Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a processor programmed to execute an algorithm including the steps of displaying a game screen including a plurality reels, a bonus wheel including a plurality of wheel wedges displaying prize symbols and a prize selector, and a bonus wheel meter including a number of bonus wheel symbols. The processor is programmed to spin and stop the reels to display an instance of the game, detect an appearance of a bonus wheel symbol appearing in the reels with the reels stopped, and increase the number of bonus wheel symbols included in the bonus wheel meter based on the detected bonus wheel symbol. The processor initiates a bonus wheel feature including a spin of the bonus wheel upon determining the increased number of bonus wheel symbols included in the bonus wheel meter is equal to a predefined number of bonus wheel symbols.

Abstract: A gaming system provides a center control unit and a plurality of gaming stations. The center control unit is provides a main game to a plurality of players. The center control unit is configured to randomly establish an outcome of the main game from a plurality of potential outcomes. The gaming stations accept a wager on the main game from respective players, receives the outcome of the main game and pays an award to one of the players as a function of the outcome of the main game. The center control unit randomly establishes one of the players as eligible for a bonus game, selects one of the potential outcomes of the main game as a bonus game eligible outcome, and if the bonus game eligible outcome is the outcome of the main game, provides a bonus game to the bonus game eligible player.

Abstract: A networked computer system for use in a casino property is described herein. The networked computer system includes a near field communication (NFC) reader coupled to a gaming device and a player tracking server. The player tracking server is programmed to receive an NFC signal including a user ID, access a plurality of user account records and select a matching user account record having a corresponding user ID matching the received user ID, retrieve account information included in the matching user account record, and display the account information on the gaming device.

Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a processor programmed to execute an algorithm including the steps of initiating an instance of a game by randomly selecting a reel set from a plurality of reel sets including a group of adjacent coupled reels that spin and stop together. The group of adjacent coupled reels includes a variable symbol position group that extends across each of the adjacent coupled reels. The processor randomly selects a special symbol to display in the variable symbol position group. The processor then selects an oversized symbol associated with the special symbol and animates the plurality of reels to spin and stop such that the group of adjacent coupled reels spins and stops together and the oversized symbol is displayed overlaying the variable symbol position group.

Abstract: A gaming device for providing an award to a player is described. The gaming device includes a controller that is configured to display a game including a plurality of reels being displayed within a grid. Each of the plurality of reels includes a plurality of symbol positions that are each being displayed with a corresponding symbol. The controller randomly generates a first outcome and spins and stops the plurality of reels to display the first outcome. The controller also detects a triggering condition and responsively selects a reel and replaces the selected reel with a replacement reel. The replacement reel includes a number of symbol positions being displayed in the grid that is less than a number of symbol positions included with the selected reel. The controller randomly generates a second outcome, spins and stops the plurality of reels including the replacement reel.

Abstract: A display lifting system for use with a gaming machine is described herein provided. The display lifting system includes a scissor-type extension assembly, a display unit lift assembly, and a display unit support assembly. The display lifting system is configured to position a display unit between a first position having the display unit adjacent a gaming cabinet, a second position having the display unit spaced a distance from the display unit housing, and a third position having the display unit positioned nearer to a ground surface to facilitate removing the display unit from the support frame assembly.

Abstract: A networked computer system is described herein. The networked computer system includes a casino management system coupled to a plurality of devices located within a casino and a facial recognition system. The facial recognition system is programmed to receive facial image from an imaging device positioned within the casino property, access a biometric database and selecting a face ID matching the received facial image, and transmit the selected face ID and location information associated with the imaging device to the casino management system. The casino management system is programmed to identify a player account record associated with the selected face ID, identify a device located within the casino that is associated with the imaging device, and record activity of the identified device to the identified player account record.

Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a control unit operably coupled to the control panel and the display device. The control unit including a processor programmed to execute an algorithm to display an animated sequence of computer-generated images on the display device including the steps of displaying a game screen on the display device including a plurality of reels, establishing a plurality of predefined subsets of cells, displaying a plurality of player selectable feature area buttons on a touchscreen with each player selectable feature area associated with a corresponding subset of cells, receiving a player's selection of a selected player selectable feature area button and highlighting a feature area including the corresponding subset of cells, animating the plurality of reels to spin and stop and displaying a game feature upon detecting the occurrence of a predetermined symbol appearing in the highlighted feature area.

Abstract: A networked casino management computer system is described herein. The networked casino management computer system includes a facial recognition system and a casino management server. The facial recognition system is programmed receive a facial image from an imaging device, access a biometric database and select a face ID matching the received facial image, and transmit the selected face ID and location information associated with the imaging device to the casino management system. The casino management system is programmed to access a player database and identify a player record associated with the selected face ID, identify a device located within the casino that is associated with the imaging device, and record activity of the identified device to the identified player record.

Abstract: A projection surface gaming system for projecting video images onto a physical gaming table is described herein. The projection surface gaming system includes a video projection device, an object sensing system, and a controller including a processor. The processor is programmed to execute an algorithm including the steps of projecting a first image on a surface of the physical gaming table using the video projection device, detecting a player's interaction with an area of the physical gaming table displaying the first image using the object sensing system, and projecting a second image on the surface of the gaming table in response to detecting the player's interaction with the area of the first image.

