Abstract: Methods of handling cards using card-handling devices may involve transferring a set of playing cards into a card storage device of a card-handling device using a card input mechanism by distributing the set of playing cards among compartments of the card storage device. Cards may be simultaneously removed from at least two of the compartments to form a stack of cards using a movable ejector.

Abstract: Card-handling devices include a card-holding area and a card output shoe. The card output shoe includes a card-way for passage of cards from the card-holding area into a dealing-ready area. A movable gate is positioned between the card-way and the dealing-ready area to prevent cards in the dealing-ready area from re-entering the card-way. Card shufflers include a gate mounted to allow movement of randomized groups of cards from card-receiving compartments to proximate a terminal end plate of a card output shoe and to block movement of cards in an opposite direction. In related methods of moving cards, card movement through the card-way to the dealing-ready position is allowed by a movable gate and card movement from the dealing-ready position into the card-way is prevented by the movable gate.

Abstract: Gaming machines, gaming systems, modular gaming terminals, and methods for assembling modular gaming machines are disclosed. A gaming machine is presented which includes an input device for receiving wagers to play a wagering game, and a display module with a display device for displaying outcomes of the wagering game. The display device is coupled to a display module housing, which includes a male or a female mounting interface. The gaming machine also includes a core module with an electrical bus that electrically connects to the display device. A core housing, which stows the electrical bus and supports the display module, includes the other one of the male and female mounting interfaces. The female mounting interface receives the male mounting interface such that moving the male interface into the female interface automatically aligns the display module with the core module and removably attaches the core housing to the display housing.

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: A side wagering system for table games includes a table controller, a dealer interface and at least one player interface, the at least one player interface including a first wager area and at least one second wager area, which permit a player to place first, second or one or more third supplemental wagers for the opportunity to win corresponding first, second or one or more third awards, such as a first, a second or a third progressive jackpot. The table controllers or multiple tables may be linked to a common award server.

Abstract: A gaming terminal includes a first display screen operative to display a wagering game that includes a lower section. A second display screen is operative to display images of input buttons and includes a touchscreen operative to receive inputs at the input buttons to play the wagering game. The second display screen is smaller than the first display screen. The second display screen is positioned forwardly relative to the lower section of the first display screen such that the second display screen is closer than the first display screen to a player position in front of the gaming terminal. The second display screen is inclined relative to horizontal such that an imaginary plane containing the second display screen intersects the lower section of the first display screen thereby creating an infinity pool effect when viewing the first display screen relative to the second display screen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enabling an augmented reality interaction system and a mobile device to overlay a virtual 3D component over a physical 3D component with which the virtual 3D component interacts. The method includes: enabling a user to capture a live camera image of a gaming machine cabinet via a camera on the mobile device; determining if there are image tags on the gaming machine cabinet in the live camera image; producing a virtual rendering of the gaming machine cabinet; determining virtual 3D components to be displayed over an image of a virtual gaming machine cabinet; comparing a virtual depth rendering of the virtual 3D components to a virtual depth rendering of the virtual gaming machine cabinet; and overlaying virtual 3D components without the subtracted elements onto a live camera image of the virtual gaming machine cabinet on a display of the mobile device.

Abstract: Automatic card shufflers include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a movable rack configured to move vertically within the card shuffler. The movable rack may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two cards therein. The card output mechanism includes a movable ejector configured to simultaneously eject cards out from two or more card storage compartments of the movable rack. Related methods include methods of fabricating such card shufflers, and methods of using such card shufflers.

Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting wagering games, and computer programs for executing wagering games are disclosed. A gaming system is disclosed which includes one or more processors and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the processors, cause the gaming system to: receive a wager to play a wagering game with symbol-bearing reels, each of which has distinct reel positions populated by various symbols, at least one reel bearing a symbol clump; and, display via a display device a randomly determined outcome of the wagering game. Each wagering-game outcome includes predetermined symbols occupying distinct array positions in a displayed array. Each reel position has a weighted probability of occupying an array position in the array. The weighted probabilities are configured such that the symbol clump, when part of a wagering-game outcome, can only land in its entirety in the array.

