Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system and method for conducting a wagering game on a plurality of gaming machines is disclosed. The method comprises the act of triggering a community event while conducting the wagering game on the plurality of gaming machines. Two or more gaming machines are selected to participate in the community event. The community event is selected from a plurality of independent community events. The gaming system comprises a plurality of gaming machines, at least one community display, and at least one controller. The controller is operative to select the two or more gaming machines to participate in the community event, and select the community event from the plurality of independent community events to display on the at least one community display.

Abstract: A method of funding features of a wagering game, comprises receiving a first sum of money generated from extra-casino activity associated with at least one person and depositing the first sum into a feature fund. The method further comprises allocating the first sum to at least one account of the feature fund in accordance with a first rule set. The method further comprises, in response to a triggering event, withdrawing a second sum of money from the at least one account. The method further comprises funding at least one feature associated with the wagering game from the second sum of money and activating the funded feature.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include presenting a primary wagering game and receiving a request to present a secondary game in connection with the primary wagering game. The primary wagering game and the secondary game can be separate applications that require interactivity with each other (e.g., provide required functionality to each other, communicate shared data with each other, etc.). The operations can further include determining that an application programming interface (“API”) provides the required interactivity so that the secondary game can function in conjunction with the primary wagering game without problems (e.g., can successfully plug-in to the primary wagering game). The operations can further determine optional and non-optional requirements and determine compatibilities based on the optional and non-optional requirements.

Abstract: In at least some aspects, a method includes the acts of operating a wagering game with a player on a first game platform, suspending the wagering game operating on the first game platform at a game state, automatically authenticating the player at a second game platform different than the first game platform, resuming the wagering game from the game state on the second game platform, and operating the resumed wagering game with the player differently on the second game platform than on the first game platform, the second game platform having one or more different components than the first game platform to cause the wagering game to be operated differently on the second game platform than the first game platform.

Abstract: Some examples described include a system to perform operations that include accessing a user account responsive to communication with a plug-in of a web browser. In some examples, the operations further include providing gaming information associated with the user account. The plug-in is configured to present the gaming information in a graphical-user-interface object of the web browser. The graphical-user-interface object is separate from a main display area of the web browser. In some examples, the operations further include, based on user interaction with the graphical-user-interface object, providing content that is related to the gaming information for presentation via the main display area of the web browser.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a wagering game player, a request to access an online account for the wagering game player at a website. The method includes creating the online account for the wagering game player, in response to a determination that the online account is not created, wherein the online account comprises an online player identity. The method includes performing operations, after determination that the online account has not claimed a casino account for the wagering game player. Operations include creating the casino account for the wagering game player through the online account at the website, in response to a determination that the casino account is not created, wherein the casino account comprises a casino player identity. The operations include claiming the casino account for the online account of the wagering game player, wherein the casino account is inaccessible at the wagering game machine using the online player identity.

Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of configuring gaming devices, and computer programs for configuring gaming devices are featured. A gaming system for playing a wagering game is disclosed which includes a processor(s), an input device(s), a gaming device(s), and a memory device(s) storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the processors, cause the gaming system to: receive, via at least one of the input devices, a desired value for a player-performance variable and/or a game-configuration variable for at least one of the gaming devices; based on the desired value, output a recommended value for a configuration parameter for the gaming device(s); and, responsive to a confirmation input received via at least one of the input devices, configure the gaming device(s) in accordance with at least the recommended value for the first configuration parameter.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include intercepting video data from a graphics controller of a wagering game machine. In some instances, the video data depicts wagering game content for a wagering game. In some examples, a first content controller, associated with the wagering game, is configured to cause the graphics controller to generate the video data. The operations can further include performing a graphical analysis of the video data via a second content controller independent from the first content controller. The operations can further include after performing the graphical analysis, modifying the video data via the second content controller. In some examples modifying the video data modifies an appearance of a first portion of the wagering game content without modifying an appearance of a second portion of the wagering game content.

Abstract: According to one example embodiment disclosed herein, a wagering game is operated on a first platform, wherein the first platform is capable of supporting all or fewer than all of a plurality of game assets associated with the wagering game, and further wherein the wagering game is capable of receiving a wager. The wagering game is operated on a second platform that is capable of supporting all or fewer than all of the plurality of game assets. A player may accumulate one or more player assets while the wagering game is played on the first platform. At least one of the accumulated player assets is transferred to the play of the wagering game on the second platform, wherein at least one capability of the first platform is different from a corresponding capability on the second platform.

Abstract: A method and system to perform operations for providing mobile gaming. In some instances, the operations include detecting a cash input at a casino kiosk, generating an electronic tracking identifier, and storing a first copy of the electronic tracking identifier in a memory accessible to a gaming server. The operations can further include causing a casino accounting system to generate a casino accounting system identifier associated with an amount for the cash input. The operations can further include obtaining the casino accounting system identifier, associating the casino accounting system identifier with the first copy of the electronic tracking identifier; and instructing the casino kiosk to present a second copy of the electronic tracking identifier to link to a mobile device for the mobile gaming session.

