Abstract: The gaming system and method of the present disclosure leverage casino patrons' mobile devices to facilitate directing the patrons exactly to their desired electronic gaming machines (EGMs). In various embodiments, the gaming system includes a central controller communicatively connected to a plurality of EGMs. The central controller receives a request from a patron's mobile device to find a desired one of the EGMs. The central controller causes the desired EGM and the patron's mobile device to output the same patron identifier, such as a patron-created image, and causes the patron's mobile device to use GPS to direct the patron to the vicinity of the desired EGM. Once the patron is within the vicinity of the desired EGM, the patron can quickly scan the surrounding EGMs to determine the one outputting the patron identifier, which is the patron's desired EGM.

Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring customer activities within a casino enterprise can be used to determine a current utilization of casino activities so that the casino can offer an optimal mixture of activities. Further, the system can identify customers (whose loyalty a casino enterprise may wish to cultivate) based on their utilization of the activities. The monitoring system can passively track portable wireless devices and associate the portable wireless devices with activities within the casino enterprise that are not attributable to customers registered in a loyalty program. The person controlling a particular portable device can be unknown. A virtual customer account can be created where the first portable device is used to identify a virtual customer associated with the account. Based upon identification of the first portable device, activities can be associated with the virtual customer and store to the virtual customer account.

Abstract: A wager gaming machine may be configured not only to provide wagering games, but also to communicate with one or more hosts that can provide information and/or services pertaining to local wager gaming events, including but not limited to local tournaments, local restaurants, local messages (e.g., messages from other players in the gaming establishment), local social events, local sporting events, local dating opportunities, etc. Other hosts may provide information and/or services pertaining to business or finance (e.g., stock quotes), sports, news, weather, etc. Processes for conveying audio, video, etc., from host devices may be separate from processes used to control wager game presentations. At least some such processes may be able to output an associated “skin” on a video system of the wager gaming machine. These processes may involve providing one or more “widgets.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. When a Player surpasses predetermined game play parameters on a game of an EGM, a bonus game or related game material may be “unlocked” and offered to the Player for download onto the Player's Portable Electronic Device (PED). Upon installation, the game or content may be viewed or played on their PED at a later time and at their leisure.

Abstract: The gaming system and method, of the present disclosure leverage casino patrons' mobile devices to facilitate directing the patrons exactly to their desired electronic gaming machines (EGMs). In various embodiments, the gaming system includes a central controller communicatively connected to a plurality of EGMs. The central controller receives a request from a patron's mobile device to find a desired one of the EGMs. The central controller causes the desired EGM and the patron's mobile device to output the same patron identifier, such as a patron-created image, and causes the patron's mobile device to use GPS to direct the patron to the vicinity of the desired EGM. Once the patron is within the vicinity of the desired EGM, the patron can quickly scan the surrounding EGMs to determine the one outputting the patron identifier, which is the patron's desired EGM.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. When a transaction is initiated on an EGM that requires the input of Sensitive Information data, such data can be input directly from the Player/Patrons Portable Electronic Device. Hence, such input of their Sensitive Information data is more discrete, and generally out of plain view from the other Player/Patrons.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. When a transaction is initiated on an EGM that requires the input of Sensitive Information data, such data can be input directly from the Player/Patrons Portable Electronic Device. Hence, such input of their Sensitive Information data is more discrete, and generally out of plain view from the other Player/Patrons.

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: Methods an apparatus are described for verifying a game of chance is displayed correctly on a remote client. The verification may include storing game history information associated with a game of chance presented at a remote client. The server can provide a game outcome associated with the game of chance, and the game outcome can be presented visually on the remote client. A sample game outcome can be generated on a remote client and a user may be asked one or more questions about the sample game outcome to verify that the sample game outcome is correctly displayed on the remote client. In addition, the remote client can then generate a hash of the 1 game outcome and send the hash to the server. The server can store the client-generated hash and game history. If a dispute arises, this client-generated hash can be compared to a server-generated hash. A comparison of these hashes can be used to verify that the correct outcome was displayed on the remote client.

