Abstract: Gaming machines and games are configured with one or more wheel events or features. The wheel events or features may comprise main games or bonus games, or may comprise entertaining representations of outcomes of other games or events. The wheel events comprise the selection of one or more segments of a wheel having associated awards. Wheel events may have various entertaining configurations, such as morphing wheels, symbols that reveal awards and the like.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and gaming devices provide games of chance. A player card enables a player to play a primary and a secondary game of chance. The player card includes a plurality of player indicia that is used to play the primary and secondary games. A first wager is accepted for the primary game and a second wager is accepted for the secondary game. A plurality of house indicia is randomly selected in a plurality of house indicia calls. A winning criterion includes matching each player indicia within a predetermined pattern by one of the selected house indicia. A first prize is awarded to the player if the winning criterion is met within a first number of house indicia calls, and a second prize is awarded to the player if the winning criterion is met within a first range of house indicia calls after the first number of house indicia calls.

Abstract: Systems and methods enable one or more players to play primary and secondary games of chance. A player card is provided and a first wager is accepted for the primary game of chance. A player is enabled to select a first plurality of player indicia on the player card. A second wager is accepted from the player for the secondary game of chance and the player is enabled to select a second plurality of player indicia from the first plurality of player indicia. A plurality of house indicia is randomly selected. A prize is awarded to the player upon a determination that the second plurality of player indicia is matched by a subset of the selected house indicia.

Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include receiving, at a wagering game server, a request from a mobile device to play a wagering game via a selected wagering game machine among a plurality of wagering game machines on the wagering game network. The operations can also include associating the mobile device with the selected wagering game machine, wherein the associating allows receipt of input for the wagering game from the mobile device. The operations can also include receiving, via the wagering game network, commands resulting from inputs accepted by the mobile device. The operations can also include determining a result of the wagering game.

Abstract: The gaming system, gaming device and method disclosed herein determines whether to provide at least one of the plurality of progressive awards to the player based on that player's measured level of skill in: (i) a plurality of plays of a partial skill-based game, (ii) a skill-based progressive award sequence, or (iii) a plurality of plays of a partial skill-based game and a skill-based progressive award sequence. The determination is based on zero, one or more inputs made by the player which tend to measure that player's level of skill in at least one of a partial skill-based game and a skill-based progressive award sequence.

Abstract: A gaming system includes one or more controllers and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more controllers, cause the gaming system to initiate a wagering game to be played via a gaming machine and in response to a pause event, temporarily pause the wagering game-in-progress, prior to revealing a final outcome of the wagering game. While the game-in-progress is paused, the one or more controllers allow the gaming machine to participate in a community event along with a plurality of other gaming machines and in response to an end-pause event associated with the community event, reinstate the paused game-in-progress at the gaming machine.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the gaming system of the present disclosure enable a player to play a secondary or bonus game, in which the player has the chance to play for a designated award in the triggered secondary or bonus game. The probability of triggering the secondary or bonus game varies based on the player's primary game wager. Additionally, the probability of winning a designated award in the triggered secondary or bonus game varies based on the player's primary game wager. In one embodiment, as the primary game wager increases, the odds of triggering the secondary or bonus game increase, but not in direct proportion to the wager. Similarly, the odds of winning the designated award in the triggered secondary or bonus game increases, but not in direct proportion to the wager.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides gaming systems, gaming devices, and methods providing an estimated emotional state of a player based on the occurrence of one or more designated events. When a player initiates a gaming session, the gaming system estimates the player's emotional state and generates estimated emotional state data that represents that estimation of the player's emotional state. For each of one or more designated events that occurs, the gaming system updates the player's estimated emotional state using an expected emotional response to that designated event. More specifically, the gaming system updates the player's estimated emotional state data using expected emotional response data representing the expected emotional response to that designated event. If one or more triggering conditions associated with the player's estimated emotional state is satisfied during the gaming session, the gaming system modifies one or more functions, aspects, or features of the gaming system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for gaming according to various aspects of the present invention may be implemented in conjunction with a multiplayer game. The game system may identify a winning player for the multiplayer game and notify the winning player of a win condition. The game system may receive a video stream of the winning player's reaction, and substantially concurrently display the video stream to one or more other players of the game.

