Abstract: A gaming method for playing a slot game includes the steps of: a) randomly generating a first game symbol combination, a second game symbol combination, and a middle game symbol combination; b) determining whether at least one of the first and second game symbol combinations conforms with a predetermined winning condition; and c) when it is determined that at least one of the first and second game symbol combinations conforms with the predetermined winning condition, c1) determining whether one of the first and second game symbol combinations that conforms with the predetermined winning condition is associated with a bonus game symbol in the middle game symbol combination, and c2) when the determination made in sub-step c1) is affirmative, granting a bonus award according to the bonus game symbol and the predetermined winning condition.

Abstract: A gaming method for playing a card game includes the steps of: allowing a player to place a main bet and an optional side bet; dealing a virtual playing card to a player area and a dealer area; allowing the player to input a guess command or a stand command; when the player inputted the guess command, dealing another virtual playing card to the player area, and determining whether a relation between face values of a current virtual playing card and a latest previous virtual playing card that was dealt to the player area conforms with the guess command; dealing at least one virtual playing card to the dealer area when the player finished playing the card game; and resolving the side bet based upon a total number of the virtual playing cards dealt to the dealer area.

Abstract: A gaming method for playing a card game includes the steps of: configuring a gaming apparatus to generate a gaming screen that includes a predetermined number of player areas and a virtual card dealing wheel surrounded by the player areas; configuring the gaming apparatus to distribute virtual playing cards on the virtual card dealing wheel; configuring the gaming apparatus to spin the virtual card dealing wheel for a limited time and, after the virtual card dealing wheel stops spinning, to deal at least a portion of the virtual playing cards on the virtual card dealing wheel to the player areas having active players associated therewith; and configuring the gaming apparatus to determine a winner of the card game based on the virtual playing cards dealt to the player areas having active players associated therewith.

Abstract: A gaming method for playing a slot game includes the steps of: configuring a gaming apparatus to randomly generate a game symbol combination at the end of one round of the slot game, and to determine whether the game symbol combination conforms with a predetermined winning condition; and when the game symbol combination fails to conform with the predetermined winning condition, configuring the gaming apparatus to perform a symbol-changing procedure. The symbol-changing procedure includes: allowing a player to input a confirm command for changing a to-be-changed game symbol in the game symbol combination; randomly changing the to-be-changed game symbol in response to the confirm command to result in a revised game symbol combination; determining whether the revised game symbol combination conforms with the predetermined winning condition; and granting an award to the player according to result of the determination.

Abstract: A gaming method for playing an interactive slot game is implemented by a gaming apparatus. The gaming method includes the steps of: randomly generating a game symbol combination; determining whether the game symbol combination includes a changeable game symbol; when the game symbol combination includes a changeable game symbol, determining a corresponding position of the changeable game symbol; allowing player manipulation to generate a response signal indicating a player-selected position; receiving the response signal and determining whether the player-selected position is the corresponding position; randomly changing the changeable game symbol when the determination made in the last step is affirmative; determining whether a revised game symbol combination including the changed game symbol conforms with a predetermined winning condition; and granting an award when the determination made in the last step is affirmative.

Abstract: A gaming method for playing a slot game with two types of winning criteria is provided. The gaming method is adapted to be implemented by a gaming apparatus. The gaming apparatus is configured to randomly generate a game symbol combination that includes a plurality of game symbols. Each of the game symbols independently belongs to one of a predetermined number of game symbol types. A first winning criterion is that a total number of the game symbols in the game symbol combination that belong to the same game symbol type is greater than a predetermined number. A second winning criterion is that all of the game symbols on a specified payout line of the game symbol combination belong to the same game symbol type.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus includes an electronic gaming machine and a digital nameplate device. The electronic gaming machine includes a storage medium for storing a game software that has corresponding game information, a game processor operable to execute the game software, a display module controlled by the game processor to generate game images, and a machine housing for housing the storage medium and the game processor and on which the display module is mounted. The digital nameplate device is mounted on the machine housing, and includes a memory unit, a controller coupled to the memory unit and the game processor, and a nameplate display coupled to the controller. The game processor is configured to control the controller to store the game information in the memory unit. The controller is configured to access the game information stored in the memory unit and to control the nameplate display to display the game information.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for playing a card game includes the steps of: allowing a player to place a first bet for a first outcome and an optional second bet for a second outcome; dealing player and dealer cards from a plurality of simulated playing cards; dealing another player card in response to a card request made by the player; dealing another dealer card if a total value of the dealer cards is less than a predetermined value; determining the first outcome based on a total value of the dealt player cards and a total value of the dealt dealer cards, and settling the first bet according to the first outcome; and if another dealer card was dealt, determining the second outcome based on whether the another dealer card conforms with a predetermined playing card criterion, and settling the second bet according to the second outcome.

