Abstract: A computer-implemented method may comprise providing a wager-based electronic gaming device (EGD) comprising at least one processor, memory, a display, an input interface and a money acceptor. The EGD may be configured to accept money from a player via the money acceptor and establish an account balance using the received money; display a game environment configured to enable the player to participate, via the input interface, in a gaming session of a wager-based game comprising a plurality of stages, and enable, for the gaming session, game play and wagers in a current stage of the plurality of stages of the wager-based game. It may then be determined that game play in the current stage has reached a current stage complete state in which all requirements necessary for transitioning game play from the current stage to a next or other stage of the plurality of stages have been met.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a computing device may comprise accepting, by the computing device, funds from a player and enabling the player to play a wager-based game using the accepted funds. The wager-based game may be configured to present a plurality of in-game assets for player interaction during the game, at least some of the plurality of in-game assets being configured as wagering opportunities, such that player interactions therewith generates wagers. Player interactions with the wagering opportunities may be received and wagers generated upon receiving player interactions with the wagering opportunities. During game play of the wager-based game, a conditional prize may be presented to the player, an award of which being predicated upon receiving future player interactions indicative of the player having caused a predetermined in-game action or in-game result to have occurred.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may comprise providing an electronic gaming machine (EGM) in a casino, the EGM comprising at least one processor, a display and an input interface. The EGM may be configured to generate a virtual game play environment enabling wager-based game play by a player using the input interface. A computing device may be disposed within the enclosure of the EGM, the computing device being separate from and unconnected to the at least one processor and the input interface of the EGM. The computing device may be further configured to periodically couple to a wireless network and request content that is unrelated to the virtual game play environment or the wager-based game play. The processor(s) of the EGM may be configured to control a first portion of the display of the EGM the computing device may be configured to control a second portion of the display of the EGM.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise accepting money from a player and providing a game that comprises a plurality of in-game assets, each of which being configured to generate a wagering opportunity when skillfully interacted with by the player. One or more player interactions may be received with at least some of the plurality of in-game assets and, for each generated wagering opportunity, it is determined whether the received player interaction was a skillful or an unskillful interaction with the in-game asset. A wagering event is generated for each skillful interaction and, responsive to the generation of the wagering event, it is determined whether to award money to the player according to a first payout schedule defining a first Return to Player (RTP) percentage or to award the player a free play session of limited duration.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise accepting funds from a player and correspondingly establishing player game credits. A game and a progress indicator may be provided, with the game comprising a plurality of enabled in-game assets and at least one previously unavailable in-game asset. Each of the plurality of enabled in-game assets may be configured to generate a wagering opportunity when interacted with by the player. Game play may be enabled by receiving at least one player interaction, via a user interface of the regulated gaming machine, with at least some of the enabled plurality of in-game assets. For each generated wagering opportunity, it may be determined determining whether the received player interaction(s) resulted in a successful or an unsuccessful interaction with the enabled in-game asset with which the player interacted.

Abstract: Various aspects described for implementing skill-based, wager-based gaming techniques via computer networks, including one or more casino gaming networks. The skill-based, wager-based game may include a non-wager based gaming portion and a wager-based gaming portion. One or more players are able to concurrently engage in continuous game play of the non-wager based gaming portion during execution of wager-based gaming events which are automatically triggered based on events which occur during play of the non-wager based gaming portion. Payouts for a given wager-based game event outcome may include both monetary payouts and non-monetary payouts.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise accepting, in the regulated gaming machine, funds from a player and enabling the player to play a multi-level wager-based game, the game comprising a plurality of wagering opportunities, a successful player interaction with each of which generates a wager. A current return to player (RTP) percentage may then be established for wagers placed. Game play may be enabled at a current level of the game and player input may be received from a user interface to cause player interactions with the wagering opportunities. For at least some of the wagering opportunities with which the player interacted, a wager may be placed at the current RTP and a predetermined number of points associated with the wagering opportunity may be collected.

Abstract: Various aspects described for implementing tournament hybrid arcade/wager-based gaming techniques via computer networks, including one or more casino gaming networks. The tournament hybrid arcade/wager-based game may include a non-wager based gaming portion and a wager-based gaming portion. One or more players are able to concurrently engage in continuous game play of the non-wager based gaming portion during execution of wager-based gaming events which are automatically triggered based on events which occur during play of the non-wager based gaming portion. Payouts for a given wager-based game event outcome may include both monetary payouts and/or non-monetary payouts.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise providing a game configured to interact with a player and to generate a skill-influenced random outcome comprising a generated random pattern, skewed by received skillful player interactions, within an arrangement of a predetermined plurality of elements, each random pattern being associated with an equally random probability of being generated. The player may be provided with an opportunity to select the winning pattern. To do so, an opportunity may be provided, and the player may select, a desired pattern of the predetermined plurality of elements as the pattern on which the player wishes to place a wager. The skill-influenced random outcome may then be generated and displayed, the skill-influenced random outcome comprising the skewed random pattern, skewed by the received player interactions, within the arrangement of the predetermined plurality of elements.

