Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The gaming system includes a plurality of progressive awards arranged in a hierarchy. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event or qualifying condition, a bonus game is started. A player can win a next higher progressive award by accumulating award values. If the player's total award value is greater than or equal to a trigger value for a progressive award, the player wins the progressive award. Unless a termination condition occurs, the bonus game continues. The total award value is set to the progressive award value. Alternatively, the progressive award value is added to the player's total award value. The trigger value for a progressive award can be the startup value for that progressive award.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a plurality of reels associated with the game of chance. Each of the plurality of reels includes a plurality of reel positions to generate a symbol thereon. The gaming machine also includes a display including a defined plurality of positions to present a symbol thereon. The gaming machine also includes a processor programmed to generate a spin of the plurality of reels. The spin results in a play area including one or more symbols generated from each of the plurality of reels. The processor is also programmed to identify a first unfolding symbol in a first position on the play area, determine a second position on the play area adjacent to the first position, and display a second unfolding symbol in the second position on based at least in part on the determining, thereby unfolding the first unfolding symbol.

Abstract: A gaming machine for providing a game of chance operable upon a wager by a player includes a plurality of reels associated with the game of chance. Each of the plurality of reels includes a plurality of reel positions to generate a symbol thereon. The gaming machine also includes a display comprising a defined plurality of positions to present a symbol thereon for each of the plurality of reels. The gaming machine further includes a processor programmed to generate a spin of the plurality of reels, resulting in a play area. The processor is also programmed to identify a splitting symbol in a first position on the play area, thereby activating the splitting symbol. The processor is further programmed to determine a second position on the play area that includes a splitting symbol as a result of the spin, and to display an additional splitting symbol in the second position.

Abstract: A game system and method plays an electronic provides an electronic community bingo game. The electronic community bingo game is initiated on a predetermined periodic time period and has a predetermined qualifying basis. Each player's entry into the electronic community bingo game is normalized as a function of the respective player's wagers and the predetermined qualifying basis.

Abstract: A gaming machine that includes a game of chance operable upon a wager by a player, a display, and a plurality of reels associated with the game of chance, wherein each of the plurality of reels include a defined plurality of positions to generate a symbol on the display. The gaming machine further including a processor programmed to provide the game of chance on the gaming machine, determine that at least two symbols generated on one of the plurality of reels are a designated symbol, and based on the determining, lock a position of the one of the plurality of reels for at least one additional generation of symbols on the other of the plurality of reels.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The gaming system includes a plurality of progressive awards arranged in a hierarchy. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event or qualifying condition, a bonus game is started. A player can win a next higher progressive award by accumulating award values. If the player's total award value is greater than or equal to a trigger value for a progressive award, the player wins the progressive award. Unless a termination condition occurs, the bonus game continues. The total award value is set to the progressive award value. Alternatively, the progressive award value is added to the player's total award value. The trigger value for a progressive award can be the startup value for that progressive award.

Abstract: A gaming machine that includes a game of chance operable upon a wager by a player, a display, and a plurality of reels associated with the game of chance, wherein each of the plurality of reels include a defined plurality of positions to generate a symbol on the display. The gaming machine further including a processor programmed to provide the game of chance on the gaming machine, determine that at least two symbols generated on one of the plurality of reels are a designated symbol, and based on the determining, lock a position of the one of the plurality of reels for at least one additional generation of symbols on the other of the plurality of reels.

Abstract: A gaming machine that includes a multi-action switch that is held in an initial position when the multi-action switch is not being pressed, and a position detection device for detecting whether the multi-action switch is in a first position, a second position, or a third position. The gaming machine further includes a controller for controlling operations of the gaming machine in accordance with the position of the multi-action switch, such that the gaming machine carries out a first operation when the position detecting device detects that the multi-action switch has reached the first position, a second operation when the position detecting device detects that the multi-action switch has reached the second position, and a third operation when the position detecting device detects that the multi-action switch has reached the third position.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The gaming system includes a plurality of progressive awards arranged in a hierarchy. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event or qualifying condition, a bonus game is started. A player can win a next higher progressive award by accumulating award values. If the player's total award value is greater than or equal to a trigger value for a progressive award, the player wins the progressive award. Unless a termination condition occurs, the bonus game continues. The total award value is set to the progressive award value. Alternatively, the progressive award value is added to the player's total award value. The trigger value for a progressive award can be the startup value for that progressive award.

