Acres Gaming, Inc.

Kevan Wilkins

Scott A Boyd

Shannon Mason

Miles M Patceg

Perry O Cobb

Chris E Hammond

Richard Jay Schneider

R Jeffrey Jordan

Matt Glazier

Anthony J Baerlocher

Richard E Rowe

Cameron A Filipour

Daniel DeWaal

Glen Keith Russell

Allan Legler

David Hollister

Rick Rowe

Keith Russell

The gaming system and method disclosed herein provides a plurality of symbol combinations that are each associated with a dynamic award. Such dynamic awards increase based, at least in part, on one or more random events which occur in association with one or more plays of a game. In one embodiment, the gaming system increases the dynamic award of a designated symbol combination based on the random generation of another, different symbol combination. In this embodiment, if the gaming system randomly generates the other symbol combination, the gaming system: (i) provides any award associated with this other symbol combination, and (ii) increases the dynamic award of the designated symbol combination. Additionally, if the gaming system randomly generates the designated symbol combination, the gaming system provides to a player the dynamic award of the designated symbol combination.

Gaming system and method for providing symbol combinations with dynamic awards

Embodiments of the invention allow a player to have a unique gaming experience, different than other players, even when playing on the same network. A game may span several gaming sessions. States of a game, for example a bonus game, may be stored when the player decides to stop playing the game. When the player initiates a next gaming session, at the same or another location, the previous state of the game is re-loaded onto the gaming machine and the player returns to the previous state. Further, additional bonuses can be implemented because the network knows the identity and other information about the player. The additional bonuses may be unique to that player. Messages particular to a player are exchanged between a gaming device and a gaming network.

Player specific network

Embodiments of the invention are directed to networked gaming devices that can keep particularized records for identified players. A server can store records of player's present and past actions on the gaming network and can communicate with the gaming device using messaging. In some embodiments, status of games or awards can be stored from one gaming session to another, which allows a player to resume a previously started game or award at a later time. Some games include rewards that are collected over time that can be redeemed for personalized rewards.

Player specific rewards

A gaming table assembly for a table game configured to deliver a bonus game to a player at the gaming table. The assembly including a gaming table, a dealer station for a gaming dealer, and a plurality of player stations for one or more players. At least one interactive display terminal is included associated with the gaming table that is dedicated to one or more of the plurality of player stations. The display terminal is configured to display content selected from the group consisting of a bonus game, an advertisement, player tracking information, news and bonus awards.

Method and apparatus for delivering information and/or a bonus award to players of a gaming table

A method and apparatus for operating networked gaming devices to display a calendar image within a promotions display on a gaming machine. The method includes configuring a promotion at a configuration workstation coupled over a network to a plurality of gaming devices. Players are permitted to play one of the gaming devices with each of said gaming device having a touch screen display. A calendar graphic is displayed within the touch screen display having of a plurality of day boxes, with the promotion associated with and displayed within one of the day boxes. Information about the promotion is communicated to the player via the touch screen display associated with the gaming device. The method and apparatus accepts a communication from the player via the touch screen display indicative of a player selection of the promotion displayed in one of the day boxes, and implements the promotion responsive to the selection.

Event calendar at electronic gaming device

When a special symbol appears during play of the gaming machine game, the secondary game is initiated. At initiation, a bonus prize is determined by the secondary game microcontroller by consulting a bonus game paytable stored therein where each bonus prize corresponds to a bonus spot on the secondary game. A multi-ended pointer of the secondary game spins around the field of bonus spots and the player is prompted to select which end of the pointer is active. Upon selection of the end&#x2014;e.g. blue or green&#x2014;a microcontroller operating the spinner calculates the point at which the spinner will cease to spin so that the selected pointed end is pointing toward the selected bonus prize. The player is given the illusion that he or she controls which bonus prize is won since the green side of the pointer will point to a different bonus prize than the blue side.

Gaming machine having multi-ended pointer for quasi-deterministic play ('pick-a-prize')

Informational display assembly for a gaming table

A secondary game operable on a gaming machine top box includes visual representations of a plurality of bingo cards formed of five columns, each column corresponding to a letter in B-I-N-G-O. The secondary game also includes peripheral spaces on the top box corresponding to each letter on each card. Qualified players, e.g. those making a maximum bet on the base game, cause the secondary game to operate whereby one of the peripheral spaces is selected. A letter causes the column on the card associated with that letter to be lit; however, the cards must be completed sequentially so that the 'B' column must be lit before 'I' and so forth. Completely filling out one or more of the bingo cards results in a selected award associated with that winning card. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a bonus script is built that predetermines the number of plays made and the bonus amount received. The player then simply plays out the script until the bonus amount is one.

Sequential fast-ball BINGO secondary bonus game for use with an electronic gaming machine

Personal table game kiosk

In operation, when a special symbol appears on one of the base-game reels, the secondary game is initiated. The player is prompted to hit the spin button, which causes the lamps behind each spinner position to light in sequence until the sequence stops to point at the winning cherry. The numerical value associated with the winning cherry is the potential award in bonus credits to the player. The player can opt out and claim the award or can continue to hit the spin button thereby accruing credits in the amount associated with each cherry. But after a cherry wins&#x2014;i.e., the sequence stops on it&#x2014;it becomes a 'bust' cherry. If the sequence stops on a bust cherry in any subsequent spin, the accrued award is lost. In that event, a consolation prize is awarded. The concept behind the invention involves player decision making and input&#x2014;that is, whether the player should press his or her luck for potentially increased payout where the chance of continuing with the secondary game becomes increasingly risky as safe payout spaces are converted to bust spaces.

Method for implementing a secondary game in a gaming machine

Sequential fast-ball bingo secondary bonus game for use with an electronic gaming machine

When a special symbol appears during play of the gaming machine game, the secondary game is initiated. At initiation, a bonus prize is determined by the secondary game microcontroller by consulting a bonus game paytable stored therein where each bonus prize corresponds to a bonus spot on the secondary game. A multi-ended pointer of the secondary game spins around the field of bonus spots and the player is prompted to select which end of the pointer is active. Upon selection of the end&mdash;e.g. blue or green&mdash;a microcontroller operating the spinner calculates the point at which the spinner will cease to spin so that the selected pointed end is pointing toward the selected bonus prize. The player is given the illusion that he or she controls which bonus prize is won since the green side of the pointer will point to a different bonus prize than the blue side.

Growing community of inventors

Las Vegas, NV, United States of America

Kevan Wilkins