Abstract: A computer system includes an enclosure having a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and an environment monitoring system therein. The enclosure environment monitoring system includes a temperature sensor, and an air quality sensor. The computer system also has an indicator responsive to certain conditions being sensed.

Abstract: Game arrangements are reduced to a single number, typically an integer. General procedures, applying to most any game including essentially all games played on gaming machines, convert between symbolic representations of game arrangements and numeric representations of game arrangements. The procedures utilize “ordering factors” such as game symbols and positions of such game symbols. Examples of symbols include a “Queen of Hearts” in a card game, a keno token, a cherry symbol on slot reel symbol, a checker, etc. Examples of positions include second slot reel-payline 3, 5th card in a poker hand, 38th position on a keno board, 21st position on a checkerboard, etc.

Abstract: An electronic gambling unit for allowing a user to play a video gambling game, may generally include a virtual object input device that allows the user to make a plurality of input selections and a display unit being capable of generating color images. The electronic gambling unit may further include a currency-accepting mechanism that is capable of allowing the user to deposit a medium of currency and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the input device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting data in read-only manner from a gaming system is disclosed. In one embodiment, during gaming machine use, operation data regarding any aspect of a gaming machine is provided to a record-only data collection device configured to temporarily interface with a gaming machine that has or is suspected of a malfunction. Media may be associated with the data collection device. Upon malfunction of the gaming machine, the media or the data collection device and the operation data stored thereon may be retrieved from the gaming machine. The operation data may then be provided to any location or device and analyzed to determine the malfunction's cause. In various other configurations, the data collection device may be remote from the gaming system and collect data over a radio or network link. The operation data may comprise information collected for purposes other than gaming machine malfunction monitoring.

Abstract: A disclosed thermal printer provides a dual thermal heads for duplicate printing of parameter values indicating game play information obtained from playing a gaming machine. The dual-head thermal printer, which may be incorporated into a gaming machine and other gaming devices as well as devices used outside of gaming applications, simultaneously prints an issued ticket voucher and a duplicate ticket voucher. The duplicate ticket voucher may be stored within the gaming machine or a gaming device to provide an audit trail of the issued ticket voucher. The issued ticket voucher and the duplicate ticket voucher may be printed from stacks of two-ply thermal printing media stored in a single tray, sheets of thermal printing media stored in a single tray or from two stacks of single-ply thermal printing media stored in separate trays.

Abstract: A casino gambling unit may include a display unit capable of generating video images, a detection apparatus capable of detecting the presence of a person by detecting radiation from the person, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the detection apparatus. The controller may comprise a processor and a memory and may be programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause a video image representing a video gambling game to be generated on the display unit, to determine an outcome of the video gambling game and a value payout associated with the outcome of the video gambling game, and to cause an attract sequence comprising a plurality of video images displayed on the display to be performed in response to detection of the presence of a person.

Abstract: A gaming machine with an extendable bet button is disclosed. In most known gaming machines, the bet button is the most often accessed control of the gaming machine. In order to improve player comfort, an extendable bet button is provided which enables a player to lean back while playing a gaming machine to provide increased player comfort. The extendable bet button may be carried by the front housing portion in an non-extended position similar to conventional gaming machines. The extendable bet button is connected to the gaming machine by way of an electrical cable which allows the extendable bet button to be pulled away form the machine to improve player comfort. A stop assembly is provided to prevent the extendable bet button from being pulled out of the machine. The electrical cable may be provided as an armored cable to prevent unauthorized access as well as protect the cable from wear.

Abstract: A cashless technology involves issuance of bonus awards to players. The bonus awards themselves are cash, service, merchandise, etc. But the game issues these awards in the form of a cashless instrument representing the award. The cashless instrument may be issued under various circumstances and in various forms such as pre-printed tickets, peelable tickets, updated information on a player card, updated information in a database, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for protecting transaction information stored in a database of a gaming network. To accomplish this, a transaction signature is generated each time the user completes a transaction on a gaming machine. The transaction signature is generated using transaction information from a particular transaction. The transaction signature and transaction information are stored together in a network database. Upon subsequent access to the transaction information in the database, the transaction signature for the transaction information is recalculated based on the transaction information at that time. The new transaction signature is then compared to the transaction signature previously stored. Any differences between the two transaction signatures may be used to signal unauthorized alteration in the database transaction information.

Abstract: An electronic card game adapted to be implemented on a non-reel type gaming machine. In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic game can be implemented as a poker game, enabling multiple games to be played simultaneously. The cards for each card game are displayed, for example, in a row or column. When multiple games are played simultaneously, the cards are displayed in a N×M matrix, where N is the number of games played and M is the number of cards per game. For five card poker, the cards are displayed in a N by 5 matrix, where N is the number of games being played simultaneously. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the pay lines when multiple simultaneous games are played are not confined to the row or column defining each game. For example, the pay lines may include rows, columns, diagonals, the letters v, c, m and w and other configurations to provide an increased number of pay lines.

