Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. When a Player surpasses predetermined game play parameters on a game of an EGM, a bonus game or related game material may be “unlocked” and offered to the Player for download onto the Player's Portable Electronic Device (PED). Upon installation, the game or content may be viewed or played on their PED at a later time and at their leisure.

Abstract: Banked EGM light and sound shows which reduce the probability of appearing unsynchronized are described herein. A modified client time protocol on each EGM stores an offset from a time reference source. The time offset is used to schedule banked light and sound shows so that the performance of each EGM is synchronized, without requiring the actual clocks of the EGMs to be synchronized.

Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring customer activities within a casino enterprise can be used to determine a current utilization of casino activities so that the casino can offer an optimal mixture of activities. Further, the system can identify customers (whose loyalty a casino enterprise may wish to cultivate) based on their utilization of the activities. The monitoring system can passively track portable wireless devices and associate the portable wireless devices with activities within the casino enterprise that are not attributable to customers registered in a loyalty program. The person controlling a particular portable device can be unknown. A virtual customer account can be created where the first portable device is used to identify a virtual customer associated with the account. Based upon identification of the first portable device, activities can be associated with the virtual customer and store to the virtual customer account.

Abstract: The gaming system and method of the present disclosure leverage casino patrons' mobile devices to facilitate directing the patrons exactly to their desired electronic gaming machines (EGMs). In various embodiments, the gaming system includes a central controller communicatively connected to a plurality of EGMs. The central controller receives a request from a patron's mobile device to find a desired one of the EGMs. The central controller causes the desired EGM and the patron's mobile device to output the same patron identifier, such as a patron-created image, and causes the patron's mobile device to use GPS to direct the patron to the vicinity of the desired EGM. Once the patron is within the vicinity of the desired EGM, the patron can quickly scan the surrounding EGMs to determine the one outputting the patron identifier, which is the patron's desired EGM.

Abstract: The gaming system disclosed herein changes the focal point of a display device at different points in time to assist the player in focusing on different simultaneously or concurrently played games at different points in time. Specifically, the gaming system displays a plurality of simultaneously or concurrently played games on a display device. In response to a designated event occurring in association with a specific one of the plurality of simultaneously or concurrently played games, the gaming system changes the focal point of the display device to draw the player's focus or attention to that specific one of the simultaneously or concurrently played games. Put differently, the gaming system dynamically allocates and/or indicates different portions of a display device to different simultaneously or concurrently played games at different points in time to account for different events occurring in such simultaneously or concurrently played games.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods for providing one or more incentives to a player in association with a mobile device facilitated transfer of funds to an electronic gaming machine and/or from the electronic gaming machine.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system is configured to establish a secure communication session between an electronic gaming machine and a portable electronic device. The system can confirm that a communication session is secure by displaying pre-selected content unique to the portable electronic device. The content can be continuously displayed on the EGM during the active communication session to indicate that the session is secure.

Abstract: A method for converting a game award earned during play of a first wager-based game into a game award in a second wager-based game includes, but is not limited to any of combination of: receiving, over a network, a request to convert a first award earned by a player in the first wager-based game into at least one award in the second wager-based game; converting, by one or more processors, the first award earned during play of the first wager-based game to at least one award associated with the second wager-based game based on award conversation data; and storing, by the one or more processors, data associated with result of the conversion of the first award into the at least award of the second wager-based game in a data storage system.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. When a Player surpasses predetermined game play parameters on a game of an EGM, a bonus game or related game material may be “unlocked” and offered to the Player for download onto the Player's Portable Electronic Device (PED). Upon installation, the game or content may be viewed or played on their PED at a later time and at their leisure.

Abstract: The gaming system and method, of the present disclosure leverage casino patrons' mobile devices to facilitate directing the patrons exactly to their desired electronic gaming machines (EGMs). In various embodiments, the gaming system includes a central controller communicatively connected to a plurality of EGMs. The central controller receives a request from a patron's mobile device to find a desired one of the EGMs. The central controller causes the desired EGM and the patron's mobile device to output the same patron identifier, such as a patron-created image, and causes the patron's mobile device to use GPS to direct the patron to the vicinity of the desired EGM. Once the patron is within the vicinity of the desired EGM, the patron can quickly scan the surrounding EGMs to determine the one outputting the patron identifier, which is the patron's desired EGM.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. When a transaction is initiated on an EGM that requires the input of Sensitive Information data, such data can be input directly from the Player/Patrons Portable Electronic Device. Hence, such input of their Sensitive Information data is more discrete, and generally out of plain view from the other Player/Patrons.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. When a transaction is initiated on an EGM that requires the input of Sensitive Information data, such data can be input directly from the Player/Patrons Portable Electronic Device. Hence, such input of their Sensitive Information data is more discrete, and generally out of plain view from the other Player/Patrons.

