Stepper reel and variable cover display for bingo game

• US 20060135245A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Hedrick, Joseph R., Baerlocher, Anthony J., Kaminkow, Joseph E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,668,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

The invention is directed to methods and gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game. The outcome of the multi-player wagering game may be displayed to the player, along with an alternate outcome display at an alternate outcome display device. The alternate outcome display device may include a rotatable reel and a cover variably disposed in front of the rotatable reel. The gaming apparatus controller may receive a display request where the alternate outcome display device disposes a cover to visibly obscure the reel if the request is to obscure the reel, and disposes the cover to visibly display the reel if the request is to observe the reel.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus comprising:

a first outcome display device arranged to display an outcome of a first wagering game;

a second outcome display device arranged to display an outcome of a second wagering game, the outcome of the second wagering game corresponding to the outcome of the first wagering game; and

a cover device moveable between a first position wherein the outcome of the second wagering game is visible from an exterior of the gaming apparatus and a second position wherein the outcome of the second wagering game is not visible from the exterior of the gaming apparatus.

2. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the first outcome display device and the second outcome display device,

the controller being programmed to receive data relating to a display request,

the controller being programmed to cause the cover device to move to the first position if the display request relates to a request to observe the outcome of the second wagering game,

the controller being programmed to cause the cover device to move to the second position if the display request relates to a request to obscure the outcome of the second wagering game.

3. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the first outcome display device and the second outcome display device,

the controller being programmed to receive data relating to an outcome for the player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

the controller being programmed to cause the first outcome display device to display the outcome of the first wagering game,

the controller being programmed to determine the outcome of the second wagering game corresponding to the outcome of the first wagering game,

the controller being programmed to cause the second outcome display device to display the outcome of the second wagering game.

4. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first wagering game comprises a Bingo game.

5. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second wagering game comprises a slots game.

6. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the second outcome display device comprises a rotatable reel,

wherein the cover device is disposed in front of the rotatable reel.

7. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 6,

wherein the cover device comprises an outer rotatable reel,

wherein the rotatable reel comprises an inner rotatable reel independently rotatable inside the outer rotatable reel.

8. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the cover device comprises a transparent cover portion and an opaque cover portion,

wherein the cover device is moveable between the first position wherein the transparent cover portion is disposed to visibly display the outcome of the second wagering game from the exterior of the gaming apparatus and a second position wherein the opaque cover portion is disposed to visibly obscure the outcome of the second wagering game from the exterior of the gaming apparatus.

9. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the cover device comprises a peripheral surface having instruction indicia disposed on a portion of the peripheral surface,

wherein the cover device is moveable to a third position wherein the instruction indicia is visible from the exterior of the gaming apparatus.

10. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game, comprising:

a primary outcome display device;

an alternate outcome display device comprising a rotatable reel and a cover variably disposed in front of the rotatable reel;

a gaming apparatus controller operatively coupled to the primary outcome display device and the alternate outcome display device;

wherein the gaming apparatus controller receives data relating to an outcome for the player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller causes the primary outcome display device to display the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller determines an alternate outcome display corresponding to the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller causes the alternate outcome display device to display the alternate outcome for the player,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller receives data relating to a display request,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller causes the alternate outcome display device to dispose the cover to visibly obscure the rotatable reel from the player if the display request relates to a request to obscure the rotatable reel,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller causes the alternate outcome display device to dispose the cover to visibly display the rotatable reel for the player if the display request relates to a request to observe the rotatable reel.

11. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10,

wherein the cover comprises a transparent cover portion and an opaque cover portion,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller causes the alternate outcome display device to dispose the opaque cover portion in front of the rotatable reel to visibly obscure the rotatable reel from the player if the display request relates to a request to obscure the rotatable reel,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller causes the alternate outcome display device to dispose the transparent cover portion in front of the rotatable reel to visibly display the rotatable reel for the player if the display request relates to a request to observe the rotatable reel.

12. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10,

wherein the cover comprises an outer rotatable reel,

wherein the rotatable reel comprises an inner rotatable reel independently rotatable inside the outer rotatable reel.

13. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10, wherein the alternate outcome display is a display of an outcome of a second wagering game.

14. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller causes the primary outcome display device to display a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller receives data relating to randomly selected individual game indicia from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the wagering game,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller compares a pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, and

wherein the gaming apparatus controller determines the outcome for the player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the pattern of indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

15. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 14,

wherein the cover comprises a peripheral surface having instruction indicia disposed on a portion of the peripheral surface,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller causes the alternate outcome display device to dispose the peripheral surface portion in front of the rotatable reel to display the instruction indicia for the player.

16. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 15, wherein the instruction indicia comprises instructions to mark the pattern of indicia.

17. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10,

wherein the alternate outcome display device further comprises:

a plurality of the rotatable reels, each rotatable reel having indicia for a second wagering game disposed on a peripheral surface of the rotatable reel,

one or more of the covers variably disposed in front of the rotatable reels,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller causes the rotatable reels to rotate and to stop at a position with indicia corresponding to the outcome of the alternate outcome display.

18. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a gaming apparatus memory operatively coupled to the gaming apparatus controller and storing a plurality of alternate outcome displays corresponding to outcomes of the multi-player wagering game, wherein the gaming apparatus controller selects from the gaming apparatus memory one of the plurality of alternate outcome displays corresponding to the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

19. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 10, the gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

20. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game, comprising:

a primary outcome display device;

an alternative outcome display device comprising a rotatable reel and a cover variably disposed in front of the rotatable reel;

a first gaming apparatus controller operatively coupled to the primary outcome display device;

wherein the first gaming apparatus controller receives data relating to an outcome for the player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

wherein the first gaming apparatus controller causes the primary outcome display device to display the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

a second gaming apparatus controller operatively coupled to the alternate outcome display device and the first gaming apparatus controller;

wherein the second gaming apparatus controller determines an alternate outcome display corresponding to the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

wherein the second gaming apparatus controller causes the alternative outcome display device to display the alternate outcome for the player,

wherein the second gaming apparatus controller receives data relating to a display request,

wherein the second gaming apparatus controller causes the alternate outcome display device to dispose the cover to visibly obscure the rotatable reel from the player if the display request relates to a request to obscure the rotatable reel,

wherein the second gaming apparatus controller causes the alternate outcome display device to dispose the cover to visibly display the rotatable reel for the player if the display request relates to a request to observe the rotatable reel.

21. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 20,

wherein the cover comprises a transparent cover portion and an opaque cover portion,

wherein the second gaming apparatus controller causes the alternate outcome display device to dispose the opaque cover portion in front of the rotatable reel to visibly obscure the rotatable reel from the player if the display request relates to a request to obscure the rotatable reel,

wherein the second gaming apparatus controller causes the alternate outcome display device to dispose the transparent cover portion in front of the rotatable reel to visibly display the rotatable reel for the player if the display request relates to a request to observe the rotatable reel.

23. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 20, wherein the alternate outcome display is a display of an outcome of a second wagering game.

24. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 20,

wherein the first gaming apparatus controller causes the primary outcome display device to display a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game,

wherein the first gaming apparatus controller receives data relating to randomly selected individual game indicia from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the wagering game,

wherein the first gaming apparatus controller compares a pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, and

wherein the first gaming apparatus controller determines the outcome for the player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the pattern of indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

25. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 24,

wherein the cover comprises a peripheral surface having instruction indicia disposed on a portion of the peripheral surface,

wherein the second gaming apparatus controller causes the alternate outcome display device to dispose the peripheral surface portion in front of the rotatable reel to display the instruction indicia for the player.

26. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 25, wherein the instruction indicia comprises instructions to mark the pattern of indicia.

27. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 20,

wherein the alternate outcome display further comprises:

a plurality of the rotatable reels, each rotatable reel having indicia for a second wagering game disposed on a peripheral surface of the rotatable reel,

one or more of the covers variably disposed in front of the rotatable reels,

wherein the second gaming apparatus controller causes the rotatable reels to rotate and to stop at a position with indicia corresponding to the outcome of the alternate outcome display.

28. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 20, further comprising a gaming apparatus memory operatively coupled to the first gaming apparatus controller and storing a plurality of alternate outcome displays corresponding to outcomes of the multi-player wagering game, wherein the first gaming apparatus controller selects from the gaming apparatus memory one of the plurality of alternate outcome displays corresponding to the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

29. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 20, the gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

22. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with 20,

wherein the cover comprises an outer rotatable reel,

wherein the rotatable reel comprises an inner rotatable reel independently rotatable inside the outer rotatable reel.

30. A gaming apparatus for conducting a multi-player wagering game wherein each player has a unique game array of game indicia for the occurrence of the wagering game and individual game indicia are randomly selected from a range of available game indicia, wherein one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s unique game array with the randomly selected game indicia, the gaming apparatus comprising:

an input device for inputting a plurality of input selections;

a primary outcome display device;

an alternate outcome display device comprising a rotatable reel and a cover variably disposed in front of the rotatable reel;

a gaming apparatus memory device;

a currency accepting mechanism that is capable of allowing a player to deposit a medium of currency;

a value dispensing mechanism that is capable of dispensing value to the player;

one or more gaming apparatus controllers operatively coupled to the input device, the primary outcome display device, the alternate outcome display device, the gaming apparatus memory device, the currency-accepting mechanism, and the value-dispensing mechanism,

at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers being programmed to being programmed to allow the currency-accepting mechanism to accept a deposit of an amount of a medium of currency by a player at the gaming apparatus,

at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers being programmed to allow the input device to receive input for a player'"'"'s wager on an occurrence of the wagering game at the input device,

at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers being programmed to cause the primary display device to display the unique game array of game indicia for the player for the occurrence of the wagering game at the primary outcome display device of the gaming apparatus,

at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers being programmed to receive the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming apparatus,

at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers being programmed to compare the randomly selected game indicia to the game indicia of the game array in the order that the game indicia is selected,

at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers being programmed to determine an outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the comparison of the randomly selected game indicia to the game indicia of the unique game array, wherein the outcome is a winning outcome if a pattern formed by game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matching the randomly selected game indicia matches a predetermined at least one game award-winning pattern,

at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers being programmed to cause the primary outcome display to display the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers being programmed to determine an alternate outcome display corresponding to the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers being programmed to receive data relating to a display request,

at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers being programmed to cause the alternate outcome display device to dispose the cover to visibly obscure the rotatable reel from the player if the display request relates to a request to obscure the rotatable reel,

at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers being programmed to cause the alternate outcome display device to dispose the cover to visibly display the rotatable reel for the player if the display request relates to a request to observe the rotatable reel.

31. A gaming apparatus for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30,

wherein the cover comprises a transparent cover portion and an opaque cover portion,

wherein at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers is programmed to cause the alternate outcome display device to dispose the opaque cover portion in front of the rotatable reel to visibly obscure the rotatable reel from the player if the display request relates to a request to obscure the rotatable reel,

wherein at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers being programmed to cause the alternate outcome display device to dispose the transparent cover portion in front of the rotatable reel to visibly display the rotatable reel for the player if the display request relates to a request to observe the rotatable reel.

32. A gaming apparatus for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30,

wherein the cover comprises an outer rotatable reel,

wherein the rotatable reel comprises an inner rotatable reel independently rotatable inside the outer rotatable reel.

33. A gaming apparatus for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30, wherein the alternate outcome display is a display of an outcome of a second wagering game.

