Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method of optimizing at least one performance variable, such as revenue or profitability, indicative of the performance of a casino. An initial set of operating parameters is set. At least one environmental variable, such as traffic, weather, time, cost of transportation, etc. are monitored as is the performance variable. An artificial intelligence program changes operating parameters, such as player-tracking rewards, bonuses, comps, advertising, etc. The program determines the effect of the change, and further changes the operating parameter as a function of the effect and the environmental variable.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods of selecting and placing real-world wagers responsive to one or more wager triggers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers through the interactive media to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user interactions even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers and were determined before the user interactions. By integrating real-world wager outcomes with gameplay and other user interactions, the system may provide an engaging user experience with interactive media. For example, a game may reveal an outcome of a real-world wager (which has already occurred), in response to in-game actions such as user actions in the game, other players' actions in the game, game events (e.g., events caused by the game logic/artificial intelligence), and/or other events.

Abstract: An example of an information processing system includes one or more terminal apparatuses and a server. Each of the one or more terminal apparatuses transmits, to the server, action information indicating an action of a user regarding the terminal apparatus. The server receives the action information from the terminal apparatus. The server stores, for respective types of actions, pieces of history information, each indicating a numerical value corresponding to history of the action of the user. Based on the received action information, the server updates history information corresponding to the action information. Under the condition that a combination of the plurality of pieces of history information satisfies a predetermined combination condition, the server transmits provision information to a terminal apparatus that is the same as or different from the terminal apparatus as the transmission source of the action information.

Abstract: A distributed anonymous payment interleaved wagering system is disclosed, including an interactive processing device constructed to receive a request for processing a payment; communicate interactive processing device data and a request for an anonymous payment identifier; receive the anonymous payment identifier; lock the interactive processing device for a period of time; communicate anonymous payment identifier; receive gaming session data; unlock the interactive processing device; the process controller or wager controller constructed to: create an anonymous payment identifier; associate the anonymous payment identifier with the interactive processing device data; communicate the anonymous payment identifier; create a gaming session based on the anonymous payment data, the anonymous payment identifier, and the interactive processing device data; communicate gaming session data; the interactive payment controller constructed to: receive a value bearing item; communicate TITO data and anonymous payment iden

Abstract: An electronic gaming system adapted for the use of multiple users is connectable to a casino management system, is connected to the casino management system via a game interface card, performs data exchange according to an internal casino management system protocol, and allows data exchange between the game interface card and a game server according to a public gaming machine communication protocol. Through a network connection interface of the game server, the electronic gaming system may be used by a plurality of players through wireless connection, and is connected to a mobile member database for logging and comparing member data. The data of the game server is transmitted to the casino management system via the game interface card. Thus, the players are allowed to simultaneously connect to the game server to play games and transmit data to the casino management system for further control.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some examples, the operations can include presenting, via an electronic display device of the wagering gaming system, a configuration interface capable of presenting options to configure a wagering game machine. The operations can further include automatically detecting, via user input from the configuration interface, an electronic request to configure the wagering game machine for presentation of a wagering game effect (“effect”). The effect has a presentation limit for the presentation amongst a plurality of wagering game machines. The operations can further include electronically modifying, via an electronic processing unit of the gaming system, an availability of at least one of the options in response to determining, based on electronic evaluation of the electronic request against the presentation limit, whether the presentation of the effect via the wagering game machine complies with the presentation limit.

