Abstract: A computer implemented electronic game provides a game portion which includes a puzzle completion game. In one instance, the puzzle is a word phrase. The first area displays regions for each letter in the phrase. A payline of an electronic slot machine display is associated with one of a plurality of letter indicia, with a bonus value associated with each of the letter indicia. After a simulated slot machine reel spin, if the slot machine portion shows a winning combination, any letters associated with the winning paylines which match uncovered letters of the phrase will be revealed in the phrase region and a bonus value is implemented equal to the product of the bonus points associated with that letter times the number of occurrence of that letter in the phrase times the number of coins bet on the particular payline.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical coin counting system for use in gaming machines such as video poker machines and slot machines. One disclosed system includes an optical detector including a light source and a light detector, a deflection arm which deflects when a coin passes over it, a shaft attached to the deflection arm such that the shaft rotates when the deflection arm deflects, an optic flag attached to the shaft at a location remote from the deflection arm such that when the coin causes the deflection arm to deflect, the optic flag moves with respect to the light detector to cause a change in light intensity detected by the detector, and an opaque barrier disposed substantially about the optic flag such that substantially all light proximate the deflection arm is blocked from reaching the optical detector. The shaft may pass through the opaque barrier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which reduces variation in coin position or velocity as coins are conveyed past an acceptance device is provided. In one embodiment coins are separated prior to conveyance past sensors. In one embodiment separation is achieved by stopping or pinching the following coin until a preceding coin has moved a predetermined distance. In one embodiment separation is achieved by engagement of sequential coins with different turns of a lead screw thread. In one embodiment separation is achieved by engagement of successive coins with rollers rotating at different velocities. Preferably, one or more belts are used to convey coins past an acceptance device at a known or constant velocity.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes apparatus necessary to send requests to and receive authorizations from an EFT system. All such requests for credit are limited to a preset amount, so that when a player uses an EFT transfer to obtain playing credit, that credit will be limited to no more than a specified amount. In practice, the player inserts his or her ATM card (debit card), keys in a PIN number, requests playing credit, and receives the preset amount of credit which can be converted to plays on the gaming machine.

Abstract: A progressive gaming system is configured to run many progressive prizes on one central system. The relationship between progressive group and prize with a particular game is designed so that the odds and bet on a particular game need not be identical throughout a group. In one embodiment, prize definition is in terms of number of coins expected to be played between prize hits, independent of denomination, and minimum number of coins returned to players, regardless of odds or denominations. When a progressive game is designed, the coins bet and odds related to the logic of the game are verified as compatible with the prize definitions coins expected to be played between prize hits. The prize definition is used to validate an association between a particular game and a particular progressive prize. Preferably the event that triggers a progressive prize may be unrelated to the events on any game.

Abstract: A progressive gaming system with wide applicability to a potentially large number of players is provided. A three-level hierarchy can be used in which a portion of wagers and individual terminals are earmarked for contribution to a progressive jackpot, each casino is allotted one chance at a prize for each threshold amount of contribution and a win/loss decision is made, for each such chance, by a central computer system.

Abstract: A game such as a video poker or other card game is provided with a feature providing an incentive for multiple hand or multiple game play. In one embodiment, some or all of the cards of each hand, such as only necessary winning cards, are used to increment the value in corresponding memory locations. When a given memory location reaches a predetermined value, an indicator corresponding to that memory location and the corresponding card is illuminated. When all indicators are illuminated, the player wins a bonus which may be based on the amount wagered.

Abstract: A game machine is provided which comprises a display device, a processor connected to the display device and a user input device connected to the processor. The processor is programmed to generate images of playing cards moving from a point on the display device toward a plurality of card hand locations displayed on the display device. To play a card game such as poker on the game machine, a player uses the user input device to select a moving card and direct its movement toward a selected card position in a selected one of the card hand locations. If the player does not select and direct a moving card before a predetermined period of time elapses (e.g., as determined by the time required for a card to travel a predetermined distance), the processor automatically places the card in one of the card hand locations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for activating a gaming machine. The invention includes generating a visible light column at a light generating end when the gaming machine is in a ready state. The invention further includes receiving the visible light column at an a light intensity determining circuit. The light intensity determining circuit being configured to monitor disturbances along the visible light column. Then, activating the gaming machine when the light intensity received at the light intensity circuit moves beyond a predetermined level while in the ready state.

Abstract: An improved bill stacker is described that effectively rolls incoming bills onto the stack. In one aspect of the invention, the bill stacker includes a housing that encloses a stacking plate that is arranged to support a stack of bills. A gripper is typically provided to grab the leading edge of an incoming bill and a stack roller is arranged to travel longitudinally relative the stacking plate to "roll" a newly received bill onto a top end of the bill stack (if present) or the stacking plate when the first bill is being received. A variety of methods of stacking bills in a cash box using the concept of rolling an incoming bill onto the top of a stack are also described.

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 computer implemented electronic game includes a wheel of fortune game with odds of a jackpot greatly in excess of the number of indicia on a simulated wheel. In one embodiment, a virtual mapping allows a bonus indicium of the wheel to be given a 1:M chance of being landed on, even though the bonus position is one of N positions on the simulated wheel. A random number L is chosen between 1 and M and this number is mapped to a number between 1 and N. The display of the wheel if controlled to simulate stopping of the wheel at the Ith indicium where L is mapped to I. In one embodiment, by using successive wheel spins, the odds of moving to the next round are multiplied to achieve an overall odds of winning a jackpot.

Abstract: A gaming system is provided in which a central computer broadcasts a plurality of random number seeds serially for simultaneous receipt of each seed by a plurality of gaming terminals. Each gaming terminal uses the seed to generate a random number which determines the win/loss outcome. Two terminals configured to play the same game which receive the same random number seed will generate the same random number.

Abstract: An illuminated switch assembly employs a piezoelectric film as both a transducer and a circuit substrate. Preferably some or all of the transducer portion of the film is light transmissive in order to facilitate illumination of the activation surface of the switch. Use of a piezoelectric film provides the ability to reduce or eliminate relatively moving parts, resulting in an increase of the useful life of the switch. Providing conductive traces, interconnection and circuitry mounted directly on the piezoelectric film reduces the need for interconnecting a number of different parts during assembly and/or manufacture and thus reduces the cost of the switch.

Abstract: A game which involves a player positioning sequentially-provided symbols onto a plurality of pre-defined positions is provided. In one embodiment, a plurality of columns, each with a plurality of positions is displayed, symbols are randomly presented and displayed to the user who may then select into which column to place the symbol. The symbol is placed in the lowest vacant position of the selected column and the next randomly selected symbol is presented. In one embodiment, if the user does not select the column in a predetermined time period, the column is randomly selected for the user. After some or all positions are filled, the arrangement of symbols is evaluated to determine whether any collection or alignment of symbols corresponds to pre-defined winning collection or alignment.