Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides both a base game and a feature game which may be triggered by the base game to provide an adjustable possible progressive award to the player. The feature game includes a player selectable set of symbols, where the symbols include one or more high and low value incrementing symbols and one or more terminator symbols. When a player selects one of the incrementing symbols, the player's position on a ladder or other graduated sequence of prize values increments to a higher value prize.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scoring familiarity are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method comprises selecting a topic by a first user, presenting items associated with the topic to the first user, ranking a first set of the items by the first user, presenting the items to a second user, ranking a second set of the items by the second user, and scoring the second ranking relative to the first ranking.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed that include generating a set of primary game outcomes with each primary game outcome being associated with a result in a primary game. A set of progressive prize bearing outcomes are associated with the set of first game outcomes according to a progressive win frequency rule. Each progressive prize bearing record is associated with a progressive win indicator and a progressive prize. A primary game outcome is determined in response to a game play request by a player. If the primary game outcome is associated with a winning result, the player is provided a corresponding award; independent of the primary game result, if the primary game outcome is associated with one of the progressive prize bearing records, the player is awarded a corresponding progressive prize.

Abstract: A wagering game includes a display assembly having a touch-sensitive display adjacent to or overlaying a display area operable to present a wagering game presentation. The touch-sensitive display is operable to display a residual graphic effect such as a trailing particle effect following the path of a player's finger or other contactor in contact with the touch-sensitive display. The residual graphic effect may include repeated discrete graphic elements such as a star or sparkle, or a game theme-associated element such as a butterfly or butterflies corresponding to a butterfly themed game. The residual graphic effect may also or alternatively include an effect such as a wave or ripple visual effect or a shockwave visual effect which does not necessarily include any discrete graphic element.

Abstract: In overview, the technology is primarily directed to the implementation of linked gaming in respect of a plurality of gaming machines. In particular, a controller device is disclosed, this controller device being adapted to enable the management of a plurality of linked games via a single piece of hardware. This is achieved in part by virtualization of jackpot controllers within the controller device. More specifically, a user is enabled to configure a plurality of virtual jackpot controllers by way of interaction with a graphical user interface, and select compatible electronic gaming machines to participate in a linked game provided by a given one of the virtual jackpot controllers.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a cabinet having a main video display mounted on a front side of the cabinet. The gaming machine also includes at least one more additional video display mounted on the front side of the cabinet either above or below the game video display. The player controls include a separate player control touch screen mounted on a ledge projecting forwardly from the front side of the gaming machine cabinet, and facing upward to present reconfigurable player touch controls for the gaming machine. These controls may be reconfigured within a game or to change the game presentation on the machine in response to player commands or gaming network conditions.

Abstract: A method includes maintaining a progressive pool value at a progressive prize meter in a progressive gaming system and, in response to the receipt of a qualifying game play input, conducting a round of a wagering game. An award value for a progressive prize in the progressive gaming system is identified from a set containing a number of different potential award values. In response to a progressive prize triggering event for the round of the wagering game, the progressive prize is awarded and a deduction is taken from the progressive pool value. The value of the progressive prize is equal to the award value identified from the set containing different potential award values.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a multi-player game experience through a computerized theme-park ride. The system includes a ride control module configured to manage ride control parameters and settings of a computerized theme park ride. The system includes a ride interface module configured to provide an interface to operate and navigate the computerized theme park ride. The ride interface module include a plurality of interface devices. The system includes a ride engine module, including a processor, configured to operate a multi-player game experience. The system includes a communications module configured to bridge communications between the ride engine module, the ride interface module, and the ride control module over a computerized network. The system includes an account module configured to provide player specific information to the ride control module.

Abstract: A lottery second chance game program method is provided for a single lottery jurisdiction or across multiple participating lottery jurisdictions. The lottery jurisdictions are networked to a lottery server system. One or more production runs of primary game tickets are provide to each lottery jurisdiction, with each production run of game tickets having a total face value. For each of the production runs of game tickets, a percentage of the total face value is contributed by the lottery jurisdiction to fund prize awards in a plurality of second chance games that are common to all of the lottery jurisdictions. The plurality of second chance games are provided to all eligible players in all of the lottery jurisdictions by entry of a unique identifier from one or more losing primary game tickets into a central server system.