Abstract: A method for conducting bingo games includes using a server to collect game play requests from a plurality of electronic player stations. The server determines if a group of the collected game play requests meets one or more predefined conditions for establishing a quorum, and if so conducts a game with the group of game play requests. Even after the game is started, the server continues to collect game play requests in preparation for conducting additional games. When enough game play requests are collected, the server starts the next game, even if previous games are still in progress.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which retains, saves or stores zero, one or more of any symbols removed during the play of a primary cascading symbols game. In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which sequentially layers a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids at different depths.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a game apparatus are described that include a digital memory storage apparatus configured to store a plurality of musical recordings, wherein each musical recording includes a portion of a recording of a song wherein such song includes an identifiable and publicly-known title, a sound generation apparatus for broadcasting at least a portion of the plurality of musical recordings as mechanical waves, a controller controlling the broadcasting of the at least a portion of the plurality of musical recordings as mechanical waves, and a plurality of playing cards for game participants, each playing card including a matrix of identifiers, each playing card including a different selection and orientation of the identifiers, where the identifiers included on the whole of the plurality of playing cards are the same as the publicly-known titles of the professional released recordings of songs defining the plurality of musical recordings.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for playing video games in a network environment are provided. One method includes receiving a request to initiate a game for a player of a first network connected device and enabling a second player from a second networked connected device to play the game. The method also enables transfer of currency between the first and second players using the network for playing the game. The method debits an account of a player that transferred the currency and credits an account of a player that that received the currency. The method then enables purchases in the game using the credited currency and displays an avatar of the first player on a display of the second networked connected device, and displays an avatar of the second player on a display of the first networked connected device.

Abstract: A wagering game and wagering apparatus has a processor and display system. The processor recognizes two wager segments to play a single round of the wagering game. The processor credits one wager segment to a first game and the processor credits a second wager segment to a second game. The processor resolves the first wager segment with respect to the random symbols used in the first game. The processor terminating the single round of play of the wagering game by resolving no additional wagering activity if the symbols provided in the first game do not trigger a bonus event for application to the second game in the two games further resolving the bonus event applied to the second game if the symbols provided in the first game do trigger a bonus event for application to the second game.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein provide a primary game and a free activation bonus sequence, wherein the gaming system enables the player to select one or more of a plurality of different volatility options for use in the free activation bonus sequence. Each option is associated with a different number of free activations and a different pool of symbols or different symbol functionality. The gaming system provides this variation in the pool of symbols or symbol functionality in various embodiments by enabling the player to replace one or more symbols of a pool or set of symbols of the primary game (i.e., the primary set of symbols) with the symbol associated with a player selected option. The symbols of this modified set of symbols (i.e., the secondary set of symbols) are used in the free activation bonus sequence).

Abstract: A video bingo poker game comprising: providing each player with an individual flashboard, each flashboard having an equal number of spaces, each space defined by a column label and a space number, wherein the space number is randomly selected from a predefined number range for each column; providing a plurality of bingo balls, wherein each bingo ball has markings associated with one of the plurality of spaces; randomly selecting a first group of bingo balls; displaying to each player the markings associated with each selected bingo ball of the first group of bingo balls; marking each square associated with each of the first group of bingo balls on each individual flashcard; and determining any winning flashboard.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods to manage attract software package access, storage, and execution scheduling for wagering game machines. A wagering game machine may operate to determine the availability of one or more attract packages, as well as to determine whether any available attract packages comprise an active attract package based on one or more schedules. The gaming machine may access one or more of the available, active attract packages and present them. The attract packages and associated schedules can be loaded into the gaming machine using a number of mechanisms, including a server and a machine-readable medium.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes at least one input device, at least one display device, at least one processor, and at least one memory device storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to receive a wager for playing the wagering game, and trigger a free-spin event in which a plurality of free spins is awarded. For a first spin, a first number of arrays is randomly determined, displayed, and evaluated to determine whether an award condition is present. For a second spin, a second number of arrays is randomly determined, displayed, and evaluated to determine whether an award condition is present. The second number of arrays is non-equal to the first number of arrays. Any awards associated with each determined award condition are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for multi-player gaming. Some embodiments relate to systems having an improved communications infrastructure and improved handheld game controllers, while other embodiments relate to improvements in handling large numbers of players in the multi-player game when played in a game arena with a single large display screen showing the multi-player game images. In one particular embodiment, a bingo system is provided that has a game server controlling a display system to display the multi-player bingo game on the large screen and a plurality of bingo game controllers. Each game controller has a secondary display means for providing a secondary bingo game display and input means for receiving player input. The system further comprises communication mans for enabling communication between the game server and each of the plurality of game controllers.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the gaming system and method disclosed herein maintains a plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts which are ranked. In one embodiment, if a bonus event triggering condition occurs, the gaming system determines one of the plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts to utilize for the triggered bonus event. In one such embodiment, the determined bonus event average expected payout is based on a player's current wager and a quantity of accumulated bonus event points or units. In this embodiment, the gaming system enables players to accumulate bonus event points based on one or more aspects of a player's previous gaming experiences during a designated period of time. The gaming system then displays a bonus event to the player and determines a bonus event award, wherein the determined bonus event award is in accordance with the determined bonus event average expected payout.

