Abstract: A central determination gaming system with a central controller providing a game outcome to an individual gaming terminal and the gaming terminal determining the presentation of the provided game outcome. In one embodiment of the present invention, a gaming terminal receives a predetermined game outcome from a central controller. The gaming terminal determines a game outcome presentation, (i.e., how the game outcome is displayed or presented to the player) for the provided game outcome by selecting a game presentation seed for the received game outcome. The gaming terminal utilizes the selected game presentation seed to determine a game outcome presentation. The determined game outcome presentation is displayed to the player and the received game outcome is provided to the player.

Abstract: Gaming systems and methods where qualification for play of a bonus game is linked to play of a base game. Multiple players may qualify for the bonus game by achieving preselected criteria associated with play of the base game. The qualified players may participate in the bonus game and achieve a bonus game outcome based on the player's skill or strategy. The bonus game outcome may allow the player to accumulate bonus awards. In addition, the bonus game outcome may impede or terminate the player's movement in the bonus game. Each player's movement in the bonus game may depend on his or her continued play in the base game. Each qualified player may also eliminate other qualified players by occupying the same space in the bonus game.

Abstract: A payout administration method including retrieving an electronic form selected according to a location of a gaming apparatus adapted to receive a wager from a player and to provide a payout based on the wager and a game outcome, retrieving stored data about the gaming apparatus or the player, and combining the electronic form and the stored data to generate a completed electronic form. Also provided are a payout administration system and apparatus which operate according to the payout administration method.

Abstract: A player is permitted to participate in an interactive gaming event from a remote location, such as a hotel room or home computer, once the player's entitlement to participate has been confirmed using a biometric identifier. One method of the invention includes first verifying the identity of a potential player of a gaming event, such as by verifying the age of the player. If verified, the fingerprint of the player is obtained and the fingerprint is stored in association with an assigned identification code. When a player requests to participate in a gaming event from a remote location, the player's identification code is received from the player and is used to locate the corresponding stored fingerprint. The player then transmits their scanned fingerprint. If the transmitted fingerprint and stored fingerprint match, the player is verified as entitled to participate in the gaming event.

Abstract: An ergonomic and weatherproof hand-held electronic device 10. The device 10 includes a housing 12 which surrounds internal electronics. An input 28 and a display screen 32 are mounted on the housing 12. The housing 12 is has a narrow width such that, when held in a hand, the thumb of that same hand may extend fully across the input 28 for full access. The display screen 32 is mounted vertically below the input 28 such that the device may be more stable and more easily grasped. The device includes two cylindrical cavities 48 to receive batteries 42. The cavities 48 are located at the rear vertical edges of the housing such that the rear of the housing 12 is relatively rounded and thus easier to grasp. The battery cavities open to the exterior of the housing. A battery cover 54 is mounted to the housing and seals the cavities 48. A contact for each cavity 48 is located on the cover, and a bus bar extends between the contacts to complete the circuit between the batteries 42.

Abstract: A gaming machine having features for increasing player appeal is set forth. The machine generally includes a processor, a display, and a memory device. The processor monitors time signals from a clock and randomly selects one of a plurality of outcomes of the gaming machine in response to a wager amount. The display displays visual elements to be viewed by the player. The memory device is coupled to the processor and stores at least two data sets for producing at least two different types of visual elements. The processor selects one of at least two data sets in response to the occurrence of a predetermined time, a completion of a bonus game, or a number of plays by players of said game. The gaming machine may also include audio speakers and audio elements that replace the changing visual elements, or audio and video elements can be displayed in unison as a function of the time.

Abstract: A back office system is preferably located in a secure area and includes one or more central computers. Each central computer stores a number of game records with each game record representing a play in a game. A database computer included in the back office system maintains an account for each authorized player in the gaming system. A casino floor system is operatively connected for communication with the back office system and includes a number of player terminals through which players may participate in various games offered in the gaming system. Each player terminal in the casino floor system is serviced by one central computer in the back office system. Each player terminal allows a player to log in and make a request for a game play, and then communicates the entered game play request to the respective central computer servicing that particular player terminal.

Abstract: Skill games are described that are implemented using network communications. The subject matter of the present invention concerns games of skill that are legal, under current law, in most states of the United States and in many jurisdictions of other countries and the game includes a mechanism for determining if a player is eligible.

Abstract: A game device for playing a game by inserting a game-playing medium into an insertion section includes a casing; a main door having a display section on which game elements are displayed and that can be freely opened and closed with respect to the casing; a front door releasably located below the main door and on a front face of the casing, attachment of the front door to the casing and release of the front door from the casing being locked by closing the main door and released by opening the main door.

