Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting a wagering game, and computer programs for initiating a wagering game are presented herein. One concept of the present disclosure is directed to earning bonus features through play of multiple games in series or in parallel. A wagering game includes a base game and a bonus game. A number of base games are conducted in series or in parallel. For each of the conducted base games, one or more bonus-game-modifiers are added to a feature pool (e.g., a queue) in response to a predetermined event (e.g., a winning outcome) occurring in that base game. In response to a triggering event (e.g., filling the feature pool, a symbol-based trigger in the current base game, etc.), the bonus game is conducted as modified by the bonus-game-modifiers in the feature pool.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing programs on wagering game machine peripherals are described. The programs may be shader programs for execution by one or more programmable shaders on a graphics processing unit. The programs may provide a graphical result, e.g. an output on a display, or may provide a non-graphical result of a computation to a general purpose processor on the wagering game machine.

Abstract: A gaming system for playing a wagering game comprises at least one display adapted to display a plurality of reels having symbols. The symbols indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The plurality of reels includes at least one single-symbol reel and at least one multi-symbol reel. The at least one display is adapted to display at least one payline overlapping at least one symbol from the at least one single-symbol reel and at least one symbol from the at least one multi-symbol reel.

Abstract: A wagering game system includes a game controller configured to determine an eligibility threshold trigger for an n-th unit prize and add, for each connected wagering game machine, a set of discrete eligibility units to a discrete eligibility units counter responsive to an input wager at the respective wagering game machine. The game controller evaluates a subset of the set of discrete eligibility units at a selected wagering game machine against the eligibility threshold trigger to determine if the eligibility threshold trigger is satisfied by that wagering game machine and to subtract the subset of the discrete eligibility units from the discrete eligibility units counter at the selected wagering game machine. The game controller evaluates the subset of discrete eligibility units against the eligibility threshold trigger and awards the n-th unit prize if the discrete eligibility units in the subset of discrete eligibility units satisfies the eligibility threshold trigger.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes at least one input device, at least one display device, at least one processor, and at least one memory device storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to receive a wager for playing the wagering game, and trigger a free-spin event in which a plurality of free spins is awarded. For a first spin, a first number of arrays is randomly determined, displayed, and evaluated to determine whether an award condition is present. For a second spin, a second number of arrays is randomly determined, displayed, and evaluated to determine whether an award condition is present. The second number of arrays is non-equal to the first number of arrays. Any awards associated with each determined award condition are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gaming terminal and a method of playing a wagering game, whereby a player at one gaming terminal is allowed to link to other gaming terminals via a player-selectable option. The wagering game may include a basic game and a bonus game. Once linked, the player can enter a bonus game that is triggered by an outcome at a linked terminal.

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 for receiving wagers from players to play a wagering game, and a display for displaying outcomes of the wagering game. The gaming device also includes a multi-layer composite lighting assembly with a first light-emitting layer, a second light-emitting layer, and a spacer. The first light-emitting layer emits light of a first color in a first direction, whereas the second light-emitting layer emits light of a second color in a second direction. The spacer, which is interposed between the first and second light-emitting layers, diffuses and focuses light emitted by the second light-emitting layer through the light emitted by the first light-emitting layer to thereby create a three-dimensional simulation of a component of the wagering game.

Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes selective application of surround sound. The selective application of surround sound allows certain key gaming events to be emphasized over other gaming events. The surround sound may be varied to produce certain effects, such as a tactile effect and a gradual building up of suspense and anticipation that increases player excitement and enjoyment. A surround sound decoder may be added in some embodiments to convert monophonic and stereo wagering games into surround sound. The surround sound may be implemented as true surround sound or as virtual surround sound.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include presenting wagering game content via one or more output devices of a wagering game machine during a wagering game session. The wagering game session is associated with a player account. The operations can further include detecting a user input via one or more input devices of the wagering game machine. The user input indicates a selection of the wagering game content. The operations can further include storing an aspect of the wagering game content in a data store associated with the player account. The aspect of the wagering game content is accessible from the data store via the player account after the wagering game session.

