Abstract: A system and method for operating one or more games for a plurality of players including identifying at least two players participating in a selected one of the games at the expiration of a predetermined time period, and establishing a wager pool corresponding to a total of wager amounts from each of the identified players. The wager pool is reduced by a takeout amount. One or more random numbers are generated, and one or more winners of the selected game are determined based on the one or more random numbers. Funds are distributed from the wager pool to the determined one or more winners of the selected game.

Abstract: A system for providing enhanced services to users of a gaming application comprises a server and a platform remotely coupled to the server. The server executes a gaming application. The platform receives a request for enhanced services, and establishes an enhanced services session with a user of the gaming application in response to the request for enhanced services. The enhanced services session corresponds in time at least in part with the execution of the gaming application. The platform further provides enhanced services to the user of the gaming application during the enhanced services session.

Abstract: An electronic gaming console is illustrated having a console cabinet 10 including a prize display 12, a coin entry slot 13, a payout tray 14 and internally mounted game control processor circuits. A video game is provided for play on the console in which images of spinning reels spin and objects (balls) are dropped through a series of obstacles (pins) and eventually land in one or more of a set of containers. Prizes are paid according to either the state of the reels after spinning or the number of balls which are in each container at the end of the ball drop and/or the manner in which the pins are hit.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for playing a game of chance. The game of chance may include, for example, a lottery-type game. A result of the game of chance is revealed to a player in another medium. In one example, the result is revealed during multiple game instances of one or more online games. In one example, the online game is a reveal element game.

Abstract: A electronic gaming device that distributes data based awards has been developed. The gaming device includes an outcome processor that determines certain machine events and an award delivery device that delivers data based awards in response to the machine events.

Abstract: A method of gaming comprising: generating a game outcome by selecting symbols for a plurality of symbol positions arranged in a plurality of columns, at least some of the selected symbols being displayed to a player; generating a win entitlement by selecting a symbol pattern to be evaluated in respect of the game outcome, the symbol pattern consisting of a subset of displayed symbol positions; and evaluating the win entitlement by determining the extent to which the subset of displayed symbol positions corresponds to one or more designated winning symbols.

Abstract: A tray, serving as a transaction drawer, optimally fitted to X-ray inspection equipment for ease and efficiency of the operation. Yet, easy to handle by the operator and stackable for storage and having a test wedge to verify read outs by the X-ray machine, made out of translucent, plastic material, economically produced.

Abstract: Over hundreds of years card games have been the source of amusement, argument, and financial gain/loss to players. Today casino, gaming machine and online gaming represent a multi-billion dollar industry. In online and live poker for example the initial stages where a larger number of players are involved can be time consuming and not present the “hook” to keep the individuals attention either to watch how the play progresses or engage in playing online. Accordingly it would be beneficial to provide a mechanism that accelerated the early stage of the game. Further, card games are played at multiple levels of experience. It would therefore be beneficial to provide a mechanism within a game of poker for players at multiple skill levels that added a degree of equalizing their skill/experience by incorporating elements that were independent of or reduced dependency upon their skill/experience or required.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for facilitating play of a casino table game at a casino gaming table system which includes a casino gaming table and at least one handheld device. At least a portion of operations or activities relating to the casino game may be performed at a first handheld device. Examples of such operations may include electronically dealing a first card to a first player via the first handheld device, displaying a representation of the first card to the first player via a display at the first handheld device, etc. In at least one embodiment, an association between a selected handheld device and the first player station may be created and used for subsequent game play activities to enable the selected handheld device to be operable to display game play data relating to game play activities associated with the first player station. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the features of a selected handheld device may be enabled/disabled based on the detection of one or more conditions or events.

Abstract: A method of gaming including: displaying at least one symbol which comprises a visible symbol and a hidden symbol; locating an overlay on the at least one symbol; and determining whether the overlay makes the hidden symbol visible.

Abstract: A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display. If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. The gaming machine further comprises a selector applicable to a game feature where, upon a trigger condition occurring in a base game, a player is afforded an opportunity of predicting an outcome of the feature and, if the player's prediction is correct, a bonus is awarded to the player.

Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving a wager and a display for displaying a wagering game having a plurality of reels comprised of a plurality of symbols. A controller operates to (i) detect receipt of the wager; (ii) activate a play of the wagering game by spinning the reels on the display; (iii) display at least one play enhancement icon on the display; (iv) cause the spinning reels to stop and the display to display a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game; and (v) enhance the randomly selected outcome of the wagering game in response to the at least one play enhancement icon on the display at any time including at least one of before spinning the reels on the display, during spinning the reels on the display, and after spinning the reels on the display.

Abstract: A method of playing a card wagering game comprising: dealing a first two player cards face up to a player; placing a wager by the player on at least one wager location of a plurality of wager locations, wherein each wager location represents different ranges of numbers; dealing three dealer cards to the player; totaling the combined value of the first two player cards and the three dealer cards; and determining if the player has a winning wager by determining if the total combined value of the first two player cards and the three dealer cards is in a range of numbers wagered by the player.

Abstract: An electronic commercial transaction system and associated methods, in which the transaction is conducted concurrently with or followed by a solicitation for either a gratuity for the seller or a charitable donation to be forwarded to a third party beneficiary.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a supplemental bingo game and produce supplemental bingo cards for use in a supplemental bingo game that can provide simultaneous winners. The bingo cards have a predetermined number of rows and columns forming a grid with a plurality of locations. Each location has an assigned bingo number. The numbers in one of the columns of one of the bingo cards are the same as the numbers in all of the other bingo cards, but arranged in a random order.

Abstract: Non-transitive gaming elements, including a first, a second and a third one or more gaming elements, respectively, wherein the second provides an advantage represented by higher scores, on average, as compared with the scores of the first, the third provides an advantage represented by higher scores, on average, as compared with the scores of the second and the first provides an advantage represented by higher scores, on average, as compared with the scores of the third, and wherein each of the three respective advantages are all less than 3 percent and each advantage does not differ from the mean of the three advantages by more than 20 percent.

Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes at least one input device configured to receive a wager, at least one display device configured to display a wagering game, one or more thermal devices configured to produce a thermal effect, at least one controller in operative communication with the one or more thermal devices, at least one memory device storing instructions. When the instructions are executed by the at least one controller, the one or more thermal devices to produce a thermal effect according to an aspect of the wagering game.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic dice and a method of determining a dice number. There is provided an electronic dice in which an acceleration sensor and a wired or wireless transmit-receive unit are provided. According to the electronic dice of the present invention, the dice number can be determined and transmitted to an external device based on changes in acceleration values over time, which are detected by the acceleration sensor in accordance with the movement of the dice, thereby combining play of the physical dice with a software game.

Abstract: Creative multi-act games for the younger generation of casino players accustomed to creative simulation games such as “The Sims®” and familiar TV characters such as the cast of “Friends”. Stories unfold through acts that have been staged by the player by selecting and placing acting objects. A palette of betting opportunities may be provided in each act in accordance with the staged act to allow the player(s) to place bets. A typical storyboard may include three acts: (a) a construction act, (b) a testing act and (c) a destruction or resolution act. The unfolding of acts may be non-linear and several players may participate simultaneously, sharing the opportunity to affect a storyboard's direction through decision-making.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for delivering a massively multiplayer version of a limited-player game such as poker, with a limited deck. A communication and data servers system generates a set of common cards randomly for all players to share, and for each player a set of hole cards drawn from the remaining cards in the deck, but with replacement. The computer communicates the common cards and allocates winning to the player or players with the highest ranking hands. Extension of the method, system and apparatus to repeat the game until a predetermined number of winners are selected. Extension of the method, system and apparatus for use to pre-select players for a multi-phase tournament. Extension of the method, system and apparatus to provide a shared multi-player gaming experience for supporters in venues such as a concert hall or sporting event.

Abstract: In one example, there is provided a method of gaming comprising initiating play, conducting a feature game in response to a feature trigger condition being met, providing at least two alternative continuations which may be accessed if a further trigger condition is met during the feature game, determining which of the alternative continuations to apply upon the further trigger condition being met, and continuing play with the determined continuation.

Abstract: An electronic card game is provided where a set of qualifying combinations is provided and as long as one qualifying combination is held by a player that is greater than a qualifying combination held by the dealer then paying the player winning amounts associated with all qualifying combinations held by the player.

