Patents by Inventor IGT

IGT has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20130143650
    Abstract: A gaming device having multiple interacting independently operated symbol generators, such as wheels. In one embodiment, each wheel includes a plurality of sections that are associated with a plurality of different outcomes which are displayed to a player. One or more of the wheels are activated, either sequentially or simultaneously and the results of the wheel activations influence one or more subsequent wheel activations. Upon a terminating event, an outcome based on the results from one or more spins of one or more of the wheels is provided to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130143648
    Abstract: A gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices and a shared or a common secondary display associated with the gaming devices. In one embodiment, the shared display is adjacent to one or more of the gaming devices of the gaming system. The gaming system includes at least one primary game and at least one secondary or bonus game. The bonus game is associated with a plurality of average expected payouts or values. In one embodiment, the bonus game that is played on the secondary display is associated with a higher average expected payout or higher values than the average expected payouts or values of the bonus game played on the individual gaming devices. When the player places a designated wager, they qualify to play the game on the secondary display and thus qualify for a chance to win the higher awards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130137507
    Abstract: A gaming device such as a slot machine is provided having a payout proportional to a wager value. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the gaming machine provides a player with the ability to flexibly and automatically increase and decrease wagers, thereby allowing the player to press his bets when he feels lucky, and to decrease his bets when he feels unlucky. Different proportional payout tables are provided for different levels of wagers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130137503
    Abstract: A gaming system and method which provides for one or more gaming device triggered bonus games to be skipped or otherwise not provided to the players at the gaming devices which triggered such bonus games. The average expected payouts of skipped gaming device triggered bonus games are contributed to a bonus accumulation pool or fund. The accumulation pool is subsequently utilized to provide one or more gaming system triggered bonuses to one or more players at one or more of the gaming devices in the gaming system. A player's accumulated triggering symbols determine, at least in part, the player's probability of winning part of the bonus accumulation pool and/or the player's portion of the bonus accumulation pool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130137506
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods for operating a gaming system are provided. The gaming system includes a controller operable with a plurality of gaming devices. Based at least in part on wagering activity, the controller determines a ranking for a plurality of gaming devices in the gaming system. The controller determines a plurality of the ranked gaming devices that are eligible for a designated award and, for each of the plurality of eligible gaming devices, determines a probability of being selected to win the designated award. The controller selects at least one of the eligible gaming devices based part on the determined probability for said at least one eligible gaming device, and causes the at least one selected gaming device to provide the designated award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130137504
    Abstract: A gaming device having a transformable wild symbol or card on a set of reels or a transformable wild card in a set of cards, wherein the transformable wild symbol or card provides a signal to a player through a wild indicator or a non-wad indicator. The wild indicator indicates that the transformable wild symbol or card is in a wild state. The non-wild indicator indicates that the transformable wild symbol or card is in a non-wild state. In a wild state, the transformable wild symbol or card acts as a wild symbol or card on a set of reels, or a wild card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130137505
    Abstract: A gaming device is adapted to present audiovisual content to players of the game. While the audiovisual content is playing, the player may initiate a game start. A snap shot of the audiovisual content playing at the time of the game start is taken. Reels of the gaming device spin and provide indicia on a payline. The indicia on the payline are compared to characters and elements within the snap shot of the audiovisual content. If there is a match for outcome significant indicia, the player receives a benefit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130130769
    Abstract: A method for playing video gambling games whereby pay tables vary from play to play, or; alternatively; whereby a plurality of pay tables are possible within a game. For example, in a video poker game a player wagers against a first pay table. If a winner occurs; the next game offers a new pay table with a greater expected value. This process continues until the player loses, whereupon the player is returned to play against the first pay table. Pay tables increment and decrement in expected value based on achieving predetermined events within the current game, within a previous game or games or randomly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130130796
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to different devices, methods, systems, and computer program products for a gaming machine that includes a projection button panel. The projection button panel may include one or more projection buttons configured to receive user input. Each projection button may include a projection surface disposed within the button capable of being viewed by a player of the gaming machine. Each projection button may also include a button projector proximate to the projection surface. Further, each projection button may be configured to receive button image information and to project, based on the received button image information, a button image onto the projection surface. Each projection button may also include one or more sensors capable of being activated responsive to activation of the button. The gaming machine may also include one or more controllers in communication with the main display and the button assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130130770