Abstract: System communications tailored to individual users may be dynamically provided responsive to trigger events in a virtual space. System communications may be sent if (1) triggered by trigger events in the virtual space, and (2) selected based on user state that is separate and discrete from the trigger events. Trigger events may include specific user actions, such as registering as a user in the virtual space. Current states may be obtained responsive to trigger events occurring. A given current state may include (1) a frequency of engagement by the first user in the virtual space, (2) an amount of real-world money spent toward the virtual space, and/or (3) total time spent by a user while engaged in gameplay in the virtual space. An individual system communication is selected and provided for presentation to a user responsive to an individual current state corresponding to the individual system communication.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel method and devices for implementing progressive systems on networked gaming machines and associated network devices. Some preferred implementations of the invention allow a target progressive pool size to be selected and apply payouts such that the actual progressive pool size is not likely to exceed greatly the target progressive pool size. Some such implementations control the actual progressive pool size by applying a function to control percentages of the current progressive pool size payable to players of a wagering game on the networked gaming machines. The function may be a function of a current progressive pool size, target progressive pool size and bet size.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting that one or more wearable computers are within a proximity range to a wagering game machine. In some examples, the operations further include determining one or more characteristics associated with the one or more wearable computers in response to the detecting that the one or more wearable computers are within the proximity range to the wagering game machine. In some examples, the operations further include providing a feature associated with a wagering game based on the one or more characteristics of the one or more wearable computers.

Abstract: In a fantasy sports team league, a player salary cap is established and a draft is conducted by enabling players to select teams or team characteristics from a list of game matchups. Each team or team characteristic is assigned a cost and a point value based on each team's chance of winning. The players are required to keep a total cost of the selected teams below the player salary cap. After the game matchups have been played, the point value for each winning team or team characteristic selected by each of the players is awarded.

Abstract: A gaming system which enables a player to purchase an amount of virtual currency from an online casino wherein the purchased virtual currency includes a predetermined component and a variable component.

Abstract: A game program causes a computer apparatus to function as: a specifier that specifies an object placed in a field according to a player's operation instruction; an event generator that generates, in a case where a predetermined object corresponding to a predetermined event is specified, the predetermined event; a displayer that changes a display mode of a specified object or a field corresponding to the specified object according to a positional relationship between a position of the specified object and a position of the predetermined object for display; an effect generation enabler that makes a predetermined effect in a game generable according to a history of a game until the predetermined object is specified or a progressing situation of the game; and an effect generator that generates a generable effect.

Abstract: The present application describes methods and systems for administration of a gamification system. Administrators can be separated into tiers, each with differing levels of control. Embodiments of the present disclosure include a system that receives, from an administrator, a request to generate a second gamification site and to copy content from a first gamification site to a second gamification site. The system then determines if the administrator is enabled to do so. If the administrator has the appropriate permission, the second gamification site may be generated, and the content from the first gamification site may be copied to the second gamification site.

Abstract: A gaming method, apparatus and system for playing a game of chance is disclosed in which a plurality of gaming machines may be linked together for mutually competitive play. According to one embodiment, two or more gaming machines are linked to a centrally located display exhibiting a game board comprising one or more groups of earmarkable cells in one or more groups. Players on the gaming machines wager and attempt to achieve winning outcomes which earmark cells in the group with designators of their respective gaming machines. When a predetermined number or configuration of cells of a group are earmarked, an award may be distributed to those gaming machines having earmarked cells according to the number of designators within that group associated with each gaming machine. The game of chance may be configured for play on an individual gaming machine.

Abstract: Some examples include backing up and restoring a game application state across multiple devices. A distributed system may run an instance of a game application at a first electronic device, determine a backup event that occurs in the first electronic device, wherein the backup event suggests a backup of application state data and the application state data represent an application state of the game application at the backup event, and transmit the application state data of the game application to a remote storage service in response to the backup event. A second electronic device may retrieve the application state data from the remote storage service and restore the game application state.

Abstract: A communal game is displayed by a gaming system. A plurality of gaming devices each enable a player to wager on plays of a primary game and determine an eligibility status. The communal game repeatedly generates at least one communal game symbol from a plurality of communal game symbols regardless of whether any player is wagering on plays of a primary game. The communal game triggers a bonus event based on the generated symbols. Any eligible gaming devices may participate in the bonus event. For each eligible gaming device, the gaming system applies at least one symbol or gaming element from the communal game to the primary game of the eligible gaming device. Each eligible gaming device provides an award based on any winning symbol combinations generated by application of the communal game symbol or gaming element.

