Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a game control unit programmed to display a game screen including a primary game area a plurality of primary game reels and a bonus feature event area including a plurality of bonus prize cells. Each bonus prize cell is configured to display a randomly selected bonus prize, and is operable as one of an active bonus prize cell and an inactive bonus prize cell. Each bonus prize cell is associated with a wager amount value. The game control unit initiates an instance of the game by receiving a wager being placed on the game by the player, selecting bonus prize cells having associated wager amount values equal to or less than the wager amount of the received wager, and operating the selected bonus prize cells as active bonus prize cells.

Abstract: There is provided an example gaming system (and method) that utilizes a presentation assembly configured to present a plurality of reels. The plurality of reels bear a plurality of symbols including value-bearing symbols and at least two special symbols. The at least two special symbols comprise at least a first special symbol and a second special symbol. The plurality of symbols are ranked according to a hierarchy. The value-bearing symbols have a lowest rank in the hierarchy. The at least two special symbols have ranks higher than the lowest rank. Each of the at least two special symbols has a different rank from each other within the hierarchy. Furthermore, each one of the at least two special symbols is configured to collect symbols of a lesser rank than its own rank. Game-logic circuitry conducts a series of spins of the plurality of reels, each spin including spinning and stopping the plurality of reels to randomly land at least some of the plurality of symbols.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a base, a columnar pedestal extending vertically from the base, and a button deck adjustably coupled to the pedestal. The button deck includes an upper surface including a transparent touchscreen element, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a button deck body extending therebetween. At least one of the lower surface and the body include one or more transparent display elements, the one or more transparent display elements are configured to generate images of gaming machine control actuators viewable on the upper surface. The transparent touchscreen element is configured to receive touches and gestures indicating control inputs. The gaming machine also includes a player tracking card reader positioned within the button deck and accessible through a slot in a front edge of the button deck, the player tracking card reader communicatively coupled to a player tracking display area of the gaming machine.

Abstract: An implementation may involve: receiving, by an application launcher, a message on behalf of a client device; determining a server application based on the message and metadata, wherein the server application is associated with a path, wherein the path includes a set of steps, wherein each of the set of steps is respectively associated with program logic to perform a discrete set of functions, wherein a generate result step causes the server application to determine an outcome of executing the path, and wherein a handle request step causes the server application to provide, to an external service, a representation of a request related to the outcome; providing, by the application launcher, a client application to the client device; and executing, by an orchestrator, the path, wherein a context of the execution is written in a database between execution of at least some of the set of steps.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a chip tracking system. For example, an apparatus comprises a chip tray and a tracking controller. The chip tray has a plurality of light sensors positioned inside a column. In some instances, the tracking controller is configured to perform operations that cause the apparatus to detect a level of ambient light at each of the plurality of light sensors and determine, in response to detection of the level of ambient light at each of the plurality of light sensors, a number of gaming chips placed inside the column. The tracking controller is further configured to perform operations that cause the apparatus to compute, in response to determination of the number of gaming chips, a chip-column value. In some instances, the tracking controller is further configured to automatically indicate the chip-column value via one or more electronic devices communicatively coupled to the chip tray.

Abstract: A system includes a gaming platform hosting a plurality of games, each having the same or different game mechanic. The gaming platform displays a universal progress metric at a user interface (UI) of the plurality of games, which tracks cumulative progress across all games. The universal progress metric is updated/synchronized in real-time with progress made by the player in any of the games according to the corresponding game mechanics. A rewards distribution module calculates and distributes rewards based on universal progress metric, such as at least one of in-game prizes/bonuses, off-game/meta-game prizes/rewards, and/or real-world prizes. Players are allocated soft currency based on the universal progress metric, which are redeemed for the rewards, thereby allowing the players to redeem/obtain rewards in any of the games based on progress made in the same or different games in the gaming platform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to automatically modify one or more presentation attributes of a gaming system. For instance, the gaming system detects, via analysis of an image data by a neural network model, an appearance of one or more features of a gaming surface. The gaming system further automatically modifies, via the neural network model in response to detecting the appearance of the one or more features, a presentation attribute associated with presentation of gaming content via a designated area of the gaming surface. The gaming system further projects, via a projection system based on the modified presentation attribute, the gaming content onto the designated area of the gaming surface.

Abstract: An example system of the present disclosure is configured to detect (e.g., by a processor of the system), in response to a wireless device being in proximity to a wagering game machine, a request to pair the wireless device with the wagering game machine. The system is further configured to, in response to detection of the request to pair the wireless device with the wagering game machine, automatically obtain, without user input, secret information from either the wireless device or from a configuration device accessible via a network. The system is further configured to generate, based on the secret information, an encryption key, and automatically pair the wireless device with the wagering game machine using the encryption key.

Abstract: A gaming system for enabling the simultaneous play of social virtual currency, wager-based gaming and free, play-for-fun gaming is described. The gaming system is configured to deliver a fun game to a client in conjunction with a virtual currency gaming event and to initiate play of a fun game upon a predesignated triggering event of the virtual currency game. The fun game is played by a plurality of players and fun game controller directs game information to a fun game server. Fun game information can be displayed for multiple players to drive competitive-type play among players and can be used to provide awards and incentivize play.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system comprises a processor configured to execute instructions that cause operations to detect, using sensors of one or more card-handling devices (“card-handling device(s)”) in a network, one or more anomalies (“anomaly (ies)”) on one or more cards (“card(s)”) used during play of one or more games (“game(s)”). The game(s) are played at one or more gaming tables (“table(s)”) associated with the card-handling device(s). The anomaly (ies) vary from one or more previously taken images of the card(s). The operations further include, in response to detecting the anomaly (ies), determining, via analysis by a machine learning model of image data captured by one or more image sensors at the table(s), identifiers for participants that played at the table(s) for the game(s) when the anomaly (ies) was/were detected. The operations further include relating, in a memory store associated with one or more collusion-confidence scores, the identifiers.

Abstract: A card-handling device and related methods may include a card intake, a card rotation device, and a card output. The card rotation device may be configured to rotate at least one of the one or more playing cards about a minor axis of the one or more playing cards to randomly alter an orientation of lateral edges of the one or more playing cards. A card-handling device and related methods may be configured to recognize unreadable cards and move the unreadable cards to a designated position.