Abstract: A gaming system includes instructions that cause the gaming system to receive an input indicative of a wager, display a plurality of reels defining a symbol array, and display a symbol-alteration region including at least two symbol positions and extending through a subset of the symbol array at a predefined position. The plurality of reels includes a plurality of symbols moving through the symbol array. The plurality of symbols includes a special symbol that has a first function for evaluating a game outcome. The symbol-alteration region is positioned such that at least some of the symbols move between a first position outside the symbol-alteration region and a second position within the symbol-alteration region. The instructions further cause the gaming system to, in response to the special symbol stopping within the symbol-alteration region, alter a functionality of the special symbol to include a second function for evaluating the game outcome.

Abstract: A gaming terminal is utilized for playing a wagering game. The gaming terminal includes a wager-input device and a display for displaying the wagering game. The wagering game includes a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input received via the wager-input device. The plurality of outcomes include at least one outcome that awards standard credits and bonus tokens. A credit output device outputs a value of the standard credits and the bonus tokens in response to achieving the at least one outcome. The bonus tokens are exchangeable for a special event on a second gaming terminal.

Abstract: A gaming system and method allowing use of three dimensional objects in a wagering game. The three dimensional object includes multiple sides which are viewable by a player. Each of the multiple sides includes a symbol. An active payline contains one of the symbols. The symbols contained by the active payline are used to represent a randomly-determined result from the wagering game.

Abstract: A gaming system having virtual assets comprises a wager input device, at least one gaming terminal comprising a display for displaying a wagering game, and a virtual asset server in communication with the at least one gaming terminal, the virtual asset server storing and managing one or more types of virtual assets, each type of virtual asset having a different plurality of attributes associated therewith. The system comprises at least one controller operative to cause the first display to display the first wagering game, in response to a first triggering event, award one or more of the virtual assets to a player of the first wagering game, store information regarding the awarded virtual assets in a player account associated with the player and accessible to the virtual asset server, and provide a monetary award to the player for any winning outcomes achieved during play of the first wagering game.

Abstract: A gaming system for playing a wagering game includes an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game, a display, and a controller. The controller is configured to display a three-dimensional view of at least a portion of a gaming environment and one or more movable visual elements disposed within the gaming environment. The controller is further configured to dynamically retain within the field of view a center point of a selected set of the movable visual elements.

Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device receiving a wager from a player to play a wagering game, at least one display, and at least one controller. The wagering game provides access to a progressive game having multiple progressive jackpots. The multiple progressive jackpots are reset after being awarded. In response to a progressive jackpot being awarded, a current expected value of the wagering game is calculated with a normal reset value applied to the awarded progressive jackpot. And, in response to the calculated current expected value of the wagering game being less than a minimum jurisdictional limit, the awarded one of the multiple progressive jackpots is reset with a padded reset value so that the expected value of the wagering game is equal to or greater than the minimum jurisdictional limit. The padded reset value is greater than the normal reset value.

Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for initiating a wagering game are presented herein. A gaming device is presented that includes a wager input device, a display, and at least one controller. The controller executes the wagering game, which includes first and second progressive awards each associated with a respective symbol-based outcome. Each symbol-based outcome has a respective frequency of occurrence. The controller randomly determines an outcome of the wagering game. The controller initiates a progressive-award-determination sequence in response to displaying the first and/or second symbol-based outcomes. There is a first probability of awarding the first progressive award, and a second probability of awarding the second progressive award.

Abstract: A gaming system for playing a wagering game is provided which includes a plurality of gaming machines (10a-1Of) configured to play a wagering game and to participate in a community-event. A movable member (99) is disposed substantially adjacent to the plurality of gaming machines and is configured to move relative to the plurality of gaining machines from a first position to a second position during a community-event (S500) in response to a single triggering event (S505).

Abstract: A gaming machine includes at least one cylindrical mechanical reel mounted in a cabinet. The mechanical reel includes symbols displayed to indicate, at least in part, a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game. The mechanical reel is rotatable about an internal axis and defines an interior space that is free of a hub along the internal axis.

Abstract: A gaming system includes at least one community display, a first gaming machine, and a second gaming machine. The at least one community display displays a communal game that includes a plurality of elements. At least some of the plurality of elements have a communal value associated therewith. The first and second gaming machines have a respective first and second video display for displaying the plurality of elements. At least some of the plurality of elements have a first and second player value associated therewith. The first and second gaming machines determine the first and second player values by applying a respective first and second value-enhancement parameter to the communal values associated with at least some of the plurality of elements. The first value-enhancement parameter is different than the second value-enhancement parameter.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining emergency information that indicates a potential threat to the well being of one or more individuals (e.g., patrons, staff, etc.) within a casino. The operations can also include determining and presenting emergency content, on wagering game machines within the casino, which notifies the one or more individuals of the threat. The operations can also include determining individual specific emergency information that relates specifically to the one or more individuals, and providing the individual specific emergency information to the one or more individuals.