Abstract: Mobile transfers of mobile payments are bound by an electronic gaming machine (EGM) in a gaming system. The EGM receives, from the mobile device, a unique mobile device identifier and a cash out request to receive winnings resulting from one or more game wins of an event, wherein the event is a gaming event resulting from the placement of the one or more wagers at the EGM. The EGM verifies the unique mobile device identifier, received from the mobile device, is stored at a host device in order to approve and transfer the winnings resulting from one or more game wins of the event to the mobile device. The EGM transfers, to the mobile device, a mobile payment of the winnings resulting from one or more game wins of the event after verifying the unique mobile device identifier is stored at the host device.

Abstract: A gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) for storing game software components and transaction information for gaming machine and gaming terminals is disclosed. A system database is partitioned according to different gaming entities allowing game software component configurations of particular gaming terminals to be easily analyzed and modified. Game software components for gaming terminals connected to the GTDR may be automatically updated using various triggers. System gaming machines may utilize a combination of game software components residing on the gaming machine and those received from the GTDR. A library of preset gaming terminal configurations can be stored at the system database, where each such preset configuration includes specific settings for each of a plurality of gaming terminal setting categories. Gaming terminals can be configured remotely using the GTDR, and possibly one or more of the stored preset gaming terminal configurations.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system is configured to establish a secure communication session between an electronic gaming machine and a portable electronic device. The system can confirm that a communication session is secure by displaying pre-selected content unique to the portable electronic device. The content can be continuously displayed on the EGM during the active communication session to indicate that the session is secure.

Abstract: A method for converting a game award earned during play of a first wager-based game into a game award in a second wager-based game includes, but is not limited to any of combination of: receiving, over a network, a request to convert a first award earned by a player in the first wager-based game into at least one award in the second wager-based game; converting, by one or more processors, the first award earned during play of the first wager-based game to at least one award associated with the second wager-based game based on award conversation data; and storing, by the one or more processors, data associated with result of the conversion of the first award into the at least award of the second wager-based game in a data storage system.

Abstract: A gaming system which displays a community game to one or more participating players. During the community game, the gaming system accumulates one or more community game tokens for one or more participating players. The gaming system subsequently assigns a value to each community game token redeemed by each participating player.

Abstract: Gaming machines and methods for transmitting hidden elements to a portable electronic device are described. The gaming machine includes a cabinet, a display, and a user input mechanism. The gaming machine further includes an interface, wherein the interface is configured to wirelessly communicate with a portable electronic device. The gaming machine includes a game controller. The game controller is configured to provide game play of a wager-based game, including generating gaming information including a hidden element. The game controller is further configured to display at least a portion of the gaming information to the player through the display, wherein the hidden element is not displayed. The game controller is configured to facilitate a data connection between the gaming machine and the portable electronic device through the interface. The game controller is further configured to transmit the hidden element to the portable electronic device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method enabling a player to earn a play of a bonus game using one device and to redeem the earned play for an enhanced play of the bonus game on another device. Generally, various embodiments of the gaming system of the present disclosure enable a player to earn one or more plays of a bonus game through game play on a first device, and to either: (a) redeem an earned play on the first device for a play of a first version of the bonus game, or (b) redeem an earned play on a second different device for a play of a second different version of the bonus game. The second version of the bonus game is enhanced in one or more manners as compared to the first version of the bonus game.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming system and method providing a slot game including a partial reel re-spin feature. Generally, for a play of the slot game in various embodiments, the gaming system displays a randomly determined plurality of symbols of a first set of symbols at a plurality of symbol display areas and makes an award determination based on the displayed symbols. Upon an occurrence of a triggering event, such as the display of a triggering symbol, the gaming system selects a designated set of a plurality of the symbol display areas and replaces the symbols of the first set of symbols displayed at the symbol display areas of the designated set with symbols from a second set of symbols, which may be the same as or different than the first set of symbols. The gaming system makes another award determination based on the displayed symbols.