Abstract: A gaming machine has a flat panel display screen that is pivotable over a range of angles to allow the player to tilt the screen to directly face the player. The screen also can be pulled toward the player for maximum comfort. The screen has user interface controls, such as part of a touch screen. The screen contains one or more accelerometers for detecting movement of the screen. The player grips the screen with both hands to control the game via movement of the screen (e.g., shaking, tilting, pushing in, or pulling out) and the touching of the user interface controls. The screen may include a vibrator for providing tactile sensations to the player. The screen allows a player to completely control a game, including wagering and carrying out the game, without releasing the screen from the player's two-handed grip.

Abstract: A casino resort management system collects patron data, manages patron data in a high performance data warehouse, shares patron data with other systems and reports vital patron information. The system particularly tracks machine history, including changes in location, configuration and performance, and tracks the location history, including game type and denomination, and allows for placards to be moved from one gaming machine to another without losing historical machine or location information. In addition, the system provides two particularly useful graphical displays that simplify visual analysis of the large amounts of data within a casino. One display method depicts tables of thin bar graphs that compactly allow side-by-side comparison of different groupings of machines and another display method depicts machines in three dimensions so that each dimension can provide visual information to a viewer.

Abstract: A gaming machine is described wherein a player first plays a primary game, such as the spinning and stopping of mechanical or video reels displaying symbols. A plurality of progressive jackpots is displayed to the player, where the progressive jackpots are incremented at different random rates. Upon a jackpot-winning outcome of the primary game, the number of different progressive jackpots paid to the player depends on the number of credits bet by the player. The jackpots are incremented upon jackpot-incrementing symbols being displayed by the reels. In one embodiment, the jackpot above each column of symbols gets incremented upon a special symbol, such as a credit value, being displayed in that column.

Abstract: Upon a trigger event occurring during a main game on a video slot machine, a number of free games having a special feature are awarded to the player. For each trigger event that occurs during the free games, the lowest value symbol displayed for each free spin becomes a wild symbol or other high value symbol. The converted symbols remain converted during the entire free game session in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the converted symbols revert back to the original symbol if no further trigger event occurs in the free games. The accumulation of high value symbols over multiple spins increases the chances of the player winning an especially large award, such as a jackpot.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a secondary game played concurrently with a conventional Keno game. In Keno, a player selects a plurality of numbers (e.g., 4-20) within an M×N grid (e.g., 8×10) of different numbers. A random number generator randomly selects a plurality of numbers (e.g., 20) in the grid. The player is then granted a first award based on matches between numbers that the player selected and the randomly selected numbers. As a secondary game played over the Keno game, for each number randomly selected, all numbers in the same row and column in the grid as the selected number are highlighted on the grid display. The player is granted a second award (e.g., free games) for each number not being in a highlighted row or column at the end of the Keno game. Variations of the secondary game are described.

Abstract: A casino resort management system collects patron data, manages patron data in a high performance data warehouse, shares patron data with other systems and reports vital patron information. The system particularly tracks machine history, including changes in location, configuration and performance, and tracks the location history, including game type and denomination, and allows for placards to be moved from one gaming machine to another without losing historical machine or location information. In addition, the system provides two particularly useful graphical displays that simplify visual analysis of the large amounts of data within a casino. One display method depicts tables of thin bar graphs that compactly allow side-by-side comparison of different groupings of machines and another display method depicts machines in three dimensions so that each dimension can provide visual information to a viewer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming machine carries out a main game which initiates a bonus game for a certain outcome of the main game. In one embodiment, the bonus game displays a plurality of hidden objects in the form of icons. The objects may be credits, money, letters, symbols, or anything else. The player chooses one or more options, and the hidden values for the selected options are revealed to the player. The player's goal is to obtain the highest value amount by, for example, choosing the highest value icon, or by spelling words from accumulated letters, or by accumulating symbols. After each selection by the player, the gaming machine offers the player a value (e.g., a number of credits) to end the bonus game. The player may accept the offer or continue playing the bonus game to its conclusion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming machine carries out a main game, such as a spinning reel type game, either using physical reels or simulated reels on a video screen. A special combination of symbols activates a video bonus game. The bonus game comprises a plurality of N unknown options in the form of icons, where the player may only make M choices, where M is less than N. In another embodiment, M is less than or equal to N. The unknown options may include, for example, different award credits. The options may be presented as hidden values behind doors or using other attractive presentation. The N values behind the closed doors are displayed in an order unrelated to the arrangement of the unknown options so the player sees what she can possibly win. The player then makes her M selections to win the awards behind the doors. There may be additional levels of the bonus game.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a game played on a gaming device that displays a randomly selected array of symbols, where the symbols across one or more paylines are evaluated by circuitry to determine an award to be granted. A trigger event, such as the occurrence of a special symbol (e.g., a $ symbol), initiates a special feature. Once the trigger event occurs, one of a plurality of features is randomly selected and applied to the symbols in the existing array of symbols, and an award is then granted based on the results. An example of the group of available features is: 1) multiply the number of $ symbols in the array by X credits; 2) randomly place a $ symbol on reels 1, 2, 4, and 5; 3) change certain predetermined symbols to the $ symbol; and 4) fill two, three, or four reels (randomly selected) with the $ symbol.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a game played on a gaming device that displays a randomly selected array of symbols, where the symbols across one or more pay lines are evaluated by circuitry to determine an award to be granted. In one embodiment, the gaming device allows the player to designate a position in the array for a next spin of the virtual reels. After the next spin, the symbol in that designated position becomes a scatter symbol. A scatter symbol is a symbol whose significance applies whether it occurs on a certain pay line or not. A certain number of scatter symbols in the array causes an award to be granted to the player. The scatter symbols may have other special award features, such as a providing an award multiplier or initiating a bonus game.

