Acres Gaming, Inc.

Casino Data Systems Inc.

Igt, a Nevada Corporation

Scott A Boyd

Kevan Wilkins

Miles M Patceg

Shannon Mason

Perry O Cobb

Richard Jay Schneider

R Jeffrey Jordan

Chris E Hammond

Mike Bristol

Glen Keith Russell

Matt Glazier

Richard E Rowe

Vincent Salvatore Manfredi

Richard Jeffrey Jordan

Jay Roper

Kim Martin

David Hollister

Jeff Jordan

Allan Legler

Jamal Benbrahim

Rick Rowe

Rex R Carlson

Mark A Hettinger

Keith Russell

Rich Schneider

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

The present invention integrates the concepts of interactive player based promotions, games, and bonusing that utilize a touch screen display on a gaming system associated with a remote player tracking system. The promotions are configured at a remote configuration workstation by selecting system criteria defining the particular bonus promotion to thereby create a 'bonus rule'. Promotions have four primary criteria. The first is the 'Trigger' which is the criterion that determines when the bonus screen is activated to display a promotion. The second is the &#x201c;Interface&#x201d; that determines what will be displayed on the bonus screen. The third is the &#x201c;Award&#x201d; in which the nature of the bonus payment, including the method of choosing the value to award and the required player interaction to receive the promotion, is determined. And finally, the &#x201c;Currency&#x201d; system determines the method of payment to the player for earning or receiving the promotion.

System controlled player-related bonuses in gaming machines

Disclosed is a gaming system for awarding a bonus to a player of a wager-based game of chance. The gaming system includes one or more gaming devices in communication with one or more host devices over a network. The host device(s) are configured to: i) receive an indication of a bonus award to be provided to a player of the gaming device, ii) receive a selection parameter, and iii) select one of a plurality of weighted pay tables stored in a storage medium using the selection parameter. Each weighted pay table includes a plurality of awards and a plurality of probabilities. The host device(s) are further configured to: iv) randomly determine one of the plurality of awards in the selected weighted pay table in accordance with the plurality of probabilities, and v) provide the randomly determined award as the bonus award for the player.

Apparatus and methods for implementing bonuses in gaming machine networks using weighted pay tables

The present invention integrates the concepts of interactive player based promotions, games, and bonusing that utilize a touch screen display on a gaming system associated with a remote player tracking system. The promotions are configured at a remote configuration workstation by selecting system criteria defining the particular bonus promotion to thereby create a 'bonus rule.' Promotions have four primary criteria. The first is the 'Trigger' which is the criterion that determines when the bonus screen is activated to display a promotion. The second is the &#x201c;Interface&#x201d; that determines what will be displayed on the bonus screen. The third is the &#x201c;Award&#x201d; in which the nature of the bonus payment, including the method of choosing the value to award and the required player interaction to receive the promotion, is determined. And finally, the &#x201c;Currency&#x201d; system determines the method of payment to the player for earning or receiving the promotion.

A printer on a networked gaming device can be controlled by the network to generate awards. The printer can operate as both a typical printer in a gaming device and as a printer for the gaming network, or separate printers can be installed in the gaming device. If the particular player has identified himself or herself to the gaming network, then the gaming system has a very high probability that it is communicating to a known player. Therefore, the printer operates as a direct communication conduit to a player. Additionally, previously issued awards can be redeemed by a validator coupled to the gaming network.

System for electronic game promotion

The present invention provides novel methods and devices for providing audio to players of a gaming machine and to nearby players. According to preferred implementations, sounds intended for a person currently using a gaming machine are distinguished from second sounds intended for persons who are not currently using the gaming machine. The former sounds are directed to the player of the gaming machine by one or more methods and/or devices. For example, the gaming machine may include a device for producing ultrasonic waves (e.g., in a beam) that produce the first sounds via interaction with a medium, a sound dome, a speaker array, or other devices for producing directional sound. The sound may be directed to a predetermined area near the gaming machine. Alternatively, the sound may be directed to an area at or near where the player is detected to be, where the player's player tracking card is detected to be, etc.

Differentiated audio

Disclosed is a gaming system for awarding a bonus to a player of a wager-based game of chance. The gaming system includes one or more gaming devices configured to play games of chance and one or more host devices in communication with the gaming devices over a network. The host device(s) are configured to: i) receive an indication of a bonus award to be provided to a player of the gaming device, ii) receive or retrieve a selection parameter, and iii) select one of a plurality of weighted pay tables stored in a storage medium using the selection parameter. Each weighted pay table includes a plurality of awards and a plurality of probabilities, where each award has an associated one of the probabilities. The host device(s) are further configured to: iv) randomly determine one of the plurality of awards in the selected weighted pay table in accordance with the plurality of probabilities, and v) provide the randomly determined award as the bonus award for the player. Generally, each weighted pay table has an expected value (EV), which can be determined and adjusted by an operator of the gaming establishment.

This embodiment of a method and apparatus for communicating with a player of a networked gaming device incorporates a touch screen display into an electronic slot machine. The display facilitates player interaction with the slot machine network to enable cashless gaming, player tracking, bonus, and secondary game features.

Method and apparatus for communicating with a player of a networked gaming device

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

The present invention relates to a system for communicating with a player of a networked gaming device using a mountable interactive player interface incorporating a touch screen display to enable cashless gaming, player tracking, bonus, and secondary game features.

System for communicating with a player through a mountable interactive interface

The game bonus can be initiated by a reel symbol combination; an example is the initiator symbol that occurs on the base game. In the preferred implementation, the bonus initiator will be a scatter pay on a video slot. Upon hitting the initiator, the game random number generator chooses a value to award and an associated script to display the award based upon a probability and award schedule. The embodiments of display have a play choosing chickens located in cages on a truck. Each chicken awards a value until a chicken with a stopper and a value is chosen. This stopper ends the script and the player is awarded a value.

Valued end bonus event for gaming machine

A content manager feature includes global controls, e.g., volume and display contrast across the entire floor. The program shows prompts including configuring graphical screens with a system variable laid over the display such as player-preferred name. The content manager, the calendar, and anything else appearing on the touch screen are displayed with key pad, touch screen, or on the game screen with or without touch controls.

Growing community of inventors

Las Vegas, NV, United States of America

Scott A Boyd