Abstract: A gaming machine having features for increasing player appeal is set forth. The machine generally includes a processor, a display, and a memory device. The processor randomly selects one of a plurality of outcomes of the gaming machine in response to a wager. The display displays visual elements to be viewed by the player. The memory device is coupled to the processor and stores at least two data sets for producing at least two different types of visual and/or audio elements in the basic game or bonus game, or at least two different types of bonus game formats. The processor selects one of the two data sets in response to the occurrence of a predetermined time, a number of wager inputs by players of the gaming machine, or after determining a favorite play content based on the number of wager inputs by players.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are provided that allow episodic delivery of entertainment content to a user. More specifically, an application module is created with episodic content technology, which can be purchased as a CD-ROM or downloaded from a remote server. The application module contains a current episode of the game and a technology shell to allow future episodes to be downloaded and executed. The entertainment content delivery system is implemented through a centralized server that provides new episodes of the content available for downloading at regularly scheduled intervals to the users' computers. The current instantiation of the application module segregates technology components from content components of the application module to allow independent modification of either. Technological advancements are incorporated as they occur into the new episodes and are executed by the application module.

Abstract: An interactive gaming device capable of perceiving user movement includes a controller connected to a display for providing user interaction with a game being played on the gaming device. A light emitter and a light detector input may include multiple light emitters and a single light detector for detecting light, with light detectors positioned in proximity to light emitters for detecting light. In each form, the controller polls the light detectors to see if user or game piece presence about that light emitter has caused the light emitted from the game piece to reflect to the polled light detector. If light has been reflected to the light detector, the controller is notified to determine where the user is and where the user has moved.

Abstract: Nested commit/reveal sequences using randomized inputs from each participant in a gaming transaction (e.g., the house and each player) may be employed to provide a selection of outcome or outcomes that can be verified by each participant as free from cheating. In general, techniques may be employed in a variety of distributed gaming transaction environments and as a verification facility for any of a wide variety of games in which the risk of player collusion can be eliminated. Nonetheless, several variations on a distributed card dealing method are illustrative and will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art as applicable in other gaming environments, including games employing outcomes denominated in die (or dice) rolls, coin toss, wheel spins, blind selection or other ostensibly random selection of an outcome from a predefined set thereof.

Abstract: A secure and modular architecture for monitoring and controlling clusters of pay entertainment and gaming devices. The architecture allows flexible and secure use of state-of-the-art multimedia and Internet technologies to attract the younger player generation used to flashy and networked games. Cash or cash-less entertainment and gaming devices are supported.

Abstract: A gaming device having an offer and acceptance bonus game which enables the player to determine all of the offers made to the player prior to any of them being displayed to the player. An alternative embodiment enables the player to obtain modified offers during the play of the bonus game by providing the player with additional picks which correspond to additional or combined offers.

Abstract: An off-line remote lottery system which enables players to purchase instant-type lottery game outcomes from a randomized prize data stream in a central computer, and view the outcomes on remotely disposed gaming computers which do not require an on-line connection during play.

Abstract: A programmable toy with a receiver for receiving instructions for programming of the toy, and elements for executing received instructions. The toy has a transmitter for transmission of instructions to a second toy.

Abstract: A gaming machine and a method of playing the game which includes randomly displaying a plurality of game elements (20) in a grid (14) of cells (16) to produce a normal random display with one element (20) in each of the cells (16). A bonus random display of the game elements (20) is initiated in response to a triggering combination (30) of three apple symbols appearing in the cells (16). Once this occurs, a sound is played to convey the beginning of the bonus round, and the sound is preferably of bees. In the bonus round, a plurality of the cells (16) is designated as wild cells (34) for the bonus random display and a wild card (40) is positioned over the wild cell (34) such that the wild card (40) conceals the game element (20) disposed within the wild cell (34). The bonus random display is repeated for a predetermined number of rounds.

Abstract: A gaming system comprises a plurality of common objects, a plurality of application objects, and a central system. The common objects are shared by a plurality of applications and include gaming devices and games. Each gaming device includes at least one of the games. The application objects are used in one of the applications. The central system is linked to the gaming devices and includes a common database and an application database. The common database defines the common objects and first associations between the common objects. The application database defines the application objects, second associations between the application objects, and third associations between the common objects and the application objects. The central system is adapted to dynamically configure the one of the applications based on a change to one or more of the first, second, and third associations.

Abstract: A gaming machine is operable to conduct a wagering game. The machine includes a processor, a display, and memory. In response to a wager amount, the processor randomly selects one of a plurality of outcomes and causes the selected outcome to be represented on the display. The memory stores multiple data sets related to the game's visual thematic elements, sounds, and/or math. The processor selects which data set to employ for the conducted game based on a time signal monitored by the processor.