Abstract: A gaming system for playing a wagering game includes a display and a controller. The display displays a base game of the wagering game in response to receiving a wager input from a player. The controller is coupled to the display and, in response to receiving the wager input, is programmed to increment eligibility time to a counter of bonus-time eligibility. The counter is decremented as real time progresses. If the counter is greater than zero when a bonus game of the wagering game is triggered, the player is allowed to play the bonus game.

Abstract: This description describes techniques for processing events in a wagering game machine. In some embodiments, a wagering game machine includes a game controller configured to instantiate a game state element based on game state element generation information and game state types, wherein the game state element is configured to present a wagering game, and wherein the game state element includes states, wherein each state includes behaviors. The wagering game machine can also include an event controller to notify the game state element about events, wherein the events cause the game state element to move between the states and to perform the behaviors.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a host gaming server, notifications of account logins from a number of wagering game machines from at least one wagering game establishment. The method includes receiving, at the host gaming server, messages from multiple messaging sources that comprise at least one of a social networking website, a microblogging website, and at least some of the number of wagering game machines, wherein the messages comprise messages related to activity at the at least one wagering game establishment that include game play at the number of wagering game machines and messages related to activity external to the at least one wagering game establishment. The method includes aggregating, by the host gaming server, the messages from the multiple messaging sources. The method includes filtering, by the host gaming server, the messages for each of the account logins to create filtered messages.

Abstract: A method of operating a wagering game comprises detecting receipt of a primary wager for playing a primary wagering game, and activating a first bonus feature in response to one or more first eligibility criteria, the first bonus feature having a first bonus payback percentage. The method further comprises activating a second bonus feature in response to one or more second eligibility criteria, the one or more second eligibility criteria including activation of the first bonus feature. The second bonus feature has a second bonus payback percentage higher than the first bonus payback percentage. The method further comprises displaying a randomly selected outcome of the primary wagering game, and in response to at least one triggering event associated with the first and the second bonus features, conducting the first or second bonus feature if the first and second bonus feature is active.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include transmitting an offer of a reward to deposit funds into a wagering game player account prior to initiating a wagering game session within a gaming venue, such as a physical gamine venue (e.g., a casino). In one example, the offer is transmitted to a computing device accessible outside the gaming venue. The operations can further include detecting player input associated with the offer, where the player input authorizes a transfer of the funds from a financial account for deposit into the wagering game player account. The operations can further include transferring of the funds specified via the player input from the financial account to the wagering game player account. The operations can further include assigning the reward to the wagering game player account in response to the transferring of the funds.

Abstract: Some examples described include a system to perform operations that include detecting, via use of a gaming plug-in, that first content is presented in a main display area of a web browser. The operations can further include, after detecting that the first content is presented, detecting that second content was previously presented via the main display area of the web browser. In some examples, the second content is associated with gaming content. The operations can further include providing, in a graphical-user-interface object of the web browser separate from the main display area of the web browser, information related to the gaming content in response to the detecting that second content was previously presented via the main display area of the browser.

Abstract: A method of funding features of a wagering game, comprises receiving a first sum of money generated from extra-casino activity associated with at least one person and depositing the first sum into a feature fund. The method further comprises allocating the first sum to at least one account of the feature fund in accordance with a first rule set. The method further comprises, in response to a triggering event, withdrawing a second sum of money from the at least one account. The method further comprises funding at least one feature associated with the wagering game from the second sum of money and activating the funded feature.

Abstract: A method of operating a wagering game comprises detecting receipt of a primary wager for playing a primary wagering game, and activating a first bonus feature in response to one or more first eligibility criteria, the first bonus feature having a first bonus payback percentage. The method further comprises activating a second bonus feature in response to one or more second eligibility criteria, the one or more second eligibility criteria including activation of the first bonus feature. The second bonus feature has a second bonus payback percentage higher than the first bonus payback percentage. The method further comprises displaying a randomly selected outcome of the primary wagering game, and in response to at least one triggering event associated with the first and the second bonus features, conducting the first or second bonus feature if the first and second bonus feature is active.

Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that authorize and manage wagering agents and associated accounts. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can detecting a request from a first player account to utilize a shared wagering fund to wager on a wagering game. The shared wagering fund can be funded by a second player account. The wagering game system can make the shared wagering fund available to the first player account to wager on a wagering game. The wagering game system can determine a game award produced by the wagering game. The system can then allocate a portion of the game award to the second player account.

Abstract: Dynamic skinning can be propagated between a base game and a portal game. A base game and a portal game can be unidirectionally or bidirectionally “hooked” into each other to utilize perceivable elements of the other. For instance, a first set of dynamic perceivable elements are defined for a base game and a second set of dynamic perceivable elements are defined for a portal game. These sets of dynamic perceivable elements can change based on various conditions. The base game can rely on the second game (or code or configurations associated with the second game) for dynamic skinning that varies with the portal game while the portal game can rely on the base game (or code or configurations associated with the base game) for dynamic skinning that varies with the base game. Furthermore, a perceivable element can traverse a base game and a portal game.