Abstract: Methods of administering wagering games include accepting an ante wager from at least one player to participate in a poker game according to a set of poker game rules and accepting a bonus wager from the at least one player to participate in a bonus game according to a set of bonus game rules. A set of player cards are dealt to the player and to a dealer. The ante wager and the bonus wager are resolved according to the set of poker game rules and the set of bonus game rules, respectively. A dealer payout is paid to at least one of a dealer and a dealer pool when the at least one player receives a winning outcome in the bonus game. The dealer does not make a wager to receive the dealer payout. Games of the present disclosure may be implemented as live card games, multi-player EGM games, on-line games, and live card games with electronic betting interfaces.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating between a mobile communication device and a venue apparatus is disclosed herein. The system comprises a mobile communication device, a venue apparatus, and a wireless local area network (WLAN) for a venue. The venue apparatus comprises a beacon for transmitting low energy BLUETOOTH transmissions. The mobile application is configured to verify a transmission from the venue apparatus in a registry when the mobile communication device is within three feet of the venue apparatus.

Abstract: A bet sensor for sensing values of gaming tokens may include a bet placement surface configured and oriented to support a stack of gaming tokens thereon and an image sensor located and oriented to capture an image of a lateral side surface of at least one gaming token located on the bet placement surface. The image may depict the lateral side surface in a radial format. The bet sensor may include a processor operably coupled with the image sensor. The processor is configured to acquire image data from the image sensor and determine a wager value of the at least one gaming token by projecting at least one circle onto the image data that corresponds with a transition in the image data associated with the at least one gaming token. A gaming table may include such a bet sensor. The disclosure includes methods of operating such a bet sensor.

Abstract: Gaming systems and methods for customizing game play on a gaming machine with custom media are described herein. The gaming machine includes a cabinet, a display, a user input mechanism, an interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a portable electronic device controlled by a player, and a game controller. The game controller is configured to provide a default game play session of a wager-based game, facilitate a data connection between the gaming machine and the portable electronic device through the interface, and receive custom game media and customization settings. The game controller is further configured to store the custom game media and customization settings and to provide a customized game play session of the wager-based game according to the customization settings and the custom game media.

Abstract: An automated and integrated system for managing tournament logistics and services with Internet, electronic devices, and methods thereof. The method includes creating tournaments, events, seasons, and enabling participations. The method also includes creating profile-integrated brackets and automated seeding. Further, the method includes displaying a list of player profiles, tournaments, events, seasons, and a list of players participating in the tournaments, events and seasons to a user. Moreover, the method includes permitting the user to send and respond to real-time notifications and tweet event information automatically. The method also includes synchronizing data when the user swaps between offline and online status to provide continuity to the tournament management and experience.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine comprising a display, a memory storing program instructions for each of a plurality of different games, a game controller for executing the program instructions, the game controller configured to conduct plural game instances in respective ones of a plurality of game areas on the display based on one or more player selections from among the different games, the game controller configured to operate in a first mode when conducting less than a defined number of game instances and a second mode when conducting a defined number of game instances, wherein when operating in the second mode, the game controller is configured to add at least one additional game feature to each of the defined game instances irrespective of the player game selections of games for the respective game areas.

Abstract: A gaming system for enabling enhancement of wagering outcomes includes: a) a gaming table having a game play surface; b) a processor; c) a player input control at a player hand position, the player input control in communication with the processor; and d) a random number generator in communication with the processor. The game play surface at the player hand position has lights that are at card-receiving positions at the player position, a power source in communication with the lights; the processor, in response to random selections of the card-receiving positions at the player position, configured to direct that a closed electrical connection occur between the power source and the lights at the player hand position. Lights may also be present at a dealer hand position.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to implementing a system to encourage cross platform operation in an online game. The online game may provide the ability to provide incentives for participating in cross platform game play. The system may monitor the player's performance on a particular console and provide incentives to accomplish tasks through game play on a different platform than the player is currently operating to play the game.

