choose from a variety of game modes with different numbers of balls to be drawn and the number and layout of cards to be played. The player is offered via the machine hard buttons or touch screen to choose the number balls and number and layout of cards. This invention may be applied to bingo and various types of games with balls, numbers or symbols in various types and patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Drako Limited
    Inventor: Rui Manuel Mendes Francisco
  • Patent number: 11403914
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a processor configured to control at least one display device to display at least one of a matrix of symbol positions and a plurality of multipliers, and to evaluate a bingo card to determine a bingo game outcome. The processor is also configured to evaluate a bingo card to determine a bingo game outcome, and to determine whether the bingo game outcome is a winning outcome. If the bingo game outcome is a winning outcome, the processor is also configured to determine an award value associated with the winning outcome, and to obtain an award quotient based at least in part on the award value and a value of at least one multiplier of the plurality of multipliers. In addition, the processor is configured to determine a winning reel outcome associated with the award quotient, where the winning reel outcome includes a winning plurality of symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: David Marsh, Karl Roelofs
  • Patent number: 11250672
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide gaming systems and methods that provide a keno game with a lottery game feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bradford Brown, Ronald Papson, Christina Harmon, Mark Bansemer, David Daniels
  • Patent number: 11080968
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods which utilize the results of a sporting event to modify one or more parameters of a play of a game, such as a wagering game of chance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne R. Nelson, Jeffrey Knox
  • Patent number: 11024128
    Abstract: Wagering games, bonus games, secondary games and/or progressive games can be enabled on a gaming system having: a set of gaming elements having a readable indicia thereon or a sensing system indicating the presence of a gaming element at a specific location and the generation of a gaming value for a sensed gaming element; a motivating system for physically moving and distributing random individual gaming elements from a set of gaming elements to individual positions within a receptor element; a sensing system configured to sense information on individual gaming elements, the information relating to at least one of game values or symbols; wherein the sensing system is in data communication connectivity with a processor and the processor is configured to determine a specific game value related to a basis for determining a game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: INTERBLOCK D.D.
    Inventors: Joze Pececnik, Jamie Abrahamson
  • Patent number: 10864438
    Abstract: A program, embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, which causes an information processing device that executes a game to execute: a step of causing an interface that accepts a user operation to be displayed; a step of storing first information related to game content on the basis of the user operation that is accepted by the interface; a step of storing second information related to game content that is selected among a plurality of items of game content by game content selection processing and is associated with a user; a step of comparing the first information and the second information; a step of causing a comparison result of the first information and the second information to be displayed; and a step of making a predetermined game effect capable of being exhibited in the game on the basis of comparison of the first information and the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: GREE, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroki Iguchi
  • Patent number: 10861036
    Abstract: Systems and methods for randomized reward distribution exchange for loyalty points are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: register, by a computer device, loyalty points associated with a user; obtain a user ticket number; use a random number generator, generate a winning ticket number; award a prize to a user when it is determined that at least one number from the first set matches at least one number from the second set; and notify the user to go through a prize redemption process to obtain the prize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventor: Ranga Rayudu
  • Patent number: 10803697
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine comprising a video display and a game controller arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a symbol set for display on the video display, evaluate the symbols displayed on the display to determine whether to initiate a symbol lock event, and upon initiating a symbol lock event, identify symbols which contribute to an award configuration, control the display to lock identified symbols, and updating remaining symbols in the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Casey Lyle Condron, Thomas Tuomey, Kurt Larsen, Charles Schotborgh, Adam Pippin, Ryan Shawn Carr
  • Patent number: 10762747
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a keno game including bonus tiles. The method includes, in response to a determination that a quantity of bonus draws for a first keno board is greater than zero bonus draw, causing a display device to display at least one bonus tile with the first keno board, for each bonus tile displayed with the first keno board, adding a bonus keno number to the set of different keno numbers, selecting a quantity of keno numbers from the set of different keno numbers based on in part the quantity of bonus draws, adding the selected keno numbers to a gaming system keno number set, and determining any bonus awards based on a comparison of the keno numbers included in the gaming system keno number set and the bonus keno numbers that map to any of the displayed bonus tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Bradford Brown
