Abstract: The present system provides an incentive for players to place maximum wagers in an effort to gain access to secondary games, the entry of which is controlled by the player's own wager amount, wager type, or wager source. In employing such games, gaming machine establishments are able to maximize the level of play on each of their gaming machines and thereby reduce operation costs and increase the number of machines available for play.

Abstract: Uncarded play can be monitored by a gaming device or network to target incentives aimed at achieving player tracking system enrollment. A player is permitted to begin gaming device play. The player's play is monitored for triggering events suggesting a player's value to the casino and prompting notification of join-up incentives to the player. The player can be solicited to enroll and can be awarded join-up incentives following enrollment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention allow a player to have a unique gaming experience, different than other players, even when playing on the same network. A game may span several gaming sessions. States of a game, for example a bonus game, may be stored when the player decides to stop playing the game. When the player initiates a next gaming session, at the same or another location, the previous state of the game is re-loaded onto the gaming machine and the player returns to the previous state. Further, additional bonuses can be implemented because the network knows the identity and other information about the player. The additional bonuses may be unique to that player. Messages particular to a player are exchanged between a gaming device and a gaming network.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. In one embodiment, the gaming system provides players with one or more loyalty incentives, such as one or more loyalty awards, utilizing one or more loyalty incentive award sequences. In one embodiment, the gaming system determines a loyalty award to provide to a player and then determines an appropriate loyalty award sequence to utilize to provide the player the determined loyalty award, wherein the loyalty award sequence is determined based on the individual gaming device that the player is currently playing.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine.

Abstract: A method for awarding a bonus to a player of an electronic gaming device at one of a plurality of casino properties is implemented with a slave server networked with gaming devices at each property. The slave servers are networked with a master server that accumulates a pool comprising a percentage of play on the gaming devices. The pool is initiated with a starting value, which defines the lower end of a range having a predetermined maximum number at the upper end. A number is randomly selected from within the range. As play progresses, the pool increases until it hits the random number. As a result, a slave server is randomly selected. The randomly selected slave server then awards the bonus to a randomly selected one of its associated gaming devices.

Abstract: A method for awarding a bonus to a player of an electronic gaming device at one of a plurality of casino properties is implemented with a slave server networked with gaming devices at each property. The slave servers are networked with a master server that accumulates a pool comprising a percentage of play on the gaming devices. The pool is initiated with a starting value, which defines the lower end of a range having a predetermined maximum number at the upper end. A number is randomly selected from within the range. As play progresses, the pool increases until it hits the random number. As a result, a slave server is randomly selected. The randomly selected slave server then awards the bonus to a randomly selected one of its associated gaming devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to networked gaming devices that can keep particularized records for identified players. A server can store records of player's present and past actions on the gaming network and can communicate with the gaming device using messaging. In some embodiments, status of games or awards can be stored from one gaming session to another, which allows a player to resume a previously started game or award at a later time. Some games include rewards that are collected over time that can be redeemed for personalized rewards.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a central server or controller operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming machines to provide non-tournament game play and to provide tournament game play on the same gaming machines.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine.

Abstract: A system for interfacing with a third-party application is described. The system includes a third-party device, a server-based system configured to communicate with the third-party device, and a gaming device configured to communicate with the server-based system to display content of the product or service. The gaming device is configured to generate an outcome of a wager-based game independent of the content that is displayed.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for implementing wireless communications among devices in a wager-based gaming environment which may include at least one portable electronic smart card device and/or at least one electronic wagering token. Some aspects relate to periodically engaging in wireless communications between a portable electronic smart card device and a plurality of electronic wagering tokens.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for implementing wireless communications among devices in a wager-based gaming environment which may include at least one portable electronic smart card device and/or at least one electronic wagering token. Some aspects relate to periodically engaging in wireless communications between a portable electronic smart card device and a plurality of electronic wagering tokens.

Abstract: A gaming system and method that enables tournament table games and non-tournament table games to be played simultaneously at a same gaming table with a processor automatically determining the results of the tournament. The players at a gaming table may play a tournament game simultaneously with other tournament players, may play the tournament at different times with tournament players on gaming tables simultaneously playing tournament games as other players play non-tournament games on a same gaming table and a single player may simultaneously or sequentially play tournament and non-tournament games at a gaming table with suitable chip identification devices. During the tournament the gaming system tracks at least the tournament players' wagers wins, losses, and chip totals and/or chip values with suitable chip identification devices and automatically determines the results of the tournament based on the chip identification.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a central server or controller operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming machines to provide non-tournament game play and to provide tournament game play on the same gaming machines.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a central server or controller operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming machines to provide non-tournament game play and to provide tournament game play on the same gaming machines.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a central server or controller operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming machines to provide non-tournament game play and to provide tournament game play on the same gaming machines.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. In one embodiment, the gaming system provides players with one or more loyalty incentives, such as one or more loyalty awards, utilizing one or more loyalty incentive award sequences. In one embodiment, the gaming system determines a loyalty award to provide to a player and then determines an appropriate loyalty award sequence to utilize to provide the player the determined loyalty award, wherein the loyalty award sequence is determined based on the individual gaming device that the player is currently playing.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for facilitating side wagering activities conducted at a casino which includes a casino gaming network. In at least one embodiment, the gaming network includes a plurality of gaming devices, including a first gaming device. A side wager request may be received for placing a first side wager relating to a first target. In at least one embodiment, the first target may be selected from a group of possible targets which, for example, may include, but are not limited to one or more of the following (or combination thereof): casino players, game tables, electronic gaming devices (EGDs), game themes, game denominations, game paytables, etc. An identity of a first player associated with generating the first side wager request may be determined. A first side wager session may be automatically initiated.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The central server includes a plurality of progressive modules. Each progressive module maintains one or more progressive awards and is associated with zero, one or more of the gaming machines in the gaming system. Upon a determination that a designated one of the progressive awards will be provided, one of the gaming machines associated with the progressive module which maintains the designated progressive award provides the designated progressive award to the player of such gaming machine.