Patents Assigned to WMS Gaming
  • Patent number: 8353755
    Abstract: A gaming system and method for conducting a wagering game includes a powerup feature. A wager input receives a wager from a player to play a single play of a wagering game. At least one display displays a plurality of reels with symbols. A controller is coupled to the wager input and the at least one display. The controller is operative randomly generate an outcome of the wagering game from a plurality of wagering game outcomes. The controller displays the randomly generated wagering game outcome on the plurality of reels. The plurality of outcomes includes the award of a powerup to a player. The powerup allows the player to activate a game enhancement feature on a future play of the wagering game. The plurality of wagering game outcomes can also include a credit award. A player may select the credit award or an offered powerup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie W. Vann, James V. Palermo, Jeremie D. Moll
  • Publication number: 20130012311
    Abstract: A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game includes a gaming cabinet, a first surface, a video display assembly, and a first blower. The gaming cabinet includes an intake port and an exhaust port. The first surface is within the cabinet and divides the cabinet into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The video display assembly includes a video display having a display area and a display housing. The video display assembly is positioned adjacent to the upper chamber of the game cabinet at an angle between about 0 degrees and about 45 degrees relative to horizontal. The display housing forms a longitudinal channel along a substantial portion of a back side opposite the display area. The first blower is disposed in the upper chamber. The longitudinal channel is at least partially sealed such that the first blower creates a negative pressure within the longitudinal channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Cornell, Edward J. Redd, Victor Mercado, Walter E. Smolucha
  • Patent number: 8348769
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a printed circuit board that is part of a wagering game machine. The printed circuit board includes a processor operable to execute instructions associated with a wagering game. The printed circuit board also includes a hard drive mount that includes an alignment guide and a blind mate connector for electrically coupling a hard drive to a surface mount connection on the printed circuit board. The hard drive is to store wagering game data for the wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob C. Greenberg, Raymond E. Macika, Victor Mercado, Eleobardo Moreno
  • Patent number: 8348747
    Abstract: A multi-player gaming system sensing multiple simultaneous contacts on a surface of a gaming table, differentiating contacts by different players. Privacy controls selectively display private information visible to only one of the players on or near the display surface of the gaming table. The gaming system also detects physical objects placed on the surface of the gaming table, causing wagering game functions or peripheral functions to be performed as a result of the placement of the object on the display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir I. Arezina, Gilbert J. Q. Burak, Mark B. Gagner, Benjamin T. Gomez, Joel R. Jaffe, James V. Palermo, James M. Rasmussen, Gene Rigsby, Richard T. Schwartz, Craig J. Sylla, Alfred Thomas, Timothy C. Loose
  • Publication number: 20130005427
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy M. Hornik, Allon G. Englman
  • Publication number: 20130005459
    Abstract: Play of a wagering game on a user's computing device is supported while a web page from a host server is displayed on the user's screen. The game is contained in a window on the web page, but the game is controlled by a source server. The computing device downloads via the host server a module of an application support service that supports play of the first wagering game within the window. Requests for critical information required for play of the game from the user's computing device are routed via the host server to the source server. Replies to the requests are transmitted from the source server to the computing device thereby permitting play of the first game within the window as displayed on the screen of the user's computing device. The host server controls the subject matter displayed on the web page outside the window containing the wagering game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Larry J. Pacey
  • Publication number: 20130005446
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Allon G. ENGLMAN, Larry J. PACEY, Mark B. GAGNER, Jeremy M. HORNIK
  • Patent number: 8342927
    Abstract: A method for conducting a community wagering game on one or more gaming devices comprises receiving a first wager from a first player and determining a first modifier associated with the first player based upon play of a first base game. The method further comprises triggering and displaying a community gaming event comprising a competition and determining a finishing order of a plurality of participants in the competition, the plurality of participants including at least first and second participants. The method further comprises associating the first player with the first participant, determining a first prize value for the first participant, the first prize value based upon the finishing order, and awarding the first player a first award comprising the first prize value as modified by the first modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Allon G. Englman, Peter W. Flemming, Jeremy M. Hornik
  • Patent number: 8342945
    Abstract: A gaming machine for conduction a wagering game is disclosed according to one embodiment. The gaming machine comprises a wager input device for receiving a primary wager to play the wagering game. The wagering game further includes at least one display for displaying a randomly selected outcome of a basic game of the wagering game. The randomly selected outcome is indicated by a plurality of symbols. At least one of the symbols is a bonus symbol that triggers a bonus game in response to a certain condition being met. In response to the randomly selected outcome including at least one bonus symbol without the certain condition being met, the at least one bonus symbol may be utilized in a subsequent basic game to trigger a bonus game in the subsequent basic game if the certain condition is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin T. Gomez
  • Patent number: 8342956
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and a gaming system for operating a progressive game that is accessible at a plurality of gaming machines. The progressive game has a plurality of progressive jackpots. The method and system involve collecting wager-input data at the plurality of gaming machines that corresponds to wager inputs made at the plurality of gaming machines, and crediting a portion of the wager inputs to a first group of the plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with a first distribution set. In response to the wager-input data meeting a predetermined criteria, the method and system include crediting a portion of subsequent wager inputs to a second group of the plurality of progressive jackpots in accordance with a second distribution set. The first group directs funds to at least one progressive jackpot in an amount that is different from the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Peter R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8342944
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a wagering game system includes at least one wagering game computer program operative on the wagering game platform to detect a wager. A persistent state manager software component is operative to read or write persistent state data to and from the wagering game computer program and persistent state media. In one embodiment, the persistent state media is a bar-coded ticket, and in another embodiment an electronic data storage device such as a RFID device. A messaging system allows persistent state media devices to interact with the wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jim Motyl, James M. Rasmussen, Craig J. Sylla
