Patents Assigned to Bally Gaming, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10046232
    Abstract: A method includes acquiring media content of a wagering game table at a wagering game establishment with a camera of a mobile device. A location of the mobile device is determined when the media content is acquired. A direction that a lens of the camera is facing when the media content is acquired is determined. The wagering game table is identified based on the location and the direction. Overlay imagery derived from wagering game activity of the wagering game table is downloaded into the mobile device from a server. The overlay imagery is composited onto the media content to create a composited media content. The composited media content is displayed on a display of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Mark B. Gagner, Sean P. Kelly, Nickey C. Shin
  • Patent number: 10043342
    Abstract: A method of administering a wagering game includes accepting an ante wager to participate in a commission-free pai gow poker game and accepting an optional side wager from at least one player. Randomized physical cards from a set of cards comprising at least one 52-card deck of standard playing cards are dealt to provide a seven-card hand to the at least one player and a seven-card hand to a dealer. The ante wager is resolved by comparing two-card and five-card pai gow player hands formed from the at least one player's seven-card hand with two-card and five-card pai gow dealer hands formed from the dealer's seven-card hand. A payout is paid to the at least one player based on the optional side wager when the dealer's seven-card hand contains a winning hand of a set of predetermined winning hands. Methods also relate to administering wagering games over networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventor: Ryan Masao Yee
  • Patent number: 10037651
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gaming system including a gaming machine. In response to a triggering event, the gaming system initiates play of a feature game including a plurality of standard symbols and value symbols, the value symbols being associated with one or more values. Value symbols adjacent to one another are combined into a larger composite symbol and held in place on a display device, the standard symbols then replaced with replacement symbols randomly selected from the standard and value symbols. When the replacement symbols include another value symbol adjacent to the composite symbol, the new value symbol is also combined with the composite symbol, increasing its size. At the conclusion of the feature game, a reel associated with the composite symbol is displayed and spun to select an award from a set of possible awards based on the size of the composite symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Qin You, Yanhua Yin, Peter Wilkins, Elizabeth Carter, Jack Chesworth, Ross Malcolm Gilbertson
  • Patent number: 10032332
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining that a sound problem would occur if first content were to be presented simultaneously with second content via one or more output devices of a wagering game machine. In some examples, the first content is provided by a first application and the second content is provided by a second application independent from the first application. In some embodiments, the operation can further include modifying one or more characteristics of one or more of the first content and the second content based on the determining that the sound problem would occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Robert G. Berry, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Eric M. Pryzby, Paul J. Radek, Charles A. Richards, Steven J. Zoloto
  • Patent number: 10022617
    Abstract: A playing card shuffling device includes a visual display in information communication with the playing card shuffling device. At least one processor is programmed to provide displayable information to the visual display indicative of an amount of time remaining or time expired in a procedure performed by the playing card shuffling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Stasson, Ronald R. Swanson, Paul K. Scheper, Troy D. Nelson, Feraidoon Bourbour, Attila Grauzer
  • Patent number: 10019868
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a gaming cabinet, an electronic display device, and a front diffuser. The display device is positioned within the cabinet and includes an active area for displaying images of a casino wagering game and an inactive area lacking image display capability. The inactive area is immediately adjacent to the active area. The front diffuser receives light from a light source and diffuses at least a portion of the received light as indirect light viewable from a player position in front of the gaming machine. The diffuser overlaps the inactive area, is adjacent to the active area, and faces the player position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian L. Castro, Nicholas M. Garoufalis, Robert J. Glenn, II, Paul M. Lesley, Timothy C. Loose
  • Patent number: 10019872
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a gaming machine for redeeming an accrued attribute in subsequent plays of a wagering game. A wagering game instance may include a randomly triggered bonus game. One or more occurrences, events, or conditions are accrued in a tally during the bonus game. The tally grants an attribute for redemption in one or more subsequent randomly generated outcomes (e.g., subsequent plays of the wagering game, spins of the bonus game, etc.). The occurrences, events, or conditions may include any quantifiable measurement, including a number of winning, losing, or performed spins of the bonus game, appearance of specific symbols, wins over a threshold amount, etc. The resulting attribute(s) diminish over time and may include a win amount multiplier, a number of added symbols to one or more reels, a modified math model for a predetermined number of spins, additional game features or eligibility, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan D. Sherrets, Bryan J. Vandaele, Aaron J. Schurman