Abstract: A gaming system and method of rewarding players of electronic gaming machines connected by a network to a host computer, including storing player-useable points at a network-accessible location, enabling a player to convert at least some of the points into monetary units at a conversion rate, wherein the monetary units are convertible into credits for wagering on at least one of the electronic gaming machines, awarding a personal points conversion rate multiplier to a player, and applying the points conversion rate multiplier to the conversion rate.

Abstract: An example system includes a contactless communication part that performs contactless communication with a data storage medium having a contactless communication function; a data writing part that writes data to the data storage medium by the contactless communication part; a storage part that stores the data written by the data writing part; and a data determination part that determines whether the data stored in the data storage medium and the data stored in the storage part have a predetermined relationship with each other or not. When the data determination part determines that both of the data do not have the predetermined relationship with each other, the data writing part overwrites the data stored in the data storage medium with the data stored in the storage part.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.

Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a skill-based wagering game to a player is described herein. The gaming machine includes a controller programmed to display the skill-based wagering game on a display device, receive a signal indicating a wager being received from the player, and initiate the skill-based wagering game. The controller generates a skill event associated with the skill-based wagering game and randomly selects a skill event record associated with the skill event from a database. The controller receives a player's selection input from a user input device in response to the displayed skill event, determines a player skill level value based on the received player's selection, determines an award value included in the selected skill event record based on the player skill level value; and adjusts the credit balance based on the determined award value.

Abstract: The gaming system and method disclosed herein provides that the probability that a group bonus event will be triggered for a plurality of gaming devices in the gaming system is independent of the number of players that are currently playing such gaming devices. The gaming system and method disclosed herein further provides that different players that are wagering different amounts at different rates are provided different quantities of evaluation points such that if a group bonus event is triggered, different players are provided different group bonus event awards proportional to each individual player's wagering activity.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating chance-based payment for items in a game. In implementations, the disclosure relates to such systems which can be used in the payment for items in an affiliation based game. A user may be part of an affiliation and wish to contribute to their affiliation and show their loyalty in a non-direct manner. The contribution may be achieved by the user entering into a chance-based selection process such as a draw, where the user selected in the draw is the person that pays for a group virtual item used in the game. The item used in the game may benefit all members of the affiliation, simultaneously or in alternating fashion.

Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of symbol generators adapted to generate a plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol positions. In one embodiment, a player selects a first symbol position, the selected symbol position is activated and the gaming device reveals whether a terminator is associated with the selected symbol position. In this embodiment, the player continues selecting symbol positions (and the gaming device continues activating the selected symbol positions) until a terminator is revealed to be associated with a selected symbol position. After a terminator is revealed, the gaming device randomly generating a symbol at each of the activated symbol positions. The gaming device determines an outcome based on the symbols or combinations of symbols generated at the activated symbol positions and provides the player the determined outcome.

Abstract: In a game event a first set of game symbols are displayed in a game symbol display area, at least one prize is displayed in a prize display area, and an expanded second set of game symbols having at least one game symbol located in the prize display area is displayed. A winning game outcome may be declared if at least one game symbol located in the prize display area contacts at least one prize which is displayed in the prize display area. The game event may be presented via a uniquely configured gaming machine or system in which the game symbols and prizes are generated and displayed as graphical elements on a video display. The game event may be presented as or as part of a wagering event.

Abstract: A UE may receive, via a first communication link that uses a first radio access technology (RAT), information that identifies a threshold associated with a second communication link that uses a second RAT. The UE may monitor one or more communications on the second communication link. The UE may determine whether a parameter associated with the second communication link satisfies the threshold based at least in part on monitoring the one or more communications on the second communication link. The UE may provide a message via the first communication link when the parameter associated with the second communication link satisfies the threshold.