Abstract: A gaming method is implemented using an electronic gaming apparatus, and includes: upon initiating a game, displaying a cell matrix including a plurality of cell groups, each of the cell groups including a plurality of cells, each displaying a randomly selected indicium, the indicia displayed in the cells of the cell groups of the cell matrix forming a pattern; after a bet is placed, randomly selecting one of the cell groups; determining if the displayed indicia in the selected cell group comply with predetermined winning criteria; and if yes, granting an award on the basis of the bet and the predetermined winning criteria. A gaming apparatus and a computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A card-based game machine includes a game item card storing machine-readable virtual item data which includes a potency value, and a game host unit. The game host unit includes: a game card reader for reading the machine-readable virtual item data; and a processor coupled to the game card reader, and generating a virtual game piece, a virtual item on the basis of the machine-readable virtual item data, and a game potency value on the basis of the potency value. The processor changes the game potency value during game play, and updates the machine-readable virtual item data through the game card reader at game completion, such that the potency value reflects the game potency value at game completion. A card-based game method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A game-piece rendering system includes a plurality of game cards each storing predetermined machine-readable data, and a game host unit. The game host unit includes: a game card reader for reading the machine-readable data stored on the game cards; a processor coupled to the game card reader and executing a rendering program to generate a game screen based on the machine-readable data read by the game card reader, the game screen including a plurality of virtual game pieces corresponding respectively to the game cards read by the game card reader; and a touchscreen display coupled to the processor and displaying the game screen. The processor performs control such that the virtual game pieces are selected and manipulated on the touchscreen display in response to a user touching the touchscreen display. A game-piece rendering method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-display gaming machine includes a housing, a plurality of display devices mounted to the housing, an input device operable for generating control instructions, and a processing device disposed inside the housing, coupled to the display devices and the input device, and loaded with a plurality of gaming programs. The processing device is responsive to the control instructions from the input device for simultaneously executing at least two of the gaming programs, and for outputting gaming screen contents resulting from execution of the gaming programs to respective ones of the display devices for viewing by a player.

Abstract: A gaming system includes image-capturing devices, player terminals for a plurality of players, and a server coupled to the image-capturing devices and the player terminals. A gaming method is implemented using the gaming system. The gaming method includes: a) capturing through the image-capturing devices live images of a plurality of games as they are overseen by a dealer, and generating corresponding live video signals and transmitting the same to the server; b) generating betting table screens for the games, and transmitting the live video signals and the betting table screens to the player terminals for display thereon; c) allowing the players to place bets on one of the games through the player terminals; and d) automatically performing payout and collection for the players.

Abstract: A gaming table includes a table body, a display device, and a positioning unit. The display device is mounted pivotably to the table body, is pivotable relative to the table body between at least one viewing position and a storage position, and is operable to display a gaming screen thereon. The positioning unit is for positioning releasably the display device at the viewing position relative to the table body.

Abstract: An elevating device is adapted for loading electronic equipment thereon, and includes a cover unit movable vertically on and covering a base. The cover unit cooperates with the base so as to define a volume-variable inner accommodating space therebetween. A driving mechanism is disposed in the inner accommodating space, and includes an extendable and retractable supporting unit mounted on the base for supporting the cover unit thereon, and a telescopic driving unit interconnecting the supporting unit and the base and operable so as to drive the supporting unit to extend and retract, thereby moving the cover unit to a desired position.

Abstract: A gaming method is implemented using an electronic gaming apparatus, and includes: upon initiating a game, displaying a betting cell group including a plurality of betting cells, each displaying a randomly selected indicium; after bets are placed on selected ones of the betting cells, displaying a game-result cell group including a plurality of game-result cells, each displaying a randomly selected indicium; determining if at least one of the indicia displayed in the game-result cells matches the indicia displayed in the selected ones of the betting cells, and if yes, granting an award to the player on the basis of the bets placed by the player and predetermined winning criteria. A gaming apparatus and a computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gaming method provides an award standby function and is implemented using a gaming apparatus. The gaming method includes: a) if, during a game, a player obtains an initial predetermined award item, and if the initial predetermined award item is a standby award item, recording the standby award item and providing an indication of the standby award item, and continuing the game; and b) if, during the game, the player obtains an additional predetermined award item, and if the additional predetermined award item satisfies an award grant condition of the standby award item, granting the standby award item to the player. A gaming apparatus and a computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gaming method provides a dual game function and is implemented using a gaming apparatus. The gaming method includes: a) starting a first game, and enabling collection of a plurality of objects of an object suite as predetermined object collection criteria are satisfied while playing the first game; and b) if all the objects of the object suite are collected while playing the first game, starting a second game that is played independently of the first game. A gaming apparatus and a computer program product are also disclosed.