  • Patent number: 10004976
    Abstract: A multiple-mode card shuffling and/or card verification device includes a top surface, a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards, a randomizing or arranging system for the initial set of playing cards that can be disabled, a card collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the card collection surface receiving cards positioned so that all cards collected are below the top surface of the device, a card imaging system and an elevator for raising the card collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated above the top surface of the device. The processor is programmed such that cards can be verified without changing an order of cards present in the card receiving area, verified during randomization, and randomized without card verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Oliver M. Schubert, James V. Kelly, James B. Stasson, Feraidoon Bourbour, Paul K. Scheper, Troy D. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10008072
    Abstract: Systems and methods of operating a major progressive jackpot linked to wagering games having different jackpot triggers with different probabilities. The major jackpot winning probabilities may be normalized such that players may have substantially the same odds to win the major progressive jackpot regardless on the wagering game being played. During game play, the gaming stations may be randomly selected to participate for a chance to win the major progressive jackpot according to an eligibility probability, which may be inversely proportional to the probability of a jackpot trigger for the wagering game administered by the gaming station. Players may be informed of whether the current round of game play is eligible for the major progressive jackpot after wagers are placed and before the current round of game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Zbigniew Czyzewski, E. Damian Bless, Jeremy Halter
  • Patent number: 10008076
    Abstract: A card game monitor manages play of a game with a video feed of casino table game play. A dealer deals a game using a card-handling device that randomizes and dispenses cards, which may be grouped into sets of hands by the card-handling device. A card recognition system recognizes card information including rank and suit of each card dispensed by the card handling device while each card is under control of the card-handling device. A camera captures a video feed of casino table game play, which is transmitted to a computing device operated by a player. A control system receives the card information from the card recognition device and manages control of the game using hand information associated with players. Player action elections from the computing device are displayed to a dealer The player provides a player action through the computing device, which is used to facilitate play of the casino table game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Feraidoon Bourbour, Mark L. Yoseloff, Todd Haushalter
  • Patent number: 10002489
    Abstract: A gaming system and its operations include, for example presenting, via an autostereoscopic display device, symbols for an electronic wagering game, determining a game event value for a game event for the wagering game, determining a first symbol significance value for a first set of the symbols based on the game event value, and determining a second symbol significance value for a second set of the symbols based on the game event value. The operations can further include presenting, via the autostereoscopic display device, the first set of the symbols with a first autostereoscopic three-dimensional depth value corresponding to the first symbol significance value. The operations can further include presenting, via the autostereoscopic display device, the second set of the symbols with a second autostereoscopic three-dimensional depth value corresponding to the second symbol significance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Shawn C. Collette, David E. Detlefsen, Joel R. Jaffe, Sean P. Kelly, Timothy C. Loose, Scott A. Massing
  • Patent number: 10002491
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining a bank gaming effect for presentation on a bank of content presentation devices. The bank of content presentation devices can be associated with a plurality of wagering game machines. The operations can further include receiving presentation status information for the bank of content presentation devices. The presentation status information can indicate one or more events that affect a state of availability of each of the bank of content presentation devices to present the bank gaming effect. The operations can further include determining, based on the presentation status information, one content presentation device, from the bank of content presentation devices, that is ineligible to present the bank gaming effect. The operations can also include excluding the one content presentation device from participation in the bank gaming effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Jacob C. Greenberg, Timothy T. Gronkowski, John Michael Holmes, Timothy C. Loose, Martin R. Ugarte, Jr., Muthu Velu
  • Patent number: 9997025
    Abstract: The present invention describes a lottery ticket system providing an instant scratch lottery ticket to a consumer on-demand. A customer vending device of the lottery ticket system may be used to receive consumer input. The consumer input may include selection of a lottery game and one or more play actions for an associated interactive game. A scratch lottery ticket having hidden and non-hidden portions collectively defining an outcome for the lottery ticket is printed on-demand by the vending machine using blank lottery ticket media. The customer input may or may not impact the outcome of the printed lottery ticket. The vending machine may also communicate with one or more network servers to exchange ticket information for lottery ticket generation, authentication, recordation, and redemption, in addition to performing episodic lottery games by managing linked records of ticket information. Lastly, on-demand lottery tickets may be generated using real-time promotional and marketing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter R Anderson