Abstract: Gaming systems and methods providing a community selection game providing bonus game selection. In one embodiment, for each gaming device in the gaming system, when a triggering event occurs, the gaming system provides a player of that gaming device with a player identifier that uniquely identifies that player. The community selection game includes a plurality of bonus game identifiers each identifying a bonus game. The bonus game identifiers each include a limited quantity of bonus game player identifier display areas. The gaming system enables the players to place earned or received player identifiers at the bonus game player identifier display areas. When each bonus game player identifier display area of one of the displayed bonus game identifiers displays a player identifier, the players associated with those player identifiers are provided with one or more plays of the bonus game identified by that bonus game identifier.

Abstract: System, processes and devices for monitoring betting activities using bet recognition devices and a server. Each bet recognition device has an imaging component for capturing image data for a gaming table surface. The bet recognition device receives calibration data for calibrating the bet recognition device. A server processor coupled to a data store processes the image data received from the bet recognition devices over the network to detect, for each betting area, a number of chips and a final bet value for the chips.

Abstract: A method for wagering on a skills-based digital gaming competition, the method executing on a computing device including storage storing a peer-wagering module that is external and distinct from at least one game stored on the storage device or another storage device, the method including: receiving potential game and competitor player data; receiving game competition selection information from the player that includes at least one selected game instance and at least one wager amount; receiving game instance match ID data generated by the transactional server, wherein the game instance match ID data includes at least one of: credential data associated with the player, player wager amount or a board, level, or difficulty setting associated with the selected game instance; and transmitting the game instance match ID data and game initiation data to the game, thereby activating the at least one selected game instance on the computing device.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to facilitating collaboration between multiple players in an online game to achieve a goal in the game. Achievement of the goal may result in provision of an award related to the goal to one or more of the multiple players and/or to one or more affiliations associated with the multiple player. The goal may comprise a predetermined set of tasks required to be completed by more than one player, or may just comprise a predetermined set of tasks that may be completed by one or more players. Responsive to achieving the goal, the award may be provided to one or more recipients. The recipients may comprise, for example, players that initiated the completion of the goal, one or more players who provided the most input to the goal, one or more affiliations associated with respective one or more players involved in achieving the goal, and/or other entities.

Abstract: An interleaved wagering system with timed randomized variable is disclosed. The system includes a terminal that has an interactive controller that provides an entertainment game. An application controller operatively connects the interactive controller to a wager controller. The application controller receives user input via the interactive controller, and requests a randomized variable from the wager controller. The application controller inserts the randomized variable into a skill event and communicates the result of the skill event to the wager controller. The wager controller generates a randomized variable and operates an independent timer associated with that variable. The wager controller uses the skill event data and independent timer to determine if the skill event is successful according to parameters outside the control of the interactive application.

Abstract: A method for creating a product which is a single file executable by a product browser is provided. The method includes: initiating installation operations for application software on a computer system; recording the installation operations of the application software via a product browser, wherein the product browser is configured to create the product and execute the product; and creating the product based on the recording, wherein the creating structures the product with critical dynamic-link library (dll) files that will be pre-fetched by the second instance of the product browser, and wherein the product is structured with a virtualized private registry to be integrated with an operating system registry upon execution such that certain registry keys are virtualized in the virtualized private registry and other registry keys will be deferred to the operating system registry.

Abstract: A system for use in providing gaming property services to a player via a gaming device is provided. The system includes a gaming property server, a gaming machine, and gaming tracking device. The gaming property server provides gaming property services to the player. The gaming machine includes a gaming display, a display device that is coupled to the gaming display, and a gaming controller that is coupled to the display device. The gaming controller is configured to randomly generate an outcome of a game and transmit game data indicative of the outcome to the display device. The gaming tracking device also includes a web browser program for displaying gaming property services via a website provided by the gaming property server. The display device configured to display a player interaction screen including the outcome of the game and the gaming property services.

