Abstract: At least one microphone is incorporated in a gaming machine along with voice recognition/analysis software that analyzes the quality of the player's voice to determine the player's age, gender, emotions, and other attributes. Such voice attributes are not direct voice commands by the player, but are voice characteristics that provide information about the player herself. After the player is characterized based on her voice attributes, game software is modified accordingly so that the game is customized for the particular player. For example, the detection that the player is a young woman may cause the game to use a certain theme involving young female characters, trendy modern music, etc. The game also adapts to the detected voiced emotions of the player. Other features of the machine cause there to be verbal interaction between the player and the machine, enhancing the playing experience.

Abstract: A mobile gaming device may be a player's own personal tablet, smartphone, PDA, etc., with an application program installed via the internet for carrying out a remote gaming session. All gaming functions are carried out by a stationary gaming terminal communicating with the mobile device, such as by using WiFi. The mobile device operates as a user interface. If the communications link is temporarily broken during a game, the mobile device will create the appearance that the game is continuous, such as by continuing to spin reels, until communications are reestablished. The reels will stop once the mobile device receives the final outcome from the gaming terminal. The player may pause the game to temporarily suspend the minimum game frequency rules. The mobile device may switch between gaming terminals. For 3D video, the original format is adjusted for the mobile device. The gaming terminal may be a gaming machine.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming machine has a digital camera and automatically takes a picture of a player. Facial detection software identifies certain facial characteristics of the player, such as approximate age and gender. Rules software then selects appropriate sets of animation images and sound files that are associated with the detected physical features of the player. The displayed game, user interface, theme, etc. are then adapted to the player's detected features. If the player is identified, by comparing the picture to previously stored pictures, a personalized message may be displayed. When the gaming machine is in an attract mode, the camera may take pictures/videos of passersby and adapt the attract mode animation to the passerby's physical image or movement. In another embodiment, the camera is used to sense physical motions by the player to control aspects of the game or other displayed features.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming machine has a digital camera and automatically takes a picture of a player. Facial detection software identifies certain facial characteristics of the player, such as approximate age and gender. Rules software then selects appropriate sets of animation images and sound files that are associated with the detected physical features of the player. The displayed game, user interface, theme, etc. are then adapted to the player's detected features. If the player is identified, by comparing the picture to previously stored pictures, a personalized message may be displayed. When the gaming machine is in an attract mode, the camera may take pictures/videos of passersby and adapt the attract mode animation to the passerby's physical image or movement. In another embodiment, the camera is used to sense physical motions by the player to control aspects of the game or other displayed features.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a gaming machine has a digital camera and automatically takes a picture of a player. Facial detection software identifies certain facial characteristics of the player, such as approximate age and gender. Rules software then selects appropriate sets of animation images and sound files that are associated with the detected physical features of the player. The displayed game, user interface, theme, etc. are then adapted to the player's detected features. If the player is identified, by comparing the picture to previously stored pictures, a personalized message may be displayed. When the gaming machine is in an attract mode, the camera may take pictures/videos of passersby and adapt the attract mode animation to the passerby's physical image or movement. In another embodiment, the camera is used to sense physical motions by the player to control aspects of the game or other displayed features.

Abstract: A large touch screen gaming table is disclosed that may accommodate, for example, four players. Each player creates a bank of credits at the table and plays a community game independently of other players. In one game, various icons are continuously displayed, and the icons display various wager amounts. Any player may simultaneous touch an icon of any wager and touch a player-active button, and the selected icon reveals a hidden prize credited to that player. In one embodiment, the game is continuous in that the icons are replenished after being selected. The players may play at any speed and in any order. The wagers may be very small and the prizes are generally also small to encourage rapid play. Any player(s) that does not wish to participate in the community game may control the screen to display a variety of individual games on a screen segment.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for enhancing game components in a gaming system, the method comprising: displaying at least one of a row and a column of the game components along a plane on a display device in accordance with a set of game rules for a given game, each one of the game components having an original symbol associated thereto; selecting at least one of the game components for enhancement; expanding selected ones of the game components outside of the plane and associating at least one additional symbol to expanded selected ones of the game components; and integrating the at least one additional symbol into the given game.