  • Patent number: 10726678
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, an online roulette game provides an opportunity to place a multi-spin wager, wherein a win condition of the multi-spin wager requires the player to obtain, over a plurality of consecutive spins of the roulette wheel, a predetermined number of unique outcomes and wherein each unique outcome is independently determined such that it is not dependent on any previously determined outcome obtained for the multi-spin wager. For example, the multi-spin wager may be that the next 7 outcomes will each be from different “streets” or columns in a grid of available numbers corresponding to numbers on the roulette wheel or that the next 23 numbers the ball lands on will each be different from one another. In some embodiments such a multi-spin wager may be embodied as a side bet and/or a bet that is made available for joining by a plurality of players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Roxor Gaming, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jagbir Rehill, Thomas David James Aicken, Hans Elias, Alexander Sandford Todd Young
  • Patent number: 10540855
    Abstract: A gaming system which employs one or more random determinations to redistribute award amounts or value not captured by lower-skilled players to higher-skilled players. The gaming system funds a skill award pool based on one or more awards that lower-skilled players (or no-skill players) failed to win in association with one or more skill-based games. The gaming system utilizes the escrowed amounts in the skill award pool to provide one or more supplemental awards to higher-skilled players, wherein the qualification to be provided a supplemental award and/or the amount of the randomly determined supplemental award are based, at least in part, on the one or more skill-based inputs made in association with the play of the skill-based game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Craig Michael Schaefer
  • Patent number: 10529191
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a network accessible sports betting server that allows players to anonymously place wagers on sporting events using an anonymous account identifier that is not associated with any personal information of the player. The player may use the anonymous account identifier to access an available monetary balance for wagering, view, filter, and place wagers on sporting events using various wagering game machines, and continue to use the account identifier to track all associated wagering transactions while a remaining balance remains or pending wagering transactions are outstanding. The gaming system enables the player to use mobile devices and casino gaming machines to interchangeably interface with the anonymous account, viewing the remaining balance, place wagers, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Vladislav Modilevsky
  • Patent number: 10373439
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for electronic gaming are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method includes generating a plurality of reel strips, where each reel strip includes a column of symbol display positions, and where each symbol display position is adjacent to at least one other symbol display position. The method further includes selecting a first plurality of symbol display positions, displaying a symbol in each of the selected first plurality of symbol display positions, evaluating each of the selected first plurality of symbol display positions, merging, based upon the evaluating, at least two adjacent symbol display positions of the selected first plurality of symbol display positions, generating a game outcome based upon the merging, and generating a game award based upon the game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Gary Penacho, Bradley John Hendricks, Lorin Santucci, Patrick Finch, Casey Lyle Condron, Joseph Masinter
  • Patent number: 10347075
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods for providing an award based on triggering symbols and secondary symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Robin Heenan, Christian Gerchak, Timothy Kennedy
  • Patent number: 10249144
    Abstract: A production method and system are provided for enabling the secure sharing of a common prize fund across multiple lottery or contest games and/or sub games. By sharing common inventory control and validation files the multiple games will validate on existing lottery or contest systems without the need for any software or hardware modifications. These methods and systems enhance the games, as well as potentially expand the consumer base for the games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Hydra Management LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10229560
    Abstract: A method of operating a video gaming system having program instructions, the programming instructions comprising: providing each player with at least one individual flashboard having suit and value indicia and a game ending pattern outlined thereon; providing a plurality of bingo balls; randomly selecting a first group of bingo balls; displaying to each player the markings associated with each selected bingo ball of the first group of bingo balls; marking each square associated with each of the first group of bingo balls on each individual flashcard; selecting a second group of bingo balls, wherein a total number of bingo balls in the first group and the second group is equal to a least amount of balls needed to completely fill the game ending pattern; displaying to each player the markings associated with each selected bingo ball of the second group of bingo balls; and determining any winning flashboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Inventor: Gary Weingardt
