Patents Assigned to Bally Gaming, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9901810
    Abstract: A playing card handling device comprises a card storing area that supports a stack of playing cards, the card storing area having a playing card support surface. A card removing system removes playing cards individually from the bottom of the stack. A pivoting arm is automatically moved by a motor between at least two positions, wherein in a first position the end of the arm opposite a pivot is disengaged from a playing card at the top of the stack and in a second position the end of the arm is engaged with a playing card at the top of the stack. A processor in the playing card handling device directs movement of the pivoting arm between at least the first and second positions when a predetermined number of cards is present in the card storing area. Methods of card handling include employing the use of such a pivotal arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Rynda, Feraidoon Bourbour, Ronald R. Swanson, Attila Grauzer
  • Patent number: 9898889
    Abstract: A system employs a server computing system with an integrated database and wireless communications devices. The wireless communications devices permits players to take a position on a potential outcome of a game and includes remote game play and remote backline playing (taking a position on a potential outcome of a position on game outcome taken by a primary player occupying a player position at a gaming table) and other types of positions not involving money. In response to the electronic indication that the primary player is no longer occupying the player position at the gaming table the system automatically initiates a period locking out players taking positions on the potential outcome of the game such as a position on game outcome lock out period for such proposed backline positions on game outcome and modifies the user interface on a wireless device of the dealer accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Rajaraman, Sathish Kumar Anantharaman, William Lewis
  • Patent number: 9898896
    Abstract: A card game is played against a pay table, wherein a player receives a partial hand that is preferably completed by community cards, but may be completed by cards dealt directly to a hand or a combination of cards dealt directly to a hand and at least one community card or wild card. After placement of an ante wager, each player will have an opportunity to place a game wager before receiving another card for the player's hand (whether dealt directly to the player or as a community card revealed to all players). At least some or all game wagers may be an amount within a range of multiples of the player's ante wager, such as one times, two times, three times, four times, or five times the amount of the ante wager. The range of wagers may remain the same or vary with the number of dealt cards or community cards revealed to the players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Yoseloff, Louis J. Castle, II, Roger M. Snow
  • Patent number: 9892594
    Abstract: Gaming systems, devices and methods are set forth which provide for the selection and application of modifiers to game outcomes. The modifiers confer different functionalities to base game symbols or an augmenting functionality to alter or provide an outcome. Different sets of modifiers may be accessed randomly or under different conditions and events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Lange, Alexander Villagran
  • Patent number: 9892591
    Abstract: A gaming method of conducting a wagering game includes receiving, via one or more input devices, an input indicative of a wager, displaying, via one or more display devices, a plurality of symbols to indicate a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game in a display area, and determining, via at least one of one or more processors, one or more award amounts for the randomly selected outcome. The one or more award amounts are based on the wager and the symbols of the randomly selected outcome. The method further includes determining an aggregate award amount based on the one or more award amounts, comparing the aggregate award amount to a predetermined threshold amount, awarding the aggregate award amount if the aggregate award amount is less than the predetermined threshold amount, and awarding an override-award amount if the aggregate award amount is greater than the predetermined threshold amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Pamela S. Smith
  • Patent number: 9892589
    Abstract: Various embodiments directed to systems and methods that enable cross platform persistent gaming sessions using a mobile device in a mobile device-enhanced system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method may include enabling a cross platform gaming session in a system that includes a gaming machine that presents a game, and a computing device distinct from the gaming machine, both in communication with one another. The method may include associating the computing device with the gaming machine. The computing device may have one or more displays. The method may include receiving, by the computing device, reformatted graphical data from the gaming machine. The method may include presenting the game on the one or more displays of the computing device using the reformatted graphical data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin S. Lyons
  • Patent number: 9892592
    Abstract: Unidentified player tracking systems and related methods of tracking an unidentified player are disclosed herein. According to one method, an unidentified player initiates a first gaming session on a first networked gaming machine, and the gaming activity data during the first gaming session is accumulated. A printed voucher that includes an identification number is issued in response to input from the unidentified player to terminate the first gaming session. The accumulated gaming activity data is then associated with the identification number of the printed voucher, and the identification number of the printed voucher and the associated gaming activity of the unidentified player is stored for future analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian P. Finnimore
  • Patent number: 9886282
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a wagering game machine includes: a carrier board comprising a first network port and a second network port, the first network port having a first network address and the second network port having a second network address; a processor located on the carrier board; a first nonvolatile memory located on the carrier board and communicatively coupled to the first network port, the first nonvolatile memory configured to store the first network address; and a second nonvolatile memory located on the carrier board, wherein the second nonvolatile memory is configured to store Basic Input and Output System (BIOS) code that includes a system BIOS code and an application BIOS code, wherein the BIOS code is hardware write-protected, wherein the processor is configured to derive the second network address from the first network address during execution of boot-up operations of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Canterbury, Vernon W. Hamlin, Scot W. Salzman, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Craig J. Sylla
  • Patent number: 9881443
