Patents by Inventor Mark C. Nicely

Mark C. Nicely 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).

  • Patent number: 12254743
    Abstract: Methods and systems in which a plurality of plays is offered on a plurality of games, wherein the math model of a first game differs from the math model of a second game and wherein the player may specify at least one of the first and second games to receive additional plays and/or additional wagering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 11915560
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more multiple symbol display position elements. Each multiple symbol display position element is configured to occupy or span a plurality of symbol display positions of a symbol display position matrix. For a generated multiple symbol display position element to be removed from the symbol display matrix, each of the individual symbols of the multiple symbol display position element must individually qualify to be removed from the symbol display matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20230410597
    Abstract: Methods and systems in which a plurality of plays is offered on a plurality of games, wherein the math model of a first game differs from the math model of a second game and wherein the player may specify at least one of the first and second games to receive additional plays and/or additional wagering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 11749061
    Abstract: Methods and systems in which a plurality of plays is offered on a plurality of games, wherein the math model of a first game differs from the math model of a second game and wherein the player may specify at least one of the first and second games to receive additional plays and/or additional wagering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 11727754
    Abstract: A gaming machine, system, and method for presenting a game may include accepting a wager, randomly selecting k relocatable indicia from a set of N possible indicia, where N>k, positioning the k indicia into j possible locations (j>=k), evaluating the k indicia relative to first paytable with payout rules based solely on the indicia values, evaluating the k indicia relative to a second paytable with payout rules based on at least the location of the indicia, and awarding any prizes earned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas J. Donelan, Mark C. Nicely, Steve Cartwright
  • Patent number: 11694507
    Abstract: Various embodiments of gaming systems, gaming devices, and methods of the present disclosure provide one or more alternative wagering propositions to a player when the player's credit balance is less than (or, in certain embodiments, less than or equal to) a designated wager amount. If the player accepts one of the alternative wager propositions, the player risks an amount of the player's remaining credit balance for a chance to win an alternative award. If the player wins the alternative award, the gaming system enables the player to play one or more plays of the wagering game at the designated wager amount. If the player does not win the alternative award, the gaming system reduces the player's credit balance by the amount risked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Adam M. Singer, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20230177929
    Abstract: Specialized gaming systems and methods for providing secure gaming features in which payouts are based upon the presence and identification of patterns of letters within an arrangement of letters, said pattern matching a word or phrase within a pre-defined dictionary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Gregory J. Cohen, Mark C Nicely
  • Publication number: 20230104811
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more multiple symbol display position elements. Each multiple symbol display position element is configured to occupy or span a plurality of symbol display positions of a symbol display position matrix. For a generated multiple symbol display position element to be removed from the symbol display matrix, each of the individual symbols of the multiple symbol display position element must individually qualify to be removed from the symbol display matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 11562630
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more multiple symbol display position elements. Each multiple symbol display position element is configured to occupy or span a plurality of symbol display positions of a symbol display position matrix. For a generated multiple symbol display position element to be removed from the symbol display matrix, each of the individual symbols of the multiple symbol display position element must individually qualify to be removed from the symbol display matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 11410490
    Abstract: Intelligent gaming tables and methods of providing game play through the gaming tables are described herein. The gaming table includes a table having a table surface, a plurality of player stations, and a common display configured to display gaming content to a plurality of players. The gaming table further includes an interface configured to communicate with a plurality of user input devices. The gaming table includes a gaming controller. The gaming controller is configured to communicate with the plurality of user input devices through the interface, receive location information relating to touches or contacts detected on the table surface, analyze the information relating to the touches or contacts, identify a user performing each of the touches or contacts with the table surface, and implement player input instructions contained within the information relating to the touches or contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Binh T. Nguyen, Richard E. Rowe, Mark C. Nicely, Bryan D. Wolf, Brian Underdahl
  • Publication number: 20220148381
    Abstract: A gaming machine, system, and method for presenting a game may include accepting a wager, randomly selecting k relocatable indicia from a set of N possible indicia, where N>k, positioning the k indicia into j possible locations (j>=k), evaluating the k indicia relative to first paytable with payout rules based solely on the indicia values, evaluating the k indicia relative to a second paytable with payout rules based on at least the location of the indicia, and awarding any prizes earned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas J. Donelan, Mark C. Nicely, Steve Cartwright