Abstract: Embodiments of this concept are directed to a method of operating a gaming device to determine game outcomes by using a range of game numbers for winning game outcomes. That is, the gaming device includes a range of numbers associated with a generic winning outcome or each winning outcome to ensure that a winning outcome or specific winning outcome will hit within the specified range. This method may be used a variety of game types including slot machines, video poker, keno, video pachinko, etc. These gaming machines may additionally include one or more proximity indicators or meters associated with the various outcomes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for playing a game in which game pieces are dealt by the dealer to one or more players. Hands are dealt to the players and the dealer. The dealer is dealt one card face up and one card face down, referred to as in the hole. If the dealer is dealt a face card face up, the dealer exposes the card in the hole thereby showing the faces of both cards. The interest in the game is improved since the dealer only shows the hole card with a face card up, as opposed to always showing the hole card. The player forms a final player hand and the dealer forms a final dealer hand according to the conventional rules of Blackjack. Optionally, the dealer acts according to a predetermined set of house rules.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus for facilitating game play. The gaming apparatus may include a value input device, a display unit, and a player control panel. The player control panel may include a curved surface centered around at least one axis. The gaming apparatus also may include a touch screen, the touch screen conforming to the curved surface of the player control panel. A value input may be received from a player via the value input device, and the display unit may be caused to display a game display. One of a plurality of player input displays may be selected and display the selected one of the plurality of player input displays. Player input data associated with the selected one of the plurality of player input displays may be received via the touch screen, and a value payout associated with an outcome of the game may be determined.

Abstract: A lottery game system and methodology involves, for each play of the game, a player choosing a number of player indicia from a field of the indicia. A subset of the indicia is randomly generated, and the player's indicia is compared to the subset to determine a winning game play. The number of indicia in the subsets is varied between different game plays such that a blend of the winning probabilities for each subset for all of the game plays produces a desired overall winning probability.

Abstract: The applicants' provide a process for playing “No Dealer Hand” Blackjack/Twenty-One. As such, the uses of, or display of, at least one common deck of Fifty-Two cards is being applied in play action. This process is inclusive to either an encompassing video gaming apparatus or a live action table gaming environment, as accommodated for. In play action, the dealer's hand is replaced with the application of Trigger Numbers, ranging anywhere from Twelve (12) up to Twenty (20), and optional Push Numbers ranging anywhere from Twelve (12) up to Twenty (20). Through such an application, the applicants' present a more mathematically malleable “core margin percentage variance” being afforded for exploitation by Housemasters. Likewise, the mathematical mechanics supporting this broader core margin percentage variance is made possible while simultaneously applying a seamlessly familiar playing experience for patrons.

Abstract: A gaming system configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of game elements is provided. The gaming system provides a quantity of the game elements to a player and a dealer. The gaming system forms a first dealer hand and a second dealer hand from the provided game elements according to one of a plurality of element setting rules. The gaming system enables the player to manually form a first player hand and a second player hand from the provided game elements or to instruct the gaming system to automatically do so according to one of the element setting rules. If the player manually sets the player hands, the gaming system indicates whether the player's hands were formed in accordance with any of the element setting rules. The gaming system determines any awards based on a comparison of the player hands with the dealer hands.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a game of chance in which profile data for social contacts in a social networking system is used to determine whether a player wins or loses the game of chance. Social contacts are randomly selected from a group of social contacts. The social contacts may be obtained from a single data source or from multiple data sources and aggregated. A game player wins if the randomly selected social contacts have one or more profile attributes that match each other. The game may be presented as a slots based game in which profile pictures for the social contacts are the symbols for the reels of the slots game.

Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal. The gaming terminal displays a plurality of indicia during the wagering game, which are then selected via player inputs. The selected indicia are revealed and arranged into groups corresponding to winning combinations. The arrangement is made so as to maximize at least one of the plurality of predefined winning combinations.

Abstract: A gaming system which utilizes a random number generator where the process of selecting one or more seeds for the random number generator includes participation of a player. In one embodiment, the player picks one of a plurality of displayed selections at a gaming device. Each selection is associated with a different external seeding source of data not controlled by the gaming system. A gaming system gathers the data from the external seeding sources associated with the different seeds. The gaming system uses the data gathered from the seeding source associated with the player's picked selection to determine one or more seeds. The determined seeds are used to initialize a random number generator, which generates one or more numbers and at least in part determine the outcome of the game.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic gaming machine comprising at least one identification unit for a player, having a housing, a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a unique identifier of the identification unit, and at least one touch sensor, which causes the transmitter to transmit the identifier when the housing is touched; and an electronic gaming device for a multi-player game, comprising a touchscreen for controlling the game and a receiver for wirelessly communicating with the identification units of the players; wherein the gaming device comprises a correlator, which correlates a contact of the touchscreen with an identifier of an identification unit received by the receiver of the gaming device over time in order to assign the contact to said identification unit.

