Abstract: A system and method for performing integrated lottery ticket and merchandise transactions using a point-of-sale terminal that generates a single sales receipt containing all pertinent lottery ticket and merchandise transaction information. The lottery tickets generated include fractional value and “quick-pick” lottery tickets. A group of point-of-sale terminals are connected to a POS controller which communicates with a lottery data processing system. An encrypted authentication code also printed on the sales receipt allows the lottery player to verify all lottery ticket transaction information, as needed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-recording golf ball having an inner core defined by an outer cover, said golf ball further comprising a microprocessor, a power source, a receive and transmit device, and a piezo sensor electrically connected to one another and housed within said inner core of said golf ball; wherein the microprocessor further is programmed to record data corresponding to strokes received by the ball and to transmit the data, via the receive and transmit device, to a second microprocessor.

Abstract: A gaming device having a plurality of award profiles and a library of audio messages that the game uses in connection with the award profiles. The award profiles each include a series of award increases or decreases and at least one of the award profiles includes an award decrease. The player selects an item from a group of displayed items. The game selects one of the award profiles and an actor from a plurality of actors to provide the audio messages and one or more audio messages specific to the item, actor and profile. The game presents a video display of the actor providing the award changes, which the audio script accompanies.

Abstract: Network game system for playing a game with the aim of a achieving a predetermined goal. The game is played, via data terminals operated by member players, in a game space provided on a game server, while communicating with the game server on the network. The game server includes a recruiting information generating section for generating, upon receipt from a member player of referral information specifying the mail address of the data terminal of a non-member player, recruiting information including information specifying the member player, an enrollment processing section for performing enrollment processing upon receiving application information in response to recruiting information sent to the mail address of the non-member, and an advantage conferring section for conferring to the referring member player advantages useful in achieving the goal of the game.

Abstract: A mass storage data protection system for use with a mass storage device in a gaming machine to protect the mass storage device from unauthorized commands. The mass storage data protection system includes a mass storage device command latch, a timing circuit for timing signals between the mass storage device command latch and the mass storage device, a comparator and a comparator command register in communication with the comparator. The comparator command register includes commands that generate a fault within the mass storage data protection system such that when the comparator receives a command from the mass storage device command latch corresponding to the command within the comparator command register, a fault is generated within the mass storage command latch.

Abstract: Identifiers are read from playing cards collected after completion of at least one hand of a card game, such as blackjack, and the value of a hand is determined from the resulting sequence of read identifiers (i.e., ending sequence). The playing cards are collected in a defined order, such as from players in order from a dealer's right to left, and finally from the dealer. The cards, and the play of the game, can be validated based at least in part on the ending sequence. Identifiers may also be read from cards before or while dealing the card game to produce an initial sequence.

Abstract: A game module has a signal generator for generating a signal for supply to a playing piece when the playing piece is electrically coupled to the games module. The playing piece has a memory for storing data and is arranged to derive a power supply from the signal supplied by the game module by coupling to a user so as to complete an electrical path via the user back to the game module and to communicate data with the game module when power is thereby derived by the power deriving means from the signal provided by the game module.

Abstract: A plurality of lottery cards are distributed to at least one lottery agent. Each of the lottery cards has a unique identification code disposed thereon and is associated with a predefined monetary amount. A communication identifying the unique identification code of a first selected card is received, and a user account associated with the identification code is established having a balance equivalent to the predefined monetary amount of the first selected card. A first chosen play for a lottery game is received and associated with the user account. A cost of the first chosen play is deducted from the balance of the user account, and a remaining balance is available for making at least one subsequent play. If the first chosen play is a winner, a winning monetary amount is credited to the user account. The winning monetary amount may be redeemed upon presentation of the first selected card.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a coding competition. In one embodiment, a method for providing a coding competition includes transmitting a coding problem to contestants, receiving computer code created by a contestant, determining a response of the computer code to test data, and evaluating the response of the computer code to the test data. In another embodiment, a method for evaluating a skill level of a contestant includes electronically communicating a coding problem to contestants, electronically receiving a software program in response to the coding problem from one of the contestants, evaluating the received software program, awarding points to the contestant based on the received software program, and determining a rating for the contestant for the competition based on the number of points awarded to the contestant.

Abstract: A gaming terminal and method are provided with which allow casino managers or other game operators to customize paytables, including poker paytables. Preferably, the system can verify or assist in verifying that the paytables comply with one or more various standards such as regulatory standards, e.g., such that the paytables are legal. In one aspect, paytable verification calculations, such as calculations of overall payback or hold percentages, preferably in the manner acceptable to regulatory authorities, are performed in the electronic gaming terminal, e.g., using the gaming terminal microprocessor.

