Abstract: A gaming machine having a utility shelf movably attached thereto wherein the utility shelf is adapted to move between a stowed position and a play position where the stowed position is substantially non-horizontal and the play position is substantially horizontal. In this manner, gaming machine players may play bingo (or other live, card-based games) simultaneously while playing a gaming machine.

Abstract: A system and method for awarding bonus prizes is paid responsive to the last two or more bingo balls called during a bingo game (e.g., last five balls form a predetermined combination of bingo letters). For example, if the last five balls called in a bingo game are an “O” ball, preceded by a “G” ball, preceded by an “N” ball, preceded by an “I” ball, and preceded by a “B” ball, the last five balls called or selected in the bingo game spell the word “BINGO” and accordingly, the winning bingo card is paid a jackpot prize. Another example of a bonus combination is the last three balls spelling the word “BIG.” Yet another example of a bonus combination is the word “BIG” being spelled by bingo balls selected by a pair of ball blowers working in tandem.

Abstract: A system and method using one or more remote controllers to control hands-free ball blowers. The remote controllers may be used by bingo callers and/or a designated bingo player. In addition, the remote controllers are configured to enable bingo callers to override a designated bingo player's control of the ball-blowers if needed, e.g., if a player delays a drawing of a bingo ball for too long a time. The system and method allows players to be more interactive with bingo games and similar draw-type games.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ball blower apparatus for facilitating games of chance. The ball blower apparatus has a motor-driven ball carriage mechanism that captures air-ejected balls from a ball mixing chamber and carries the captured ball to an inlet of a ball return tube that extends downward to a bottom of the ball mixing chamber. Captured balls travel down the tube under air pressure generated by an air blower. The air pressure also prevents the balls from electro-statically clinging to walls of the tube. The balls may be bar-coded and scanned by a barcode reader while being handled by the ball carriage mechanism. A computer interfaced with the barcode reader automatically controls the operation of the ball blower including the operation of the carriage motor, air blower(s) and a solenoid that controls the egress of balls from the ball return tube into the mixing chamber. A TV camera may also be utilized to capture and visually display numbers associated with the balls.

Abstract: A method for updating importance rank of Internet Web pages. The importance rank is used by an application. The Internet includes Hyper-links interconnecting the Web units. The method includes the step of updating the importance rank of Web pages in the internet in real time during visit of the Web pages, and applying corrective measures in order to render the graph strongly connected. Repeating the step as many times as required. The above updating of importance rank of step (a) is capable of being executed also when the Internet is changing.

Abstract: A method for updating importance rank of Internet Web pages. The importance rank is used by an application. The Internet includes Hyper-links interconnecting the Web units. The method includes the step of updating the importance rank of Web pages in the internet in real time during visit of the Web pages, and applying corrective measures in order to render the graph strongly connected. Repeating the step as many times as required. The above updating of importance rank of step (a) is capable of being executed also when the Internet is changing.