Abstract: Trajectory-based games of chance are described that may be implemented on a video gaming machine. In a trajectory-based game of chance, a trajectory of a game object may be generated in a 3-D gaming environment. A wager may be made on an aspect of the game object's trajectory in the gaming environment such as a termination location for the trajectory of the game object. The aspect of the game object's trajectory may occur according to a known probability. Hence, an award for the trajectory-based game of chance may be proportional to the probability of the aspect of the game object's trajectory occurring.

Abstract: Banked EGM light and sound shows which reduce the probability of appearing unsynchronized are described herein. A modified client time protocol on each EGM stores an offset from a time reference source. The time offset is used to schedule banked light and sound shows so that the performance of each EGM is synchronized, without requiring the actual clocks of the EGMs to be synchronized.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods for facilitating funds to and from an electronic gaming machine via a mobile device.

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 service window may be provided to a gaming machine, such as a video slot machine, video poker machine, or similar electronic device. The service window may include an option to request an available game for download. A request for the game may be received via the service window and the game may be provided to the gaming machine.

Abstract: An online gaming registration system allows online gaming patrons to register once and use this registration to create online gaming accounts with gaming Web sites, thereby avoiding having to show proof of residency, age and other requirements set by regulatory entities multiple times. Residency rules and other requirements vary from one jurisdiction to another and the present invention addresses some of the issues that arise from this. An online gaming Web site receives a login from an online player over the Internet. The site determines that the player has an account with the online gaming site and that the account is linked to an online gaming registration system account. The online gaming site receives claims-based data relating to the online player and accepts the player as verified for online gaming at the gaming Web site.

Abstract: A gaming system is described. The gaming system can include one or more host devices and EGM clients that communicate with one another over a network. Various non-gaming applications can be maintained on the host device. In response to a request received from an EGM client, a non-gaming application program can be executed on the host device. Content from the non-gaming application can be converted to a media stream that is sent to the EGM client for output. The media stream can be processed using a codec executed on the EGM. Input data associated with the content can be received at the EGM and sent to the host device. The content from the non-gaming application executed on the host can be adjusted in response to the input data received from the EGM.

Abstract: A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. When a transaction is initiated on an EGM that requires the input of Sensitive Information data, such data can be input directly from the Player/Patrons Portable Electronic Device. Hence, such input of their Sensitive Information data is more discrete, and generally out of plain view from the other Player/Patrons.

Abstract: A method for operating a gaming apparatus includes displaying a set of stopped reels in place of one or more spinning reels, each stopped reel having at least one symbol thereon and the total number of stopped reels being less than the total number of reels originally spinning. The method also includes determining an in-game outcome associated with a configuration of the symbols on the set of stopped reels, and providing an in-game stimulation selected from the group consisting of a 3-dimensional aural stimulation, a visual stimulation, a value stimulation and a physical stimulation according to the in-game outcome. The method further includes displaying stopped reels in place of all of the spinning reels, determining a game outcome associated with the configuration of the symbols on all of the stopped reels, and determining a value payout based on the game outcome. The apparatus is also included.

Abstract: When the player identifies herself to a gaming machine at a casino, for example by inserting a player tracking card into the card reader, she is, at generally the same time, logging onto a game provider's backend system (the game provider being different from the casino operator). This concurrent sign-on to the game provider's system is done in a non-intrusive, transparent, and passive manner. The player is not distracted from the normal steps leading to game play on the machine until she is ready to redeem points with the game provider or for some reason additional authentication is needed from the player. By virtue of this single sign-on to the game provider network, in addition to continuing game play across different casinos, the player can publish events to the Internet, such as on social networking sites, take advantage of offers targeted specifically for her, or facilitate responsible gaming programs.

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.