Abstract: A gaming system is provided. The gaming system allows users to access applications via gaming communication devices coupled to a communication network. At least a portion of the network may be wireless. The gaming applications include gambling, financial, entertainment service, and other types of transactions. The system may include a user location determination feature to prevent users from conducting transactions from unauthorized areas. The gaming system may incorporate a user profile feature according to which certain information regarding users of the system may be maintained. Such information can include, without limitation, information relating to preferences, finances, activities participated in by the users, and trends and habits of the users.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to control movement of a vehicle using a plurality of thrust-producing devices formed in at least one control surface is disclosed. A supply of power to the plurality of thrust-producing devices that are configured to propel gas through the control surface to produce thrust is controlled such that a physical displacement of the control surface is generated. The physical displacement is in accordance with the supply of power to the plurality of thrust-producing devices and controls the movement of the vehicle.

Abstract: A wagering game is provided including an advancing target elimination game, which may be a base or bonus game. In this game, targets are shown to be advancing toward an objective, and the player is given selectable indicia with which to stop the targets. Each pick election may eliminate (or partially damage) a certain number and/or pattern of targets, with a credit value being awarded for each enemy eliminated. The bonus is played by taking turns between a phase of enemy target appearance and movement and a phase of player pick for enemy target elimination. These two phases alternate until an end-bonus condition is achieved.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to combine a gambling establishment player club with one or more second chance games. Players are thereby given multiple opportunities and incentives to interact with the gambling establishment and player club. The gambling establishment is thereby able to gather valuable player data, build player profiles, and incentivize players to take actions desired by the gambling establishment.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for incentivizing players to visit a gambling location. In one aspect, a qualified person is invited to play an electronic game which has a plurality of outcomes, at least one of which is a winning outcome. In one embodiment, the qualified person may be required to redeem the outcome at the gambling location. In another embodiment, the person may be required to redeem the outcome at a redemption location. In another aspect, a method is provided for permitting a person to take one or more actions within a gambling location and in response inviting the person to play an electronic game separate from the games offered in a gambling environment at the gambling location, where the game has a plurality of outcomes, at least one of which is a winning outcome, and if the person obtains a winning outcome, requiring the person to redeem the at least one outcome at the gambling location. In one embodiment, the method includes the acts of qualifying a person.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods of selecting and placing real-world wagers responsive to one or more wager triggers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers through the interactive media to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user interactions. The system may withhold a reveal of a payout if one or more reveal parameters are not satisfied. A reveal parameter may specify that a minimum level of performance of an objective must be achieved for a reveal to occur. The objective may include, for example, an amount of winnings in a game, a number of points in a game, a number of enemies defeated in a game, a length of a video viewed, a number of promotions redeemed, a number of advertisements viewed, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods of selecting and placing real-world wagers responsive to one or more wager triggers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with interactive media, and revealing the outcomes through the interactive media to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user interactions even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers and were determined before the user interactions. The system may select a real-world wager based on one or more wager parameters that specify one or more aspects of the wager. In some instances, the user may directly specify some of the foregoing parameters and the system may select other ones of the foregoing parameters. For example, the user may identify a particular horse race on which to place the real-world wager and the system may select the winner, an amount of the wager, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods of maintaining revealed and unrevealed balances that both belong to a user, but the user is aware only of the revealed balance. In this manner, the system can give the user an impression that a value (e.g., a cash amount or other value) has been gained or lost by transferring the value between the revealed and unrevealed balances of the user, even though no gain or loss actually occurred. The unrevealed balance may include a payout from a real-world wager. Thus, payout may be revealed to the user in a manner that the user believes that the payout was won by the user through a game or other interactive media, even though the payout belongs to the user based on the payout. Other changes in value to the unrevealed and revealed balances may occur as well.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display for displaying a first array of game symbols for playing a game and two or more second arrays of game enhancing elements, said second arrays being associated with columns of said first array. In response to a trigger event occurring in the columns, the second arrays each randomly award one or more game enhancing elements. A gaming method is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods of selecting and placing real-world wagers responsive to one or more wager triggers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers through the interactive media to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user interactions even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers and were determined before the user interactions. The system may reveal a single outcome (or other value) using a reveal staircase, in which the outcome is split into different increments each having a different value. In an implementation, the different increments may be revealed randomly or in order of their value. For example, a ten dollar payout may be revealed using four fifty cent reveals, three one dollar reveals, one two dollar reveal, and one three dollar reveal.