Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for administering a centralized tournament game. The centralized tournament game is facilitated by a mobile wagering sub-system that communicates with a plurality of authorized mobile devices to provide each authorized mobile device access to participate in a bingo tournament session. The system and method include video presentation sub-system communicatively coupled to the mobile wagering sub-system and a stationary monitor. The video presentation sub-system receives bingo tournament results from the mobile wagering sub-system, and generates an integrated broadcast announcement. The integrated broadcast announcement includes the bingo tournament results and commentary about the bingo tournament session. The video presentation sub-system then communicates the integrated broadcast announcement to the stationary monitor client, which displays the integrated broadcast announcement.

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: Embodiments are directed towards providing video game gameplay incorporating falling puzzle mechanics influenced by character movements within a puzzle space. In a preferred embodiment, a computer implemented method renders a game world that includes a puzzle space wherein a sequence of falling items aggregate in a puzzle formation. Players move characters within the puzzle space to remove items by colliding with them in an attempt to resolve the puzzle by clearing all items from the puzzle space. In one possible arrangement, the sequence of falling items is released according to character movements within the puzzle space. The relationship between character movements and falling puzzle items makes the game play more engaging by providing additional strategic and competitive elements to traditional falling puzzle games.

Abstract: An electronic game machine includes a display, an interface for receiving input from a human player, a processor executing preprogrammed instructions in response to an input from the human player, an input device for (i) receiving value and crediting the human player with wagering units and a data storage device storing preprogrammed instructions executed by the processor to: a) receive an input whereby the human player chooses to be a first or second player, b) randomly generate a first game state for the first player, c) receive an input from the first player selecting to (i) wager all of the first player's available wagering units, or (ii) decline to play and forfeit a wagering unit, d) if the first player wagers, receive a compulsory wager from the second player, generate a second game state for the second player, determine an outcome and award the wagered units to the winning player.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting a game between at least one live player and at least one computer-controlled player includes executing a training program between at least two agents to generate probability weights correlating actions or meta-actions representing a set or sequenced set of actions with a probability that the action or meta-action will produce a game outcome meeting a specified criterion or specified criteria. A game is conducted in which at least one live player plays against at least one computer-controlled player in which the computer-controlled player selects actions at one or more of the decision nodes in the game based, at least in part, on the probability weights.

Abstract: A system and method for anonymously funding a temporary cash account is described. The system includes a personal mobile device, a cash account, a Point-of-Sale (POS) device and a network component. A device identifier is received by the personal mobile device. A unique session identification is generated by the network component and communicated to the personal mobile device and to the POS device. The POS device and personal mobile device displays the device identifier. The POS device then proceeds to receive a cash amount. The POS receives an instruction to associate the cash amount with the personal mobile device. The personal mobile device communicates the cash amount to the network component. The network component receives the device identifier, the unique session identification and the cash amount. The network component funds the cash account with the cash amount. The personal mobile device accesses the cash account to fund an activity.

Abstract: A method of managing a live broadcast of multiplayer video game activity operates a multiplayer game server system to provide game data to a plurality of client devices, the game data defining a multiplayer video game environment that includes a plurality of game characters. The game server system receives a character identifier corresponding to a targeted game character, determines that a currently active altercation in the multiplayer video game environment involves the targeted game character and an opponent game character, and communicates altercation data to a client device operating in a spectator mode. The altercation data includes first gameplay attributes to display with a first user interface (UI) element associated with the targeted game character, and second gameplay attributes to display with a second UI element associated with the opponent game character.

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 comprises a display and an electronic controller for playing a first game. The electronic controller is configured to randomly determine whether to display one or more bonus symbols in the first game, each bonus symbol being associated with a bonus value award. Where a trigger event occurs during the first game, such as the appearance of a predetermined order of bonus symbols, electronic controller is configured to display an array of the bonus symbols on the display or optionally on another display. Where bonus symbols appear in further plays of the first game or plays of a second game, the bonus symbols are added to the array and bonus symbols present on the array are sequentially transferred to a win meter, which increments by the amount of the associated bonus value award of each transferred bonus symbol.

Abstract: The field of the invention relates to multi-user online gaming systems, and more particularly to systems and methods that enable a spectator's experience for online active games. In an embodiment, an online multiuser game system includes an online game session server system communicatively coupled to a public network for access by a plurality of users to establish a plurality of real-time interactive games sessions. The online multiuser game system further includes a spectator server communicatively coupled to the online game session server system and configured to enable a user to view summary information of an active game session. In another embodiment, the spectator server enables the user to time shift the active game session and to view the summary information of the active game session. In another embodiment, the spectator server enables the user to view the summary information of the active game session while the user is playing the active game session.

Abstract: A method for providing scratch-off lottery tickets for sale remote from a POS location in a retail establishment includes configuring the tickets with a game play area having play characters covered by a scratch-off coating. A print characteristic is provided in the game play area that is optically scannable but not reproducible when photocopying the game play area. In a database, identification of the printed characteristic is linked to a computer file associated with the lottery ticket at a central lottery computer. An optically scannable random identifier is also provided in the game play area and is linked to the computer file. Upon presentation of the lottery ticket for purchase, the ticket or a scanned image of the ticket is analyzed to verify that the print characteristic is present in the game play area. The scanned image of the ticket is analyzed to verify that the random identifier assigned to the lottery ticket is present in the game play area of the scanned image.

Abstract: An immersive gaming facility has a plurality of game rooms, each with a respective interactive gaming space with electronically controlled interactive game elements, a respective entrance through which participants are admissible from a waiting area with a respective sign-in station operable to control admission of participants in a groupwise fashion. After admission, an executed game session involves controlled operation of the interactive game elements and monitoring of participant interaction therewith to identify participant completion or failure of tasks in said game session; and terminate execution of said game session upon expiry of a time limit or multiple detected failures exceeding a predetermined limit. The waiting areas are accessible independently of one another off a shared common area, allowing participation among the game rooms in any participant-selected order. The gaming spaces are darkened environments illuminated only by the interactive game elements and game status displays.

Abstract: A system and associated method are provided for activating and dispensing lottery tickets at a retail establishment. For each pack of lottery tickets delivered to the retail establishment, a pack code unique to the pack is scanned and transmitted to a central lottery server. At the central lottery server, the lottery tickets within the ticket packs associated with the pack codes are electronically activated to a ready for sale status in a database. At the retail establishment, a unique ticket code provided on each lottery ticket is scanned at a time of sale of the individual lottery ticket and transmitted to the central lottery server wherein it is confirmed that the ticket code is associated with a lottery ticket previously flagged as ready for sale and, if so, the individual ticket is flagged as sold in the same or a different database.

Abstract: A kit of parts for playing a tag game in low-light conditions includes first and second base markers, first and second plurality of team identifiers, and first and second plurality of batons. The base markers, team identifiers and the batons emit light.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media are provided for improved targeting of an individual object among a plurality of objects in a multi-player online video game. The video game may include plurality of objects located at various places at a given frame. At each frame, a position of the objects is identified. If a player object (except for the player object associated with the user) is within a predetermined radius of another player object, a target position of the player object is modified relative to other player objects. Next, the target position of the player object is modified towards its original position within the frame. This process is repeated for each player object until the corresponding player object is no longer within the predetermined radius of another player object or a violation of a constraints prevents the modification from being performed.

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.