Abstract: A method for conducting a wagering game includes receiving a wager and displaying a plurality of symbol-bearing reels. A first set of reels to be evaluated is highlight, spun, and stopped such that a first randomly selected outcome is indicated. The first outcome is evaluated to determine if it is a winning outcome. In response to a winning outcome, a second set of reels to be evaluated is highlighted. The second set of reels includes at least one of the reels of the first set of reels and one of the reels that is adjacent to the first set of reels. The one of the reels that is adjacent to the first set of reels is stopped such that a second randomly selected outcome is indicated by the second set of reels. The second outcome is evaluated to determine if the second outcome is a winning outcome.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting, wirelessly, an identifier associated with a portable wireless device. In some embodiments, the identifier is assigned to a wagering game player account. The operations can further include initiating a wagering game session for the wagering game player account, via a wagering game machine, in response to detecting the identifier. The operations can further include detecting, wirelessly, a use of the portable wireless device in response to player input via the portable wireless device and, based on the use of the portable wireless device, authorizing initiation of the wagering game session and/or performing one or more activities via a wagering game application during the wagering game session.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a gaming machine and server framework environment that is operating system independent. One aspect of the systems and methods includes providing a set of framework components that present a common interface regardless of the underlying operating system used on the gaming machine or server. A further aspect of the systems and methods include various plug-in services (320) that use the framework (302) to communicate and interact with one another. A still further aspect includes providing an emulator providing the ability for a gaming application or service designed for one operating system to be run on different operating system.

Abstract: A releasable reel strip attachment assembly including an attachment strip with snap rivets that snaps through corresponding apertures in a reel strip and into apertures in a reel cage. The attachment strip includes an adhesive layer protected by a release backing that is removed to expose the adhesive layer. The reel strip is positioned over the reel cage so that the apertures in the reel strip co-align with those of the reel cage, and the snap rivets are inserted through the aligned apertures to attach the reel strip to the reel cage in a reliable, precise, and consistent manner. The reel strip is wound around the reel cage and the free end of the reel strip is pressed onto the exposed adhesive layer of the attachment strip.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include connecting a wagering game to a chat session and receiving a textual game command for the wagering game from a chat message sent via the chat session. The operations can further include activating a wagering game function for the wagering game in response to receiving the textual game command via the chat message.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a login request to an account at a wagering game machine. In response to the login request, the method includes displaying a security token on a display of the wagering game machine. Also in response to the login request, the method includes transmitting the security token to a server, wherein the server is communicatively coupled to the wagering game machine and a mobile device. Also in response to the login request, the method includes receiving, back from the server and at the wagering game machine, authorization for login to the account at the wagering machine, wherein the authorization is based on an earlier login to the account from the mobile device using the login credentials. After receiving the authorization, the method includes logging into the account at the wagering game machine, wherein the logging occurs without inputting of the login credentials at the wagering game machine.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include providing a virtual wagering game machine for presentation in a virtual wagering game environment and determining an indication, associated with a user account, to purchase one or more rights to control one or more features of the virtual wagering game machine. The operations can further include detecting payment of a purchase value from the user account, and granting the one or more rights to control the one or more features of the virtual wagering game machine to the user account in response to detecting the payment of the purchase value.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method including determining a first wagering game content and a second wagering game content, wherein the first wagering game content is related to a first wagering game, and wherein the second wagering game content is related to a second wagering game. The method can also include determining, based on priority rules, a first display priority for the first wagering game content, and a second display priority for the second wagering game content. The method can also include presenting, based on the first display priority, the first wagering game content. The method can also include presenting, based on the second display priority, the second wagering game content after the presenting of the first wagering game content, and detecting player inputs. The method can also include assigning priority values to the player inputs, and responding to the player inputs in an order related to the priority values.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include providing a social communications interface (e.g., a chat interface) for presentation via a wagering game session. The wagering game session is associated with a wagering game player account. The operations can further include selecting, in response to user input via the social communications interface, a representation of a social contact of the wagering game player account. The user input indicates a request to follow social communications made by the social contact, which social communications are not directly addressed to the wagering game player account. The operations can further include providing, for presentation via the social communications interface, the social communications made by the social contact.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a plurality of gaming terminals for playing wagering games that provide access to a progressive game having multiple progressive jackpots. Each progressive jackpot has a base reset value that increases in response to wager inputs. The gaming system comprises at least one controller operative to determine that a first player at a first gaming terminal has achieved a predetermined criteria, and to provide an award associated with one of the multiple progressive jackpots to a second player at a second gaming terminal who triggered the awarded jackpot. The controller maintains the value of the awarded progressive jackpot for the first player who achieved the predetermined criteria at the awarded value, but resets the awarded progressive jackpot to the lower base reset value for other gaming terminals. Thus, the first player benefits from a potentially higher jackpot award value due to achieving the predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A gaming machine has a wager-input device for receiving a first wager from a player to play a wagering game having a basic game and a bonus game. A display displays a plurality of symbols located thereon during the basic game. The symbols indicate a randomly-selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager. The plurality of outcomes includes a bonus-triggering outcome. A set of available game-enhancement parameters is displayed and the player is provided an option of submitting a second wager to purchase at least one of the set of available game-enhancement parameters. The set of available game-enhancement parameters provides an enhancement selected from the group consisting of: additional bonus-triggering outcomes providing a higher probability of triggering the bonus game, and enhanced awards during the bonus game.