Abstract: A browser application and toolbar are described according to some embodiments. The browser application presents wagering game content in a toolbar. Some embodiments are directed to determining that a first player account uses the toolbar to access the wagering game content, determining that a second player account referred the first player account in response to determination that the first player account uses the toolbar, and providing a referral award to the second player account for referring the first player account.

Abstract: Described are one or more embodiments that include a browser application (“browser”) with multiple parts. A first part of the browser (e.g., a toolbar, a dropdown, a pop-up, a widget, etc.) presents first content associated with one or more wagering games. Concurrently a second part of the browser (e.g., a main content display area) presents second content independently from presentation of the first content in the first part of the browser. In some embodiments, the first content and second content are from separate content providers with a marketing relationship. In some embodiments, in response to concurrent presentation of the first and second content, the browser application detects the marketing relationship between the content providers and presents one or more indicators. The one or more indicators indicate the marketing relationship. For example, the indicators can indicate cross-marketing, available coupons, and/or awards available via the first or second content.

Abstract: Described are one or more embodiments that include a browser application (“browser”) with a first part (e.g., a toolbar, a dropdown, a pop-up, a widget, etc.) that presents first content associated with one or more wagering games and a second part (e.g., a main content display area) that concurrently presents second content independently from presentation of the first content in the first part of the browser. In some embodiments, the first content and second content are from separate content providers. Some embodiments are directed to determining, based on concurrent presentation of the first content and the second content, that one or more awards are available from a first of the content providers conditional upon performance of one or more activities indicated by a second of the content providers, and the browser application presents one or more indicators to indicate the one or more awards and/or the one or more activities.

Abstract: A network browser and wagering game toolbar (“toolbar”) are described herein. The network browser has a main display area that can display content. The toolbar can be in, or a part of, the network browser. The network browser and the toolbar can receive and display content. Specifically, the toolbar can receive and display wagering game content from a wagering game network as the main display area can receive and display content originating outside the wagering game network. In some embodiments, the toolbar can present content originating from one or more wagering game player accounts that provide audience participation in, or related to, wagering game activity presented on the toolbar.

Abstract: A wagering game system includes a game controller configured to determine an eligibility threshold trigger for an n-th unit prize and add, for each connected wagering game machine, a set of discrete eligibility units to a discrete eligibility units counter responsive to an input wager at the respective wagering game machine. The game controller evaluates a subset of the set of discrete eligibility units at a selected wagering game machine against the eligibility threshold trigger to determine if the eligibility threshold trigger is satisfied by that wagering game machine and to subtract the subset of the discrete eligibility units from the discrete eligibility units counter at the selected wagering game machine. The game controller evaluates the subset of discrete eligibility units against the eligibility threshold trigger and awards the n-th unit prize if the discrete eligibility units in the subset of discrete eligibility units satisfies the eligibility threshold trigger.

Abstract: A method for playing a wagering game allows an opportunity to achieve a progressive award. A wager input is received from a player for playing the wagering game. A triggered progressive game includes player-selectable elements, each of the player-selectable elements being capable of association with a progressive-winning outcome. An outcome is assigned to each of the player-selectable elements, wherein a probability that the outcome is a progressive-winning outcome depends upon an amount of the wager input. The player-selectable elements are displayed.

Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal. The gaming terminal displays a plurality of indicia during the wagering game, which are then selected via player inputs. The selected indicia are revealed and arranged into groups corresponding to winning combinations. The arrangement is made so as to maximize at least one of the plurality of predefined winning combinations.

Abstract: A gaming system comprises at least one wager input device, a plurality of gaming devices each displaying at least one primary wagering game, and a community display for displaying a community game. At least one controller is operative, in response to a triggering event, to (i) determine which of the plurality of gaming devices are eligible for participation in the community game, (ii) determine an individual award for each of the eligible gaming devices, (iii) determine a community award in the community game, (iv) select an individual award enhancement from a plurality of available individual award enhancements, (v) select one of the plurality of gaming devices to receive the selected individual award enhancement, and (vi) if the selected gaming device is eligible for participation in the community game, enhance the determined individual award for the selected gaming device with the selected individual award enhancement.

