Abstract: A gaming machine includes a gaming machine cabinet defining an upper cabinet volume and a cabinet front opening to the upper cabinet volume. A gaming machine panel is mounted on the gaming machine cabinet in a panel operating position in which the gaming machine panel registers with and covers a base area of the cabinet front opening. The gaming machine further includes a translation structure connected between the gaming machine panel and the gaming machine cabinet. The translation structure is operable enable the gaming machine panel to be moved from the panel operating position upwardly to a cabinet open position. In this cabinet open position the gaming machine panel remains supported by the gaming machine cabinet and is removed from the base area of the cabinet front opening.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a video gaming system and one or more video monitors operatively connected to receive a game video signal. A wager input device is also included in the system and configured to receive a wager on a potential result in the video game. An image evaluation processing system is connected to receive the game video signal and is configured to evaluate the game video signal to identify a result in the game. The wager resolution system is connected to the image evaluation processing system and to the wager input device, and is configured to receive the wager and the result identified by the image evaluation processing system, and to resolve the wager based at least in part on that identified result.

Abstract: A gaming machine, system, method, and program product provide a new slot machine game in which a gaming continuum displays advancement toward a highest state. The gaming continuum and includes a game activation display function that, based on a random selection associated with a wager activation, either partially advances the gaming continuum to provide a losing game outcome or totally advances the gaming continuum to provide a winning game outcome, the gaming continuum entering a decay state after each game outcome. The decay state includes displaying an advancing level of the gaming continuum decreasing toward an initial state. If a wager activation occurs before the initial state is reached, the level of the continuum is used as the starting state of the subsequent game round.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and software products are provided for slot machine tournaments to allow bettors to bet on slot machine tournament players and events. A bettor interface is provided showing a group of currently remaining gaming machines in the competition and enabling selection of machines to wager upon, and a wagering interface display area presents a group of potential wagers to be made. At least some of the potential wagers presented with a target point total and calculated wager odds of reaching said target point total. Fixed or portable devices may be programmed to connect to the network to access the competition wager interface and allow bettors view, make selections, and activate wagers on the eventual outcome of the competition through the competition wager interface.

Abstract: A gaming system includes multiple second gaming machines, a shared display arrangement located in a viewable position relative to the different gaming machines, and a shared display server. Each gaming machine is operable to cause its gaming machine display system to display a first portion of a game play in response to a play initiating input entered through that gaming machine's player input system. Each gaming machine is also operable to initiate a hand-off communication for a given game play in response to a hand-off condition occurring for that game play. The shared display server receives the hand-off communication for a respective game play and supplies control signals to the shared display arrangement. The shared display server functions to, after receipt of a respective hand-off communication for a given game play, cause the shared display arrangement to display a presentation for a second portion of the respective game play.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a video gaming system and one or more video monitors operatively connected to receive a game video signal. A wager input device is also included in the system and configured to receive a wager on a result in the video game. An image evaluation processing system is connected to receive the game video signal and is configured to evaluate the game video signal to identify a result in the game. The wager resolution system is connected to the image evaluation processing system and to the wager input device, and is configured to receive the wager and the result identified by the image evaluation processing system, and to resolve the wager based at least in part on that result.

Abstract: A gaming machine and method for operating a slot machine game in which virtual or mechanical reels include numbers from which a prize amount is produced by concatenation. In response to a wager activation by a player, the reels display conduct a base game including spinning the reels and stopping to produce a respective randomly selected outcome having a plurality of symbols including single digit numbers which are positive numbers and zero, double digit numbers which are positive and double zero, and blank symbols. A prize amount associated with the outcome is identified by concatenating the single and double digit numbers and ignoring the blank symbols along a designated payline.

Abstract: Multiple different game symbol weighting sets are defined for selection in a given play of a reel-type game. Each game symbol weighting set defines a probability of each reel strip in the reel-type game landing at each particular stop position for that reel strip. By providing multiple different game symbol weighting sets, certain game symbols such as special themed game symbols may be favored for one or more plays of the game to increase the chance of hitting winning symbol combinations using that game symbol.