Abstract: A multi-mode gaming terminal comprising, a wager input device, a primary display for displaying a primary wagering game. And at least one controller operative to: (i) detect a selection between a cash mode of operation and a tournament mode of operation; (ii) if the cash mode is selected, execute the primary wagering game configured with a first payback return; (iii) if the tournament mode is selected, execute the primary wagering game in a tournament mode configured with a second payback return and a tournament return, wherein on each tournament eligible play of the primary wagering game resulting in a winning outcome, a predetermined number of tournament points are awarded and added to a tournament entry; and (iv) upon the occurrence of a triggering event, entering the tournament entry into at least one tournament.

Abstract: A gaming system and method includes one or more input devices, display devices, processors, and memory devices. The memory device(s) store instructions that, when executed by the processor(s), cause the gaming system to receive an input indicative of a wager for a base wagering game, initiate the base wagering game, initiate a bonus game, and establish a minimum bonus payout threshold for the bonus game. At least one bonus game outcome is determined for the bonus game. An aggregate award is determined for the at least one bonus game outcome. In response to the aggregate award being greater than the minimum bonus payout threshold, the aggregate award is awarded. In response to the aggregate award being less than the minimum bonus payout threshold, the aggregate award is awarded plus a supplemental award. The supplemental award is equal to the difference between the minimum bonus payout threshold and the aggregate award.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include initiating, at a gaming machine, an analysis mode of a wagering game training tool associated with a wagering game, and determining when a player has played a predefined number of rounds of the wagering game. The operations can also include determining a skill level associated with the player for one or more areas of skill associated with the wagering game based, at least in part, on the predefined number of rounds played by the player. The operations can further include identifying an area of skill associated with the wagering game where the skill level associated with the player is less than a predefined skill level, and initiating a training mode of the wagering game training tool to improve the skill level associated with the player in the identified area of skill.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a plurality of linked gaming machines, each gaming machine including a display for displaying a plurality of symbols that indicates a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game. The randomly selected outcome is selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to a wager input. Each gaming machine allows a player to achieve a player level from a plurality of player levels. The gaming system further includes a controller linked to the gaming machines. The controller is adapted to permit a certain community-event game from a plurality of community-game events to be played at two or more of gaming machines in response to a conditional state at the gaming machines. The conditional state is a function of the player levels at the gaming machines.

Abstract: A system can invigorate wagering games with dynamic updates to reflect changes in ongoing current events. Current real-life data about at least one of a current event and a public figure are acquired. Game data for a wagering game are updated based, at least in part, on the acquired current real-life data. A plurality of wagering game machines that host instances of the wagering game are determined. The updated game data is indicated over a network to the plurality of wagering game machines that host instances of the wagering games.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include determining wagering game content presented in a computerized graphical interface on a wagering game machine display. The operations can further include determining sound content that is presentable via a plurality of audio production devices associated with a wagering game machine. The plurality of audio production devices can be positioned in relation to the wagering game machine display to produce a multi-directional audio field that originates from the wagering game content. The operations can determine a position of the computerized graphical interface in relation to the wagering game machine display. The operations can further control distribution of the sound content on the plurality of audio production devices based on the position of the computerized graphical interface on the wagering game machine display.

Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that authorize and manage wagering agents and associated accounts. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can detecting a request from a first player account to utilize a shared wagering fund to wager on a wagering game. The shared wagering fund can be funded by a second player account. The wagering game system can make the shared wagering fund available to the first player account to wager on a wagering game. The wagering game system can determine a game award produced by the wagering game. The system can then allocate a portion of the game award to the second player account.

Abstract: A method for conducting a wagering game includes awarding a plurality of positional game modifiers and a plurality of plays of the wagering game. Each play includes a set of assignable positions such that a plurality of sets of assignable positions occur over the plurality of plays, at least some of the assignable positions bearing symbols. The plurality of positional game modifiers are randomly assigned to positions in the plurality of sets of assignable positions. The plurality of plays are displayed on a display device. A processor is used to determine an outcome of each of the plays taking into account any of the positional game modifiers assigned to the positions in the set of assignable positions of each play.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include logging in a first user account based on login information received via a gaming widget, wherein the gaming widget is configured to communicate with a server that provides non-wagering game content. The operations can further include detecting wagering game activity for a second user account associated with the first user account. The operations can further include providing the non-wagering game content for presentation via the gaming widget based on the wagering game activity for the second user account.