34. A gaming apparatus for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30,

wherein the cover comprises a peripheral surface having instruction indicia disposed on a portion of the peripheral surface,

wherein at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers is programmed to cause the alternate outcome display device to dispose the peripheral surface portion in front of the rotatable reel to display the instruction indicia for the player.

35. A gaming apparatus for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 34, wherein the instruction indicia comprises instructions to mark the pattern of indicia.

36. A gaming apparatus for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30,

wherein the alternate outcome display further comprises:

a plurality of the rotatable reels, each rotatable reel having indicia for a second wagering game disposed on a peripheral surface of the rotatable reel,

one or more of the covers variably disposed in front of the rotatable reels,

wherein at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers is programmed to cause the rotatable reels to rotate and to stop at a position with indicia corresponding to the outcome of the alternate outcome display.

37. A gaming apparatus for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30, wherein the gaming apparatus memory device stores a plurality of alternate outcome displays corresponding to outcomes of the multi-player wagering game, wherein at least one of the one or more gaming apparatus controllers is programmed to select from the gaming apparatus memory device one of the plurality of alternate outcome displays corresponding to the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

38. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 30, the gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

39. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game, comprising:

a first display unit;

a second display unit comprising an outer rotatable reel and an inner rotatable reel independently rotatable inside the outer rotatable reel, the outer rotatable reel comprising a transparent cover portion and an opaque cover portion;

a controller operatively coupled to the first display unit and the second display unit,

wherein the controller receives data relating to a first outcome for the player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

wherein the controller causes the first display unit to display the first outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

wherein the controller determines a second outcome display corresponding to the first outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game,

wherein the controller causes the second display unit to display the second outcome for the player,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller receives data relating to a display request,

wherein the controller causes the second display unit to rotate the outer rotatable reel to dispose the opaque cover portion in front of the inner rotatable reel if the display request relates to a request to obscure the second outcome display,

wherein the controller causes the second display unit to rotate the outer rotatable reel to dispose the transparent cover portion in front of the inner rotatable reel if the display request relates to a request to observe the second outcome display.

40. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 39,

wherein the first display unit comprises a video display unit that is capable of generating video images,

wherein the controller causes a video image comprising an image of a bingo grid to be displayed if the multi-player wagering game comprises video bingo.

41. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 39, wherein the second outcome display comprises a display of an outcome of a second wagering game.

42. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 41, wherein the second wagering game comprises a slots game.

43. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 39, wherein the inner rotatable reel comprises one or more game indicia disposed on a peripheral surface of the rotatable reel.

44. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 39, wherein the controller causes the first display unit to display a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game,

wherein the controller receives data relating to randomly selected individual game indicia from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the wagering game,

wherein the controller compares a pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, and

wherein the controller determines the first outcome for the player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the pattern of indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

45. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 44,

wherein the outer rotatable reel comprises a peripheral surface having instruction indicia disposed on a portion of the peripheral surface,

wherein the controller causes the second display unit to dispose the peripheral surface portion in front of the inner rotatable reel to display the instruction indicia for the player.

46. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 45, wherein the instruction indicia comprises instructions to mark the pattern of indicia.

47. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 39,

wherein the second outcome display further comprises:

one or more outer rotatable reels,

a plurality of the inner rotatable reels rotatably disposed inside the one or more outer rotatable reels, each inner rotatable reel having indicia for a second wagering game disposed on a peripheral surface of the rotatable reel,

wherein the gaming apparatus controller causes the inner rotatable reels to rotate and to stop at a position with indicia corresponding to the outcome of the second outcome display.

48. A gaming apparatus for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 39, further comprising a memory operatively coupled to the controller and storing a plurality of second outcome displays corresponding to first outcomes of the multi-player wagering game, wherein the controller selects from the memory one of the plurality of second outcome displays corresponding to the first outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.

49. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses for allowing a player to participate in a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 39, the gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a network of gaming apparatuses.

