Abstract: Reel-type games are described in which a player's progress towards an award of a bonus game is displayed to the player. The required triggering event for an award of a bonus game may be accumulated over multiple turns of the game. A bonus indicator (e.g., icon) is provided on the display in association with each reel of the reels. After a spin of the reels, the bonus indicator for a given reel is activated if a symbol associated with an award of a bonus game is presented on the given reel. As the player continues to play, whenever the symbol associated with the bonus game appears for the first time on a given reel, the associated bonus indicator is activated and remains activated. When all the indicators have become activated, a bonus game is awarded to the player.

Abstract: A central gaming server communicates with a gaming workstation over a network, such as a local area network or wide area computer network. The gaming server makes an initial determination of payout percentage for an instance of a game engaged in by the workstation, and generates results of turns of the game in accordance with the initial payout percentage. In one embodiment, the payout percentage is dynamically changed by the gaming server, and it generates additional results of turns of the game using the new payout percentage. Triggers for determining a new payout percentage could be that a predetermined number of turns of play at the initial payout percentage have occurred, the elapsing of a certain amount of time, or the player logging off the game and then logging back on.

Abstract: Multi-level wager games are described in which play at higher levels in the game continues even if the player does not achieve a winning result for play at a given level. Such play at the higher levels may be completed automatically in an autocomplete mode, without any additional player interaction. A payout is awarded if the outcome of play at any of the higher levels is a winning result in accordance with a special pay table designed for such autocomplete mode. In one embodiment, the special pay table is constructed such that the odds of obtaining a winning result in the autocomplete mode are less than the odds of obtaining a winning result for play at the first level. For example, in a two level poker game, if the player loses in the first level with only a pair of sixes (pair of Jacks or better needed for a winning hand in the first level), the cards in the second hand are revealed and the player obtains a winning result for second level hand only if the hand is dealt a Royal Flush.

Abstract: A method for playing a multiple-play poker game includes the step of displaying a pool hand comprising a plurality of face up cards. The pool hand is not played, subject to wager, or subject to poker hand rankings. The pool hand is provided solely as a means for designation of none, one or more of the cards of the pool hand as held cards. Preferably, at the time of display of the pool hand and designation of held cards, playing hands are not displayed, keeping the player focused on the selection process. The method continues with reproducing the held cards in a plurality of playing hands, completing the plurality of playing hands with new face up cards, if any, and determining a ranking of each of the completed playing hands.

Abstract: A method for playing a multiple-play poker game includes the step of displaying a pool hand comprising a plurality of face up cards. The pool hand is not played, subject to wager, or subject to poker hand rankings. The pool hand is provided solely as a means for designation of none, one or more of the cards of the pool hand as held cards. Preferably, at the time of display of the pool hand and designation of held cards, playing hands are not displayed, keeping the player focused on the selection process. The method continues with reproducing the held cards in a plurality of playing hands, completing the plurality of playing hands with new face up cards, if any, and determining a ranking of each of the completed playing hands.

Abstract: A gaming application is disclosed which is executable by a computer workstation such as a general purpose computer. The workstation is linked to a central gaming server over a network such as the Internet. The application includes a search facility whereby a player can enter search criteria (essentially player preferences) in order to identify available instances of games that have attributes of interest. The search criteria data is sent to the gaming server. The gaming server searches a database of current on-line game instances and responds by sending a datagram containing data for instances of games meeting the search criteria, which are then displayed on the workstation. In one form, the search facility includes a “quick start” feature whereby the user can request that they directly join an instance of a game in progress which meets the search criteria. If the player used the “quick start” feature, and the gaming server found a match, the player is taken directly to the game instance.