Abstract: The present invention has an object of providing a gaming system that can allow a game to be advanced even by an inexperienced dealer. CPU counts a time by a timer as upon triggering at a predetermined timing, on a time axis on which the roulette game is advanced based on control of the roulette game control unit and displays on dealer-used display an instructional image stored to be associated with a timing data, in response to a time counted by the timer matching a time indicated by timing data stored in ROM.

Abstract: In a method of presenting or playing a wagering game, if a winning outcome is received in the play of a first game, a first award is awarded and the awards associated with one or more winning outcomes for the game are then enhanced for potential award in a subsequent game or games. In one embodiment, a base pay table or award structure is modified or enhanced, such as by adjusting awards or associating multipliers or bonus values such as progressive awards, to create an enhanced pay table or award structure. The game offers a player an enhanced award if a winning outcome that is received in a first game is repeated within a defined number of subsequent games.

Abstract: In various embodiments, players around the casino may predict cards to be dealt in a game of blackjack.

Abstract: A method of playing a game, the method comprising selecting a predefined number of player indicia; providing an event reference, the event reference being viewable on a display device, the event reference comprising a plurality of event participants, the plurality of event participants being ranked; randomly generating a plurality of randomly generated indicia, the plurality of randomly generated indicia comprising a first indicia and a second indicia; associating the first indicia with a first event participant; associating the second indicia with a second event participant; obtaining the ranking of the participants based on the order they finish in the event reference; ordering the plurality of randomly generated indicia based on the ranking of their respective associated participants; and determining a game outcome, the game outcome comprising comparing the player indicia to the plurality of randomly generated indicia.

Abstract: An electronic video game apparatus is configured to facilitate simultaneous play of at least first and second independent games of chance that generate independent outcomes. The electronic video game apparatus includes a video display and at least one electronic random number generator that randomly selects values for the independent games of chance and preferably displays the values in a superimposed manner on the video display. For example, the first game can be a card game while the second game is a dice game. Video representations of the card suit and value for each card in the card game are displayed along with dice values shown on the cards. The outcomes of the second game of chance are preferably employed to determine an outcome, such as a payout or award, for example, of the first game of chance.

Abstract: A gaming system where in one embodiment, as players play the primary games of the gaming devices, players are enabled to join one of a plurality of teams associated with a secondary team game. Each of the teams includes a plurality of players. The gaming system periodically monitors at least one factor or parameter of each player's gaming activity to determine a score for that player. In one embodiment, the scores for each of the players on each team are accumulated to determine that team's cumulative score. If a team's cumulative score reaches a winning value, the gaming system provides a prize to one or more of the players on that team. The gaming system enables players to switch from one team to another in attempt to be on a particular team when that team's cumulative score reaches a winning value.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed herein is a sports fantasy game, having a roster of fantasy players for each user, and a slot machine-like apparatus that provides a limited number of spins for populating the roster of fantasy players. Also disclosed herein is a method of conducting the above described game. Further described and claimed are various modifications and enhancements.

Abstract: A slot machine of the present invention comprises a symbol display device capable of rearranging a plurality of symbols; and a controller, the controller programmed to conduct processing of (A) executing a game in which, after game media in number equal to or less than a predetermined maximum number of BETs are bet, the plurality of symbols are rearranged by the symbol display device, and game media in number according to the arranged symbols or combinations are paid out; (B) shifting a mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode on condition that a predetermined number of game media is inserted; (C) counting the number of games played after shifting to the insurance mode, in the insurance mode; (D) paying out a predetermined number of game media when the number of games counted in the processing (C) reaches a specific number; and (E) clearing the number of games counted in the processing (C) and at the same time shifting the mode from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode, when a game ending c

Abstract: A gaming system comprising a symbol selector that selects, in a first play round, a first symbol to form a part of a first player hand including a plurality of symbols and a second symbol to form a part of a second player hand including a plurality of symbols, and in each subsequent play round, a replacement symbol for modifying one of the first player hand or second player hand. An outcome generator determines for each play round whether the game is completed or should proceed to a subsequent play round based on a ranking of one of the first player hand and the second player hand being higher than the other of the first player hand and the second player hand for at least two consecutive play rounds. The ranking of the first and second player hands is derived from the symbols of the hands.