Abstract: A method for monitoring wagering machines and transmitting indications of idle wagering game machines is described herein. The method can include monitoring, at a wagering game server, credit meters of a plurality of wagering game machines. The method can further include determining, at the wagering game server based on the monitored credit meters, that a wagering game machine of the plurality of wagering game machines is idle. The method can further include transmitting, to a mobile device via a communications network, an indication that the wagering game machine is idle, the indication including an incentive available in exchange for gameplay on the wagering game machine.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes an input device, a display device, a processor, and a memory device. The memory device stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the gaming system to receive a wager in response to an input, display a main array of symbol-bearing reels, and to display a plurality of enhanced arrays. The main array includes a plurality of enhanced-array triggers. Each enhanced array includes an enhancement feature and each enhanced array is associated with at least one of the plurality of enhanced-array triggers. The enhanced arrays are spun and evaluated upon display of the associated enhanced-array triggers.

Abstract: A patron flow system aggregates wagering game data from a plurality of wagering game machines in a wagering game establishment. The wagering game data indicates a plurality of patrons and times. Patron flow data is generated from the aggregated wagering game data. The patron flow data indicate flows of the plurality of patrons among the plurality of wagering game machines in the wagering game establishment with respect to the times.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of operating a gaming system configured to present wagering game content for a wagering game. The method can include presenting, on a autostereoscopic display device of the gaming system, the wagering game content in two-dimensional form without stereoscopic depth. The method can also include detecting a game condition of the wagering game other than a location of a player of the wagering game. The method can also include determining a degree of stereoscopic three-dimensional depth based on the game condition. The method can also include presenting, via the autostereoscopic display device of the gaming system, the wagering game content with the degree of stereoscopic three-dimensional depth.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a gaming device and one or more controllers. The gaming device has a surface configured to display a wagering game. The controller is configured to display on the surface a designated area including indicia indicating where an electronic device held by a player should be placed in the designated area. In response to the electronic device being placed in proximity to the surface in the designated area, an illuminating flashing pattern representing an electronic identification code is caused to occur between the surface and the electronic device in the designated area. In response to causing the flashing pattern, a session associating play of the wagering game with a player account of the player is established.

Abstract: Presented herein are gaming systems, gaming machines, and methods for conducting wagering games. Gaming machines are disclosed which include a gaming cabinet, display device(s) and input device(s) coupled to the cabinet, and game-logic circuitry disposed within the cabinet.

Abstract: A card dealing shoe with card reading capability for facilitating play of card games includes a control system configured to detect the existence of an alarm condition and a card restraining apparatus mounted on the elongated housing and configured for alternating between a non-restraining condition and a restraining condition, wherein the restraining condition includes activation of a physical restraint that prevents cards from being added to and removed from the card receiving or staging area in the card dealing shoe, wherein the card restraining apparatus is in communication with the control system and actuated from the non-restraining condition to the restraining condition responsive to the detection of an alarm condition.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for variable contribution multiple progressive jackpot games are disclosed. A variable contribution rate is determined as a function of a wager level. A contribution amount is determined by multiplying each wager by its corresponding contribution rate. The contribution amount is then added to at least two jackpot meters.

Abstract: This document describes techniques for processing graphics in wagering game systems. Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter use stereoscopic 3-D graphics and 2-D graphics to present composite images including multiple views of a virtual 3-D wagering game environment. Such embodiments present the composite images on stereoscopic 3-D devices.

Abstract: A gaming terminal is utilized for playing a wagering game. The gaming terminal includes a wager-input device and a display for displaying the wagering game. The wagering game includes a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input received via the wager-input device. The plurality of outcomes include at least one outcome that awards standard credits and bonus tokens. A credit output device outputs a value of the standard credits and the bonus tokens in response to achieving the at least one outcome. The bonus tokens are exchangeable for a special event on a second gaming terminal.

Abstract: A device, system and method are set forth which provides for auto-configuration of progressive jackpot gaming linkages. Gaming terminals may be provided with jackpot controller software modules available to be unlocked when a licensed security device is attached. The progressive jackpot controller receives game attribute data and determines which games can be associated with which mystery or symbol based progressive jackpots. Reporting and logging functions are provided as well.