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a secondary game of a wagering gaming system, and particularly the increase of an award in the secondary game by the value of different multipliers associated with different amounts wagered in a primary game. A secondary game provides a total award to a player based on the multiplier associated with the wagered amount in the primary game by applying the multiplier to the amount of the award earned by the player in the secondary game. A particular wagerable amount may be associated with a multiplier that is predetermined, or randomly selected from a group of predefined multipliers, or selected from a group based on a probability. The range of possible combinations of wagerable amounts and multipliers are displayed to the player in the base game to provide an incentive to maximize the wager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130130765
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium or otherwise provided to a player. The player may either view the outcomes via a traditional gaming device interface (e.g., via a representation of slot reels) and as discreet outcomes, or view a video that depicts a continuous event, as determined by the discreet outcomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130130774
    Abstract: Described herein is a gaming machine configured to output video data that simulates mechanical reels in a traditional mechanical slot machine. Embodiments detailed herein contribute to the emulation and perception of a mechanical machine by providing video data adaptations that each simulate a realistic visual attribute of a mechanical reel gaming machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130126602
    Abstract: A gaming table with an upper surface that includes a gaming chip placement area and a lower surface opposite the upper surface is provided. The gaming table also includes a housing coupled to one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the gaming table, an antenna coupled to the housing, wherein the antenna is configured to form an electromagnetic field that defines a zone of communication in which a gaming chip including a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag can be read.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130122990
    Abstract: A gaming system which displays a plurality of reels. Each reel is associated with a display area which displays a symbol. A wager is allocated to each one of the display areas. An award is determined based, at least in part, on such allocation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130123007
    Abstract: Techniques for authenticating one or more entities are disclosed. Authentication can be performed based on one or more attributes associated with an image and/or input provided in connection with an image. The image is effectively provided for authenticating one or more entities associated with a computing environment. The attributes which can be measures include the manner in which an image has been created and/or traced by a person being authenticated. A person can initially register with an authentication system by creating and/or tracing an image. Subsequently, the person can be provided with the same, similar and/or completely different image in order to be authenticated by the authentication system. It will be appreciated that the image needs not be a signature or provide any personal information about the person being authenticated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130122983
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to different devices, methods, systems, and computer program products for a self-contained dice shaker assembly. The self-contained dice shaker assembly may include a container device defining an opening into an interior configured for receipt of one or more dice and a sensor assembly in communication with the container interior. The sensor assembly may be configured to monitor, in accordance with one or more predetermined parameters, the shake quality of the dice in the container during a shaking event. The self-contained dice shaker assembly may include an identification assembly operable to identify the outcome of a respective outcome face of each die associated with the outcome of a shaking event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130123011
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for detecting and/or preventing cheating in online gaming. Some implementations provide gaming information in formats that are difficult for a bot to interpret, but which are preferably easy for humans to interpret. Some implementations of the invention involve the tracking and analysis of players' gaming activities. Some implementations of the invention provide a multi-tier approach to data analysis. Some analyses may be performed, for example, by a centralized computing device such as a server, whereas other analyses may be performed by a host device. In some implementations, “challenge and response” measures will be employed. Some implementations of the invention involve detection and prevention of collaboration between players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130122981
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to gaming systems, gaming devices and methods that provide time based game sessions that each include a plurality of wagering events, wherein if one of the plurality of wagering events results in or is associated with a designated change outcome, a value associated with an element or function in the game session (such as a value associated with an outcome, a time value, or a wager amount) changes (such as by increasing) for a remaining portion of the game session (such as the rest of the gaming session).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130122998
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein includes an accumulation sequence and a competition sequence. In one embodiment, the gaming system includes competitor points which determine (i) a competitor's eligibility to participate in the competition sequence and (ii) the competitor's relative probability of success in the competition sequence. In this embodiment, a competitor (which is either representative of an actual player or a virtual, gaming system controlled player) accumulates competitor points during one or more point accumulation sequences which occur in association with designated events. For a subsequent competition sequence, the gaming system determines if a competitor will participate in the triggered competition sequence based on the competitor's accumulated competitor points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT
  • Publication number: 20130116040
    Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: IGT