Abstract: A gaming method may include receiving a value amount to initially define a value total, and causing video images to be generated, the video images representing a game including at least one value-generating event. The method also may include deducting a fee at intervals from the value total independent of play of the game represented by the video images, determining based on the fee a value payout associated with the at least one value-generating events, and adding the value payout to the value total. A gaming system or gaming apparatus may include a controller programmed to operate according to the gaming method. Further, a memory may have a computer program in accordance with the gaming method stored thereon.

Abstract: Methods for processing online gaming operations. One method includes determining that a player has completed a game of chance. The game is accessible from a plurality of devices having online access. Completing the game includes a requirement that a player of the game must play from more than one of the devices. The requirement that the player must play from more than one of the devices includes a requirement that the player must present an identifier at each of the more than one of the devices during completion of the game. A requirement is provided that the player needs to collect specific outcomes when playing from the devices. The method further includes providing a reward to the player in response to determining that the player has completed the game. The method is executable by a processor.

Abstract: In a gaming machine, a controller executes a base game, and triggers the bonus game including a plurality of unit games when a result of the base game satisfies a predetermined condition. The controller determines reachable cells of the character in each unit game of the bonus game. The controller determines an expected value of an award provided in each reachable cell by distributing predetermined credits to the reachable cells in each unit game. The controller determines a number of cells by which the character moves along with the course in each unit game, moves the character to any one of the reachable cells according to the number of cells in each unit game, and determines an award to be provided to the player according to the expected value of a cell at which the character arrives in each unit game.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the outcome of a reel spinning game having one or more shared award-modifier reels is disclosed. The method includes: providing a game including a first set of reels, a second set of reels, and a shared base award-multiplier reel positioned adjacent to a first and second set of reels, and the shared base award-multiplier reel enhances any winning outcomes in the first and/or second set of reels; determining whether the game outcome of one set of reels is a winning outcome; and enhancing the winning outcome of at least one set of reels when an award-multiplier symbol is present on the shared base award-multiplier reel, initiating a secondary game when a secondary game trigger symbol is presented on the shared base award-multiplier reel, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A lottery instant-game ticket and method of making same. On a substrate is placed a first set of game indicia including a first set of game symbols, and a second set of indicia larger than the first set of game indicia and including a second set of game symbols, and includes any winning symbol. A subset of the second set of game indicia with each symbol including a non-winning indicator. The first set and second of game indicia are covered with a removable covering, with the covering having position indicators positioned substantially over each of the first set of game indicia, and identical game symbols positioned substantially over a corresponding identical game symbol of the second set of game indicia such that removal of the identical game symbol reveals the identical game symbol of the second set of game indicia and any non-winning indicator, if present.

Abstract: A mystery-bingo jackpot having increased payout opportunities provides a dynamic bonus game where achievement of a secondary winning outcome initiates an award payout without resetting the jackpot's amount. The secondary winning outcome will typically be configured to have a higher likelihood of occurrence as compared to other winning outcomes of the mystery-bingo jackpot. In this way, the mystery-bingo jackpot provides payouts relatively often while preserving the value of the jackpot.

Abstract: A wager gaming machine having software and components allowing for automatic powering on and off (also referred to as remote out-of-band power control) bypassing the need for human operator intervention is described. The gaming machine has a master gaming controller and a network interface. The interface includes an input port supporting a TCP/IP connection which can be used by another network component having the gaming machine's IP address. The gaming machine may also include a Web server operating on the input port. The Web server may receive HTTP messages on the input port even when the gaming machine is powered off. Thus, the machine is capable of receiving an HTTP message at the input port instructing the machine to power on. The gaming machine may also contain a manageability engine processor for executing an active management system software component. This component implements the Web server on the gaming machine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining bad beats in wagering games are disclosed. If the bad beat is determined to be compensable, some form of compensation is provided to the player. The compensation can include providing a free entry into a second wagering game. The second wagering game can be a site-wide wagering game in which a plurality of player may be simultaneously participating.

