Reconfigurable gaming display and system

• US 8,257,180 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2012
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Hill, Rodney, Quick, Shawn G., Nelson, Loren T., Morrow, James W., Miodunski, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US13/451,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20120202582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 138 Days
• Field of Search: 463 12- 13, 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463/29, 463 40- 43
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

A gaming system having one or more reconfigurable gaming machines and reconfigurable gaming displays is disclosed herein. Each gaming machine includes three reconfigurable video screens, wherein the reconfigurable first video screen displays a first game located on the gaming machine, and wherein the second reconfigurable video screen and the third reconfigurable video screen display pay tables associated with the first game, artwork associated with the first game, or combinations thereof. The one or more gaming machines are reconfigurable to display a second game on the three reconfigurable 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 first reconfigurable video screen, and wherein the second reconfigurable video screen and the third reconfigurable video screen display pay tables associated with the second game, artwork associated with the second game, or combinations thereof.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising:

one or more gaming machines including three reconfigurable video screens, wherein the reconfigurable first video screen displays a first game located on the gaming machine, wherein the second reconfigurable video screen and the third reconfigurable video screen display pay tables associated with the first game, artwork associated with the first game, or combinations thereof, wherein the gaming machine is reconfigurable to display a second game on the three reconfigurable 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 first reconfigurable video screen, and wherein the second reconfigurable video screen and the third reconfigurable video screen display pay tables associated with the second game, artwork associated with the second game, or combinations thereof;

a remotely configurable display sign separate and distinct from the gaming machines, wherein the remotely configurable display sign presents information associated with the game being presented on the gaming machine, wherein the configurable display sign includes one or more reconfigurable video screens, and wherein the configurable display sign enables downloadable information to be received and presented the downloadable information on the reconfigurable video screens; and

a remotely-located processor in communication with the gaming machines and the configurable display sign, wherein the processor enables alteration of the content displayed on one or more of the reconfigurable video screens on the gaming machines and the remotely configurable display sign.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the remotely configurable display sign further comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and wherein the video screens are positioned on the first and second surfaces of the remotely configurable display sign.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the video screens on the first surface of the configurable sign present information relating to a first game theme, wherein the video screens on the second surface of the configurable sign present information relating to a second game theme, and wherein the first game theme is not the same as the second game theme.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the processor is in communication with a system host.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the video screens are located at a middle display area that provides a traditional game display, a bottom display area that is associated with a belly glass, and top display area that is associated with a top glass.

6. A gaming system, comprising:

a remotely configurable display sign, wherein the configurable display sign includes one or more reconfigurable video screens, and wherein the configurable display sign receives and presents downloadable information on the reconfigurable video screens;

one or more gaming machines associated with the remotely configurable display sign, wherein the gaming machines include three or more remotely reconfigurable video screens, wherein the reconfigurable video screens and the remotely configurable display sign display information relating to a common game theme, and wherein the remotely configurable display sign is separate and distinct from the associated gaming machines,

one or more gaming machines including three reconfigurable video screens, wherein the reconfigurable first video screen displays a first game located on the gaming machine, wherein the second reconfigurable video screen and the third reconfigurable video screen display pay tables associated with the first game, artwork associated with the first game, or combinations thereof, wherein the gaming machine is reconfigurable to display a second game on the three reconfigurable 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 first reconfigurable video screen, and wherein the second reconfigurable video screen and the third reconfigurable video screen display pay tables associated with the second game, artwork associated with the second game, or combinations thereof; and

a system host in communication with the configurable display sign, wherein the system host enables alteration of the content displayed on the configurable display sign.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the remotely configurable display sign further comprises a remotely configurable graphics area.

8. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein at least one video display of the gaming machine presents video content for a game of chance and at least one video display of the gaming machine presents game information, and wherein the gaming machine enables downloadable information to be received and presented on the reconfigurable video screens.

9. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the gaming machine further comprises a plurality of mechanical reels presenting a primary game.

10. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the system host is in communication with the gaming machines, wherein the system host enables alteration of the content displayed on one or more of the gaming machines.

11. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the configurable display sign further comprises a first surface and an opposite second surface, wherein the video screens are positioned on the first and second surfaces of the configurable display sign.

12. A gaming system, comprising:

one or more gaming machines including three reconfigurable video screens, wherein the reconfigurable first video screen displays a first game located on the gaming machine, wherein the second reconfigurable video screen and the third reconfigurable video screen display pay tables associated with the first game, artwork associated with the first game, or combinations thereof, wherein the gaming machine is reconfigurable to display a second game on the three reconfigurable 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 first reconfigurable video screen, and wherein the second reconfigurable video screen and the third reconfigurable video screen display pay tables associated with the second game, artwork associated with the second game, or combinations thereof; and

a standalone, configurable sign associated with one or more gaming machines, the configurable sign having a first surface including one or more video screens, wherein at least one video display receives and presents downloadable information regarding the associated gaming machine; and

a processor in communication with the video screens, wherein the processor enables alteration the content displayed on one or more video screens.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, further comprising a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface includes one or more video screens, wherein at least one video screen enables downloadable information to be received and presented regarding the associated gaming machine.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the processor is in communication with a system host, wherein the processor enables downloading information to the computer.

15. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the video screens on the first surface present information relating to a first game, and the video screens on the second surface present information relating to a second game, wherein the first game is not the same as the second game.