  • Patent number: 10147269
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive a video stream from one or more gaming tables. The systems and methods may display the video stream from the one or more gaming tables on the electronic gaming device and generate gaming options based on data relating to the one or more gaming tables. The gaming options may be based on predetermined betting structures relating to future game play results. The systems and methods may display the gaming options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Fresh Idea Global Limited
    Inventor: Jay Chun
  • Patent number: 10002496
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a keno game including an object removal feature that may trigger a secondary award. In one embodiment, the keno game is associated with a plurality of keno numbers and a plurality of sets of objects. Each object is associated with one of the keno numbers. The gaming system displays the sets of objects in different layers stacked one atop the other. If an object removal event occurs during play of the keno game, the gaming system removes (at least) one of the displayed objects such that the object is no longer displayed, and determines if a secondary award triggering event occurred based on the removal of the object. If so, the gaming system determines and provides a secondary award. The occurrence of the object removal event thus provides an opportunity for the secondary award triggering event to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Thomas J. Humphrey, Dylan B. Selegue, Ross D. Wenker, Thomas W. Allen, II
  • Patent number: 9990799
    Abstract: A gaming table in which the outcome of the game is determined manually, and in which players place bets electronically and wins or losses are calculated electronically. The gaming system is applicable to any suitable game including roulette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: SG Gaming ANZ PTY LTD, Crown Melbourne Limited
    Inventors: Brian Frost, Jason Choo
  • Patent number: 9975037
    Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to generating a Sudoku array and particularly, but not exclusively, to methods and systems for generating a Sudoku array for a puzzle or for encrypting data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: TUFTS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Joseph Noonan, Sos Agaian, Yue Wu
  • Patent number: 9943752
    Abstract: A sudoku-style game for use by a human player includes a game board surface presented to the player which has a plurality of P×Q sub-matrices of cells, each of the cells being divided into a first section and a second section, each section of each cell having sufficient space to contain a visually perceivable indicator, wherein P represents the number of rows in each sub-matrix, and Q represents the number of columns in each sub-matrix, a master matrix having the plurality of P×Q sub-matrices coupled one P×Q sub-matrix to another P×Q sub-matrix to form a desired game board shape, a solution to the game being the completion of the master matrix by the player so that no indicator is repeated more than a respective instructed number of times in each row and column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Glenn Frederick Mackay
  • Patent number: 9940643
    Abstract: In various embodiments, promotions are featured on mobile gaming devices. Data based on which a first promotion associated with a first advertiser may be displayed on a mobile gaming device. The data may include a first set of criteria identifying when the first promotion should be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventors: Howard W. Lutnick, Kevin Burman, Dean P. Alderucci, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Mark Miller
  • Patent number: 9922501
    Abstract: Disclosed are community award distribution systems and related methods, which are arranged to control an award made to a user playing the systems. Also disclosed, the community award systems are arranged to communicate over the Internet and/or make use of the World Wide Web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Novomatic AG
    Inventor: Paul Robert Malt
  • Patent number: 9767643
    Abstract: A gaming system, including a game outcome server, an account handling device and a client device communicatively coupled via network, is described. The game outcome server may be operable to send command, instructions, data or combinations thereof that allow an interface for a wager-based game to be generated on the client device, generate a game outcome for the wager-based game that is displayed on the client device and generate an update to a player balance maintained on the account handling device. The account handling device is operable to provide gaming services related to the game play on the client device including a) web-site hosting where the web-site lists available gaming services including games provided by the game outcome server, b) accounting, c) money handling including player account management and d) player eligibility functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Paul Douglas Miltenberger, Kaushal Sheth, Ryan Michael Fissell, Carmen Atienza Tan, Andy O. Bryson, Shanmugapriyan Devaraj, Theodore Yuchiang Cheng
  • Patent number: 9687740
    Abstract: The present invention is referred to a betting/gaming system where the client can bet on numbers with fixed odds. Each cycle consists of a main event and side event and starts with the draw of a set of numbers. Different main events are possible (draws n numbers out of a population of K numbers), as well as side events. The numbers may be drawn by a mechanical device (lottery machine) or generated electronically by a random number generator. Numbers can be drawn locally or on a remote site. This new system creates new a functionality to generate additional turnover/revenue streams during a “standard” lottery drawing process through different main events with new bets, additional side-events, betting during the drawing process, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventor: Walter Grubmueller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9691229