  • Publication number: 20120329552
    Abstract: A gaming system includes an input device for receiving wagers to lay a wagering game in which the player is eligible to win first and second progressive award levels. At least one display device is configured to display a monetary value for the first progressive award level and a number of free spins for the second progressive award level. The gaming system includes two sets of reels, each set being associated with a respective mathematical model. A controller increments the monetary value and the number of free spins based on plays of the wagering game, and awards current values of the monetary value and the number of free spins in response to respective triggering events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc
    Inventors: Christopher J. Caspers, Peter R. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20120329553
    Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a multi-player wagering game includes a multi-touch table surface that is touched by a handheld electronic wager input device (EWID) carried by a player for placing wagers on a wagering game displayed on the multi-touch table surface. Each EWID carried by a player has an associated unique identification code, which is linked to the respective player's account. Players indicate an amount to be wagered by touching the EWID to designated wager amount areas, then place the wager by touching the EWID to a designated wagering area. Because each EWID is uniquely associable with distinct player accounts, the gaming system can support any number of players placing wagers. The funds remain safe in the player account and no funds are stored on the EWID. Only the identification code is detected, which is compared with the associated player account before allowing that player to place wagers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. GAGNER, Timothy T. GRONKOWSKI, Paul M. LESLEY, Timothy C. LOOSE, Jim MOTYL, James M. RASMUSSEN, Victor T. SHI, Alfred THOMAS, Jesse SMITH
  • Publication number: 20120329551
    Abstract: A gaming system includes one or more processors and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to perform a plurality of operations. The operations include awarding a plurality of points to a player, and, in response to a predetermined number of the points being redeemed by the player, accessing or modifying wagering game content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir I. Arezina, Michael J. Blankstein, Rory L. Block, Allon G. Englman, McLaurin H. Files, Mark B. Gagner, Brian R. Gamache, Jeremy M. Hornik, Joel R. Jaffe, Larry J. Pacey, Shridhar P. Joshi, Alfred Thomas, Jamie Vann, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8337300
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include presenting a skill-based wagering game on a wagering game machine. The skill-based wagering game can have a limited winnable award amount for the skill-based wagering game. The operations can also include tracking skilled game goals that a player accomplishes during the skill-based wagering game and awarding the player from the limited winnable award amount. The operations can also include determining a surplus amount that was not earned from the limited winnable award amount, and awarding some, or all, of the surplus amount during subsequent activity. In some embodiments, the operations can also include allocating the surplus amount to wagering game pools, distributing the surplus amount as tokens based on triggered activities, and presenting game modifiers that enable players to enhance performance in a skill-based game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming. Inc.
    Inventors: Travis L. Bowers, Joel R. Jaffe, John F. LaSalvia, Michael W. Mastropietro, Scott H. Schulhof, Richard T. Schwartz, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Bruce E. Urban, Michael C. Ward
  • Publication number: 20120322550
    Abstract: Wagering game systems can leverage web browsers to present wagering game content with a variety of technologies. For instance, an electronic wagering game table can present diverse wagering game content (e.g., multiple wagering games, portal games, social net-working applets, hospitality menus, etc.) with a variety of technologies that interface with a we browser. Also, a single wagering game can be constructed from multiple technologies. A wagering game system can implement a framework that dynamically builds up a web page to use multiple technologies for presenting content with a web browser on a wagering game system. The framework can dynamically construct the web page, which can involve modifying objects, embedding objects, removing objects, and replacing objects that correspond to different technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan D. Antkowiak, Daniel J. Gazdic, Damon E. Gura, Budyanto Himawan, Audrey F. Y. Ho, Jeffrey M. Leverenz
  • Publication number: 20120322527
    Abstract: A gaming system and a method for conducting a wagering game that allows accurate determination of a player gesture input. A gaming terminal for playing the wagering game including a controller is disclosed. A touch surface is provided for actuation by a player gesture associated with an input to the wagering game. A sensor array underlies the touch surface to sense the motion of the gesture. The sensor array is coupled to the controller. The controller determines a trajectory represented by the gesture based on the sensed motion from the sensor array. A display is coupled to the controller to display movement of an object image based on the trajectory represented by the gesture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Joel R. Jaffe, Timothy C. Loose
  • Publication number: 20120322535
    Abstract: A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a display and a controller. The display displays a plurality of spinning reels that stop to indicate a randomly selected outcome of a plurality of outcomes in response to accepting a wager input from a player. The controller is in communication with the display and is operative to conduct the wagering game in accordance with a basic set of gaming rules. The controller is further operative to cause a modification to a gaming rule of the basic set of gaming rules and to indicate the modification to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Allon G. Englman, Joel R. Jaffe, Jeremy M. Hornik, Larry J. Pacey
  • Publication number: 20120322532
    Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes at least one input device, at least one display device, and at least one processor. The gaming system further includes at least one memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to display a wagering game having an array of symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome, the array of symbols including a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and, in response to the array of symbols including a special symbol, change the special symbol into a modified symbol, the modified symbol corresponding with a second symbol of the array of symbols to form a modified array, the second symbol being selected based on a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff L. Nauman
  • Publication number: 20120322564
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a gaming machine and a gaming chair for playing a wagering game. The gaming machine includes at least one display configured to display outcomes of the wagering game. The gaming machine further includes at least one wager input device configured to receive wagers from players. The gaming chair includes a seat assembly attached to a base, a cable harness for providing electrical input, and a backrest assembly having an inner structure and a back housing. The back housing is mounted to the inner structure and has a modular mounting feature for receiving one of at least two modular back panels. The modular back panels are received one at a time and include a non-illuminated back panel and an illuminated back panel. The illuminated back panel has a connector for accepting the cable harness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Toriono A. Granger, Eric T. Miner, Norman R. Wurz