A system which scales the probability of winning a progressive award to the odds associated with a winning sporting event wager placed.

An electronic gaming machine includes a processor configured to control a display device to display a plurality of columns of symbol positions, where each column of symbol positions includes a plurality of symbols selected from an associated reel strip of a plurality of reel strips. The processor is also configured to select the symbols for each column, and control the display device to simulate stopping the first reel strip prior to controlling the display device to simulate stopping the second reel strip, whereby a sub-category of prize associated with a prize sub-category symbol is indicated to a player of the electronic gaming machine prior to indicating a category of prize associated with a prize category symbol. The processor is also configured to determine whether a first column includes the prize sub-category symbol as well as whether a second column includes the prize category symbol. If the prize sub-category and prize category symbols are included, the processor is also configured to provide an award.

An electronic gaming machine includes a processor configured to control a display device to display a plurality of columns of symbol positions, where each column of symbol positions includes a plurality of symbols selected from an associated reel strip of a plurality of reel strips. The processor is also configured to select the symbols for each column, and control the display device to simulate stopping the first reel strip prior to controlling the display device to simulate stopping the second reel strip, whereby a sub-category of prize associated with a prize sub-category symbol is indicated to a player of the electronic gaming machine prior to indicating a category of prize associated with a prize category symbol. The processor is also configured to determine whether a first column includes the prize sub-category symbol as well as whether a second column includes the prize category symbol. If the prize sub-category and prize category symbols are included, the processor is also configured to provide an award.

The present invention involves live gaming tables where players make one or more wagers on the outcome of a game played according to a predetermined set of rules. The table game is characterized by having a progressive prize that may be won through the play of a plurality of different bonus games. Each bonus game has a different triggering event associated with it and is preferably differentiated from the other bonus games by the probability of winning the progressive prize through the bonus game. The triggering event for each bonus game is preferably a combination of cards formed by the players' hands, the dealer's hand and/or a combination thereof In additional embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of different table games played with different rules employ a plurality of bonus games associated with the different tables that allows different table games with otherwise disparate and fixed odds to have fair odds of winning a communal progressive prize.

The present invention involves live gaming tables where players make one or more wagers on the outcome of a game played according to a predetermined set of rules. The table game is characterized by having a progressive prize that may be won through the play of a plurality of different bonus games. Each bonus game has a different triggering event associated with it and is preferably differentiated from the other bonus games by the probability of winning the progressive prize through the bonus game. The triggering event for each bonus game is preferably a combination of cards formed by the players' hands, the dealer's hand and/or a combination thereof In additional embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of different table games played with different rules employ a plurality of bonus games associated with the different tables that allows different table games with otherwise disparate and fixed odds to have fair odds of winning a communal progressive prize.

A game is provided that may include a plurality of reels, each of the reels comprising a plurality of symbol positions; a plurality of symbols, at least one of the plurality of symbols positioned in least one of the plurality of symbol positions; at least one processor for executing instructions stored in a memory to play a slot machine game comprising the steps: accepting a wager; receiving an instruction to initiate play of the game; determining a game outcome including a stopping point of the plurality of reels; displaying a portion of the plurality of reels in a play matrix; issuing a first award if the play matrix comprises a winning symbol combination; and accumulating a player element total based on gameplay, the player element total transferrable to a second game.

A game is provided that may include a plurality of reels, each of the reels comprising a plurality of symbol positions; a plurality of symbols, at least one of the plurality of symbols positioned in least one of the plurality of symbol positions; at least one processor for executing instructions stored in a memory to play a slot machine game comprising the steps: accepting a wager; receiving an instruction to initiate play of the game; determining a game outcome including a stopping point of the plurality of reels; displaying a portion of the plurality of reels in a play matrix; issuing a first award if the play matrix comprises a winning symbol combination; and accumulating a player element total based on gameplay, the player element total transferrable to a second game.

A gaming system displays one of a plurality of symbols in each of a plurality of symbol positions, at least one of the plurality of symbols being a target symbol for establishing a direction of shifting and at least one of the plurality of symbols being a magnetic symbol for shifting toward a target symbol. If any generated magnetic symbol is associated with a generated target symbol, the gaming system shifts that magnetic symbol toward the associated target symbol, resulting in an empty symbol position. The gaming system fills the empty symbol position by shifting a displayed symbol or by generating one of the plurality symbols and repeats until no magnetic symbol is associated with a target symbol. The gaming system provides an award for any displayed winning symbol combination. The gaming system removes symbols from each winning combination, fills the empty symbol positions, and repeats as above.

A gaming system displays one of a plurality of symbols in each of a plurality of symbol positions, at least one of the plurality of symbols being a target symbol for establishing a direction of shifting and at least one of the plurality of symbols being a magnetic symbol for shifting toward a target symbol. If any generated magnetic symbol is associated with a generated target symbol, the gaming system shifts that magnetic symbol toward the associated target symbol, resulting in an empty symbol position. The gaming system fills the empty symbol position by shifting a displayed symbol or by generating one of the plurality symbols and repeats until no magnetic symbol is associated with a target symbol. The gaming system provides an award for any displayed winning symbol combination. The gaming system removes symbols from each winning combination, fills the empty symbol positions, and repeats as above.

A game object is used as a moving object to provide a random outcome event by movement and final stoppage in an outcome indicating position or mode. Examples are die, dice, balls, roulette balls, roulette wheels and pointers on candy wheel. The object has: A) a game object body; B) the game object body containing an accelerometer microchip or a receiver in communication with a transmitter, power source and light-emitting elements within the game object body, light from the light-emitting body being visible outside the game object body; and C) the microchip closing an electronic circuit for a period of time less than 5 minutes after the game body is moved.