Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for compensating for a player choice in a game of chance. A plurality of outcomes is defined. A sequence of positions corresponding to the plurality of outcomes is provided, including a reference position. A plurality of pointers is situated at positions in the sequence. Each pointer has an offset value with respect to the reference position along the sequence of positions. Responsive to selection of one of the pointers, the reference position is moved according to the offset value associated with the selected one pointer, so that the selected one pointer points at the reference position. A number is received. The received number determines one of the plurality of outcomes according to a predefined probability associated with the reference position. The determined one outcome is output at the reference position.

Abstract: Lightweight inexpensive sleds, made of tough plastic or similar material, are disclosed for transporting injured people or inert loads. For rescue sleds, a strong strap is passed through slots around the periphery. This distributes forces in ways that avoid tearing, and it provides secure handholds, allowing people to lift and carry an injured person in a manner comparable to a backboard. A rescue sled including straps weighs only about 6 pounds, and can be carried on foot for miles, affixed to a backpack, making these sleds available immediately when needed.

Abstract: Lightweight inexpensive sleds, made of tough plastic or similar material, are disclosed for transporting injured people or inert loads. For rescue sleds, a strong strap is passed through slots around the periphery. This distributes forces in ways that avoid tearing, and it provides secure handholds, allowing people to lift and carry an injured person in a manner comparable to a backboard. A rescue sled including straps weighs only about 6 pounds, and can be carried on foot for miles, affixed to a backpack, making these sleds available immediately when needed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and gaming units for conducting a multi-player wagering game, such as a Bingo game, in which at least one of the players may win the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on one or more game arrays having unique combinations of game indicia based on matching the game indicia on the game arrays to game indicia randomly selected for the occurrence of the wagering game. The outcome of the multi-player wagering game may be displayed to the player at the gaming unit, along with an alternate outcome display at two or more alternate outcome display devices at the gaming unit. In one embodiment, an outcome of a Bingo game may be mapped to an outcome of a slot machine having a bonus feature such as a wheel. Outcomes of the Bingo game may then be displayed on the plurality of alternate display devices as outcomes of the slot game and accompanying bonus feature.

Abstract: Disclosed are central determination methods and systems in which pools and sub-pools of outcomes can be distributed among various units of the central determination system. The methods and systems are applicable to Class II and, in some implementations, Class III gaming configurations. The methods and systems disclosed herein can be implemented in a gaming machine network, wherein one of the gaming machines distributes game outcomes to other gaming machines in the network. The gaming machines can be oriented in a peer-to-peer configuration, a central storage medium configuration, a stand alone configuration, an autonomous gaming machine configuration, and other network configurations. Methods are disclosed for managing the distribution of outcomes among the gaming machines in the various networks.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for providing wagering games. A player pays an initial price to play a wagering game according to normal game rules. Game information that would normally be concealed from the player is offered for an additional price. In some implementations, the wagering game is a poker game and the game information is draw card information. The additional price may increase according to the amount of game information provided. In some implementations, a paytable percentage for the wagering game decreases according to the amount of game information provided.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and gaming units for conducting a multi-player wagering game, such as a Bingo game, in which at least one of the players may win the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on one or more game arrays having unique combinations of game indicia based on matching the game indicia on the game arrays to game indicia randomly selected for the occurrence of the wagering game. The outcome of the multi-player wagering game may be displayed to the player at the gaming unit, along with an alternate outcome display at two or more alternate outcome display devices at the gaming unit. In one embodiment, an outcome of a Bingo game may be mapped to an outcome of a slot machine having a bonus feature such as a wheel. Outcomes of the Bingo game may then be displayed on the plurality of alternate display devices as outcomes of the slot game and accompanying bonus feature.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for providing wagering games. A player pays an initial price to play a wagering game according to normal game rules. Game information that would normally be concealed from the player is offered for an additional price. In some implementations, the wagering game is a poker game and the game information is draw card information. The additional price may increase according to the amount of game information provided. In some implementations, a paytable percentage for the wagering game decreases according to the amount of game information provided.

