Abstract: A method for determining an award during a keno game includes, but is not limited to any of combination of: generating a predetermined number of draws for placement on a keno board during the keno game, wherein the keno board includes a predetermined number of spots; evaluating a plurality of sub-regions of the keno board associated with the keno game for matches between the generated draws and one or more predetermined patterns; and determining an award based on results of the evaluating step.

Abstract: A bill validating apparatus includes a housing having an elongated opening therein. At one end of the elongated opening there is an article receiving slot. A first sensor is on one long side of the elongated slot and a second sensor is on the other long side. The bill validating system includes a transport mechanism for moving the article of tender past the sensors. The bill validating apparatus also includes an orientation determination device communicatively coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor. In response to a determined orientation of the bill validating apparatus, the orientation determination device enables one of the first sensor or the second sensor.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes an outer housing and an inner housing. The outer housing includes a first wall having a first ventilation port in fluid connection exterior to the outer housing. The inner housing within the outer housing includes a second wall including a second ventilation port. The second ventilation port is offset from the first ventilation port. The gaming machine also includes a player input/output accessible through the outer housing, and circuitry for gaming within the inner housing and operably connected to the player input/output.

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 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: Disclosed is a gaming system and method designed or configured to provide wins of restricted credits. Restricted credits may be awarded according to the same or a different pay table than cashable credits on the same machine or at the same gaming property. Where separate pay tables are used for restricted and cashable credits, the invention may be implemented with a machine that accepts and pays only restricted credit according to a single, fixed internal payout schedule (“pay table”). Alternatively, the invention may be implemented with a machine that pays restricted credit according to one fixed internal pay table and cashable credit according to another fixed internal pay table. Or, a machine may pay restricted credit according to an external pay table provided by a host system to which the machine is connected.

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: A modular tilt handling system for controlling how tilts are declared, displayed and cleared in a gaming machine. The modular tilt handling system includes a plurality of gaming software elements that allow the gaming system to detect events and to generate one or more tilts in response to the one or more events in accordance with the regulations of a gaming jurisdiction. The modular tilt handling system treats events separately from tilts so that tilts can be dynamically configured for different gaming jurisdictions.

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.