Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to determine that a second resource is available to be shared in place of a first resource located in a first wagering game machine operable to receive a wager associated with a wagering game. The second resource may be located apart from the first wagering game, perhaps in a second wagering game machine, or in a wagering game server.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for operating wagering game terminals where each terminal contributes an award to an award pool. A bank controller aggregates the awards, reapportions, and randomly assigns them back to the wagering game terminals. The reapportioned award assigned to a given wagering game terminal may be less than, the same as, or greater than the award contributed by that terminal. At regular or irregular intervals, the bank controller may shuffle the reapportioned awards and reassign them. As a result, the volatility of the wagering game terminals increases significantly while the payout percentage of each wagering game terminal remains the same over time. Alternatively, instead of randomly reassigning the reapportioned awards, the players may be allowed to pick the reapportioned awards. The reapportioning may also occur randomly and the assigning on an as-needed basis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a gaming network for transmitting event messages from gaming terminals to a central server and, consequently, routing each event message to an appropriate application. The system may include multiple gaming function specific servers with multiple applications on each server using a dedicated central server for message routing. In addition, this system can route secondary event messages generated by primary event messages. These secondary messages may be routed to other applications, other servers, or the gaming terminals. The system utilizes an association data structure in the central server to route messages without the need for embedded routing software code in each application, minimizing the need to rewrite software code that may result from any changes in gaming function or the applications that provide that functionality.

Abstract: A wireless computerized wagering game system comprises a gaming module operable to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a wireless communications module operable to connect the wireless wagering game system to at least one wireless peripheral device. The wireless computerized wagering game is portable, is operable to couple to fixed and portable peripheral devices, and is operable to couple to user-provided and gaming establishment-provided peripherals in various embodiments.

Abstract: A wagering game machine network including wagering game machines and other devices includes an ad server operable to receive and store ads having ad components. The ads may be sent to any device on the wagering game machine network. Ad components for ads and the ads themselves may be selected based on the capabilities of the device receiving the ad. Ads and ad components may be received from remote ad servers connected to the ad server via a network such as the Internet. Ads may be directed to devices at particular locations, such as a location where a particular wagering game player is located, or where a group of wagering game players having similar demographic characteristics or preferences is located. Ads may be selected based on statistics related to time, ad popularity, payment etc.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media including instructions for publishing gaming content are described herein. In one embodiment, a machine-readable medium includes instructions for detecting new gaming content and creating a gaming content publication indicating that the new gaming content is available. The machine-readable medium also includes instructions for transmitting the gaming system publication to a gaming network component.

Abstract: A community game that adapts a scene on a community display based on the number of participating players and/or player locations from one session of the community game to another or in any given session and/or number of the gaming terminals. Selectable elements are displayed on the community display for selection by the participating players. When additional players are eligible to participate in the community game, a field of view or a virtual camera angle of a scene is changed to reveal additional selectable elements or a greater variety of selectable elements than were available for selection with fewer participating players. Any of the selectable elements can be cooperatively selectable elements which multiple players can select to reveal an enhanced award. Based on the players' locations, the scene can be adapted to portray selectable elements or previously hidden or obscured areas of the scene closest to the newly participating player(s).

Abstract: A gaming system for playing a wagering game includes a controller configured to randomly generate an outcome of the wagering game and activate, for a winning outcome, a game feature responsive to an occurrence of a predetermined symbol along an activated payline. The controller randomly determines and displays a first operand and a second operand in an award modifier calculation and randomly determines and displays a mathematical operator to apply to the first and second operands. The controller applies the randomly determined mathematical operator to the first operand and the second operand to yield a modifier, modifies an award associated with the winning outcome using the modifier to yield a modified award, and awards the modified award.

Abstract: An embodiment of a gaming machine has a primary game display operable to display the outcome of a game, and a secondary display overlaying the primary game display. The secondary display may have a stand alone transmissive LCD display and at least one backlight assembly, the backlight assembly spaced apart from the transmissive LCD display and located between the transmissive LCD display and the primary game display. With the backlight assembly spaced apart from the transmissive LCD display, the backlight assembly may be removed from or inserted into the gaming machine. This permits different games to be installed in the gaming machine during manufacture or as a retrofit.

Abstract: There is provided a peripheral update device. The peripheral update device includes at least one interface adapted to communicatively connect to at least one peripheral device of a wagering game machine and to an update device, the at least one interface adapted to receive a firmware update from the update device for a peripheral device of the at least one peripheral device. The peripheral update device further includes a processor being communicatively connected to the at least one interface and adapted to receive the transmitted firmware update via the at least one interface and further adapted to apply the received firmware update to the peripheral device via the at least one interface.

Abstract: A gaming system for playing a wagering game and a community event includes a first gaming machine and a second gaming machine. The first gaming machine determines a randomly selected community-event outcome for the community event, and sends information related to the outcome to at least one other gaming machine of the plurality of gaming machines. The second gaming machine receives the information from the first gaming machine and plays the community event.

Abstract: A wireless networked computerized wagering game system comprises a gaming module operable to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, a wireless network module operable to connect the wagering game system to at least one other networked device via a wireless network connection, and an audio module operable to manage an audio function of the wagering game system. In another embodiment the audio module is operable to present environmental sounds to a wagering game player.

Abstract: A wagering game system includes a service for conducting a group-wagering game for a group of players under the control of a gaming control system and a plurality of gaming terminals, each gaming terminal connected to the service and being configured to conduct a group-wagering game in combination with the service. The gaming control system is configured to permit a player in the group of players to unilaterally alter a membership of the group of players.

Abstract: A method and system of operating a wagering game having simulated mechanical reels includes receiving a wager to play the wagering game. A first set of video images are displayed on a curved surface approximately a radius of curvature of a mechanical reel. The first set of video images simulates movement of a first set of reel symbols. In response to a triggering event, a second set of video images are displayed on the curved surface. The second set of video images simulate a transitioning from the first set of reel symbols to a second set of reel symbols.

Abstract: A network browser and toolbar objects are described herein. The network browser has a main display area that can display content. The toolbar objects can be on a toolbar that is a part of the network browser. The toolbar objects indicate information associated with wagering games. The network browser and the toolbar objects can receive and display content. Specifically, the toolbar objects can process and present wagering games using wagering game play elements (e.g., icons, graphics, etc.) on the toolbar. The toolbar can also have controls, configurations and settings associated with the toolbar, which the toolbar can communicate to a wagering game provider to determine game results. The toolbar can use the controls, configurations, and settings to affect the presentation of wagering game information on the toolbar, to control the presentation of game results using the wagering game play elements, etc.

Abstract: A gaming system and method for conducting a wagering game includes a display having a display area showing a poker-themed wagering game. A wager input device receives a base wager to play the poker-themed wagering game. A controller is coupled to the display and the wager input device. The controller is operative to provide a plurality of symbol-bearing objects to form a user-playable hand and award a payoff based on a ranking of the user-playable hand meeting a predetermined criterion. The controller may receive a side wager separate from the base wager from the player to trigger a challenge based on meeting a condition in at least one of a predetermined number of future plays of the wagering game. Additional free challenges may be triggered for the predetermined number of future plays.