Patents by Inventor Michael P. Casey
Michael P. Casey 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).
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Publication number: 20240104997Abstract: A gaming system includes a main display configured to display a wagering game comprising a plurality of virtual spinnable reels having a plurality of adjacent game symbol positions. A game controller is communicatively coupled to the display, and a computer-readable storage medium. The game controller is configured to initiate a first round of play of a base game causing a simulated spinning of the spinnable reels, change the base game to a metamorphic reel game based on a triggering condition of a special symbol landing on a stopped reel. At least one morphed reel is created from at least two of the spinnable reels. At least one reel is replaced with the morphed reel in the metamorphic reel game. A game outcome is determined based on paytable and a reduced number of reels that includes the morphed reel. Credit is awarded to the player based on the game outcome.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Scott Kania, Michael P. Casey
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Publication number: 20240084644Abstract: An example apparatus includes a sensor to detect a lateral edge of a door curtain within a guide of a door, and a controller to identify when the door curtain transitions from an operational state to a breakaway state based on a signal from the sensor, the operational state corresponding to when the lateral edge of the door curtain is enclosed by the guide as the door curtain moves between open and closed positions, and the breakaway state corresponding to when a portion of the lateral edge of the door curtain below an upper end of the guide breaks away from the guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: Ryan P. Beggs, Michael Sivill, Christopher Saleh, Charles Runde, James Pelegrin, Nicholas J. Casey, Perry W. Knutson
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Publication number: 20240078867Abstract: A gaming machine including a display that has a first display area and a second display area. The first display area displays a first prize and a second prize. The first prize has a first prize threshold and the second prize has a second prize threshold. The second display area displays an overflow prize, while the game controller contributes to the first prize at least a portion of the credit balance with respect to a wagering activity, and causes the display to display an increment of the overflow prize in response to the first prize having reached the first threshold. A payout mechanism configured to, in response to determining one of the first prize and the second prize is to be awarded, cause a payout associated with the one of the first prize and the second prize to be awarded and the incremented overflow prize.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventor: Michael P. Casey
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Patent number: 11875633Abstract: A gaming system includes a main display configured to display a wagering game comprising a plurality of virtual spinnable reels having a plurality of adjacent game symbol positions. A game controller is communicatively coupled to the display, and a computer-readable storage medium. The game controller is configured to initiate a first round of play of a base game causing a simulated spinning of the spinnable reels, change the base game to a metamorphic reel game based on a triggering condition of a special symbol landing on a stopped reel. At least one morphed reel is created from at least two of the spinnable reels. At least one reel is replaced with the morphed reel in the metamorphic reel game. A game outcome is determined based on paytable and a reduced number of reels that includes the morphed reel. Credit is awarded to the player based on the game outcome.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventors: Scott Kania, Michael P. Casey
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Patent number: 11854340Abstract: A gaming machine including a display that has a first display area and a second display area. The first display area displays a first prize and a second prize. The first prize has a first prize threshold and the second prize has a second prize threshold. The second display area displays an overflow prize, while the game controller contributes to the first prize at least a portion of the credit balance with respect to a wagering activity, and causes the display to display an increment of the overflow prize in response to the first prize having reached the first threshold. A payout mechanism configured to, in response to determining one of the first prize and the second prize is to be awarded, cause a payout associated with the one of the first prize and the second prize to be awarded and the incremented overflow prize.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Video Gaming Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael P. Casey
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Publication number: 20230260359Abstract: An electronic gaming machine performs operations comprising: (i) simulating a rotating plurality of reels; (ii) stopping a first reel of the simulated rotating plurality of reels; (iii) determining whether of a first plurality of symbols displayed include i) all standard symbols, or ii) at least one bonus trigger symbol; (iv) on at least one remaining reel of the simulated rotating reels one of: i) modifying at least one bonus trigger symbol with a standard symbol if all standard symbols are displayed, or ii) modifying the at least one standard symbol with at least one bonus trigger symbol; (v) stopping the remaining reels; (vi) evaluating the symbols stopped and displayed; and (vii) determining whether to provide a game award.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventor: Michael P. Casey
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Publication number: 20230206718Abstract: An electronic gaming system conducts a reel-based electronic wagering game, in which jackpot upgrade symbols are added to one or more reel strips based on the occurrence of one or more reel upgrade symbols in the wagering game. In the exemplary embodiment, jackpot upgrade symbols are added to a third reel strip based on the occurrence of one or more reel upgrade symbols on a first reel strip, and to a fifth reel strip based on the occurrence of one or more reel upgrade symbols on the third reel strip. In addition, jackpot upgrade symbols are added to the first and third reel strips to replace the one or more reel upgrade symbols occurring thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: T. Grant Bolling, JR., Michael P. Casey