Abstract: A method for conducting a community wagering game on a plurality of gaming terminals includes conducting base wagering games on the plurality of gaming terminals and triggering a community event in which at least one randomly selected outcome is shared by all participating gaming terminals. Upon triggering the community event, the first gaming terminal is entered in the community event if wagering criteria is met by the first gaming terminal, and a first enhancement is received at the first gaming terminal in accordance with additional wagering criteria being met by the first gaming terminal. Upon triggering the community event, the second gaming terminal is entered in the community event if wagering criteria is met by the second gaming terminal, and a second enhancement is received at the second gaming terminal in accordance with additional wagering criteria being met by the second gaming terminal.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes having a special award that includes first and second award levels. A first set of selectable elements is displayed without informing the player that the first award level has been awarded. The elements mask indicia corresponding to all or a portion of first and second level award criteria. A selection is received of a selectable element from the first set of selectable elements and the indicium for the selected element is revealed. If the indicium for the selected element does not meet the criteria corresponding to the first award level, another set of selectable elements is displayed. A player selection of one of the selectable elements from the another set of elements is received and the indicium for the selected element is revealed. The steps are repeated until a cumulative result of the revealed indicia corresponds to the first level award criteria.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system includes a method of conducting a wagering game. The method includes identifying a player as a member of certain group, and offering the player options related to the wagering game. The options are unavailable to players who are not members of the certain group.

Abstract: A method of operating a wagering game comprises receiving a primary wager, displaying a randomly selected outcome of a primary wagering game, and displaying at least one progressive jackpot. A first portion of the primary wager is allocated to fund the at least one progressive jackpot. An increment amount to be added to the at least one progressive jackpot is randomly determined, the at least one progressive jackpot is incremented by the increment amount, and in response to a triggering event, the at least one progressive jackpot is awarded. Alternatively, a random determination is made whether to increase the at least one progressive jackpot by a predetermined increment amount and, in response to a determination to increase the at least one progressive jackpot, the at least one progressive jackpot is incremented by the predetermined increment amount.

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.

Abstract: A gaming system comprising an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game. The gaming system also includes a display for displaying an array of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. In response to the randomly selected outcome including a winning symbol combination, at least one symbol that is not a part of the winning symbol combination is removed from the array and causes other symbols to move into a position of the array vacated by the at least one removed symbol.

Abstract: A variety of inter-player competition features for incorporation into a gaming system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a gaming system is provided with a trail-based game and comprises a plurality of gaming machines, signage, and at least one controller. The community event is triggered by an underlying wagering game. The controller is operative to conduct a trail-based game including a token and a trail having a plurality of steps, mark one or more of the plurality of steps with a marker, display a token on at least one of the steps, reduce an award value for the step on which the token is displayed when the step is marked by one or more marker. The award value being reduced for each of the plurality of players whose marker does not mark the step.

Abstract: A system for playing a wagering game has basic and secondary games. The secondary game includes bonus games. Symbols are arranged in an array of symbol positions in a first display for the basic game. Each symbol position has a corresponding position in an array of bonus-game positions in a second display for the secondary game. Each bonus-game position is linked to a different bonus game. The symbols displayed in the array of symbol positions are varied during play of the basic game. The symbols include secondary game trigger symbols. If a secondary game trigger symbol is displayed in a symbol position, the corresponding position in the array of bonus-game positions for the secondary game is identified. If a predetermined number of bonus-game positions are identified, the secondary game is completed by implementing each of the different bonus games linked to the identified bonus-game positions.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a community display for displaying a community game having a plurality of features for determining a community award that is awarded to all players at eligible linked gaming machines. The community game includes selection of a player at an eligible linked gaming machine to interact with the community game to determine the community award. One of the plurality of features includes a community free spin feature that awards free spins of a base wagering game to each player.

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 wagering game 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 cross market affiliate content and wagering game content using features of the toolbar.

Abstract: A method of configuring a wagering game system to provide a trusted gaming environment includes the acts of randomly selecting at least one simulated physical imperfection from a plurality of available simulated physical imperfections to associate with at least one element of a video image output to a wagering game machine video display and associating the selected simulated physical imperfection with at least one element of the video image.

Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving at least one wager and at least one display for displaying a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game. The at least one display further displays an expected value indicator. The gaming system further comprises a controller operative to (i) add a portion of the at least one wager to an actual turnover, (ii) randomly select a trigger amount from a range of available trigger amounts, (iii) update the expected value indicator to indicate the actual turnover relative to the range, and (iv) award a mystery prize in response to the actual turnover becoming equal to or greater than the trigger amount.