A group of gaming machines, method, and program product are provided for operating in two gaming modes. In response to a mode change event received over the network, the mode of gaming machines in the group changes from a first gaming mode to a second gaming mode including a meter displayed by the display system and a different paytable for the game than the first gaming mode. A level of the respective meter for each gaming machine in the group is reduced based on the time spent in the second gaming mode. A bonus event trigger activates a bonus feature for the respective gaming machine including at least one bonus prize, and in response to the bonus outcome at the respective gaming machine, meter level is decreased at each gaming machine in the group. The second game mode ends when the meter reaches a defined lowest level.

Persistent storage specifies a base feature, an enhanced feature, and an overall ratio. One or more processors are configured to: receive a first input for the base feature; determine that the enhanced feature has not been activated; determine a first output of the base feature that is probabilistically proportional to the first input in accordance with a first ratio less than or equal to the overall ratio; provide the first output; receive a second input for the base feature; determine that the enhanced feature has been activated; provide one or more additional inputs for the enhanced feature; receive a selected input; determine a particular additional output for the enhanced feature that is probabilistically proportional to the selected input in accordance with the overall ratio; and provide the particular additional output.

A gaming system and method for a skill-based reel game that includes a sequence of letters and a game grid size are described. During a game session, a randomly selected plurality of letters are associated with a plurality of letter display elements. A game processor determines whether any of the plurality of letter display elements form a winning sequence of letter display elements that spell a word stored in a word database. The player then identifies the winning sequence with player input, such as selecting the sequence of letter display elements on a touchscreen. When the player input is received by the game processor within a preset time period, the player is awarded a game session prize.

An approach to facilitating event-based currency is provided. A first virtual currency usable by users of a game space to purchase in-space benefits may be managed. An event in the game space that is conducted during an event time period may be managed such that, during the event time period, an event virtual currency may be distributed to one or more of the users as a reward for certain operations and/or achievements performed in the game space during the event time period. Exchanges of in-space benefits associated with the event virtual currency may be effectuated for one or more of the users. In some implementations, the event virtual currency may not available to the users after the event time period, while the first virtual currency may be available to the users during and after the event time period.

There is a slot machine for conducting a slot machine game comprising a data processor operable to conduct following step including presenting a card face down as representative of a dealer's card, allowing a user to selectively bet on a particular card held by the dealer, allowing a user to selectively bet that their future card to be drawn is a certain number, drawing a card for a user in a face up manner, allowing a user to bet that their card is higher than the dealer's card, allowing a user to bet additionally that their card is of a higher value than the dealer's card, revealing the dealer's card and settling all bets.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for providing sliding symbol operations in grid-base games. The sliding symbol operations allow a player of the gaming device to move, by sliding or dragging, a particular symbol from one cell to another in an array of cells between plays of the grid-based game. Movement of the particular symbol from one cell to another allows a player to control their chances of winning and alter the proposed payouts for winning sequences of symbols for at least one subsequent play of the grid-based game.

Systems, apparatuses and methods for enriching modifiable sources of game play items during play of the gaming activity. In a video poker embodiment, cards of the deck(s) that source the poker hand(s) may be modified during play of the poker game. In one embodiment, the deck(s) of cards changes, in some embodiments randomly, and in some embodiments geared towards the probability of the player obtaining a more favorable poker hand outcome, while in yet other embodiments ensuring a higher probability of the player obtaining a more favorable poker hand outcome. Cards in the sourcing deck(s) may be added and/or deleted or otherwise modified to statistically impact the odds of obtaining certain results from the poker game. The deck may be reset to an initial state, or backed off from the modifications, at one time or iteratively.

A gaming device having a plurality of reel strips, each reel strip corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of columns of symbol positions. When the instructions are executed, the gaming device determines if a selection condition is met, randomly selects the number of game instances, randomly selects a subset of the columns of symbol positions to be populated by a defined symbol, randomly selects symbols to populate the columns of symbols not populated by the defined symbol, control the display to display the plurality of columns of symbol positions populated by the defined symbol and the symbols selected, and evaluates symbols displayed for winning combinations.

There is provided a gaming system, gaming machine, and method that utilize an electronic display device configured to display a set of symbol-bearing reels. In a reel spin, the set of reels are spun and stopped to randomly place symbols in an array. In response to one or more triggering conditions, game-logic circuitry performs a replay or rewind operation. In one type of replay operation, a subset of the reels are held while the remaining reels are respun to potentially improve the outcome of that spin. In another type of replay operation, the game-logic circuitry conducts a series of initial spins and then conducts an additional spin for each initial spin that yielded a losing outcome.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems in which a player's wagers accrue in a pool that can be awarded to the player as a bonus as a function of a defined loss threshold on an electronic gaming machine. The volatility of the bonus awards is adjustable.