Abstract: A large touch screen gaming table is disclosed that may accommodate, for example, four players. Each player creates a bank of credits at the table and plays a community game independently of other players. In one game, various icons are continuously displayed, and the icons display various wager amounts. Any player may simultaneous touch an icon of any wager and touch a player-active button, and the selected icon reveals a hidden prize credited to that player. In one embodiment, the game is continuous in that the icons are replenished after being selected. The players may play at any speed and in any order. The wagers may be very small and the prizes are generally also small to encourage rapid play. Any player(s) that does not wish to participate in the community game may control the screen to display a variety of individual games on a screen segment.

Abstract: A gaming machine has a flat panel display screen that is pivotable over a range of angles to allow the player to tilt the screen to directly face the player. The screen also can be pulled toward the player for maximum comfort. The screen has user interface controls, such as part of a touch screen. The screen contains one or more accelerometers for detecting movement of the screen. The player grips the screen with both hands to control the game via movement of the screen (e.g., shaking, tilting, pushing in, or pulling out) and the touching of the user interface controls. The screen may include a vibrator for providing tactile sensations to the player. The screen allows a player to completely control a game, including wagering and carrying out the game, without releasing the screen from the player's two-handed grip.

Abstract: A secondary game is played continuously over a series of reel-type main games on a video gaming device, where the successful outcome of the secondary game is the initiation of a bonus game. Therefore, the player is enticed to keep playing due to the player's investment in the secondary game and the expectation of playing the bonus game. At the beginning of a playing session, a visual indicator, such as a colored tile, is located at each of the symbol positions. The virtual reels are then spun and randomly stopped to display random symbols. If there is a winning combination of symbols, such as three of a kind, the indicators at those symbol positions are changed, such as being extinguished. The player keeps playing the main games until there are no more indicators. When all indicators are extinguished, a bonus game is initiated.

Abstract: A large touch screen gaming table is disclosed that may accommodate, for example, four players. Each player creates a bank of credits at the table and plays a community game independently of other players. In one game, various icons are continuously displayed, and the icons display various wager amounts. Any player may simultaneous touch an icon of any wager and touch a player-active button, and the selected icon reveals a hidden prize credited to that player. In one embodiment, the game is continuous in that the icons are replenished after being selected. The players may play at any speed and in any order. The wagers may be very small and the prizes are generally also small to encourage rapid play. Any player(s) that does not wish to participate in the community game may control the screen to display a variety of individual games on a screen segment.

Abstract: For each bet on a slot machine game, such as a conventional reel-type game, a fraction of a free game is stored in the machine's memory, where the stored free game fraction is associated with the amount bet. Thus, each possible bet amount option is associated with a particular free game pot in memory. Each paid-for play may accumulate any free game fraction, such as 1/10, ?, ¼, ?, etc. The player is notified of the accumulated free games on a video screen so the player wants to keep playing so as to not waste any stored free game fractions. The player may play stored whole free games at any time by actuating a button. The free game pots may be easily added to existing games without significant regulatory involvement and does not affect the casino's profit.

Abstract: A control unit in communication with a plurality of gaming machines selects one or more of the active machines to be set to an enhanced play mode. The selection may be random or based on other factors. During the enhanced play mode, the awards attributed to each symbol combination are increased, and the game parameters, other than the award amounts may be changed.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements are provided for handling, within a communications system comprising a distributed domain (301) and a central domain (303), electronic records that contain predictions of the outcome of a certain incident. Within the distributed domain (301) there is generated (304), before the outcome of the incident is known, a multitude of electronic records that contain predictions of the outcome of the incident. The electronic records are conveyed (305) from the distributed domain (301) to the central domain (303). After the outcome of the incident is known, the central domain (303) finds out (306) which of the electronic records, if any, contain correct predictions of the outcome of the incident. Each of the electronic records is furnished (304, 401, 502, 902, 1202, 1911), within the distributed domain (301), with a cryptographically protected proof of a certain moment of time associated with the generation of the electronic record.