Abstract: A method of determining rewards due to a player playing a regulated gaming machine may comprise providing a game configured such that a plurality of games assets within the game are configured as a corresponding plurality of Wagering Opportunities, the game being further configured to have an overall minimum return to player (RTP) and an overall maximum RTP.

Abstract: Various aspects are described herein for implementing in-game advertising, in-game product placement, and in-game promotion techniques in wager-based games conducted at an electronic gaming device of a casino gaming network. These techniques provide the ability for traditional video-type wager-based gaming machines (such as those deployed at casino gaming establishments) to be quickly and easily converted to wager-based games which support in-game advertising while still satisfying the strict regulatory compliance rules and regulations governing wager-based gaming.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise accepting, in the regulated gaming machine, funds from a player and enabling the player to play a wager-based game having a plurality of stages and enabling, for a game session, game play and wagers at a current stage of the game. A determination may then be made whether game play has reached a stage complete state in which all requirements necessary for transitioning game play to a next or another stage of the plurality of stages, as may be a determination whether this is a first time, during the game session, that the game play has reached the stage complete state for the current stage. An incentive may be offered to the player to transition game play to the next or another stage when game play has reached the stage complete state for the first time and not offering the player the incentive otherwise.

Abstract: Various aspects described here are directed to dynamically configurable, electronic wager-based gaming devices supporting skill-affected payout configurations and chance-based payout configurations of skill-based, wager-based game titles.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise accepting, in the regulated gaming machine, funds from a player and enabling the player to play a wager-based game that comprises a plurality of game levels. A plurality of payout schedules may be provided, each of which defining a respectively different Return to Player (RTP) percentage. The performance of the player during each of the plurality of game levels may be monitored and, during each of the plurality of game levels, a number of performance indicia may be awarded and displayed, depending upon the monitored player performance, such that a higher player performance is awarded a greater number of performance indicia than is a comparatively lower player performance. When game play has reached an end of a current level of the plurality of game levels, a bonus reward may be awarded, a value of the bonus reward being determined using a selected one of the plurality of payout schedules.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise accepting funds, in the regulated gaming machine, from a player and correspondingly establishing player game credits. A game may be provided that comprises a plurality of in-game assets, each of which being configured to generate a wagering opportunity when interacted with by the player. One or more player interactions may be received, with at least one the plurality of in-game assets. For each generated wagering opportunity, it may be determined whether the received player interaction(s) resulted in a successful or an unsuccessful interaction with the in-game asset. For each successful interaction, a time elapsed until successful interaction and a wagering event may be generated. For one or more of the generated wagering events, the determined time elapsed until successful interaction may be used to select one of a plurality of payout schedules, each of which being associated with a different return to player (RTP) percentage.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may comprise providing a regulated gaming machine and a game in which skilled players most often achieve greater success than less-skilled players. The game may be configured to generate in-game assets configured such that interaction therewith by players during game play selectively triggers wagers. Before the player inputs are used to interact with the in-game assets, random perturbations are introduced in one or more characteristics thereof, the random perturbations being configured such that the selectively triggered wagers, in the aggregate, reward both the skilled players and the less-skilled players according to a predetermined target Return-to-Player (RTP) percentage for the game. The randomly-perturbed player inputs may then be used to interact with the plurality of in-game assets to generate outcomes. Depending upon the generated outcomes, rewards may be provided to and displayed for the players, according to the predetermined target RTP percentage of the game.

Abstract: A game, configured for execution in a regulated gaming machine, may require skillful actions by a player to achieve an objective of the game. The game may be further configured such that outcomes are partially determined by randomness and partially determined by inputs to the regulated gaming machine from the player. A computer-implemented method may comprise, iteratively, during game play of the game: receiving inputs from the player via a player interface; generating a skillful action within the game based upon the received player inputs, and generating an outcome of the skillful action that is partially determined by randomness and partially determined by the generated skillful action based upon the player inputs. A reward may be selectively provided to the player according to the generated outcome and according to a predetermined target Return to Player (RTP) percentage for the game.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of determining rewards due to a player while playing a game on a regulated gaming machine may comprise providing a game configured to provide a plurality of in-game assets and a virtual avatar controlled by player inputs to interact with the plurality of in-game assets. A first health status may be established for the virtual avatar. First player inputs may be received and used to control the virtual avatar to interact with in-game assets and to make a first wager having first wager characteristics. As a result, the first health status may change to a higher or lower second health status. Second player inputs may be received to cause the virtual avatar to interact the in-game assets and to make a second wager having second, different, wager characteristics. The difference between the first wager characteristics and the second wager characteristics may be at least partially based upon the second health status.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating a regulated gaming machine may comprise providing a game configured to generate a plurality of in-game assets on a display, the in-game assets being configured such that successful player interaction therewith selectively triggers. An opportunity for the player to reconfigure the game in exchange for value from the player may be selectively enabled during game play. When a received player interaction is indicative of the player accepting the provided opportunity, value from the player may be accepted and the game reconfigured by changing one or more of the in-game assets and/or changing what constitutes successful interactions therewith that triggers wagers. Conversely, when the received player interaction is indicative of the player foregoing the provided opportunity, the game is continued and wagers selectively triggered without reconfiguring the game.