  • Patent number: 9997015
    Abstract: A set of one or more processor units detects occurrence of a first game event during a wagering game presented at a stationary wagering game machine. In response to detecting the occurrence of the first game event, the set of one or more processor units presents a second game event at a portable machine. In addition, a control input may be received at the portable machine. The portable machine communicates an indication of the control input, which causes occurrence of a third game event at the stationary wagering game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Craig J. Sylla, James M. Rasmussen, Larry J. Pacey, Mark B. Gagner, Timothy J. Durham
  • Patent number: 9990804
    Abstract: A gaming system is primarily dedicated to playing a regulated casino wagering game providing eligibility to a plurality of progressive jackpots. The gaming system comprises a secure gaming cabinet, an electronic display device, an electronic input device, a random element generator, and game-logic circuitry. The game-logic circuitry is configured to allocate a portion of the wager to at least one of a first group of progressive jackpots, direct the electronic display device to increment the value of the first group of progressive jackpots, and direct the electronic display device to increment the values of a second group progressive jackpots based on the values of the first group of progressive jackpots. And, in response to a progressive-triggering outcome, the game-logic circuitry directs the electronic display device to display a reset value for the awarded progressive jackpot and an altered reduced value for another one of the progressive jackpots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Michael W. Mastropietro, Jeffry L. Nauman
  • Patent number: 9978209
    Abstract: Methods of administering wagering games may involve accepting an ante wager and a blind wager from a player. Cards may be dealt to the player and a dealer hand. A play wager or an election to fold may be accepted from the player. A value of the play wager may depend on when the play wager is accepted relative to when the player discards and draws cards. The play wager may be accepted at a first value before the player discards any cards. The play wager may be accepted at a second, lower or equal value, after the player discards any cards. The dealer hand may discard and draw cards. The ante and blind wagers may be resolved by comparing the dealer and player hands. The blind wager may be resolved by comparing the dealer and player hands and comparing the player hand to a set of predetermined, blind-winning hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger M. Snow, Ofir Ventura
  • Patent number: 9972166
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a plurality of input devices for operating a wagering game feature. A level of adoption is determined and dynamically modified for one or more input devices based upon player interaction during the feature. A tailored level of messaging is presented to the player corresponding to the level of adoption. A level of adoption may be maintained separately for each feature of the wagering game and for each input device. The level of adoption may be based on determined player familiarity, proficiency, desirability, usage, etc., of the input device, during one or more features of the wagering game. The level of adoption for a player, the one or more input devices, and all available feature contexts of the wagering game may evolve during a single gaming cycle session, starting at a predetermined default value and changing in response to player interaction with the input devices and operation of the gaming features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie W. Vann, Erik W. Funkhouser, Yokeshwaran Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9972161
    Abstract: A bonus display and gaming machine with a bonus display are disclosed. The bonus display includes a square video display arranged in a diamond pattern to display content such as a bonus wheel. Back illuminated inner and outer rings are mounted to cover at least portions of the video display and are back illuminated by, for example, light emitting diodes. To accommodate one or more pointers displayed on the video display the inner ring includes a cut-out to reveal each video pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon Bernard, Karl Wudtke
  • Patent number: 9972163
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a wagering game mechanism associating the game-outcome symbol of multiple reels of the wagering game to a unified game-symbol outcome. The wagering game generates an outcome symbol array with independent array elements and one or more associated groups of array elements. The associated groups of array elements are visually coordinated while the reels are spinning. Each associated group of array elements share a common game-outcome symbol based upon reels having a common reel strip for the associated group or a particular game-outcome symbol array element of the associated group. When the reels stop spinning and the wagering game outcome is displayed, the elements of a given associated group share an identical game-outcome symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy Hornik
  • Patent number: D819747
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Christian L. Castro, Robert J. Glenn, Paul M. Lesley