Abstract: A large touch screen gaming table is disclosed that may accommodate, for example, four players. Each player creates a bank of credits at the table and plays a community game independently of other players. In one game, various icons are continuously displayed, and the icons display various wager amounts. Any player may simultaneous touch an icon of any wager and touch a player-active button, and the selected icon reveals a hidden prize credited to that player. In one embodiment, the game is continuous in that the icons are replenished after being selected. The players may play at any speed and in any order. The wagers may be very small and the prizes are generally also small to encourage rapid play. Any player(s) that does not wish to participate in the community game may control the screen to display a variety of individual games on a screen segment.

Abstract: A secondary game is played continuously over a series of reel-type main games on a video gaming device, where the successful outcome of the secondary game is the initiation of a bonus game. Therefore, the player is enticed to keep playing due to the player's investment in the secondary game and the expectation of playing the bonus game. At the beginning of a playing session, a visual indicator, such as a colored tile, is located at each of the symbol positions. The virtual reels are then spun and randomly stopped to display random symbols. If there is a winning combination of symbols, such as three of a kind, the indicators at those symbol positions are changed, such as being extinguished. The player keeps playing the main games until there are no more indicators. When all indicators are extinguished, a bonus game is initiated.

Abstract: A video slot machine has an array of individual symbol reels, such as a grid of 4×5 reels. The symbols include conventional symbols and special symbols. In the examples, the special symbols are wild symbols. Each wild symbol is associated with a particular direction, such as a vertical direction, a horizontal direction, or both. After an initial spin, an award for symbol combinations is paid out. If a wild symbol appears in the array, all reels along the designated direction are respun to give the player another chance at winning. Awards are paid again for new winning symbol combinations. If new wild symbols appear, another respin is performed along the direction(s) designated by the new wild symbols. The designated direction associated with a wild symbol may change for each game.

Abstract: In a gaming machine having virtual reels, conventional instant wins are awarded as well as virtual playing cards. In one embodiment, the cards are dealt only if a special symbol is displayed on the stopped reels. In another embodiment, cards are dealt only during a bonus round. Dealt playing cards are accumulated until the player has a full hand of cards. A different bonus pot is accumulated for various types of poker hands achievable. The pots may be progressively increased based on a percentage of wagers made in a network of gaming machines. After the player is dealt the full set of cards, the best poker hand is determined, and the associated pot is awarded to the player. The pot is then set at a starting value. The bonus game is then terminated. The player is motivated to continue playing to complete a hand and win a large pot.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a game played on a gaming device that displays a randomly selected array of symbols, where the symbols across one or more pay lines are evaluated by circuitry to determine an award to be granted. One of the possible symbols is a special symbol that offers various special functions. The special symbol switches between two or more states, where each state provides a different function. The switching is stopped randomly or by the player, and the resulting function is carried out. In another embodiment, the special symbol allows symbols to be moved in the array or provides other functions.

Abstract: This invention relates to reprogramming of in-circuit programmable chips installed in video lottery terminals (VLTs) by downloading electronic information (software) to such chips. Encrypted electronic information is downloaded from a host device to a gaming terminal through a communications link. The terminal comprises a decryption component configured for decrypting the encrypted electronic information using at least two security keys, at least one said key being resident in the terminal and at least another said key being delivered to the terminal at the time of the downloading (the downloading facilitating a replacement of existing software in terminal with corresponding decrypted software obtained from decrypting the encrypted information). The encrypted information transmitted to the terminal comprises at least one next version key for later use by the decryption component in decrypting a next version of encrypted electronic information.