Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080318656 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING AUTOMATED PLAY OF A GAME MACHINE - According to some embodiments of the present invention, a gaming device such as a slot machine may be operated in an automated play mode in which the need for player input is reduced or eliminated. Termination of and/or changes in the automated play mode may be related to player input, other types of information about a player (or the player's body), and/or whether a player is directing attention to play of the gaming device. | 12-25-2008 |
20090144179 | PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES FOR VENDING A PLURALITY OF PRODUCTS VIA DEFINED GROUPS - Products and processes are disclosed for defining at least one inventory group. This at least one inventory group includes at least two products that are available for sale by a vending machine. The vending machine outputs an indication of products that the at least one inventory group includes. The vending machine receiving, from a customer, a selection of a first product that the at least one inventory group includes. The vending machine processes a sale of a unit of the first product and a respective unit of at least one additional product for a single price. | 06-04-2009 |
20100267444 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A LEVEL OF REWARD - In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method comprises associating, with a casino patron, a benefit of a first value. The benefit of the first value is determined based on a first algorithm and based on the patron's activity during a first portion of a period of time. The method further comprises associating, with the patron, a benefit of a second value. The benefit of the second value is determined based on a second algorithm and based on the patron's activity during a second portion of the period of time, the second portion occurring after the first portion. Associating the benefit of the second value is only performed if the associating the benefit of the first value is first performed. | 10-21-2010 |
20110244950 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING GAMING DEVICE PLAY AND DETERMINING COMPLIANCE STATUS - After a player purchases a contract providing insurance against gambling losses, a server or other device in communication with a gaming device (e.g., a “player tracking” server, “slot accounting” server and/or other computer device) may operate to (i) receive game play data in association with one or more plays of the gaming device, (ii) determine a compliance status based on the received game play data and one or more play requirements associated with the contract, and (iii) provide a refund amount due to the player based on the compliance status. Before providing any refund, the server or other device may store a status indicator relating to the one or more plays indicating whether the play was compliant with the contract. Furthermore, an alert may be provided to the player if a particular play is not compliant with the contract. | 10-06-2011 |
20110312411 | GAMING SYSTEM, GAMINE DEVICE AND METHOD EMPLOYING AUDIO/VIDEO PROGRAMMING OUTCOME PRESENTATIONS - The present disclosure generally includes a gaming system which: receives a wager, upon receiving the wager, randomly generates one of a plurality of different numbers, after the random generation of the number, accesses a database that includes each of the plurality of different numbers, each different number being preassociated with one of a plurality of different audio/video segments and one of a plurality of different game results, the audio/video segments produced for a purpose other than for inclusion on the gaming device, determines which audio/video segment and game result are preassociated with the randomly generated number regardless of any player input, displays the determined audio/video output segment and the determined game result, and determines an outcome value based on the determined game result. | 12-22-2011 |
20110312412 | GAMING SYSTEM, GAMINE DEVICE AND METHOD EMPLOYING AUDIO/VIDEO PROGRAMMING OUTCOME PRESENTATIONS - The present disclosure generally includes a gaming system which receives a wager amount on a play of a primary game, outputs an audio/video programming clip in association with the wagered on play of the primary game, tracks occurrences of at least one designated event outputted in association with the audio/video programming clip, determines if a quantity of occurrences of the tracked at least one designated event outputted is at least equal to a designated quantity of occurrences of the tracked at least one designated event, the designated quantity of occurrences of the tracked at least one designated event being at least two, and when the quantity of occurrences of the tracked at least one designated event is at least equal to the designated quantity, causes an occurrence of one selected from the group consisting of: a trigger of a secondary game and a generation of a negative outcome. | 12-22-2011 |
20110312413 | GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD EMPLOYING AUDIO/VIDEO PROGRAMMING OUTCOME PRESENTATIONS - The present disclosure generally includes a gaming system which: (a) for a first play of a game of a gaming session: determines one of a plurality of different outcomes, displays the determined outcome, determines any award associated with the determined outcome, displays any determined award, and outputs a first audio/video programming clip, the first audio/video programming clip including content associated with a first point in time of an event, and (b) for a second, subsequent play of the game of the gaming session: determines one of the plurality of different outcomes, displays the determined outcome, determines any award associated with the determined outcome, displays any determined award, and outputs a second, different audio/video programming clip, the second audio/video programming clip including content associated with a second, subsequent point in time of the event. | 12-22-2011 |
20120058812 | GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD EMPLOYING AUDIO/VIDEO PROGRAMMING OUTCOME PRESENTATIONS - The present disclosure generally includes a gaming system which: (i) provides a gaming session and for each play of the primary game: (a) receives a selection from a plurality of different audiovisual categories, (b) receives a selection relating to audiovisual categories, (c) receives a primary game initiation signal caused by the selection, (d) in response to the primary game initiation signal, determines a random number, and uses the random number to determine a payout and an audiovisual clip to be displayed from the selected audiovisual category: the audiovisual clip being indicative of a magnitude of the determined payout, use of the determined audiovisual clip in the primary game causes the determined audiovisual clip to be disallowed for reuse in subsequent plays of the primary game of the gaming session. | 03-08-2012 |
20120115604 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A LEVEL OF REWARD - A gaming system and method which includes enabling a first player at a first gaming device to initiate at least one play of a first game, enabling a second player at a second gaming device to initiate at least one play of a second game, determining, based at least in part on at least one activity of the first player, a benefit, and providing the determined benefit to the second player. | 05-10-2012 |
20120122563 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A LEVEL OF REWARD - A gaming system and method which includes enabling a player to initiate a play of a game, for the initiated play of the game: (i) randomly generating a game outcome, (ii) displaying to the player the randomly generated game outcome, (iii) determining any award associated with the displayed game outcome, and (iv) displaying to the player any determined award, enabling the player to invite a quantity of other players to each initiate a play of at least one game, the quantity of other players being greater than zero, and if the player invited the quantity of other players, providing the player a benefit, an amount of the benefit being based on the quantity of other players invited. | 05-17-2012 |
20120178519 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING ENTRY INTO BONUS ROUNDS - The present invention allows gaming devices to set or modify game parameters through the use of random events such as spinning slot machine reels and/or random number generators. In one embodiment, a player may purchase an entry into a bonus round of a bonus game, without first having to qualify for the entry by obtaining a qualifying outcome of a base game. In one embodiment, a player may provide payment for an entry into one or more bonus rounds to establish an initial credit meter balance, wherein the initial credit meter balance is set to a number of credits based on the results of the one or more bonus rounds and not to an amount of credits corresponding to the payment provided by the player, wherein the player can pay for the entry without first having to qualify for the entry via a qualifying outcome of the base game. | 07-12-2012 |