Abstract: A reel-type wagering game includes at least one wild symbol in the game symbol set. The wild symbol or symbols may appear at multiple game symbol locations across an array of game symbol locations through which results are shown for a play in the game, and may assist in forming winning combinations of game symbols along pay lines. Wild symbols that appear in the array of game symbols for a play of the game, but do not contribute to any winning combination along a pay line, represent noncontributing wild symbols which may provide an alternate winning result for the given play of the wagering game.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and software products are provided for slot machine tournaments to allow bettors to bet on slot machine tournament players and events. A bettor interface is provided including a first area showing a group of currently remaining gaming machines in the competition and their point totals and enabling selection of machines to wager upon, and a second wagering interface display area presents a group of potential wagers to be made. At least some of the potential wagers presented with a target point total and calculated wager odds of reaching said target point total. Fixed or portable devices may be programmed to connect to the network to access the competition wager interface and allow bettors view, make selections, and activate wagers on the eventual outcome of the competition through the competition wager interface.

Abstract: A gaming system, apparatus, and method are disclosed providing a wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems that provide a persistent gaming mode including a persistent game mode with multiple rounds in which each round includes a randomization of the matrix of symbol locations, a chance to win an award, and a chance to include a persistent feature event. An adjustable meter may be used to allow players to compete for the same bonuses or jackpots no matter what their bet level. A rolling meter shows special features scheduled to appear in future rounds using a rolling group of status indicators.

Abstract: Methods and systems facilitate the adjustment of probabilities of triggering different bonus games in a slot machine where the probability adjustment is based on supplemental data. Programming and data structure design are provided to implement a bonus trigger probability adjusting arrangement based on supplemental data input. Such supplemental data includes the state of a dynamic interactive game theme sequence displayed at the gaming machine. Player inputs can alter the sequence of the theme display and affect the adjustment of probabilities.

Abstract: A method includes storing multiple bet configurations for a gaming machine. Each bet configuration specifies a respective pay table and a set of bet levels including a minimum bet level. A payout percentage may be selected for each bet level. The pay tables each include a number N of prize levels and each prize level corresponding to a respective numerical prize value for a win on the gaming machine while the corresponding bet configuration is in an active state at the gaming machine. The minimum bets for the different bet configurations are unequal and are related by a translation ratio. The different numerical prize values for the different bet configurations are also related by that same translating ratio. A bet configuration may be placed in the active state at a gaming machine and plays are then resolved according to the bet configuration in the active state.

Abstract: A gaming machine and method for providing multiple simultaneous virtual game presentations to a player. An electronic controller is programmed to operate the virtual game presentations in response to player wagers, and determine if virtual game presentations all include a winning pattern. If so, the controller activates a bonus game structure to display the conduct of a bonus game and a bonus game result. A trigger pattern may replicate to selected virtual game presentations.

Abstract: In accordance with a method and system for facilitating redemption of monetary value gaming tickets, such as issued by a gaming device upon cash-out, a ticket is presented, such as to a redemption kiosk. If the ticket is validated and has a monetary value which includes a fractional currency value, then the player is presented a wagering game based upon a wager comprising at least the fractional currency value of the ticket. If the outcome of the game is losing, then the player is paid a first whole currency value comprising the monetary value less the wager and when an outcome of the wagering game is winning, then the player is paid a second whole currency value which is greater than the monetary value (such as by including a winning amount), or the first whole currency value plus separate winnings, such as in the form of an award ticket.

Abstract: A method of controlling prize targets displayed during a play in a target-interactive game includes receiving a total prize amount to be awarded for the play of the game and determining an expected target value for a respective record from a target sequence comprising a sequence of records. The method further includes selecting a target value for the respective record from a number of different available target values, where the selected target value comprises a value from among the number of different available target values that bears a predefined relationship to the expected target value. Once the target value is selected, the method includes selecting a target type correlated to the selected target value and then causing a prize target corresponding to the selected target type to be launched in the game.