Abstract: Game arrangements are reduced to a single number, typically an integer. General procedures, applying to most any game including essentially all games played on gaming machines, convert between symbolic representations of game arrangements and numeric representations of game arrangements. The procedures utilize “ordering factors” such as game symbols and positions of such game symbols. Examples of symbols include a “Queen of Hearts” in a card game, a keno token, a cherry symbol on slot reel symbol, a checker, etc. Examples of positions include second slot reel-payline 3, 5th card in a poker hand, 38th position on a keno board, 21st position on a checkerboard, etc.

Abstract: As gaming machine housing configured for improved player comfort, relative to upright machines, formed with a reduced footprint relative to slant-top machines. The gaming machine may include a housing configured to carry a video display at an acute angle relative to a vertical datum, selected to optimize player comfort while carrying a video display so as to be visible as players enter a casino floor. In order to increase the number of gaming machines that can be placed in a given area of a casino floor, the gaming machine housing may be configured such that at least a portion of the side housing portions are non-parallel and converge toward each other, thus reducing the footprint of the machine.

Abstract: A gaming machine including a gaming controller designed or configured to control the outcome of one or more games played on the gaming machine, and an electronic form generation device coupled to the game controller. The form generation device is adapted to generate an electronic form intended for a game user or patron of the gaming machine when the game user receives a payout award which is at least equivalent to a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides methods and apparatus for operating a wireless game player that presents a game of chance executed on a gaming machine in communication with the wireless game player. In one embodiment, the wireless game player is a hand-held mobile device, electronically linked to a licensed gaming machine via a wireless connection. All random number generation (RNG) events, game outcomes, meter information, game related information, and all cash transactions are maintained in the licensed (controlled) gaming machine and not the wireless game player. The wireless game player may be used anywhere within the legal areas of the casino and it has the capability of identifying who is using it. For example, a biometric input device, such as a finger print reader may be used on the wireless game player to identify the player. Thus, the issue of under-age or excluded players is addressed.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine is used to provide a method of registering a player to a loyalty program such as a player tracking program at the gaming machine. At the gaming machine, the player or a casino service representative may enter identification information such as a name, an address and biometric information using an input mechanism located on the gaming machine or on a hand-held wireless device. The loyalty program information may be combined with information such as serial number or a bar-code read from a loyalty program instrument in a loyalty program registration request message sent to a loyalty program server such as a player tracking server. The loyalty program instrument may include a magnetic striped card, a smart card, a printed ticket, a room key, a cell-phone or a portable computing device. When the registration request is confirmed by the loyalty program server, the player may begin a loyalty program session on a gaming machine and earn loyalty points.

Abstract: A disclosed a player tracking unit provides a touch screen display with a touch screen controller integrated into the touch screen sensor assembly. Game service interfaces may be presented on the touch screen display that allow a user to obtain one or more game services. The game service interfaces may include buttons with alphanumeric symbols, function keys and hand-writing recognition capabilities that are recognized using input data from the touch screen sensor. Thus, with the touch screen sensor, a user may navigate through the game service interface and supply gaming information required to obtain a game service. In one embodiment, a registration game service interface is provided that allows a player to join a player tracking program at the gaming machine. In another embodiment, a metering game service interface with a calculator is provided that allows a casino operator to obtain and operate on metering information at a gaming machine.

Abstract: A disclosed a loyalty program transaction network provides a plurality of loyalty program instrument generation sites that award loyalty points. The loyalty points may be stored on loyalty point instruments such as printed tickets, magnetic-striped cards, room keys, portable wireless devices and smart cards. The loyalty program instruments may be issued to a patron of a gaming establishment without receiving identification information from the patron. At a loyalty program validation site, the loyalty program instruments may be used to redeem loyalty points for goods and services or the loyalty program instruments may be used to add loyalty points to an existing loyalty program account. Loyalty points may be earned by the patron during a number of activities such as playing a gaming machine, playing a game of chance, a food purchase, an entertainment purchase, a transportation purchase, a lodging purchase, a merchandise purchase and a service purchase.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides methods and apparatus of verifying the authenticity of gaming software stored in and executed from RAM on the gaming machine. When presenting a game on the gaming machine, a master gaming controller may dynamically load gaming software applications into RAM and dynamically unload gaming software applications from RAM. The authenticity of the gaming software applications temporarily stored in RAM may be verified by using methods to compare it with certified gaming software stored on one or more local or remote file storage devices accessible to the master gaming controller on the gaming machine. The verification process may be used to satisfy gaming regulatory entities within various gaming jurisdictions that require certified gaming software to be operating on the gaming machine at all times as well as to prevent tampering with the gaming machine.

Abstract: A promotional device and methods for using such a device are described. The promotional device has indicia of credit associated therewith for effecting operation of a specific gaming application on a gaming machine which is in communication with the promotional device. The promotional device identifies the specific gaming application and limits use of the credit thereto.

Abstract: A progressive gaming system is described having multiple progressive games associated with a plurality of table games. The system includes a plurality of network nodes, each of which is associated with one of the plurality of table games and is operable to transmit first information relating to game activity corresponding to the associated table game. A network interconnects the plurality of network nodes. A server is connected to the network for managing the plurality of progressive games. The server is operable to use the first information from the network nodes to control a plurality of awards associated with the plurality of progressive games. The server is also operable to assign at least one of the awards to a player at a corresponding one of the table games in response to a corresponding event.