Abstract: A player is permitted to reinvest winnings to play additional instances of an online game. In one specific example, the player may choose, at a point of sale (POS), a reinvestment option that specifies how winnings are used to automatically purchase additional game instances. In one example game format, the player may be permitted to select a reinvestment option at the point of initial purchase of the game. The player may be permitted, for example, to limit his/her reinvestment as a function of their initial investment. In another example, the primary game result is driven by the result of a secondary game, such as a lottery or casino-based drawing (e.g., a Keno drawing). The secondary game is then played, and any additional plays as a result of the reinvestment are also played. Results of the secondary game and the additional games are sent to an online gaming system.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a gaming device such as a slot machine calculates a speed of game play, and in turn determines a pay schedule based on the speed of game play. In some embodiments, a count is adjusted throughout a multiple play session based on point values associated with symbols on the reels of a slot machine, and payouts are awarded in accordance with (i) a finishing count, and/or (ii) a “virtual average speed”.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for a bingo game including at least one initial ball call and an option for a player to receive at least one additional ball call. In one example, the at least one additional ball call includes one or more of: (i) a ball call locked until a player accepts an option to unlock the locked ball call, and (ii) a ball call provided by another member of a social network (e.g., a friend of the player).

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: Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for a bingo game including a representation of a ball queue. In one example, a display for a bingo game represents a queue of one or more upcoming ball calls for the bingo game. In some embodiments, a ball queue may include partial information about an upcoming ball call (e.g., an indication of a corresponding bingo card column but not a bingo number).

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, methods and articles of manufacture provide for a bingo game including at least one special ball having an associated special function. In one embodiment, one or more special functions may have persistent effects on one or more bingo spaces (e.g., of a bingo card) and/or may be combined with the effects one or more other special functions.

Abstract: A gaming machine is disclosed having indicia of a plurality of spinning reels in a first set of reels and indicia of a plurality of spinning reels in a second set of reels. A determination is made as to whether the outcomes of the indicia of the plurality of spinning reels in the first and second sets of reels are winning outcomes. Award-multiplier indicia of a first shared spinning base game award-multiplier reel is positioned between the first and second set of reels. The base game award-multiplier indicia modifies the winning outcome on the first set of reels, modifies the winning outcome on the second set of reels, includes a secondary game trigger symbol, forms a contiguous set of reels having a common axis of rotation with the first and second set of reels, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides players with fun brought by a moveable component. A gaming machine 1 comprises a game result determination unit, determining a game result; a game execution unit, executing a game in such a manner as to reach the game result; a moveable component, disposed at a position visible from outside, and configured to be capable of mechanical movement; and a movement control unit, enabling the moveable component to move in a movement pattern corresponding to the game result.

Abstract: In various embodiments a display may allow a secondary player to select a game of an appropriate primary player.

Abstract: A method of awarding wins for game play comprises determining winning outcomes from all possible outcomes of game play and assigning at least one of two different types of awards, such as either or both primary and secondary credit awards, to each winning outcome. Preferably, the winning combinations and associated awards are selected so that, when assigned to a secondary event, the outcome of the game may be represented as the outcomes of a secondary event. In one embodiment, the outcomes of a Class II game, such as bingo, are represented by outcomes Class III type event, such as the game of slots. In accordance with the invention, the representation of the game outcomes mimics the frequency of wins and the payouts associated for those wins in a true Class III game, including as dependent upon the size of a player's wager.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein includes an accumulation sequence and a competition sequence. In one embodiment, the gaming system includes competitor points which determine (i) a competitor's eligibility to participate in the competition sequence and (ii) the competitor's relative probability of success in the competition sequence. In this embodiment, a competitor (which is either representative of an actual player or a virtual, gaming system controlled player) accumulates competitor points during one or more point accumulation sequences which occur in association with designated events. For a subsequent competition sequence, the gaming system determines if a competitor will participate in the triggered competition sequence based on the competitor's accumulated competitor points.

