Abstract: An enhanced mechanical gaming system (10) utilizes a touch panel (40) as a user control device for mechanical assemblies and game play features which provides users with the enhanced flexibility and interactivity of a video gaming device in a mechanical gaming device environment. The enhanced mechanical gaming system (10) includes a gaming machine assembly (20), a touch sensor assembly (30) incorporating a substantially transparent touch panel (40), a touch panel controller (50), and touch panel software (60). The gaming machine assembly is a standard gaming machine assembly that has been modified to utilize touch-panel components. The touch panel (40) and the sensor assembly (30) produce touch data when activated, and provide viewing of mechanical assemblies behind the touch panel (40). The touch panel controller (50) acts to control and interpret the touch panel (40).

Abstract: A system and method may provide playing cards which are selected based on a desired set of payout or house odds and/or house advantage. The system and method may display payout odds for respective player positions. The system and method may operate a playing card handling device to provide the playing cards in a random or pseudo-random fashion, based at least in part on the selected payout or house odds and/or house advantage.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a novel video gaming experience on a play surface on which reconfigurable information is displayed.

Abstract: A hand-held game apparatus and a game program are provided which allow a user to play a game while going back and forth between a narrow-range image and a broad-range image of map. The user can manipulate a touch panel which mounted on a display section for displaying the broad-range image. If the user manipulates the touch panel to point to a coordinate position on the broad-range image, thus designating coordinates for the narrow-range image, a changed narrow-range is displayed. If the user indicates a moving direction on the broad-range image, thus designating a scroll direction, the displayed broad-range image is moved (scrolled).

Abstract: Of a region in a tabular form having a plurality of entries and squares related to the entries, a portion thereof including a square designated by a player is displayed on a screen. Next, information about an entry related to the designated square is obtained. The obtained entry is displayed in association with a display position of the designated square.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for configuring a gaming device that provides a player selectable award profile. The award profile is further selectable by the player with respect to a payout scheme, a bonusing option or both. A player may select a preferred bonusing option form a group of available bonusing options prior to commencing play of the gaming device. A gaming device is provided that offers the player a choice of several bonusing options from a single source gaming device. Additionally, the player may also select a modified payout scheme that suits the player's preferences.

Abstract: An interactive multi-channel game method is described. The method includes providing a first representation of a game element associated with a first channel of a multi-channel system, replacing the first representation with a second representation of the game element associated with a second channel of the multi-channel system, providing a clue associated with the second channel, and receiving a user input representing a user's response to the clue. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A lottery system/electronic gaming device interface and gambling game includes at least one detection device operative to detect selected event occurrences of an electronic gaming device and output event occurrence signals upon detection of an event or series of events occurring on an electronic gaming device and an interface device in information transmission connection with the detection device, the interface device operative to detect and receive event occurrence signals from the detection device, analyze and translate the event occurrence signals and output lottery entry dispensing commands. Finally, a lottery entry device is in information transmission connection with the interface device and in information transmission connection with a central lottery system, the lottery entry device operative to receive the lottery entry dispensing commands output by the interface device and output at least one entry ticket into a lottery event via and in connection with the central lottery system.

Abstract: The present invention displays increasing values of two or more wildcard symbols in the symbol matrix. A preferred embodiment called “Up, Up & Way Wilds” displays increasing multiplier values for two or more wildcard symbols used in winning symbol combinations.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for facilitating side wagering activities conducted at a casino which includes a casino gaming network and a plurality of gaming machines. In at least one embodiment, a casino side wagering system may be utilized to enable casinos operators to provide side wagering opportunities to non-primary players of electronic gaming machines, electronic slot machines and/or other types of gaming machines.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to drive an auxiliary game using resultant reel stops on a slot machine. Reel stops can have an action or property associated with them which affects the auxiliary game. When a player spins reels on the slot machine, the player can win a standard prize based on a resulting combination of symbols displayed on the slot machine and the player can also win an auxiliary prized based on the auxiliary game which can be controlled, in whole or in part, by where the reels stop.

Abstract: Methods for determining input to be supplied to a computer program are provided. One of the methods include processing a first video frame having a pattern code before light is applied to the pattern code. The first video frame defines a first characteristic of the pattern code, and the pattern code is defined by at least two tags. The method further includes processing a second video frame having the pattern code when light is applied to the pattern code, such that the second video frame defines a second characteristic of the pattern code. Then, decoding the first characteristic and the second characteristic of the pattern code to produce decoded information. An interactive command is then initiated to the computer program. A type of the interactive command is defined by the decoded information, wherein one of the tags has a reflective surface and one of the tags has a non-reflective surface.