Abstract: A casino gaming system includes gaming machines which are configured to accept and read tickets. The ticket may comprise cash-value tickets or non-cash value/promotional tickets. The tickets may also include secondary feature triggering indicia. The player may present the cash-value ticket having a feature triggering indicia or a non-cash value/promotional ticket to a gaming machine, such as by inserting it into a media reader such as a bill acceptor. Associated monetary value or non-monetary credits may be credited to the machine. In addition, if the ticket includes a feature triggering indicia, when such an indicia is detected, the gaming machine preferably triggers or initiates the feature.

Abstract: Method for controlling peripheral(s) (13) in a system comprising a server (6), user terminals (2), a peripheral driver (11) connected to a peripheral device (13), and a telecommunications network (7) connecting the server and the driver, which comprises the transmission, via the telecommunications network, of a message to the server by a user terminal or by the server to the user terminal, comprising the following steps interception of said message by said driver; control of an operation of a peripheral device by said driver, in accordance with said intercepted message; modification of said intercepted message by said driver, in accordance with the controlled operation; and transmission of said modified message to the server or to the user terminal by said driver.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a casino table capable of adequately determining whether a dishonest act is committed on a card arranged on a casino table while reducing a maintenance cost, a personnel cost, etc., by using a normal card not containing the tag, etc. A game surface is imaged by an imaging device, the presence of the card placed on the game surface is detected from image data produced by an imaging signal issued from the imaging device, and trajectory data of the card placed on the game surface is produced.

Abstract: A method including generating, by a terminal, a creation request containing game information, sending, by the terminal, the creation request to a game server, receiving, by the terminal, a graphic information code generated by a management server according to the game information, and displaying the graphic information code on the terminal.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a casual wagering game which is not for real money that can adjust its results based on past events. Based on detected patterns of past events, the mathematical model of a wagering game such as a slot game can change. For example, if a player has had a continuous streak of bad luck, the mathematical model of the game the player is playing can change so that the player would generally receive more favorable results.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a handheld gaming machine configured to play at least one game and a controller. The controller is configured to base eligibility of the handheld gaming machine for a game-related feature at least upon a location of the handheld gaming machine.

Abstract: Methods for sharing mini-games over a game cloud system include receiving a request from a first user to access a user account managed by the game cloud system. Access to the user account is provided, in response to the request. Providing access includes presenting a user interface with a plurality of mini-games available to the user account for user interaction, on a client device of the first user. The plurality of mini-games includes mini-games that have been shared and mini-games that have not been shared with other users. The method further includes detecting selection of a particular mini-game at the user interface. In response to detecting selection, an option to share the particular mini-game with other users, is provided. The option allows the first user to post the particular mini-game to a social stream of the other users.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing a customized user experience based on a spend frequency of a user in an online game. The users may be segmented based on a spend frequency associated with the user. A spend frequency may comprise an amount of purchases made by a user in a predetermined time period. The purchases made by the user in the online game may comprise purchases of virtual items made with virtual currency, purchases of real goods made with virtual currency, purchases of virtual items made with real currency, purchases of real goods made with real currency, a combination thereof, and/or other types of purchases.

Abstract: A system and method configured to provide limited-time events to users in an online game. The system and method may include executing an instance of an online game and effectuating presentation of offers to users to activate a limited-time event within the online game. Activation of the limited-time event may enable users to perform event runs through the limited-time event for a duration. The execution of event runs through the limited-time event in response to user commands received from a client computing platform associated with the user may deplete the virtual resource in an inventory of the user. The system and method may maintain inventories of the users and recharge the virtual resource as a function of time. The performance of users may be assessed and awards may be distributed to the users based on the assessment of their performance during the event runs. The system and method may include effectuating exchanges by the users of virtual items for the first virtual resource.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods for placing one or more sports bets at an electronic gaming machine (“EGM”) and for redeeming any winnings for one or more placed sports bet at an EGM.