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Patent number: 11663879Abstract: An electronic gaming machine performs operations comprising: (i) simulating a rotating plurality of reels, each reel of the simulated rotating plurality of reels comprising a plurality of symbols including standard symbols and bonus trigger symbols; (ii) stopping a first reel of the simulated rotating plurality of reels, wherein the first reel displays a first plurality of symbols; (iii) determining whether of the first plurality of symbols displayed include i) all standard symbols, or ii) at least one bonus trigger symbol; (iv) on at least one remaining reel of the simulated rotating reels one of: i) modifying at least one bonus trigger symbol with a standard symbol if all standard symbols are displayed, or ii) modifying the at least one standard symbol with at least one bonus trigger symbol; (v) stopping the remaining reels of the simulated rotating plurality of reels, wherein the remaining reels display a plurality of symbols; (vi) evaluating the symbols stopped and displayed from each of the simulated rotType: GrantFiled: May 19, 2022Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventor: Michael P. Casey
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Publication number: 20230108580Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display, a credit input mechanism, and a processor configured to perform operations comprising: (i) initiating a free play bonus game; (ii) awarding, during the free play bonus game, a plurality of free spins of a plurality of reels; (iii) displaying, on the display, a plurality of numerical indicia, the plurality of numerical indicia displayed one at a time and increasing from an initial numerical indicium associated with an initial free spin to a final numerical indicium associated with a final free spin; and (iv) providing a game award in conjunction with the final free spin.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: David Marsh, Karl Roelofs, Michael P. Casey
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Patent number: 11600133Abstract: An electronic gaming system conducts a reel-based electronic wagering game, in which jackpot upgrade symbols are added to one or more reel strips based on the occurrence of one or more reel upgrade symbols in the wagering game. In the exemplary embodiment, jackpot upgrade symbols are added to a third reel strip based on the occurrence of one or more reel upgrade symbols on a first reel strip, and to a fifth reel strip based on the occurrence of one or more reel upgrade symbols on the third reel strip. In addition, jackpot upgrade symbols are added to the first and third reel strips to replace the one or more reel upgrade symbols occurring thereon.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventors: T. Grant Bolling, Jr., Michael P. Casey
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Publication number: 20230064545Abstract: A bingo gaming system, machine, and method include a main bingo game, a feature bingo game, a main reel game associated with the main bingo game, and a feature reel game associated with the feature bingo game. The main reel game simulates outcomes of the main bingo game. The feature reel game simulates outcomes of the feature bingo game. A feature bingo game may be triggered by a main bingo game outcome. Before the feature bingo game begins, a player may be given an opportunity to select a volatility option for the feature bingo game. The volatility selection may impact the probability of winning the feature bingo game (and/or feature reel game), as well as the reward(s) associated with winning the feature bingo game (and/or feature reel game).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Michael P. Casey, David Michael Smith, Jose Antonio Uberuaga, Joshua Wade Davis, Kelton F. Flinn, Zhao Ming Fei, Kenner Scott Warren
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Publication number: 20220406123Abstract: A gaming machine including a display that has a first display area and a second display area. The first display area displays a first prize and a second prize. The first prize has a first prize threshold and the second prize has a second prize threshold. The second display area displays an overflow prize, while the game controller contributes to the first prize at least a portion of the credit balance with respect to a wagering activity, and causes the display to display an increment of the overflow prize in response to the first prize having reached the first threshold. A payout mechanism configured to, in response to determining one of the first prize and the second prize is to be awarded, cause a payout associated with the one of the first prize and the second prize to be awarded and the incremented overflow prize.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventor: Michael P. Casey
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Patent number: 11514757Abstract: A bingo gaming system, machine, and method include a main bingo game, a feature bingo game, a main reel game associated with the main bingo game, and a feature reel game associated with the feature bingo game. The main reel game simulates outcomes of the main bingo game. The feature reel game simulates outcomes of the feature bingo game. A feature bingo game may be triggered by a main bingo game outcome. Before the feature bingo game begins, a player may be given an opportunity to select a volatility option for the feature bingo game. The volatility selection may impact the probability of winning the feature bingo game (and/or feature reel game), as well as the reward(s) associated with winning the feature bingo game (and/or feature reel game).Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITEDInventors: Michael P. Casey, David Michael Smith, Jose Antonio Uberuaga, Joshua Wade Davis, Kelton F. Flinn, Zhao Ming Fei, Kenner Scott Warren
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Patent number: 11482077Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a display, a credit input mechanism, and a processor configured to perform operations comprising: (i) initiating a free play bonus game; (ii) awarding, during the free play bonus game, a plurality of free spins of a plurality of reels; (iii) displaying, on the display, a plurality of numerical indicia, the plurality of numerical indicia displayed one at a time and increasing from an initial numerical indicium associated with an initial free spin to a final numerical indicium associated with a final free spin; and (iv) providing a game award in conjunction with the final free spin.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventors: David Marsh, Karl Roelofs, Michael P. Casey