Abstract: Methods and gaming units for conducting a wagering game and an associated progressive jackpot in a gaming network having a plurality of operatively coupled gaming units are described. A progressive jackpot award amount may be determined in part based on the amount of the player's wager for the occurrence of the wagering game in relation to a maximum wager amount that may be made on one of the gaming units in the gaming network. The progressive jackpot pool may include a main pool and a reserve pool. Portions of players' wagers being added to the progressive jackpot pool may be apportioned between the main pool and the reserve pool based on calculation performed at the gaming network, with the apportionment being at least partially determined by the amount in the main pool.

Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a game display and a top box display. The game display is for displaying the wagering game. The top box display includes a standard substructure for attaching subassemblies. The substructure contains fixed connection points allowing subassemblies to be developed in a fashion consistent with the substructure, thus simplifying the ability to swap components and reducing the dependence on unique internal part designs.

Abstract: A hand-held game apparatus and a game program allow a user to play a game while going back and forth between a narrow-range map and a broad-range map. The player can manipulate a touch panel mounted on a display for displaying the broad-range map. If the player manipulates the touch panel to point to a coordinate position on the broad-range map, thus designating coordinates for a narrow-range map to display, an image of the narrow-range map, which is changed as desired, is displayed. If the player indicates a moving direction on the broad-range map, to designate a scroll direction, the displayed broad-range map is moved (scrolled).

Abstract: A wagering gaming device which includes at least one converter program. The gaming device processor, which operates on a particular platform, can use the converter program to read and use programs otherwise incompatible with such platform, such as platform independent programs. This type of gaming device enables developers to develop code on platforms which are different in type from the gaming device platform, and the gaming device processor can read and use this code to operate the gaming device.

Abstract: A method for lottery wagering on actual events. The method according to the present invention includes selecting a subset of wagering data DW from a set of pre-qualifying data DPQ prior to, conclusion of a pre-qualifying event of a phased competition consisting of a pre-qualifying event and a final event. The method further includes assembling pre-qualifying data DPQ for preliminary participants after conclusion of a pre-qualifying event and assembling concluding data DC for final participants after conclusion of the final event. Winners are selected from the final participants after the final event based on the concluding data. Winning lottery data DL is determined from a correlation between the winners' and their respective pre-qualifying data.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus comprising a housing, a transparent panel with a first and second surface, and a conductive coating disposed proximate to the second surface, wherein the coating has a high visible light transmittance and a low electrical surface resistance. The gaming apparatus also comprises a grounded metallic strip coupled to the coating and located at a perimeter of the coating, a value input device, and a mechanically rotatable reel that is disposed in the housing so that the mechanically rotatable reel is visible to a player of the gaming apparatus through the transparent panel and the coating. Also included is a controller that comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The controller is programmed to allow a person to make a wager and to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of a game incorporating the mechanically rotatable reel.

Abstract: For reducing the load on a server as much as possible during transfer of data from the server to a terminal, each terminal is capable of playing out a network game in cooperation with a local network game terminal. To this end, the local network game terminal and one or more other network game terminals are grouped in the local network game terminal. Additionally, group information is generated with which the game server 1 can recognize the grouped terminals as one user group, and representative terminal information is also generated with which other network game terminals in the same user group can recognize that the local network game terminal is the representative terminal. Bi-directional communications, including transfer of the data received from the game server 1 and the representative terminal information, are made with other network game terminal(s) in the user group.

Abstract: A method is set forth for playing a bonus game in a secondary slot machine adjacent a primary slot machine. The primary slot machine issues a bonus qualifying signal to the secondary slot machine to start play of a bonus game when a bonus qualifying event occurs. The reels of the bonus game include value symbols, null symbols, and end game symbols which may be of two basic types: a lose game symbol and a stop game symbol. After the random spin, the values of any value symbols displayed on the payline of the secondary slot machine are accumulated into an accumulated winning value. The value symbols could include positive integer values, negative integer values, and multiples. The random spinning, determination of values of any value symbol and the accumulation of a winning value is repeatedly continued until an end of the bonus game occurs.