Abstract: A gaming machine including a modular cabinet system is described herein. The modular cabinet system includes a cabinet stand assembly, a control unit housing mounted on the cabinet stand assembly, and a display unit support assembly mounted to the control unit housing. The control unit housing defines an interior cavity enclosing a game control unit assembly of the gaming machine. The display unit support assembly includes a primary display support member and a primary bracket assembly slidably coupled to the primary display support member. The primary display support member defines an interior equipment cavity configured to receive the primary bracket assembly therein. The primary bracket assembly is coupled to a primary display unit of the gaming machine to support the primary display unit from the primary display support member and to allow the primary display unit to move with respect to the primary display support member.

Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a game control unit programmed to display a game screen including a primary game area a plurality of primary game reels and a bonus feature event area including a plurality of bonus prize cells. Each bonus prize cell is configured to display a randomly selected bonus prize, and is operable as one of an active bonus prize cell and an inactive bonus prize cell. Each bonus prize cell is associated with a wager amount value. The game control unit initiates an instance of the game by receiving a wager being placed on the game by the player, selecting bonus prize cells having associated wager amount values equal to or less than the wager amount of the received wager, and operating the selected bonus prize cells as active bonus prize cells.

Abstract: A gaming machine that provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit receives an operation of a player. The display unit displays a rotating selector device including a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The grid has a column and a plurality of rows. A reel strip having a plurality of segments is associated with the column. Each segment has a plurality of segment symbol positions. Each segment symbol position having an associated symbol. During a game, the control unit displays and rotates the selector device and establishes a stop segment based on the timing of player input. The control unit select a symbol position of the stop segment to establish an outcome of the game.

Abstract: A gaming machine provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is configured to receive an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display a first display area with a first grid of cells, and a second display area with a second grid of cells. The first symbol display area includes a first plurality of cells arranged in a first grid. The control unit randomly establishes a bonus pattern of symbols in the second grid of cells and copies the bonus pattern of symbols into the first grid of cells.

Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a control unit programmed display a game screen including a primary game area and a bonus feature event area. The control unit displays the plurality of credit prize symbols in the bonus feature event area with each credit prize symbol being associated with a corresponding special symbol and having an associated credit value. The control unit spins and stops the plurality of virtual reels to display an outcome of the game and determines an amount of credits based on the credit value of each displayed credit prize symbol that is associated with the special symbol displayed in the outcome of the primary game.

Abstract: A gaming machine provides a game and includes an operation unit, a display unit, a memory device and a game control unit. The operation unit receives an operation input. The display unit is configured to display a game screen including computer generated graphics. The memory device stores a game execution program including computer instructions for generating the game feature. The game control unit executes the game execution program to provide the game and is coupled to the operation unit, the display unit and the memory device. The game control unit includes a processor programmed to display a game structure on the game screen on the display unit. The game includes a feature award and a jackpot feature award. The jackpot feature award is awarded from a jackpot feature award pool. The jackpot feature award pool is funded through wagers and by when the feature award is awarded.

Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a control unit including a control board, a primary memory device coupled to the control board, a secondary memory device coupled to the control board, and a processor. The processor is programmed to execute an algorithm including the steps of initiating an instance of a primary game by spinning and stopping reels to display an outcome of the primary game. The processor then detects a trigger condition appearing in the outcome of the primary game and responsively displays an instance of a bonus game, generates primary game recall data including instructions for displaying the outcome of the primary game and stores the primary game recall data in the primary memory device, and generates bonus game recall data including instructions for displaying the instance of the bonus game and stores the bonus game recall data in the secondary memory device.

Abstract: A gaming machine provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is an operation of the player. The display unit displays a display area with a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The control unit allows a player to establish a wager, to establish one of a plurality of predefined subsets of the cells as a feature area as a function of the wager and to provide a game in response to player operation. The control unit randomly selects a plurality of symbols associated with the display area. Each symbol in the plurality of symbols is associated with one of the plurality of cells in the grid. The plurality of symbols forming an outcome of the game; detect an occurrence of a predetermined symbol in the feature area; and provide a game feature as a function of the occurrence of the predetermined symbol.

Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a game control unit programmed to display a game screen on the display unit and initiate an instance of the game. The game screen includes a grid including a plurality of cells arranged in a plurality of columns. Each column is associated with a corresponding symbol and includes a predefined number of cells. The game control unit initiates an instance of the game by populating a subset of cells within each column with a plurality of awards, randomly determining, for each corresponding column, a number of corresponding symbols to be displayed in a stack of corresponding symbols, and displaying each stack of corresponding symbols within each corresponding column. The game control unit then determines each cell of the subset of cells being displayed with a corresponding symbol and a corresponding award, and provides each corresponding award to the player.

Abstract: A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a control unit programmed to initiate an instance of a primary game and spin and stop virtual reel strips to display an outcome of the primary game. The control unit detects an appearance of a winning combination of game symbols in the outcome and provides an initial award based on the winning combination, and detects an appearance of the collect symbol and a credit prize symbol in the outcome, determines an amount of credits associated with the credit prize symbol, and a bonus award including the determined amount of credits.