Abstract: A media game that employs a method for randomly shuffling through a large set of video and/or audio clips stored on readable media using a media player, such as a DVD player, is disclosed. In addition to the readable media, the game also includes a game board, moveable play pieces, trivia question cards, random name cards, a numbered die, and a challenge die. The game board can be converted from long play to short play by lifting the endmost sections of the game board and placing them next to each other on top of intermediate sections of the game board. A path circumnavigates the game board and appears to be continuous in both long and short play modes. The begin and end regions reside at least partially on the endmost sections and appear as unbroken shapes when configured for both long and short play.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing programs on wagering game machine peripherals are described. The programs may be shader programs for execution by one or more programmable shaders on a graphics processing unit. The programs may provide a graphical result, e.g. an output on a display, or may provide a non-graphical result of a computation to a general purpose processor on the wagering game machine.

Abstract: Method of operating a line game wherein the values of a meter are displayed as different statuses of an evolving symbol. The meter gathers symbols, combinations of symbols, events that are dependent of the game outcome (like winning or losing outcomes, prizes, etc.), or events that are independent of the game outcome (like spins, bet values, lengths of time, etc.). The evolving symbol statuses are used in the line game to trigger features ranging from a wild symbol to a bonus payout which can take the form of a progressive jackpot.

Abstract: A gaming machine of the present invention allows an insurance function to be set in a game, based upon an operation of a player. Among games in which plural types of symbols are rearranged on a display device every game execution in which the insurance function is effective, an accumulative value stored in a memory is updated so as to increase. As a result of repeating the game in which the insurance function is effective, where the accumulative value has reached a predetermined value for activating the insurance function, it is judged whether a payout of a preset value for insurance and an execution of a special game has been selected, according to an operation of a selection input section by a player. Either of the payout of the preset value for the insurance and the execution of the special game is performed, based upon a result of the judgment.

Abstract: A gaming device provides a free spins game wherein a plurality of modifiers are each associated with one of a plurality of paylines. During the free spins game, each modifier modifies awards won on the particular payline with which it is associated. In one embodiment, the payline multipliers increase in each of the free spins depending on whether a given payline scores a win or not in the free spin.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the processing, storing, and displaying of map data are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention facilitate more efficient storage, processing, communication, and display of maps and map-related data in connection with modern computers and communications systems. While originally developed for a map-based game, the techniques disclosed herein also have practical applications to other technical fields including but not limited to image processing (e.g., partitioning of images much like maps for storage, communication, or display) and heat mapping (e.g., visualization of a geographical distribution of certain attributes).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting a wagering game are disclosed. After a player makes a wager, a display depicts a combination of symbols. If the displayed combination yields a predetermined award and meets a predetermined criterion, a win multiplier feature is invoked. In the win multiplier feature the symbols of the combination are associated with respective multipliers, and then the player is prompted to select one of the symbols of the combination. The display reveals the multiplier associated with the selected symbol. The predetermined award is multiplied by the revealed multiplier.

Abstract: A method of gaming in a gaming system comprises conducting a game event collection game for a player and storing data in a memory in response to occurrence of the game event in a game round, the data enabling a determination of an average amount wagered in respect of each game round in which a game event occurred. The method involves generating a game outcome for each game round by controlling a probability of the game event occurring in each game round by determining a current probability of the game event occurring to apply to a current game round, prior to and subsequent to a game event occurring, based on an amount wagered in respect of the current game round and the average amount wagered.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides method and apparatus for presenting a plurality of game outcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gaming environments stored on the gaming machine. While a game of chance is being played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived from a 3-D object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a display screen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of a game outcome presentation. Apparatus and methods are described for generating and displaying a sequence of symbols from a virtual reel strip in the 3-D gaming environment. In particular, the sequence of symbols may be mapped to one or more to flat reels, rounded reels or sequences of moving objects in the 3-D gaming environment.