Abstract: A control unit in communication with a plurality of gaming machines selects one or more of the active machines to be set to an enhanced play mode. The selection may be random or based on other factors. During the enhanced play mode, the awards attributed to each symbol combination are increased, and the game parameters, other than the award amounts may be changed.

Abstract: The gaming device comprises a main game, which results in random outcomes. At least one of the outcomes enables a secondary game. Indicia are selected and displayed in the secondary game. A player positions the indicia of the secondary game by operating controls. A pay out to the player is made based on the indicia and their positions selected by the player.

Abstract: A control unit in communication with a plurality of gaming machines selects one or more of the active machines to be set to an enhanced play mode. The selection may be random or based on other factors. During the enhanced play mode, the awards attributed to each symbol combination are increased, and the game parameters, other than the award amounts may be changed.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a top light is provided for a slot machine wherein the white light source and colored film is replaced by a red/green/blue light emitting diode (LED) source. The red, green, and blue components of the LED source are selectively controlled to produce any color and any effect (e.g., flashing) so as to generate any color code required in any jurisdiction without changing the top light for each jurisdiction.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a secondary game played concurrently with a conventional Keno game. In Keno, a player selects a plurality of numbers (e.g., 4-20) within an M×N grid (e.g., 8×10) of different numbers. A random number generator randomly selects a plurality of numbers (e.g., 20) in the grid. The player is then granted a first award based on matches between numbers that the player selected and the randomly selected numbers. As a secondary game played over the Keno game, for each number randomly selected, all numbers in the same row and column in the grid as the selected number are highlighted on the grid display. The player is granted a second award (e.g., free games) for each number not being in a highlighted row or column at the end of the Keno game. Variations of the secondary game are described.

Abstract: A system of linked gaming machines is disclosed herein. Upon a certain triggering event occurring, eligible gaming machines simultaneously receive a signal for initiating a free game bonus round. The player awarded the most credits or points from the play of the free games is awarded a special jackpot. The possibility of the free game bonus round occurring at any time provides incentive for players to keep playing the linked gaming machines. A free game pot, used to fund the free games, is accumulated from a percentage of wagers, where the percentage is dynamically changed based on the level of the free game pot.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming machine includes a separate touch screen located in an area where buttons are typically located. The touch screen virtual buttons may be both configurable by the player and configurable by the gaming machine. In one embodiment, the touch screen is 3-dimensional in that areas for being touched by the player are raised to give the impression of a physical button. Each raised portion may give tactile feedback to the player when pressed.

Abstract: In a virtual spinning reels type video slot machine, one or more of the possible symbols are special symbols. Examples of special symbols are wild cards and multipliers. If the special symbol cannot be utilized in the current game to grant an award to the player, the special symbol is carried over into the next game. When the player spins the reels for the next game, the special symbol(s) moves (e.g., randomly) to any position in the array as the reels appear to spin. When the reels stop, the special symbol(s) carried over from the previous game is applied to the current game to grant an award to the player. In another embodiment, special symbols are not extinguished after they are used, but may continue for any selected number of games.

Abstract: A game involves emulating spinning and randomly stopping virtual reels. If a special symbol is displayed in the matrix, and the special symbol is not used in a winning combination of symbols, then, for the next game, the special symbol is held in its position in the array, and all the reels are spun to randomly display symbols in all positions in the matrix other than in the special symbol position. If the special symbol is used in a winning combination of symbols, the special symbol is not held. The machine may hold the special symbol for an unlimited number of games as long as the player makes a maximum bet or an extra bet. Under certain conditions, an award for a winning combination using the held special symbol is enhanced the longer the special symbol is held without being used, so the player desires to not utilize the special symbol right away.

Abstract: A progressive jackpot system for a gaming network is described wherein the accumulation of the jackpot is based upon any of a number of factors, and the winning of the jackpot is based on any of a number of factors. In one embodiment, the winning of the jackpot may be by any player using a player ID card or a cash-less card to play a gaming machine. The determination of a winner of the jackpot may be based on a random selection of a player's ID code (or cash-less card code) by a network computer.