50. A gaming method comprising:

determining an outcome of a first wagering game;

determining an outcome of a second wagering game corresponding to the outcome of the first wagering game;

displaying the outcome of the first wagering game at a first display device;

displaying the outcome of the second wagering game at a second display device; and

preventing the display of the outcome of the second wagering game in response to receiving an input from a player to not display the outcome of the second wagering game.

51. A gaming method in accordance with claim 50, wherein preventing the display of the outcome of the second wagering game comprises disposing a cover to visibly obscure the outcome of the second wagering game.

52. A gaming method in accordance with claim 51, wherein disposing the cover comprises disposing an opaque cover portion of the cover in front of the second display device.

53. A gaming method in accordance with claim 51, wherein the second display device comprises an outer rotatable reel and an inner rotatable reel inside the outer rotatable reel, wherein:

disposing the cover comprises rotating the outer rotatable reel to dispose the opaque cover portion in front of the second display device.

54. A gaming method in accordance with claim 50, wherein display the outcome of the second wagering game comprises disposing a cover to visibly observe the outcome of the second wagering game in response to receiving an input from the player to display the outcome of the second wagering game.

55. A gaming method in accordance with claim 54, wherein disposing the cover comprises disposing a transparent cover portion of the cover in front of the second display device.

56. A gaming method in accordance with claim 54, wherein the second display device comprises an outer rotatable reel and an inner rotatable reel inside the outer rotatable reel, wherein:

disposing the cover comprises rotating the outer rotatable reel to dispose the transparent cover portion in front of the second display device.

57. A gaming method in accordance with claim 50, wherein the second display device comprises a cover device having instruction indicia disposed on a portion of a peripheral surface of the cover device, the method further comprising displaying instruction indicia for the player.

58. A gaming method in accordance with claim 50, wherein the second display device comprises a plurality of the rotatable reels, each rotatable reel having indicia for the second wagering game disposed on a peripheral surface of the rotatable reel, wherein the method further comprises:

rotating the rotatable reels and stopping the rotatable reels at a position with indicia corresponding to the outcome of the second wagering game.

59. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a plurality of gaming apparatus, wherein a player participates in the multi-player wagering game at one of the gaming apparatus, comprising:

determining an outcome for the player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

displaying the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the gaming apparatus;

determining an alternate outcome display corresponding to the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

displaying the alternate outcome display at an alternate outcome display device at the gaming apparatus;

receiving data relating to a display request;

disposing a cover to visibly obscure the alternate outcome display from the player if the display request relates to a request to obscure the alternate outcome display; and

disposing the cover to visibly display the alternate outcome display for the player if the display request relates to a request to observe the alternative outcome display.

60. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 59, wherein disposing a cover to visibly obscure the alternate outcome display comprises disposing an opaque cover portion of the cover in front of the alternate outcome display, and wherein disposing the cover to visibly display the alternate outcome display comprises disposing a transparent cover portion of the cover in front of the alternate outcome display.

61. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 59, wherein the alternate outcome display device comprises an outer rotatable reel and an inner rotatable reel inside the outer rotatable reel, wherein:

disposing a cover to visibly obscure the alternate outcome display comprises rotating the outer rotatable reel to dispose an opaque cover portion of the cover in front of the alternate outcome display; and

disposing the cover to visibly display the alternate outcome display comprises rotating the outer rotatable reel to dispose a transparent cover portion in front of the alternate outcome display.

62. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 59, wherein the alternate outcome display is a display of an outcome of a second wagering game.

63. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 59, further comprising:

displaying a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game;

receiving data relating to randomly selected individual game indicia from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the wagering game;

comparing a pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia; and

determining the outcome for the player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the pattern of indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

64. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 63, wherein the cover comprises a peripheral surface having instruction indicia disposed on a portion of the peripheral surface, the method further comprising disposing the peripheral surface portion in front of the rotatable reel to display the instructions indicia for the player.

65. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 64, wherein the instruction indicia comprises instructions to mark the pattern of indicia.

66. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 59, wherein the alternate outcome display comprises a plurality of the rotatable reels, each rotatable reel having indicia for a second wagering game disposed on a peripheral surface of the rotatable reel, and one or more of the covers variably disposed in front of the rotatable reels, wherein the method further comprises:

rotating the rotatable reels and stopping the rotatable reels at a position with indicia corresponding to the outcome of the alternate outcome display.

67. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 59, further comprising:

storing a plurality of alternate outcome displays corresponding to outcomes of the multi-player wagering game at the gaming apparatus; and

selecting the alternate outcome displays corresponding to the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game from the plurality of alternate outcome displays stored at the gaming apparatus.

68. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game over a gaming network having a plurality of gaming apparatus, wherein each player has a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game, wherein individual game indicia are randomly selected from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the wagering game, and wherein at least one of the players wins the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a predetermined game-winning pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia, the method comprising:

receiving a deposit of an amount of a medium of currency by a player at a gaming apparatus;

receiving input for a player'"'"'s wager on an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the input device;

displaying the unique game array of game indicia for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the gaming apparatus;

receiving the randomly selected game indicia at the gaming apparatus;

comparing the randomly selected game indicia to the game indicia of the game array in the order that the game indicia are selected;

determining an outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the comparison of the randomly selected game indicia to the game indicia of the unique game array, wherein the outcome is a winning outcome if a pattern formed by game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array matching the randomly selected game indicia matches a predetermined at least one game award-winning pattern;

displaying the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game at the gaming apparatus;

determining an alternate outcome display corresponding to the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game;

displaying the alternate outcome display at an alternate outcome display device at the gaming apparatus.

receiving data relating to a display request;

disposing a cover to visibly obscure the alternate outcome display from the player if the display request relates to a request to obscure the alternate outcome display; and

disposing the cover to visibly display the alternate outcome display for the player if the display request relates to a request to observe the alternative outcome display.

69. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 68, wherein disposing a cover to visibly obscure the alternate outcome display comprises disposing an opaque cover portion of the cover in front of the alternate outcome display, and wherein disposing the cover to visibly display the alternate outcome display comprises disposing a transparent cover portion of the cover in front of the alternate outcome display.

70. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 68, wherein the alternate outcome display device comprises an outer rotatable reel and an inner rotatable reel inside the outer rotatable reel, wherein:

disposing a cover to visibly obscure the alternate outcome display comprises rotating the outer rotatable reel to dispose an opaque cover portion of the cover in front of the alternate outcome display; and

disposing the cover to visibly display the alternate outcome display comprises rotating the outer rotatable reel to dispose a transparent cover portion in front of the alternate outcome display.

71. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 68, wherein the alternate outcome display is a display of an outcome of a second wagering game.

72. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 68, further comprising:

displaying a game array having a unique combination of indicia from a range of game indicia for an occurrence of the wagering game;

receiving data relating to randomly selected individual game indicia from the range of game indicia during the occurrence of the wagering game;

comparing a pattern of game indicia on the player'"'"'s game array with the randomly selected game indicia; and

determining the outcome for the player for an occurrence of the multi-player wagering game based on the pattern of indicia on the player'"'"'s game array.

73. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 72, wherein the cover comprises a peripheral surface having instruction indicia disposed on a portion of the peripheral surface, the method further comprising disposing the peripheral surface portion in front of the rotatable reel to display the instructions indicia for the player.

74. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 73, wherein the instruction indicia comprises instructions to mark the pattern of indicia.

75. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 68, wherein the alternate outcome display comprises a plurality of the rotatable reels, each rotatable reel having indicia for a second wagering game disposed on a peripheral surface of the rotatable reel, and one or more of the covers variably disposed in front of the rotatable reels, wherein the method further comprises:

rotating the rotatable reels and stopping the rotatable reels at a position with indicia corresponding to the outcome of the alternate outcome display.

76. A method for conducting a multi-player wagering game in accordance with claim 68, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of alternate outcome displays corresponding to the outcome for the player for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.