Gemini Digital Development, Inc.

Multimedia Games, Inc.

Shfl Entertainment, Inc.

Sigma Game, Inc.

Bally Gaming, Inc.

James P Jackson

Alfred Thomas

Robert J Piechowiak

Ben Gomez

Attila Grauzer

Nathan Wadds

Roger M Snow

Oliver M Schubert

James R Roberts

Mark L Yoseloff

Frank C DeSimone

Curtis J Crawford

Michael Thomas Dini

Nathan J Wadds

A gaming machine platform includes a front display that is controllable to be opaque and display symbols during a first mode of operation, and controllable to be transparent to reveal a set of stepper motor driven reels during a second mode of operation. The front display may be part of larger display screen that displays peripheral reels that surround the front display. In one type of game, the front display displays a randomly selected array of symbols, and the peripheral reels display scatter symbols that are combinable with the front display symbols in a primary game to generate awards and possibly trigger a bonus game. When the bonus game is triggered, the front display becomes transparent to reveal the stepper driven reels for a bonus game. The bonus game may or may not use the peripheral reels.

Gaming machine having peripheral reels, a selectively transparent front display, and motor driven reels behind the front display

A gaming machine displays a set of virtual center reels, creating an M&#xd7;N array of symbols, and an independent set of virtual peripheral reels surrounding the M&#xd7;N array. The peripheral reels are part of a secondary game, and each peripheral reel displays only one symbol position. The center reels contain at least one trigger symbol for trigging the secondary game. The center reels are displayed on a separate, set-back display to give the illusion of motorized mechanical reels. Awards are granted for winning symbol combinations on the center reels. If the trigger condition exists, a bonus award is granted for winning symbol combinations on the peripheral reels. The bonus award may be based on the number of peripheral symbols that match the displayed trigger symbol or may be based on other criteria. In one embodiment, the trigger symbols are only on one of the center reels.

Casino game with peripheral array of scatter symbols around a set back display screen depicting motor driven reels

A gaming machine displays a set of virtual center reels, creating an M&#xd7;N array of symbols, and an independent set of virtual peripheral reels surrounding the M&#xd7;N array. The peripheral reels are part of a secondary game, and each peripheral reel displays only one symbol position. The center reels contain at least one trigger symbol for trigging the secondary game. Each of the reels spins and randomly stops. Awards are granted for winning symbol combinations on the center reels. If the trigger symbol is displayed in the M&#xd7;N array, or other trigger condition exists, a bonus award is granted for winning symbol combinations on the peripheral reels. The bonus award may be based on the number of peripheral symbols that match the displayed trigger symbol or may be based on other criteria. In one embodiment, the trigger symbols are only on one of the center reels.

Casino game with peripheral array of scatter symbols around motor driven reels

Casino game with peripheral ring of scatter symbols around center reels

Methods and apparatus for identifying unexpected cards in a card-handling device are disclosed. The method comprises providing a card-handling device, wherein the card-handling device comprises a card storage area, an output end for the manual removal of cards, a processor with associated memory, and a card recognition system capable of reading at least a rank of a card, wherein the associated memory has a data file of a set of expected card values, reading a value of a card, comparing the read card value to the set of expected card values, and when the card value is not an expected card value, generating an error signal indicative of a card not belonging to the set.

Card-reading shoe with inventory correction feature and methods of correcting inventory

A semi-automatic gaming table system comprises: a gaming table surface, at least one playing card delivery device, the playing card delivery device comprising a card storage area, an internal processor, a card-moving system, a delivery end and a card-imaging system, and a plurality of electronic player interfaces mounted in the gaming table surface that communicate with a game controller, wherein the game controller is programmed to communicate with the internal processor and the player interfaces, to detect at least one condition and respond by instructing the card-handling system to stop delivering cards to the delivery end. A method of monitoring play of a casino card game comprises: a player electronically making a wager on a semi-automatic gaming system, a dealer dealing physical cards to each player from a card-handling device, automatically sensing a rank and/or suit of cards being delivered, automatically determining a number of cards dealt to each player, and, when a predetermined condition is sensed, directing a card-handling device to cease moving cards to a delivery end, wherein one card is available for removal until the condition is cleared.

Card reading shoe with card stop feature and systems utilizing the same

A progressive jackpot slot machine, or group of slot machines, is described herein. A plurality of progressive jackpots are accumulated as the slot machine is played. In one preferred embodiment, a first progressive jackpot is accumulated at a first rate, and a second progressive jackpot is accumulated at a rate higher than the first rate. Additional jackpots accumulate at higher rates. The betting of additional monetary amounts enables the player to win additional jackpots. This provides added incentive for the player to bet additional monetary amounts.

Slot machine having multiple progressive jackpots

A progressive jackpot slot machine, or group of slot machines, is described herein. A plurality of progressive jackpots are accumulated as the slot machine is played. In the preferred embodiment, a first progressive jackpot is accumulated at a first rate, and a second progressive jackpot is accumulated at a rate higher than the first rate. Additional jackpots accumulate at higher rates. The betting of additional monetary amounts enables the player to win additional jackpots. This provides added incentive for the player to bet additional monetary amounts.

In one embodiment of a gaming machine incorporating the present invention, a special outcome of a primary game initiates a bonus game of a type very different from the primary game. One of the outcomes of the bonus game is the initiation of a third game, which the player then plays to determine whether the bonus game ends or continues. This third game may be the random selection by the player or the gaming machine of one of a plurality of tiles (or other icons), where certain ones of the tiles end the bonus game and other ones of the tiles allow the bonus game to continue. The third game may be any game where a random result determines the ending of the bonus game, or the third game may be a game of skill, such as a hand of blackjack. In one embodiment, the primary game, the bonus game, and the third game are played on the same touch video screen, where sensors in the screen detect the position of a player's touch in order to select a displayed option.

Gaming machine having bonus game

A method for operating a rotating reel type slot machine, or a video machine which depicts rotating reels, is described herein which allows a player to save in memory one or more symbols from one or more previous games and use those symbols in a current game to obtain a winning combination. In one embodiment, multiple sets of reels are employed, and saved symbols from a primary sets of reels may be used for any of said multiple sets of reels in subsequent games. In one embodiment, additional coins may be deposited to allow the use of saved symbols with additional reel sets. In another embodiment, a special symbol displayed by a first set of reels causes corresponding reels in second and third sets of reels to stop at the special symbol.

Growing community of inventors

Henderson, NV, United States of America

James P Jackson