Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.

Abstract: A processor-based gaming machine running wager-based games can include an exterior housing, a master gaming controller, a display device, and an anonymous player tracking device adapted to detect passively biometric information from players to facilitate the anonymous tracking of gaming activities without the use of traditional player tracking instruments. A player tracking system can include multiple such gaming machines, a database storing a plurality of player profiles that include biometric data, and a remote player tracking server configured to receive passively detected biometric data regarding anonymous players, determine whether the received biometric data is associated with existing player profiles, attribute credit for the anonymous gaming activity if it is, and create a new player profile if it is not. Player profiles can include multiple biometrics for each player, and confidence levels can be associated with a given biometric to a profile and a given gaming session to a profile.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a cabinet, a display mounted to the cabinet, a wireless interface for communicating with a portable electronic device, a network interface for communicating with a validation server, a bill validator coupled to a game controller configured to accept bills and printed ticket vouchers, and a removable cash box. The game controller includes a processor and a memory configured to control a wager-based game played on the EGM, redeem virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers, receive an indication to transfer value to the EGM via a virtual ticket voucher, receive the virtual ticket voucher including a virtual ticket voucher validation number from the portable electronic device via the wireless interface, validate the virtual ticket voucher with the validation server via the network interface, deposit a credit amount associated with the virtual ticket voucher, and notify the validation server that the virtual ticket voucher is redeemed.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a cabinet, a display mounted to the cabinet, a wireless interface for communicating with a portable electronic device, a network interface for communicating with a validation server, a bill validator coupled to a game controller configured to accept bills and printed ticket vouchers, and a removable cash box. The game controller includes a processor and a memory configured to control a wager-based game played on the EGM, redeem virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers, receive an indication to transfer value to the EGM via a virtual ticket voucher, receive the virtual ticket voucher including a virtual ticket voucher validation number from the portable electronic device via the wireless interface, validate the virtual ticket voucher with the validation server via the network interface, deposit a credit amount associated with the virtual ticket voucher, and notify the validation server that the virtual ticket voucher is redeemed.

Abstract: A reel assembly for a gaming machine includes an inner drive ring defining an annular inner rim, an outer ring, and a support substrate. The outer ring is spaced from and coaxially positioned relative to the inner drive ring, and the outer ring defines an annular outer rim. The support substrate has opposing side edges each coupled to a different one of the annular inner rim and the annular outer rim. The support substrate extends substantially unsupported between the annular inner rim and the annular outer rim in a substantially continuous manner maintaining the annular inner rim spaced from the annular out rim.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.

Abstract: A lighting assembly for a reel slot machine includes an interface board and a flexible printed circuit board (PCB). The interface board is substantially planar, electrically couplable to the reel slot machine, and includes a first electrical connection plug and a second electrical connection plug spaced from the first electrical connection plug. The flexible PCB defines a first end and a second end, the first end and second ends of the flexible PCB are electrically coupled to the first electrical connection plug and the second electrical connection plug, respectively. The flexible PCB bows away from each of the first and second ends to define a bowed primary face facing away from the interface board. The flexible PCB further comprises a plurality of light sources coupled to the bowed primary face. During use, the plurality of light sources selectively illuminate to provide lighting to a reel of the reel slot machine.

Abstract: A lighting assembly for a reel slot machine includes an interface board and a flexible printed circuit board (PCB). The interface board is substantially planar, electrically couplable to the reel slot machine, and includes a first electrical connection plug and a second electrical connection plug spaced from the first electrical connection plug. The flexible PCB defines a first end and a second end, the first end and second ends of the flexible PCB are electrically coupled to the first electrical connection plug and the second electrical connection plug, respectively. The flexible PCB bows away from each of the first and second ends to define a bowed primary face facing away from the interface board. The flexible PCB further comprises a plurality of light sources coupled to the bowed primary face. During use, the plurality of light sources selectively illuminate to provide lighting to a reel of the reel slot machine.

Abstract: A reel assembly for a gaming machine includes an inner drive ring defining an annular inner rim, an outer ring, and a support substrate. The outer ring is spaced from and coaxially positioned relative to the inner drive ring, and the outer ring defines an annular outer rim. The support substrate has opposing side edges each coupled to a different one of the annular inner rim and the annular outer rim. The support substrate extends substantially unsupported between the annular inner rim and the annular outer rim in a substantially continuous manner maintaining the annular inner rim spaced from the annular out rim.

Abstract: Flexibly configurable button panels for electronic devices and dynamic display systems for wager based gaming machines are disclosed. Button panels include a flexible cable, surface mount or other cable connectors spaced along and coupled thereto, and button assemblies coupled thereto via the cable connectors to provide electrical access from buttons to circuit lines. Relative physical locations of buttons are then reconfigurable to form different button panel configurations while the buttons remain coupled to the flexible cable. A dedicated dynamic button panel controller for processing button functions and a button panel identification device having an identification code can also be provided. Buttons can be removably coupled to the cable connectors, and can also include dynamic displays thereupon. Other gaming machine dynamic displays can also be provided.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a cabinet, a display mounted to the cabinet, a wireless interface for communicating with a portable electronic device, a network interface for communicating with a validation server, a bill validator coupled to a game controller configured to accept bills and printed ticket vouchers, and a removable cash box. The game controller includes a processor and a memory configured to control a wager-based game played on the EGM, redeem virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers, receive an indication to transfer value to the EGM via a virtual ticket voucher, receive the virtual ticket voucher including a virtual ticket voucher validation number from the portable electronic device via the wireless interface, validate the virtual ticket voucher with the validation server via the network interface, deposit a credit amount associated with the virtual ticket voucher, and notify the validation server that the virtual ticket voucher is redeemed.

Abstract: Music and sounds from a player's mobile device, such as a smart phone or tablet, can be played on an electronic gaming machine during game play. The invention enables a player of an electronic gaming machine to have music from his mobile device be played on the gaming machine as background music during game play. Music files from the player's mobile device are transmitted or streamed to the EGM and the audio is output during game play. A casino may have an audio files library where the files are tagged with certain categories (e.g., game type, specific game, promotion type, etc.). These tags are used to facilitate music and sound selection for the EGM. Music and sounds may be sourced from the player's mobile device, the casino's audio library, or from online sources.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.

Abstract: Flexibly configurable button panels for electronic devices and dynamic display systems for wager based gaming machines are disclosed. Button panels include a flexible cable, surface mount or other cable connectors spaced along and coupled thereto, and button assemblies coupled thereto via the cable connectors to provide electrical access from buttons to circuit lines. Relative physical locations of buttons are then reconfigurable to form different button panel configurations while the buttons remain coupled to the flexible cable. A dedicated dynamic button panel controller for processing button functions and a button panel identification device having an identification code can also be provided. Buttons can be removably coupled to the cable connectors, and can also include dynamic displays thereupon. Other gaming machine dynamic displays can also be provided.

Abstract: A processor-based gaming machine running wager-based games can include an exterior housing, a master gaming controller, a display device, and an anonymous player tracking device adapted to detect passively biometric information from players to facilitate the anonymous tracking of gaming activities without the use of traditional player tracking instruments. A player tracking system can include multiple such gaming machines, a database storing a plurality of player profiles that include biometric data, and a remote player tracking server configured to receive passively detected biometric data regarding anonymous players, determine whether the received biometric data is associated with existing player profiles, attribute credit for the anonymous gaming activity if it is, and create a new player profile if it is not. Player profiles can include multiple biometrics for each player, and confidence levels can be associated with a given biometric to a profile and a given gaming session to a profile.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.