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides for a game-operating computer game system, that includes at least one server and software stored on a non-transient computer readable medium accessible by the at least one server, where the software is at least configured to: (a) conduct the game drawing; (b) determine at least one winning ticket based on the game drawing; (c) identify at least one winning purchase location of the at least one winning ticket; (d) identify at least one pool of non-winning players based on the at least one winning purchase location; (e) calculate a community prize; (f) divide the community prize to determine a plurality of non-winning prizes; (g) award the plurality of non-winning prizes to the at least one pool of non-winning players; and (h) display a notification about each of the plurality of non-winning prizes to each non-winning player of the pool of non-winning players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Intralot S.A.—Integrated Lottery Systems and Services
    Inventor: Gianna Karra
  • Patent number: 9691227
    Abstract: A game system and method plays an electronic game and simulates the outcome as a keno game. The game system allows a player to place a wager, plays the electronic game, and establishes an outcome of the electronic game. The outcome of the electronic game includes a payout according to a first pay table if a set of predetermined conditions has been achieved. The outcome of the game is simulated as a keno game. The outcome of the keno game is equivalent to the outcome of the electronic game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Video Gaming Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon Yarbrough
  • Patent number: 9679303
    Abstract: A computerized method includes receiving, at an online wagering game establishment and from a number of persons, a link that comprises a request to play an electronic scratch card. The method includes presenting for play the electronic scratch card to the number of persons. The method includes dynamically assigning by the online wagering game establishment, results of the play of the electronic scratch card by the number of players, wherein the results comprise at least one of a loss or a win. The win comprises a bonus monetary amount. The bonus monetary amount is usable within the online wagering game establishment and non-usable external to the online wagering game establishment. The method includes outputting the results of the play of the electronic scratch card to the number of persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Mary Griffin, Andrew C. Guinn, Jeremy M. Hornik, Harry C. Lang, Daniel P. Louie, Richard B. Robbins
  • Patent number: 9659429
    Abstract: This concept is directed to methods of operating a gaming device to analyze game information that is part of a gaming event having a player interaction in advance of the player interaction to make a determination about the game play. These methods may be used for a variety of gaming devices such as slot machines, video keno devices, video poker machines, electronic table games, internet gaming terminals, etc. In each type of gaming device, these operation methods evaluate future game information during game play to determine one of multiple manners by which the game play will continue. These continuation manners may include changing the speed of game play, determining display characteristics of the game and outcome, providing tips or information to the player about the future game information, automatically initiating a subsequent game, or otherwise altering an aspect of the game play parameters in response to the evaluated game information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Patent Investment & Licensing Company
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Patent number: 9600973
    Abstract: A method is provided for playing a keno game that allows for selection of proxy spots in addition to standard spots. A keno board is displayed showing a set of available numbers. A set of numbers is selected. The set of selected numbers is a sub-set of available numbers, and the selected set comprising a first sub-set of numbers and a second sub-set of numbers. For each number in the first sub-set of numbers, a number from the second sub-set of numbers is selected to link to the number in the first sub-set of numbers. A set of drawn numbers from the set of available numbers is selected. Hits are determined by comparing the first sub-set of numbers and the second sub-set of numbers and the drawn numbers. Payout is calculated based on the determined hits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Toby F. Naylor, Jerry L. Byrd
  • Patent number: 9600975
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods for providing a keno game during which matches from a previous keno game are carried over to the keno game are described herein. A keno board is displayed having a set of available numbers and a first set of one or more matches identified between player selected numbers and drawn numbers from a previous keno game. A first set of drawn numbers from the set of available numbers is selected. The number of the first set of drawn numbers is modified by number of matches in the first set of matches. The payout to the player is calculated based on the first set of matches and a second set of matches between the first set of drawn numbers and the player selected numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bradford D. Brown, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Thomas J. Humphrey, David R. Lark, Ronald P. Papson