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a housing having gaming components therein. The housing has a door opening and a door capable of rotating about a hinge axis defined by a set of hinge pins rigidly affixed to the housing. Attached to the door are a set of hinge arms having a set of specially shaped hinge slots positioned around the hinge pins. The hinge arms are additionally coupled to the housing by a set of spring components. When the housing door is not in a closed position, the spring components bias the door to an open position. When the housing door is in the closed position, the spring components bias the door in a direction defined by the hinge slots such that the door remains in a neutral position minimizing a spacing gap along one edge of the door. A set of roller guides align the door with a set of corresponding roller pins when the door approaches the closed position, and a locking mechanism is configured to latch the door to the housing in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Maher, Michael Corristine, Gregory E. Klostermann, Andrew Lloyd
  • Patent number: 9875597
    Abstract: Techniques for processing user information in wagering game systems are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a first wagering game system to assign a first set of access credentials to a user, wherein the first wagering system is connected to a first set of wagering game machines. The system can also include a second wagering game system to assign a second set of access credentials to the user, wherein the second wagering system connected to a second set of wagering game machines. The systems can also include a master identifier controller to receive and store the first and second sets of access credentials, to receive requests to access the first wagering game system based on the second set of user access credentials, and to facilitate access the first wagering game system based on the second set of user access credentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventor: Terry D. Warkentin
  • Patent number: 9875605
    Abstract: A user-interface for a game is separately serviced to game clients based on an identifier of a site providing a selection interface for the game. Multiple user interfaces for a game are stored. A resource server receives a request for a game that includes an identification of a web site issuing the request. The resource servers uses the identification to select a user interface module from the multiple user interface modules associated with the game. The selected user interface is assembled into the game and provided to a source of the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Irby, II, Fredrik Arvidsson, Nisse A. Bergman, Per O. Hjelm, Markus P. Hogberg, Andreas D. Larsson
  • Patent number: 9875604
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations include receiving event data from a first application available on a wagering game machine, wherein the event data is in a first data format that is natively understood by the first application and not natively understood by a second application available on the wagering game machine. In some embodiments, the operations further include converting the event data to a second data format natively understood by the second application, wherein the second data format is not natively understood by the first application. In some embodiments, the operations further include communicating the event data in the second data format to the second application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jacek A. Grabiec, Damon E. Gura, Budyanto Himawan, Jason A. Smith
  • Patent number: 9875621
    Abstract: A mobile device for playing a wagering game and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include obtaining a game code associated with a secondary game, wherein the game code was scanned from a physical game card. In some embodiments, the game code is scanned by a scanning mechanism of a mobile device. The physical game card is associated with a wagering game. The operations can further include determining an outcome for the secondary game based on the game code. The operations can further include providing, for presentation, an indication of the outcome. In some examples, the indication of the outcome is provided for presentation via the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Michel, Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Richard B. Robbins
  • Patent number: 9875598
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system involving augmenting content. The system includes context-sensitive augmenting options that are conveniently presented to a player. Promotion of time sensitive propositions is presented to both simplify the content augmenting experience and provide a better targeted experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin S. Lyons, Bryan M. Kelly
  • Patent number: 9875600
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of displaying augmented reality gaming information associated with a user-specific card using mobile device in an augmented reality gaming system. In one embodiment, the method includes: enabling a user to view a live image of a user-specific card through a display of a mobile device; acquiring user-specific identification information from the user-specific card; sending the user-specific identification information via a network to a server; retrieving user-specific information from the server using the mobile device; and displaying the user-specific information in conjunction with the user-specific card when viewing the user-specific card through the display of the mobile device using augmented reality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Murugeshun Arun Arumugam, Martin S. Lyons, Bryan M. Kelly, John Sommer
  • Patent number: 9870672
    Abstract: Disclosed are a game, gaming device, system and method for play of a reel-based feature game including a base matrix of reel indicia, one or more additional matrices of reel indicia and an expanding reel which replaces a portion of the base matrix and each of the additional reel matrices to simultaneously produce outcomes in each of the matrices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher K. Guerrero
  • Patent number: 9865125
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enabling a mobile augmented reality (AR) table betting system to facilitate game play with a table game and one or more players each using a mobile device. The method includes: enabling a player to register at an available betting spot on the table game using the player's mobile device; providing a dealer display that presents information to a dealer as game events occur on the player's associated mobile device; enabling a player to access funds from an electronic wallet associated with the player to place an initial bet at the table game; commencing game play at the table game; enabling a player to place an subsequent bet or game decision at the table game using the player's mobile device; in response to a winning table game outcome, transferring funds to the player; and in response to a losing table game outcome, transferring funds from the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin S. Lyons, Sean C. Martin
  • Patent number: D808354
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Christian L. Castro, Robert J. Glenn, II, Paul M. Lesley
  • Patent number: D809525
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Elie Arabian, Dave Reyes, Kevin Prangley, Jesse James Oliger
  • Patent number: D810834
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan M. Kelly, Joseph R. Hedrick, Scott Hilbert, Gordon Myers, Kay Vetter