  • Publication number: 20220044520
    Abstract: Methods and systems in which a plurality of plays is offered on a plurality of games, wherein the math model of a first game differs from the math model of a second game and wherein the player may specify at least one of the first and second games to receive additional plays and/or additional wagering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 11200778
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine may include an attract mode for promoting use of the electronic gaming machine. The attract mode may include a promotional feature having one or more interactive aspects. Players may interact with the promotional feature to earn a monetary and/or non-monetary promotional award. Promotional awards may be used to modify game play of the games provided by the electronic gaming machine. Promotional awards may also be used to supplement or modify wagers placed on game events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: GAMECO LLC
    Inventors: Blaine Graboyes Goldman, Mark C. Nicely, Eli Weissman, Anthony Litton, Jared Torres
  • Publication number: 20210343105
    Abstract: Various embodiments of gaming systems, gaming devices, and methods of the present disclosure provide one or more alternative wagering propositions to a player when the player's credit balance is less than (or, in certain embodiments, less than or equal to) a designated wager amount. If the player accepts one of the alternative wager propositions, the player risks an amount of the player's remaining credit balance for a chance to win an alternative award. If the player wins the alternative award, the gaming system enables the player to play one or more plays of the wagering game at the designated wager amount. If the player does not win the alternative award, the gaming system reduces the player's credit balance by the amount risked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Adam M. Singer, Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 11151841
    Abstract: A gaming machine, system, and method for presenting a game may include accepting a wager, randomly selecting k relocatable indicia from a set of N possible indicia, where N>k, positioning the k indicia into j possible locations (j>=k), evaluating the k indicia relative to first paytable with payout rules based solely on the indicia values, evaluating the k indicia relative to a second paytable with payout rules based on at least the location of the indicia, and awarding any prizes earned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas J. Donelan, Mark C. Nicely, Steve Cartwright
  • Patent number: 11145162
    Abstract: Methods and systems in which a plurality of plays is offered on a plurality of games, wherein the math model of a first game differs from the math model of a second game and wherein the player may specify at least one of the first and second games to receive additional plays and/or additional wagering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 11094165
    Abstract: Various embodiments of gaming systems, gaming devices, and methods of the present disclosure provide one or more alternative wagering propositions to a player when the player's credit balance is less than (or, in certain embodiments, less than or equal to) a designated wager amount. If the player accepts one of the alternative wager propositions, the player risks an amount of the player's remaining credit balance for a chance to win an alternative award. If the player wins the alternative award, the gaming system enables the player to play one or more plays of the wagering game at the designated wager amount. If the player does not win the alternative award, the gaming system reduces the player's credit balance by the amount risked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Adam M. Singer, Mark C. Nicely
  • Publication number: 20210110677
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more multiple symbol display position elements. Each multiple symbol display position element is configured to occupy or span a plurality of symbol display positions of a symbol display position matrix. For a generated multiple symbol display position element to be removed from the symbol display matrix, each of the individual symbols of the multiple symbol display position element must individually qualify to be removed from the symbol display matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 10930109
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes a plurality of symbol display position matrices or grids. Each symbol display position matrix includes a plurality of symbol display positions, wherein at least one of the symbol display position matrices includes one or more symbol display positions associated with a plurality of different symbol display positions of a plurality of the symbol display position matrices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Mark C. Nicely
  • Patent number: 10755526
    Abstract: A gaming system including a multiple player persistent game, such as an ongoing community game. This ongoing community game includes a community game matrix which is continuously displayed to at least each of the players. The community game matrix includes a plurality of displayed positions which may be associated with an award or an award opportunity. In operation, at least each of the players playing the gaming devices of the gaming system are associated with a displayed participant that moves (either randomly or based on the player's control) to different of the displayed positions of the community game matrix. If a player moves their associated participant to a displayed position that is associated with an award or an award opportunity, the gaming system provides the player any associated award or enables the player to participate in any associated award opportunity to potentially win an award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ernest M. Lafky, Carmen Tan, Mark C. Nicely