Patents by Inventor Robert A. Luciano, Jr.

Robert A. Luciano, Jr. 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: 7281979
    Abstract: The present invention includes an interactive keno game method that comprises receiving at least one player selected symbol from a player during a game session. The at least one player selected symbol is drawn from a set of game symbols. The method then proceeds to receive a condition from the player that identifies the player credits applied for each chargeable action. The condition describes the number of credits that are to be played during each chargeable action. Each chargeable action includes the picking of at least one game selected symbol from the set of game symbols. During a game session the chargeable actions are performed more than once. Additionally, if there is a match between the at least one game selected symbol and the at least one player selected symbol the game session is paused. Furthermore, a prize may be awarded to the player when the at least one player selected symbol matches the at least one game selected symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Luciano, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20070178969
    Abstract: A gaming system having a game outcome generator separate from a gaming machine, where the gaming machine is operably connected to the game outcome generator and, upon a game play request from a player, generates a request for a game play result. The game outcome generator generates a specific game outcome (won amount if the game play is a winning result, or a no-win, o-value result) and sends it back to the gaming machine. The gaming machine uses the predetermined result to mimic or simulate a skill based game. The skill based game is designed to play just like an actual skill based game, which may result in poor players not getting the game to a state that has an equivalent value as that which is supposed to be awarded (equal to the predetermined game play). Each game includes a final game event, consistent with the game just played, which enables the game to make up any difference between the actual result of the skill based and the predetermined amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Luciano, Jr., Loren Nelson
  • Patent number: 7247098
    Abstract: A replacement device for a conventional bill acceptor in a gaming machine, located in the same space as the bill acceptor, has a bill acceptor or voucher reader/printer, plus at least a fingerprint reader. In one preferred embodiment, the new device has a bill acceptor, fingerprint reader, magnetic strip card reader, and an LCD screen. All interface to the existing game processor board using the bill acceptor's existing serial connection, and optionally to backend systems using an ethernet connection directly from the new device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Sierra Design Group
    Inventors: Russell T. Bradford, Robert A. Luciano, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7241221
    Abstract: A game usable by a player to make use of either residual game credits or partial game credits is disclosed. New aspects of the game include a fixed wager amount that is convertible with valid voucher from other games in a casino, a fixed win amount per game win event per session (a game session is a plurality of individual game plays), and the game's ability to repeat game play without player intervention. These qualities allow a player to present otherwise unusable or uninteresting game credits to the game of the present invention and then watch as the game first determines the number of individual game plays and then plays an entire game session without any player interaction required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Loren T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7137889
    Abstract: A new system and method for use in dynamic gaming environments such as Nevada-style casinos and Amerindian casinos is presented that enables using time-sensitive tickets as prizes. Block of tickets for a future event are allocated to a casino, which constitutes a “found” market (the ticket seller expends no funds for the tickets sold to the casino). This block may also be sold through normal reseller channels; the allocated block acts as a cap to the number of tickets potentially channeled through a casino rather than being a casino exclusive. This enables the casino to purchase the tickets at a steeper discount rates than is otherwise possible, and by associating tickets with payout events on games or progressives (instead of cash awards), enables time-sensitive tickets to be awarded as prizes on an on-going basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sierra Design Group
    Inventor: Robert A. Luciano, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7118476
    Abstract: A system for use in or with lottery games (including pull-tabs and the like) is disclosed, which provides a new prize award structure. Lottery prizes are issued as certificates, redeemable only for merchandise (not cash). Certificates may be set to any level desired by a lottery operator. Certificates are enabled to be multi-leveled, having a hierarchical and value relationship between levels. Certificates may also be issued as partial certificates, requiring accumulation until they are traded in for a full certificate; partial certificates cannot be used for merchandise redemption directly. Certificates are redeemed for merchandise at physical locations or on-line. Certificates provide the flexibility to be awarded as prizes for heretofore too-frequent events, such as matching only a single ball out of six, greatly enhancing player satisfaction and involvement in lottery and lottery-style games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren R. White, Robert A. Luciano, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7077747
    Abstract: A voucher-enabled gaming system for use with games of chance, where a player uses one-time-use vouchers having game credits or a value associated with each voucher. A voucher is inserted into a player terminal, read by the player terminal, and the associated value retrieved from a central server; game credits equivalent to the value are made available for game play. Upon cash-out from the player terminal (or other terminal type), a player will be issued a new voucher having a transaction ID generated by the terminal, the transaction ID being unique to the particular system installation and associated with the value of the voucher, which the player may then take to a different terminal to continue game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Sierra Design Group
    Inventor: Robert A. Luciano, Jr.
  • Patent number: D526686
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Sierra Design Group
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Timothy F. Kelley, Michael J. Souza
  • Patent number: D543247
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Michael J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: RE39659
    Abstract: The specification discloses a multi-wheel game-of-chance having at least two groups of spinning wheels, wherein each group includes at least two concentric spinning wheels having a viewable surface face thereon. A plurality of indicia are positioned on the peripheral of the viewable surface face of each wheel such that all indicia on each wheel is viewable to the user. Bet areas are positioned at various locations around at least a portion of each group of wheels; along a line joining the center of any two groups of wheels; and/or a junction between various radially positioned lines extending from the center of two or more groups of wheels. Each bet area represents a possible payline with various pay ratios depending on the probability of various predetermined combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Sierra Design Group
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Lawrence W. Luciano, Kurt W. Spencer
  • Patent number: D549785
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Gordon H. Myers
  • Patent number: D550297
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Michael J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: D550298
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Michael J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: D550299
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Michael J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: D550300
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Michael J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: D550301
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Michael J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: D550302
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Michael J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: D550303
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Michael J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: D550304
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Michael J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: D550305
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Michael J. Mitchell