  • Patent number: 9595166
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive a video stream from one or more gaming tables. The systems and methods may display the video stream from the one or more gaming tables on the electronic gaming device and generate gaming options based on data relating to the one or more gaming tables. The gaming options may be based on predetermined betting structures relating to future game play results. The systems and methods may display the gaming options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Fresh Ideal Global Limited
    Inventor: Jay Chun
  • Patent number: 9558611
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with one or more stacked wild symbols which when appearing, trigger one or more re-spins wherein stacked wild symbols are locked in place for at least one re-spin. Awards are paid following each game outcome. In the event that a portion of a stacked wild symbol is displayed as part of a game outcome, the associated reel may nudge upward or downward to shift the entire stacked wild symbol into view, awards are then paid on the winning outcomes, and one or more re-spins may ensue with any displayed stacked wild symbols being locked for at least one subsequent re-spin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Everi Games Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Watkins, Clint Owen, J P Cody
  • Patent number: 9536391
    Abstract: A system and method obtains random award-content information on an economic entity associated with a gaming establishment. The system has an award identifier selected from the group consisting of an article or purchase receipt intimately associated with an electromagnetically functional such as a hand-held information receiving and transmission device that can interrogate the award identifier. The award identifier contains communicable information relating to a random value that can be used for wagering credit in the gaming establishment. A distal server is in wireless two-way communication with the intermediate system entry device, the distal server capable of receiving, storing and transmitting information from the award identifier transmitted through the intermediate system entry device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Joze Pececnik
  • Patent number: 9520031
    Abstract: A slot machine game that allows a player to lock in particular symbol(s) after playing a game. If the player prefers one or more particular symbols to remain in position after a spin, the player can indicate to the slot machine the desire to lock in the particular symbols, wherein the player will have to pay a price for the ability to have those symbols locked in for a next spin. Then, the player places another wager and spins the reels while the particular symbols remain unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Etasse Limited
    Inventor: Melisa Brito
  • Patent number: 9520015
    Abstract: Systems and methods enable one or more players to play a game of chance. A system includes a processor and a memory device configured to store processor executable instructions to provide a game of chance in which a plurality of house indicia is selected from a pool of house indicia and in which one or more player indicia is provided. The processor is programmed by the instructions to randomly select a predetermined number of house indicia from the pool of house indicia, provide a random chance of selecting a bonus indicia, determine whether a winning number of matching indicia has been achieved by identifying each player indicia that matches one of the selected predetermined number of house indicia, and present a bonus to the player upon a determination that the bonus indicia matches a player indicia and that a winning number of matching indicia has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: GAMING ARTS LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Patent number: 9495828
    Abstract: A method directed to operating a plurality of gaming machines in a gaming establishment includes determining that a certain triggering event has occurred in one of the plurality of gaming machines. The triggering event includes a desired game outcome. The method further includes selectively controlling audio output from a plurality of remotely located speakers to operate in conjunction with internal cabinet speakers for creating a desired audio ambience only within a portion of the gaming establishment. The remotely located speakers are located remotely from the plurality of gaming machines. The internal cabinet speakers are located within gaming cabinets of the plurality of gaming machines. The audio output is focused to deliver enhanced audio effects only to the portion of the gaming establishment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Loose, Eric M. Pryzby, Wayne H. Rothschild, Larry J. Pacey
  • Patent number: 9478106
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing a casino wagering game using a processor to determine random event outcomes by: the processor recognizing selection of individual player selections of individual sub-outcomes collectively forming a total player selection set; the processor providing a total selection outcome of a final set of symbols randomly selected by the processor from a total symbol set of individual outcomes; the individual total player selection set totaling fewer symbols than the total symbol set of individual outcomes; a player input system enabling player wagers to be selected from among multiple total selection outcomes to be selected by the processor from among multiple available sets of total selection outcomes; the processor providing differing paytables dependent upon numbers of symbols provided by the processor with respect to each total selection outcome provided by the processor from among the multiple available sets of total outcome selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventors: Ray Smith, Amanda Tears Smith