Abstract: A method of improving a probability of winning a bingo game played on a first electronic computing device includes: on a second electronic computing device, sending data to the first electronic computing device for rending on the first electronic computing device. A selection of a ball to be added to a hopper is received. The ball is added ball to the hopper so that there are at least two identical balls in the hopper.

Abstract: The gaming system and method disclosed herein provides a bingo game wherein a single bingo pattern is associated with a plurality of outcomes. In one such embodiment, a first bingo pattern is associated with a static outcome, such as an award of a designated value, and a second bingo pattern is associated with an open-ended outcome, such as a progressive award. If a bingo pattern associated with a progressive award is covered, the disclosed gaming system and method causes the bingo game to display, a symbol combination associated with the progressive award. In one embodiment, the disclosed gaming system and method selects the symbol combination from a plurality of symbol combinations associated with the progressive award.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game comprising a value input device for receiving a wager, a display for displaying a plurality of selection groups, and a processor coupled to the display. Each selection group includes a plurality of selectable elements. The processor is operative to alternately select the elements in the selection groups until encountering an end-feature condition, and provide awards associated with the selected elements.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a game in which symbols can be selected more than once. In one embodiment, the gaming system initiates a play of the game, displays a plurality of different symbols, and receives a selection of at least one of the symbols to form a player symbol set. The gaming system randomly selects a designated quantity of the symbols to form a gaming system symbol set. Each of the symbols can be selected more than once. The gaming system determines any awards based on a comparison of the player symbol set with the gaming system symbol set, and provides any determined awards. If an additional award opportunity triggering event associated with the gaming system symbol set including a plurality of instances of a same one of the symbols occurs, the gaming system provides an additional award opportunity.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a game apparatus are described that include a digital memory storage apparatus configured to store a plurality of musical recordings, wherein each musical recording includes a portion of a recording of a song wherein such song includes an identifiable and publicly-known title, a sound generation apparatus for broadcasting at least a portion of the plurality of musical recordings as mechanical waves, a controller controlling the broadcasting of the at least a portion of the plurality of musical recordings as mechanical waves, and a plurality of playing cards for game participants, each playing card including a matrix of song titles, each playing card including a different selection and orientation of the song titles, where the song titles included on the whole of the plurality of playing cards are the same as the publicly-known titles of the professional released recordings of songs defining the plurality of musical recordings.

Abstract: A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines, gaming tables, hand held gaming devices and/or community gaming displays. The central server monitors wagers placed on any games played. Based at least in part on the wagers placed, the central server determines when one or more bonus events will occur and which players to provide any bonus awards.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for providing a bingo game having aspects of a non-bingo game such as a Class III game, preferably on a network of gaming machines. Some implementations of the invention provide a bingo game having aspects of a card game, such as a poker game. Some such implementations include a bingo card display in which areas of a bingo card correspond with playing cards. Some implementations of the invention provide bingo cards having more than one bingo number associated with an area of the bingo card. Other implementations of the invention allow a winning pattern, such as an interim win pattern, to be formed from hits on more than one bingo card. For example, a winning pattern may be formed by hits along a corresponding line of multiple bingo cards being played by a single player. Alternatively, a winning pattern may be formed by hits on the same corresponding area of multiple bingo cards being played by a single player.

Abstract: A gaming machine for allowing a player to play a game is described herein. The gaming machine includes a display device for displaying a primary game and a secondary game and a controller coupled to the display device. The controller is configured to display the primary game on the display device including a bingo-type game. The controller detects a triggering condition occurring in the bingo-type game and responsively displays the secondary game on the display device. The secondary game includes a roulette-type game being displayed with a set of secondary symbols. The controller randomly selects at least one of the secondary symbols from the set of secondary symbols and provides an award to the player as a function of the outcome of the bingo-type game and the selected secondary symbol.

Abstract: A wagering game that allows a player to adjust a positive expectation game situation to a lower expectation game situation. In return, the player can increase the paytable so that awards the player wins will be paid at a higher rate. Alternatively, the player can increase the paytable in exchange for a less favorable game state.

Abstract: An interactive gaming device that employs a plurality of reels (mechanical or simulated) is disclosed, and includes means for the player to establish a movement direction for a reel after it comes to a complete stop. The player is also provided with a plurality of switches to establish a condition upon which the reel would move after it comes to a complete stop. The device includes a control mechanism that causes the reel to move after it comes to a complete stop when the condition established by the player is met. A determination is then made if a winning combination of symbols has occurred at a winning line.