Abstract: One aspect is directed to a system whereby a live gaming table system is provided with one or more handheld user input devices which, for example, may allow multiple different players to simultaneously or concurrently provide wager input data and/or other data to the gaming table system. In at least one embodiment, the handheld user input devices may form part of a multi-player touch input interface system which is operable to identify or determine where, who, and what transactions are taking place at a multi-player gaming table and/or multi-player gaming system.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and gaming units for conducting a wagering game and an associated progressive jackpot, wherein each player has a unique game array of game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game and individual game indicia are sequentially selected from a range of available game indicia. Players may win the wagering game, interim pattern awards and/or progressive jackpot awards by matching predetermined patterns with patterns formed on their unique game array with indicia matching selected indicia. The players may sleep interim pattern awards and progressive jackpot awards by failing to claim the awards by acknowledging the awards at the gaming unit within a finite sleep time period. The slept interim pattern awards and slept progressive jackpot awards may be added to a progressive jackpot pool.

Abstract: A menu system for generating menus including one or more menu items may include an uncompiled text file or script that may be used to specify various characteristics of each menu item. The text file may specify a tree structure in which menu items are to be displayed, the names assigned to the menu items or any security clearance required for viewing or display of the menu items. Additionally, the text file may specify one or more different information or page files associated with each menu item.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus and method is provided that is capable of rewarding a distributed jackpot to players using gaming units that are electronically linked to one another. The distributed jackpot may be shared among non-winning players when a winning result is achieved by a winning player.

Abstract: A cryptographic communication system and method having a first plurality of stations, each of the first plurality of stations having at least one encryption key Kj, were j is a number greater than 2, a data packet D to be viewed by each of the first plurality of stations, means for encrypting the data packet by each of the first plurality of stations to form an encrypted data packet Ej for transmission to a central processor, and means for combining each of the encrypted data packets, wherein the means for encrypting is applied in parallel to allow each of the first plurality of stations to view the contents of the data packet D prior to encrypting the data packet D.

Abstract: A gaming machine method and apparatus may have a rotatable object configured to rotate about a first point that is also an axis of rotation, and a plurality of segments provided on the rotatable object, each plurality of segments having an area proportional to a probability of success of winning a prize, wherein the plurality of segments radiate from a second point. In other embodiments, the segments may be formed to create visual effects when the rotatable object is spun.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus and method is provided that is capable of rewarding a distributed jackpot to players using gaming units that are electronically linked to one another. The distributed jackpot may be shared among non-winning players when a winning result is achieved by a winning player.

Abstract: Cashless instruments having counterfeit prevention features and methods for detecting counterfeit cashless instruments are disclosed. A pattern of attempted redemptions or other transactional recordings of gaming machine printed tickets, vouchers or other cashless instruments having identification numbers with valid predictable fields but invalid unpredictable fields can indicate a likely counterfeiting attempt or operation. Occurrences can include a thief or other unscrupulous party discovering which gaming machine printed ticket fields lend themselves to prediction and which do not, and then attempting to guess at some of the randomly generated numbers in hopes of coming up with a valid number or number set. In addition, stored hash numbers can be compared to a hash number generated according to a one-way hash function. A pattern of invalid hash numbers can also indicate a likely counterfeit attempt.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus and method is provided that is capable of rewarding a distributed jackpot to players using gaming units that are electronically linked to one another. The distributed jackpot may be shared among non-winning players when a winning result is achieved by a winning player.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a central server or controller operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming machines to provide non-tournament game play and to provide tournament game play on the same gaming machines.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a central server or controller operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming machines to provide non-tournament game play and to provide tournament game play on the same gaming machines.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing low denomination payline and wagering options for “penny” gaming machines and systems are disclosed. A gaming machine or system configurator can provide various operator adjustable settings, including minimum overall wager, maximum overall wager, available denominations for play, minimum number of paylines that must be played, and incremental amount of paylines to be played. The configurator can include manual devices, an interface to a remote server or internal gaming machine logic. Player adjustable game parameters can include a play denomination, an overall wager, the number of paylines played and the number of credits per payline. Parameters not set by the player are automatically calculated by the gaming machine for faster game play. Residual awards or credit balances of less than a whole coin can be squared by payout mechanisms including a ticket printer, a player accounting system, a charity feature or a bonus play feature.