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Patent number: 11468731Abstract: A gaming machine including a display that has a first display area and a second display area. The first display area displays a first prize and a second prize. The first prize has a first prize threshold and the second prize has a second prize threshold. The second display area displays an overflow prize, while the game controller contributes to the first prize at least a portion of the credit balance with respect to a wagering activity, and causes the display to display an increment of the overflow prize in response to the first prize having reached the first threshold. A payout mechanism configured to, in response to determining one of the first prize and the second prize is to be awarded, cause a payout associated with the one of the first prize and the second prize to be awarded and the incremented overflow prize.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Video Gaming Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael P. Casey
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Patent number: 11468730Abstract: An electronic gaming machine performs operations comprising: (i) simulating a rotating plurality of reels, each reel of the simulated rotating plurality of reels comprising a plurality of symbols including standard symbols and bonus trigger symbols; (ii) stopping a first reel of the simulated rotating plurality of reels, wherein the first reel displays a first plurality of symbols; (iii) determining whether of the first plurality of symbols displayed include i) all standard symbols, or ii) at least one bonus trigger symbol; (iv) on at least one remaining reel of the simulated rotating reels one of: i) modifying at least one bonus trigger symbol with a standard symbol if all standard symbols are displayed, or ii) modifying the at least one standard symbol with at least one bonus trigger symbol; (v) stopping the remaining reels of the simulated rotating plurality of reels, wherein the remaining reels display a plurality of symbols; (vi) evaluating the symbols stopped and displayed from each of the simulated rotType: GrantFiled: October 1, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventor: Michael P. Casey
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Publication number: 20220277617Abstract: An electronic gaming machine performs operations comprising: (i) simulating a rotating plurality of reels, each reel of the simulated rotating plurality of reels comprising a plurality of symbols including standard symbols and bonus trigger symbols; (ii) stopping a first reel of the simulated rotating plurality of reels, wherein the first reel displays a first plurality of symbols; (iii) determining whether of the first plurality of symbols displayed include i) all standard symbols, or ii) at least one bonus trigger symbol; (iv) on at least one remaining reel of the simulated rotating reels one of: i) modifying at least one bonus trigger symbol with a standard symbol if all standard symbols are displayed, or ii) modifying the at least one standard symbol with at least one bonus trigger symbol; (v) stopping the remaining reels of the simulated rotating plurality of reels, wherein the remaining reels display a plurality of symbols; (vi) evaluating the symbols stopped and displayed from each of the simulated rotType: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventor: Michael P. Casey
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Publication number: 20220130202Abstract: A gaming system includes a main display configured to display a wagering game comprising a plurality of virtual spinnable reels having a plurality of adjacent game symbol positions. A game controller is communicatively coupled to the display, and a computer-readable storage medium. The game controller is configured to initiate a first round of play of a base game causing a simulated spinning of the spinnable reels, change the base game to a metamorphic reel game based on a triggering condition of a special symbol landing on a stopped reel. At least one morphed reel is created from at least two of the spinnable reels. At least one reel is replaced with the morphed reel in the metamorphic reel game. A game outcome is determined based on paytable and a reduced number of reels that includes the morphed reel. Credit is awarded to the player based on the game outcome.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2022Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventors: Scott Kania, Michael P. Casey
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Patent number: 11222501Abstract: A gaming system includes a main display configured to display a wagering game comprising a plurality of virtual spinnable reels having a plurality of adjacent game symbol positions. A game controller is communicatively coupled to the display, and a computer-readable storage medium. The game controller is configured to initiate a first round of play of a base game causing a simulated spinning of the spinnable reels, change the base game to a metamorphic reel game based on a triggering condition of a special symbol landing on a stopped reel. At least one morphed reel is created from at least two of the spinnable reels. At least one reel is replaced with the morphed reel in the metamorphic reel game. A game outcome is determined based on paytable and a reduced number of reels that includes the morphed reel. Credit is awarded to the player based on the game outcome.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Inventors: Scott Kania, Michael P. Casey
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Patent number: 11183004Abstract: An gaming system includes a display that displays a wagering game having adjacent virtual spinnable reels having a plurality game symbol positions on the reels. The gaming system also includes a game controller communicatively coupled to the display and a tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The game controller, is configured to initiate a first round of play of a base game upon receipt of a player input, thereby causing a simulated spinning of the plurality of adjacent spinnable reels, determine, to change the base game to a metamorphic reel game, create a morphed reel during the first round of play, replace the reels with the morphed reel, determine a metamorphic reel game outcome for the first round of play based on a metamorphic reel game paytable and a reduced number of reels including the morphed reel. The game awards credit based on the metamorphic reel game outcome.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventors: Scott Kania, Michael P. Casey