Bally Gaming, Inc.

Sierra Design Group

Russ Frederick Marsden

Robert A Luciano, Jr

Robert William Crowder

Loren T Nelson

Dimo D Ditchev

Warren Rapelye White

James Phillip Helgesen

Zbigniew Czyzewski

Nathan J Wadds

Robert Steven Anderson

Russel Tower Bradford

Nathan Wadds

Colin A Helsen

Timothy F Kelley

Collin A Helsen

Tim Kelley

Colin Helsen

An automatic card-handling device, having a card-handling device that includes a controller, the card-handling device configured for shuffling an input set of cards and delivering an output set of cards resulting from the shuffling; and a communication module operably coupled to the controller, wherein the communication module is configured for sending and receiving information related to operation of the card-handling device across a communication port configured for operable coupling to a cellular network, wherein the information related to the operation of the automatic card-handling device includes information about the use of the card-handling device; and wherein a factor in a usage fee for the card-handling device is use of the card-handling device.

Remotely serviceable card-handling devices and related systems and methods

An automatic card handling device, having a card handling device that includes a controller, the card handling device configured for shuffling an input set of cards and delivering an output set of cards resulting from the shuffling; and a communication module operably coupled to the controller, wherein the communication module is configured for sending and receiving information related to operation of the card handling device across a communication port configured for operable coupling to a cellular network, wherein the information related to the operation of the automatic card handling device includes information about the use of the card handling device; and wherein a factor in a usage fee for the card handling device is use of the card handling device.

System for billing usage of a card handling device

A method is shown for enhancing game play on a gaming machine. In one embodiment, the gaming machine may include a processor, a memory, and program logic stored in the memory that may be executable to play a game in exchange for a wager. The method includes receiving a Newprom award that is not issued by the gaming machine. The method may include altering, using the processor, the game to an enhanced game state in response to the Newprom award. The Newprom award may be configured to add one or more game play enhancements available to a player only by way of the Newprom award to the game. This may alter the game to the enhanced game state so that the game is played with the one or more game play enhancements.

Enhanced game play awards and use in gaming environments

System for billing usage of an automatic card handling device

A method is shown for enhancing game play on a gaming machine. In one embodiment, the gaming machine may include a processor, a memory, and program logic stored in the memory that may be executable to play a base game in exchange for a wager. The method includes receiving a Newprom award that is not issued by the gaming machine. The method may include altering, using the processor, the base game to an enhanced base game state in response to the Newprom award. The Newprom award may be configured to add one or more base game play enhancements available to a player only by way of the Newprom award to the base game. This may alter the base game to the enhanced base game state so that the base game is played with the one or more game play enhancements.

A system and method for adding a bonus round to any poker-style card game on a Nevada-style gaming machine. The bonus round is characterized by the existence of a match card. The match card is not part of the traditional poker hand (the 'in-hand' cards) of the player, and only comes into play during a bonus round. The suit and value of the match card may be generated by the game machine or a remote game controller or backend server. The match card is then displayed in a manner visually associating the match card with one of the player's 'in-hand' cards. A bonus is determined by evaluating the associated pair. Alternatively a bonus may be determined first, in which case the game machine determines a match card and associated card from the player's in-hand cards that is the equivalent of the predetermined bonus.

Modified poker with bonus match card

A system and method for determined, issuing, and using promotion based awards and games based on those awards that encompass granularity and diversity of individually enforceable options, such as individual games at specified locations, heretofore not achievable in a gaming environment.

High granularity promotion-based awards and use in gaming environments

A system and method for determined, issuing, and using promotion based awards and games based on those awards that encompass granularity and diversity of individually enforceable options, such as individual games at specified locations, heretofore not achievable in a gaining environment.

A system and method for presenting a player with simulated poker play is disclosed, where the result is actually based on a predetermined outcome. In order to create a realistic play scenario, the present invention never corrects or overrides a player's choices during the play of a hand. Rather, a new solution which incorporates a specially indicated bonus wheel or symbol is used. If a player makes choices while playing a hand that precludes the game machine from creating a needed final value corresponding to a predetermined win amount, a bonus is created to make up any difference. In addition, the way in which the apparent bonus is implemented includes seemingly random bonus awards, allowing both good and poor poker players to receive such bonuses. This further increases the realism of the play.

Simulated poker with bonus wheel adder

A new player footrest is disclosed, usable as part of a gaming machine. The new footrest is mounted higher on the gaming cabinetry than was previously known in the art, providing a new and invigorating way to make significant changes to foot position, and therefore body position, during long game play periods. Further, in one embodiment the footrests are adjustable, providing even more player comfort and positional diversity.

Gaming cabinet footrests

A system and method for maintaining player's game state (award credits, partial award states, and non-award or non-credit states) in a gaming environment is disclosed. In particular, the player may restore the game state from previously played games either from the same game device or from another game device. The invention also provides for award redemption of the award credits (or game pieces) earned by a player during game play.

Method and apparatus for maintaining game state

A system and method for presenting a player with simulated poker play is disclosed, where the result is actually based on a predetermined outcome. In order to create a realistic play scenario, the present invention never corrects or overrides a player's choices during the play of a hand. Rather, a new solution which incorporates a specially indicated, separately drawn card is used. If a player makes choices while playing a hand that precludes the game machine from creating a final hand having a value equivalent to the predetermined amount of a win, a separate card from those in the hand is used to create a bonus award that makes up any difference. In addition, the way in which the separate card is implemented includes the issuance of seemingly random bonus awards, allowing both good and poor poker players to receive such bonuses. This further increases the realism of the play.

Simulated poker for use with predetermined outcomes

A system and method for using two authenticators to identify a player in a gaming environment is disclosed, where the second authenticator is based on biometric data. The two authenticators allow a two-level authorization process providing very high assurance that a player at a gaming machine is who they claim to be, and where the second authenticator, being based on biometric data, enables a player to quickly and easily authenticate documents and/or authenticate age while continuing to play at game machines.

Growing community of inventors

Gardnerville, NV, United States of America

Russ Frederick Marsden