  • Patent number: 9412232
    Abstract: Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Lee E. Cannon, John P. O'Donovan
  • Patent number: 9396613
    Abstract: A gaming system has a gaming machine. The gaming machine transmits a signal to a remote device indicating a winning round.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventor: Vincent H. Brown
  • Patent number: 9367990
    Abstract: A system for providing access to casino gaming and sports booking is provided which permits a gambler to place wagers using a location based mobile gaming unit. The gambler may access the system through a wireless network. Further, the gambler may be positioned anywhere there is an established local gaming server. A gambler profile may be provided wireless access to the local server along with the games available in the local server jurisdiction based on a global positioning of the mobile gaming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventor: Russell O. Carter, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9342960
    Abstract: Provided is a technique which can increase user utilization of an item lottery service by providing users with an intuitive screen for the item lottery service, and, at the same time, a new source of fun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woon Yong Kim, Ki Cheol Jang
  • Patent number: 9308447
    Abstract: An embedded user interface is equipped with a touch screen and audio device to operate as a user interface (UI) terminal to provide a gaming machine with the capability of executing applications from one or more web servers, and local applications executing in the gaming machine, simultaneously. The user interface includes a touch controlled browser rendering information from the gaming machine and interconnected web servers, providing the user with game data, local player session data, and back-end casino management data in a single interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Carmen DiMichele, James W. Morrow, Michael M. LeStrange
  • Patent number: 9293013
    Abstract: A method of providing a keno game for plays with duplicate draws is provided. A keno game including a keno game board having a first predetermined number of keno board spots is displayed. A player selection of a second predetermined number of keno board spots is received. Drawn balls for a plurality of ball sets are determined. The determined drawn balls are displayed with one or more paylines overlaying at least some of the drawn balls in the plurality of ball sets. A player award based at least in part on evaluation of each payline is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: David R. Lark, Bradford D. Brown
  • Patent number: 9251667
    Abstract: A gaming device and method for playing a gaming device which provide awards for any and all symbols appearing within selected portions of a symbol matrix (“What You See Is What You Get” or “WYSIWYG”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: PTT, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Marks, Daniel Marks, Anthony Singer
  • Patent number: 9245412
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a game having a plurality of activatable award indicators. Generally, in various embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to play any of a plurality of different games, each of which is associated with a different activatable award indicator of an award generator that is associated with a plurality of awards. For each different game, when a particular award indicator activation event occurs during play of that game, the gaming system activates the award indicator associated with that game. When an award determination triggering event occurs, the gaming system indicates a different award of the award generator for each active award indicator and provides the indicated awards to the player. The gaming system of the present disclosure thus enables the player to activate different award indicators through play of different games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Thomas J. Humphrey, Bradford D. Brown
  • Patent number: 9208655
    Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine includes a display device for displaying the game and a game controller. The game includes a plurality of reels having a predetermined number of elements, wherein each element has an associated symbol from a set of symbols and at least one reel has a run of consecutive elements. The game controller initiates an instance of the game, responsively displays the game on the display device, randomly determines an outcome of the game, and responsively spins and stops the reels to display the outcome. The outcome includes at least two reels having the same symbols being displayed in the same symbol positions. The game controller displays each one of the at least two reels having a run of consecutive elements, and populates the run of consecutive elements with an identical symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: KONAMI GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Eiji Aida, Daisuke Nakamura, Osamu Yoshimi
  • Patent number: 9196130
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a matching game having a player-adjustable volatility. Generally, in various embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to select one of a plurality of different sets of symbols for the gaming system to employ for a play of the matching game. The sets of symbols include different characteristics or features such that the volatility of the matching game differs depending on which particular set of symbols the player selects for the play of the matching game. The gaming system of the present disclosure thus enables the player to tailor the volatility of the matching game to the player's liking by selecting a particular set of symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Brian F. Saunders