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 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 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 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.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for registering a player with a player tracking system on a gaming network. A player tracking account is created for the player using player information derived from an account card associated with the player. The account card corresponds to a remote account unrelated to the player tracking system.

Abstract: A gaming machine with an extendable bet button. 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 is carried by the front housing portion in an non-extended position similar to conventional gaming machines. In accordance with the present invention, 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 from 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: An electronic memory which cannot be modified or erased, such as one-time programmable or add-only (OTP/AO) memory is used for storing direct or indirect indications of characteristics of a gaming terminal or its components. Preferably, a plurality of gaming terminal boards includes memory that has one or more rows of OTP/AO memory for storing information such as memory or board serial numbers, manufacture date, processor speed or type, software or hardware version numbers, and the like. Such information is preferably used in connection with assuring the appropriateness of modifications or configurations of the gaming terminal, such as downloading software or other software modification and/or changes to hardware configuration. OTP/AO information can be used in connection with verifying identity or characteristics of software or hardware, e.g. for warranty purposes.

Abstract: A single-player casino-style electronic gaming method and apparatus uses a deck of (simulated) number of cards and wild cards. The number cards each have a number and a color. In response to a wager, a number of, such as seven, cards are displayed to the player. The player may choose to discard any, all or none of the initially-dealt cards. Any discarded cards are replaced, to form a final hand. Prizes are awarded including based on how many cards of the same number and/or how many cards of the same color are in the final hand.

Abstract: A touch screen having a high or fine resolution at relatively low cost is provided. In one embodiment, electrodes are placed directly on the surface of a CRT screen without the need for an electrode positioned on the rear surface. The touch screen may include a conductive coating and a protective coating which are preferably provided in a single vacuum chamber step. A high gain system including a high-frequency sampling bandpass filter provide discrimination of the desired signal over noise. A screen calibration technique is used to achieve linearization in order to convert the electric signals obtained from the screen into data indicative of the position of a touch on the screen.

Abstract: A dual action access door for a gaming machine that is formed from the lower front housing portion. In order to minimize the space required between adjacent gaming machines, while providing full access to the interior of the machine, the front housing portion is carried by a door chassis which enables the front housing portion to move in a drawer-like manner from a fully closed position to an extended position. In order to provide full access to the interior of the gaming machine, the front housing portion is pivotally connected on one end to the door chassis to enable the door to pivot about an axis generally parallel to a vertical datum in at least a partially extended position of the door chassis. One or more latching mechanisms may be provided to latch the front housing portion to latch the front housing portion in a closed position.

Abstract: A gaming system is provided which permits the hold value to be determined independently of the distribution of winning outcomes, e.g., to avoid or prevent volatility in the hold value. Preferably each time a wager is placed, a hold value (such as a predetermined and/or fixed percentage) is retained and the remainder is allocated to one or more prize pools. If a pool is too large or too small, or if a pool's rate of growth is too large or too small, the central computer sends a message to all terminals which contribute to the pool, causing the terminals to modify operations so as to bring the pool size or rate of growth to within desired target ranges. Preferably, the current prize amounts corresponding to various potential winning game outcomes are displayed when a game is won, the displayed amount corresponding to the type of win paid. Preferably, a portion of wages is retained as a background amount to at least partially replenish a paid-out prize.

Abstract: A disclosed player tracking unit utilizes a memory arranged to store a plurality of different communication protocols allowing the player tracking unit to communicate with a plurality of different types of gaming machines and a plurality of different types of player tracking servers. The player tracking unit may contain many different types of player tracking peripheral devices such as card readers, key pads, displays, bonus buttons and biometric input mechanisms. The peripheral devices contained in the player tracking unit may be accessible to the master gaming controller on a gaming machine and may be utilized by the master gaming controller for other gaming applications. The player tracking unit may be designed with a standard housing and standard device layout allowing the player tracking unit to fit in many different types of gaming machines with minimal modifications to the gaming machine or the player tracking unit.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine may be customized according to one or more player preferences. A player may view and modify player preferences stored in a player preference account as preference account information. The preference account information may include but is not limited to loyalty point account information, loyalty point account settings, promotional opportunities, preferred games, preferred game features for the preferred games, preferred gaming machine settings, preferred bonus games, preferred service options and preferred progressive games. The preference account information may be stored in a plurality of preference accounts on a preference account server. Using a preference account interface which may be compatible with a web-browser, a player may be able to view and modify preference account information stored on the preference account server from a number remote devices such as a gaming machine, a home computer, a hotel room video interface and a casino kiosk.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming terminal data repository may be used to store game software components, game software component information and gaming transaction information for a plurality of gaming terminals owned by a plurality of gaming entities. The repository may store the game software component information and the gaming transaction information in a database partitioned according to the different gaming entities in a manner allowing a game software component configuration of a particular gaming machine to be easily analyzed and modified. Using various update triggers, game software components for gaming terminals connected to the gaming terminal data repository may be automatically updated. The gaming machines, configured or designed to receive game software components from the repository, may present game play using a combination of game software components residing on the gaming machine and the game software components received from the repository.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for distributing gaming applications to a plurality of gaming sites located in a plurality of regulatory regions via a wide area network. Each regulatory region has a regulatory scheme associated therewith. A plurality of gaming applications are stored on at least one central server. A subset of the gaming applications are distributed from the at least one central server to at least one of the gaming sites located in one of regulatory regions via the wide area network, the subset of gaming applications being determined according to the associated regulatory scheme.

Abstract: A gaming terminal with one or more input devices in the form of a programmable display switch is provided. The programmable display switch is preferably configured to provide different types of labels, legends, unction indications, instructions and the like depending on the state of the game and/or the type of game being played. In this way, a wide variety of game functions, game themes or types of games can be implemented while reducing the total number of switches on the gaming terminal. In some embodiments, programmable display switches replace some or all functions normally provided by less cost-effective devices such as CRTs or touch screens.

Abstract: A gaming terminal provides at least a portion of at least one prize in the form of at least one or more free game rounds. A benefit may be calculated as the difference between the value of the prize if paid out in coins or other monetary value and the value paid out as free game rounds. In one aspect, the benefit is redistributed in the paytable, preferably so as to provide a game in which the overall, long-term averaged payback amount is unchanged by the process of converting monetary payouts to free game payouts and redistributing the benefit thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for playing a table game is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a base, a table-top, and a payline display proximate the table-top. The table-top is adjustable into first and second positions relative to the base. The table game is intended to be played when the table-top is in its first position.

Abstract: A disclosed hand held device provides a game service system having a wire-less communication interface, a display screen and a microprocessor which generates a number of game service interfaces on the display screen. The hand-held device may input ticket voucher information and communicate with a remote transaction server such that a ticket voucher may be validated. Additionally, the hand-held device may be used to provide a variety of gaming services using different game service interfaces provided on the device. These hand-held devices may be checked out by a game service representative in a secure manner such that the game service representative may roam a game playing area and provide various game services to game players in the game playing area using the hand-held device. These game services may include ticket validation, a prize validation, food services, accommodation services or a gaming operations services.