Reconfigurable gaming machine

• US 8,066,566 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2008
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming International Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Miodunski, Robert, Morrow, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya; Sunit
• Application Number:
  US12/029,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20080146326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463/31, 463/3, 463 40-431
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

A gaming machine has at least one video screen, but preferably three. One screen displays a primary game and the other two screens preferably display pay tables, a secondary game, or artwork related to the primary and/or secondary game. The content of the video screens is reconfigurable. The content may be downloaded over a network connecting a plurality of gaming machines to a central computer or the content of several different games may be stored locally within the gaming machine.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a reconfigurable first video screen displaying a first game located on the gaming machine;

a reconfigurable second video screen displaying pay tables associated with the first game located on the gaming machine; and

a reconfigurable third video screen displaying artwork associated with the theme of the first game located on the gaming machine;

wherein the gaming machine is reconfigurable to display a second game on the three video screens in response to receiving a reconfiguration command and downloading the second game from a server via a network so that the second game is displayed on the reconfigured first video screen, pay tables associated with the second game are displayed on the reconfigured second video screen, and artwork associated with the theme of the second game is displayed on the reconfigured third video screen.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the reconfiguration command is activated by a trigger.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the trigger is a wagered amount.

4. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the trigger is an identity of a player.

5. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the trigger is a speed at which a game is played.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the reconfiguration command is casino personnel-activated.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the reconfiguration command is player-activated.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the second game is authenticated after being downloaded.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein one or more of the screens is used to offer casino specific features a player.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the casino specific features include booking hotel rooms, making restaurant reservations, ordering refreshments, or combinations thereof.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein additional game play opportunities are presented on one of the screens.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein casino-wide bonus games are presented on one of the screens.

13. A gaming machine having a plurality of reconfigurable video screens, the gaming machine comprising:

a first reconfigurable video screen located on the gaming machine;

a second reconfigurable video screen located on the gaming machine; and

a third reconfigurable video screen located on the gaming machine;

wherein the first video screen, the second video screen, and the third video screen display the first game, information relating to the first game, and artwork related to the first game;

wherein the gaming machine is reconfigurable to display a second game on the three video screens in response to receiving a reconfiguration command and downloading the second game from a server via a network so that the reconfigured first video screen, the reconfigured second video screen, and the reconfigured third video screen display the second game, information relating to the second game, and artwork related to the second game.

14. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the reconfiguration command is activated by a trigger.

15. The gaming machine of claim 14, wherein the trigger is a wagered amount.

16. The gaming machine of claim 14, wherein the trigger is an identity of a player.

17. The gaming machine of claim 14, wherein the trigger is a speed at which a game is played.

18. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the reconfiguration command is casino personnel-activated.

19. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the reconfiguration command is player-activated.

20. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the second game is authenticated after being downloaded.

21. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein one or more of the screens is used to offer casino specific features a player.

22. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the casino specific features include booking hotel rooms, making restaurant reservations, ordering refreshments, or combinations thereof.

23. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein additional game play opportunities are presented on one of the screens.

24. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein casino-wide bonus games are presented on one of the screens.

25. A gaming system having a network for displaying reconfigurable video content relating to a plurality of games, the gaming system comprising:

a server storing a plurality games, information relating to the games, and artwork related to the games, wherein the games, the information relating to the games, and the artwork related to the games are accessible via the network; and

one or more gaming machine having a plurality of reconfigurable video screens, each gaming machine further comprising;

a first reconfigurable video screen located on the gaming machine;

a second reconfigurable video screen located on the gaming machine; and

a third reconfigurable video screen located on the gaming machine;

wherein the first video screen, the second video screen, and the third video screen display the first game, information relating to the first game, and artwork related to the first game;

wherein the gaming machine is reconfigurable to display a second game on the three video screens in response to receiving a reconfiguration command and downloading the second game from the server via the network so that the reconfigured first video screen, the reconfigured second video screen, and the reconfigured third video screen display the second game, information relating to the second game, and artwork related to the second game.

26. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein the reconfiguration command is activated by a trigger.

27. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the trigger is a wagered amount.

28. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the trigger is an identity of a player.

29. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the trigger is a speed at which a game is played.

30. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein the reconfiguration command is casino personnel-activated.

31. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein the reconfiguration command is player-activated.

32. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein the second game is authenticated after being downloaded.

33. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein one or more of the screens is used to offer casino specific features a player.

34. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein the casino specific features include booking hotel rooms, making restaurant reservations, ordering refreshments, or combinations thereof.

35. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein additional game play opportunities are presented on one of the screens.

36. The gaming system of claim 25, wherein casino-wide bonus games are presented on one of the screens.

37. A method of displaying video content on a gaming machine, the video content including a first game and a second game, information associated with the first game and the second game, and artwork associated with the first game and the second game, the method comprising:

displaying video content on a first reconfigurable video screen of the gaming machine;

displaying video content on a second reconfigurable video screen of the gaming machine;

displaying video content on a third reconfigurable video screen of the gaming machine, wherein the video content displayed on first reconfigurable video screen, the second reconfigurable video screen, and the third reconfigurable video screen includes the first game, information relating to the first game, and artwork related to the first game;

in response to receiving a reconfiguration command, downloading a second game from a server via a network; and

reconfiguring the video content on the three video screens for the second game, wherein the reconfigured first video screen, the reconfigured second video screen, and the reconfigured third video screen display the second game, information relating to the second game, and artwork related to the second game.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the reconfiguration command is activated by a trigger.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the trigger is a wagered amount.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the trigger is an identity of a player.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the trigger is a speed at which a game is played.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the reconfiguration command is casino personnel-activated.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the reconfiguration command is player-activated.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the second game is authenticated after being downloaded.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein one or more of the screens is used to offer casino specific features a player.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the casino specific features include booking hotel rooms, making restaurant reservations, ordering refreshments, or combinations thereof.

47. The method of claim 37, wherein additional game play opportunities are presented on one of the screens.

48. The method of claim 37, wherein casino-wide bonus games are presented on one of the screens.