Abstract: An interaction competition provides an entertaining enjoyable environment for a player to compete against a celebrity in a head-to-head trivia game. The questions may be associated with the celebrity rather than random general information or general trivia. The celebrity can participate via prerecorded audio media, prerecorded audio-visual media, or in a live real-time format. A goal of the competition is for a player to gain more points than the celebrity. Another goal of the competition is for the player to answer more questions correctly than the celebrity. At least one or more game episodes can be provided on computer-readable media. A game episode may be implemented with a product featuring a celebrity. The competition can be provided in many different gaming environments. The competition can be provided online via a web-based format; a television game show format; telephone call-in radio talk show format; or a cellular phone game format.

Abstract: In an embodiment as a video gaming machine, a racetrack and a plurality of racers in the form of racecars are generated. The program driving the game includes a function for randomly assigning a finishing position for racers at the end of a race. A racecar is selected, as by player input, as the player's racer. The player inputs a wager, with the wager further preferably requiring an input by the player as to a number of races desired to be completed up to a preset maximum number for the game. The player can thus choose to bet upon all stages (races or laps) potentially available, or some lesser consecutive number of races. The first race is initiated, with the racecars being randomly assigned finishing positions. In this embodiment, there is the elimination of at least one racer as a result of a predetermined threshold finishing position required at the end of a race; that position could be anything other than last, for instance.

Abstract: A game machine comprises shift and display means for shifting and displaying a plurality of rows each having a plurality of symbol marks thereon; prize winning state determining means for determining a prize winning state based on random number lottery; stop control means for controlling the stop of the shift and display means to have a predetermined set of symbol marks shifted and displayed on the basis of the prize winning state determined by the prize winning state determining means; notifying means for notifying a game player of notifying information in notifying states including a current notifying state and subsequent notifying states following the current notifying state, while the game player is enjoying games including a current game and subsequent games following the current game; and subsequent notifying state determining means for determining and selecting in advance the subsequent notifying states on the basis of the current notifying state.

Abstract: The present invention includes a gaming device and a method for operating the gaming device. The gaming device of the present invention includes: (i) a central game in which a player picks at least one masked central game outcome, including a transfer; (ii) at least one peripheral game that begins after the player's pick of the transfer, wherein the player picks at least one masked peripheral game outcome, including a return; (iii) whereby the game enables the player to return to the central game and pick at least one more masked central game outcome after the player picks the return in the peripheral game.

Abstract: A wireless interface and dedicated digital video disc (DVD) controller for video game consoles capable of playing DVDs. An adapter is inserted into one of the communication ports of the game console and provides a wireless communication receiver for receiving and inputting control commands into the game console. A dedicated DVD remote control device includes a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting DVD player control functions to the game console via the adapter and thereby enables wireless control of the DVD functions of the game console. The control buttons on the dedicated DVD remote control correspond in function to the wired game controller buttons that would otherwise control the DVD functions of the game console, but have an appearance to the user that corresponds to a standard DVD player remote control.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming device and method having a pick reduction game. Initially, a plurality of first selections are displayed to the player. Also, a number of picks is displayed to the player where the number of picks is greater than the number of first selections. The player uses the number of picks to pick first selections until the player picks a trigger selection. The number of picks are reduced after each pick by the player. When the player picks the trigger selection, the gaming device displays a plurality of second selections to the player. Each of the second selections is associated with an award. The player picks second selections and receives awards for each picked second selection until there are no picks remaining.

Abstract: By transmitting function information indicative of functions of a game machine manipulation device CT10, previously stored therein, to a game machine main body 27 with a command from the game machine main body 27, it is possible to retrieve functions of the game machine manipulation device CT10 required for the game machine main body 27 and to set the retrieved functions of the game machine manipulation device CT10 in the game machine manipulation device CT10.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a coding competition. In one embodiment, a method for providing a coding competition includes transmitting a coding problem to contestants, receiving computer code created by a contestant, determining a response of the computer code to test data, and evaluating the response of the computer code to the test data. In another embodiment, a method for evaluating a skill level of a contestant includes electronically communicating a coding problem to contestants, electronically receiving a software program in response to the coding problem from one of the contestants, evaluating the received software program, awarding points to the contestant based on the received software program, and determining a rating for the contestant for the competition based on the number of points awarded to the contestant.

Abstract: In a gambling game a collateral gambling game which can be won by players on at least one specific event occurring in the principal game, the collateral game being separate from the principal game but one when any of the possible winning events occur in the principal game, the payment to the player being calculated from the total value available for the game divided by the total number of players who bet on the specific winning event. The game gives a possibility for a large number of players to share in the success of a single player who has successfully won the main game. It may be used with various types of games including those using electronic gaming machines.

Abstract: This communication game system comprises a client system 1 and a game server system 2 for communicating with the client system 1. The game server system 2 comprises a database 21 for storing group information which relates a plurality of client systems to each other as a battle group. The game server system 2 is structured to decide a battle combination among the client systems 1 belonging to the same battle group, to perform a battle by managing the sending and receiving of data between the client systems determined by the above-mentioned combination, and to decide the next combination in accordance with the results of the battle. Each client system 1 has its own character select function and chat function when watching games.