Abstract: The gaming system that includes a server, a Class II gaming machine communicatively coupled to the server, and a processor. The processor is programmed to, upon an input of a wager by a player operating the Class II gaming machine, provide a bingo based game on the Class II gaming machine, the bingo based game including gaming content that includes at least one bingo game card, determine that a triggering event has occurred during play of the bingo based game, and based on the triggering event, providing the player with at least one free bingo card in a bingo based bonus game.

Abstract: A gaming machine that includes a cabinet, a peripheral device coupled to the cabinet, a curved video display, and a processor is provided. The curved video display includes a cutout, wherein a perimeter of the cutout surrounds the peripheral device, and wherein the processor is programmed to display, on the curved video display, a graphic adjacent to and associated with the peripheral device.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines is provided. The gaming system includes a plurality of progressive awards arranged in a hierarchy. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event or qualifying condition, a bonus game is started. A player can win a next higher progressive award by accumulating award values. If the player's total award value is greater than or equal to a trigger value for a progressive award, the player wins the progressive award. Unless a termination condition occurs, the bonus game continues. The total award value is set to the progressive award value. Alternatively, the progressive award value is added to the player's total award value. The trigger value for a progressive award can be the startup value for that progressive award.

Abstract: The gaming system that includes a server, a gaming machine communicatively coupled to the server, and a processor. The processor is programmed to: upon receiving a wager at the gaming machine, provide a bingo based game on the gaming machine, the bingo based game comprising gaming content that includes at least one bingo game card, determine that a triggering event has occurred during play of the bingo based game, and based on the triggering event, provide the player with at least one free bingo card in a bingo based bonus game.

Abstract: A gaming machine that includes a multi-action switch that is held in an initial position when the multi-action switch is not being pressed, and a position detection device for detecting whether the multi-action switch is in the initial position, a second position, or a third position. The gaming machine further includes a controller for controlling operations of the gaming machine in accordance with the position of the multi-action switch, such that the gaming machine carries out a first operation when the position detecting device detects that the multi-action switch has reached the second position, and a second operation when the position detecting device detects that the multi-action switch has reached the third position.

Abstract: A gaming machine that includes a multi-action switch that is held in an initial position when the multi-action switch is not being pressed, and a position detection device for detecting whether the multi-action switch is in a first position, a second position, or a third position. The gaming machine further includes a controller for controlling operations of the gaming machine in accordance with the position of the multi-action switch, such that the gaming machine carries out a first operation when the position detecting device detects that the multi-action switch has reached the first position, a second operation when the position detecting device detects that the multi-action switch has reached the second position, and a third operation when the position detecting device detects that the multi-action switch has reached the third position.

Abstract: A game system and method plays an electronic provides an electronic community bingo game. The electronic community bingo game is initiated on a predetermined periodic time period and has a predetermined qualifying basis. Each player's entry into the electronic community bingo game is normalized as a function of the respective player's wagers and the predetermined qualifying basis.

Abstract: The gaming system that includes a server, a Class II gaming machine communicatively coupled to the server, and a processor. The processor is programmed to, upon an input of a wager by a player operating the Class II gaming machine, provide a bingo based game on the Class II gaming machine, the bingo based game including gaming content that includes at least one bingo game card, determine that a triggering event has occurred during play of the bingo based game, and based on the triggering event, providing the player with at least one free bingo card in a bingo based bonus game.

Abstract: A method for playing a game of chance on a gaming machine that includes a display and a plurality of reel positions associated with the game of chance. The plurality of reel positions are configured to be populated with predefined reel strips selected from a reel strip database. The method includes providing the game of chance on the gaming machine, selecting a plurality of predefined reel strips from the reel strip database, populating the plurality of reel positions with the selected plurality of predefined reel strips, and displaying a result of spinning the selected plurality of predefined reel strips.

Abstract: A gaming machine that includes a multi-action switch that is held in an initial position when the multi-action switch is not being pressed, and a position detection device for detecting whether the multi-action switch is in the initial position, a second position, or a third position. The gaming machine further includes a controller for controlling operations of the gaming machine in accordance with the position of the multi-action switch, such that the gaming machine carries out a first operation when the position detecting device detects that the multi-action switch has reached the second position, and a second operation when the position detecting device detects that the multi-action switch has reached the third position.

Abstract: A gaming machine that includes a game of chance operable upon a wager by a player, a display, and a plurality of reels associated with the game of chance, wherein each of the plurality of reels include a defined plurality of positions to generate a symbol on the display. The gaming machine further including a processor programmed to provide the game of chance on the gaming machine, determine that at least two symbols generated on one of the plurality of reels are a designated symbol, and based on the determining, lock a position of the one of the plurality of reels for at least one additional generation of symbols on the other of the plurality of reels.