Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080207312 | GAMING SYSTEM AND GAMING DEVICE WITH WAGER DEPENDENT PAYBACK - A gaming system is disclosed that comprises at least one gaming device that allows a player to place a wager and play a game. The gaming system allows the payback of the gaming device to be varied dependent on the size of a wager placed by a player. Once the player has placed a wager, an active pay table is determined, for example using a formula having the wager as a variable or by using look-up tables. A random number is then generated and compared to the active pay table to determine the game outcome. The gaming system encourages and rewards placing higher wagers by providing high payback percentages for higher wagers. | 08-28-2008 |
20080248860 | GAMING DEVICE DISPLAY AND METHODS OF USE - In at least one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a gaming apparatus. The gaming apparatus may include a housing defining a display area on which at least one indicium representing at least one prize is displayed. The gaming device also may include a plurality of display characters. At least one of the display characters is configured to move and indicate at least one indicium. The gaming apparatus further includes a controller in communication with at least one of the plurality of display characters and configured to direct the movement of the display character. The controller is also configured to generate a random number and generate a game outcome based on the random number. The controller is configured to move at least one display character to indicate at least one indicium that corresponds to the game outcome. | 10-09-2008 |
20080261678 | GAMING DISPLAY WITH MOVEABLE INDICATOR AND METHODS OF USE - A gaming apparatus for playing a game. The gaming apparatus includes a display device that has a moveable display surface with a plurality of indicia. A roller may support the display surface such that the display moves over the roller. The roller and the display surface may simulate a reel. A guide track may hold and guide the shape of the display surface. The guide track and display surface may simulate a reel. A display device actuator is coupled to and can move the display surface. A controller is in communication with the display device actuator and can position the display surface such that at least one of the indicia appearing on the display surface conveys a game outcome. A braking mechanism is coupled with the display surface and is adapted to brake the display surface. | 10-23-2008 |
20080274793 | LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR GAMING DEVICES AND METHOD OF USE - A gaming apparatus includes several gaming devices. Lights are mounted in association with the gaming devices. A controller is in communication with the gaming devices and the lights. The controller is configured to receive a wager from the gaming devices and to play a base game on the gaming devices. The lights are operated in a first mode during a qualifying period. The controller determines if the qualifying period has ended and determines a set of the gaming devices that have qualified during the qualifying period. The controller further allows the set of gaming devices to play a community game during a community period and operates the lights in a second mode during the community period. A community game prize can be awarded. | 11-06-2008 |
20080274797 | GAMING DISPLAY WITH MOVEABLE INDICATOR AND METHODS OF USE - The present invention comprises a gaming apparatus that includes a display device comprising a display surface. The display surface comprises a plurality of indicia. A display device actuator is in communication with the display surface and is configured to move the display surface on a first predetermined path. A moveable indicator is included that is configured to indicate at least one indicia appearing on the display surface. A moveable indicator actuator is in communication with the moveable indicator and is configured to move the moveable indicator along a second predetermined path. A controller is in communication with at least one of the display device actuator and the moveable indicator actuator. The controller is configured to position at least one of the display device and the movable indicator so that the movable indicator indicates an indicia appearing on the display surface that conveys a game outcome. | 11-06-2008 |
20080287187 | INCENTIVE SYSTEM FOR GAMING PLAYER TRACKING - An incentive method is provided for encouraging use of a credit or debit card sponsored by, or affiliated with, a first vendor having consumer offerings, such as a casino offering gambling on games of chance, food, lodging, or other goods or services. The method includes offering the card to a person, such as a casino patron, tracking transactions on the card after acceptance by the person, including transactions for consumer offerings purchased from a second vendor, and rewarding second vendor transactions with a discount on a consumer offering purchased from the first vendor. An incentive system is provided for rewarding casino patrons who enroll in a tracking system which monitors various player characteristics. These monitored characteristics are used to assign a player rating which is used to enhance prize payouts and/or award bonus prizes. | 11-20-2008 |
20090005151 | GAMING SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE GAME APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE - A gaming system having a container configured to hold a plurality of display objects, an agitator for moving the plurality of display objects, at least one prize object holder configured to hold a plurality of prize objects in an individually controlled manner, a plurality of prize object displays located inside of the container and configured to receive at least one prize object from the prize object holder, a plurality of game apparatus associated with the prize object displays, and a controller configured to select a prize object and cause the selected prize object to be displayed in at least one prize object display, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the prize object displays include a tubular exhibition container. In another embodiment, the display object container of the gaming device is configured to provide a jumbled ball display. In addition, a method for operating a multi-apparatus gaming system by providing the prize object displays inside of the display object container of the aforementioned gaming system is disclosed. | 01-01-2009 |
20090075716 | GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD - A gaming device includes several changeable prize displays with each changeable prize display sequentially displaying several different prizes. A moveable indicator can move relative to the changeable prize displays and selectively indicate at least one of the prize displays by moving proximate the position of the indicated prize display. The gaming device has a player input device and a controller that are in communication with each other and the changeable prize displays. The controller can cause each of the changeable prize displays to sequentially display the different prizes and to move the moveable indicator relative to the changeable prize displays. The controller can randomly select a prize and detect activation of the player input device. The moveable indicator can stop, after the player input device is activated. A changeable prize display closest to the moveable indicator can display the randomly selected prize. | 03-19-2009 |
20090082086 | GAMING SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE GAME APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE - A gaming system having a centralized controller coupled to an array of game apparatus; a display device, including a plurality of prize object displays, for displaying a bonus event prize for at least one game apparatus in the array; and provision for holding prize objects in an individually controlled manner, is disclosed. In another embodiment, a gaming system including a plurality of game apparatus, each game apparatus having a plurality of prize objects where at least one prize object is a dynamic prize object, the latter being distinguishable from other prize objects; and a central controller in communication with the plurality of game apparatus, the central controller being configured to assign a prize value to a selected prize object if the selected prize object is a dynamic prize object and cause the prize value to be displayed to a player on the associated game apparatus, is disclosed. | 03-26-2009 |
20090104991 | GAMING DEVICE DISPLAY AND METHOD - A gaming apparatus is disclosed that comprises a plurality of gaming devices and a display. The display provides at least one video display mounted on a rotatable structure. An actuator rotates the rotatable structure so that the video display can be viewed by players of the gaming devices. A display controller controls the display to select the presentation shown on the video display. Where multiple video displays are provided, the display controller controls the video display so that a video display entering a segment of the rotation path continues a presentation of a video display exiting the segment such that a player within the segment is able to view a continuous presentation. | 04-23-2009 |