Methods and systems are provided for managing a wagering system. In one exemplary embodiment, state information of a live event such as a sports game may be received in real time. During the event, a plurality of possible future states of the event and their associated probabilities (and odds) may be determined based on the state information, historical information, and current in-game information. A betting market is created for betting on the possible future states at determined odds. The betting market is closed and winning and losing bets are resolved based on updated state information.

Embodiment's of a method and apparatus for networked social, belting include a self-arbitrating belting subsystem that facilitates betting among users of the system. Users determine all aspects of a proposed bet, including subject mailer, terms, conditions, and participants. The system tracks and stores bet information, both current and historical The system communicates with one or more financial institutions to facilitate payments from one user to another in settlement of bets, but does not provide banking services or participate in bets. Aspects of the method and apparatus include storing friends lists from which users can choose other to invite to bet. Users can also post bets on many social media platforms to let others (even non-users) know about the status of bets, or to invite others to bet. Aspects further include a method for maintaining a reputation measure for users that is based on whether users tail to resolve disputed bets, or act in any other undesirable manner.

A gaming system comprises a plurality of gaming machines operably interconnected. Each of the plurality of gaming machines is assigned a unique machine identification code. Each of the plurality of gaming machines includes a stage effect controller configured to perform a predetermined stage effect, a common timer for providing timing information related to the performance of the predetermined stage effect to each of the plurality of gaming machines, and a control unit operably coupled to the stage effect controller and being configured to perform the predetermined stage effect based on the timing information and the machine identification code.

After determining that a game state is a non-play state, it is determined whether or not a credit required for a play has been inputted within a predetermined time period. When the credit has not been inputted within the predetermined time period, a display mode in which a plurality of different bonus ranks are displayed on a middle image display panel in a first state in which a bonus or bonuses are likely to be obtained by a drawing and in a second state in which the bonus or bonuses are not obtained thereby is switched to a display mode in which all of the plurality of bonus ranks displayed in display areas are displayed in either of the first state or the second state.

Various implementations of a method and apparatus may include executing a play of a game on the game device. Implementations may include detecting a game action event during the play of the game. Implementations may also include deducting a game action fee from a player's credit account based on the game action event during the play of the game. Implementations may also include determining a wager portion of the game action fee. Implementations may also include determining a game fund portion of the game action fee. Implementations may also include storing the game fund portion in a game fund account associated with the player. Implementations may also include determining a game fund award from the game fund account. Implementations may also include modifying the play of the game based on the game fund award.

A gaming system is provided that includes at least one payment acceptor for funding a players account, a master server and a processor device configured to communicate with a mobile device. The gaming system establishes one or more authorized elevations that correspond to areas where mobile gaming is permitted, compares a mobile device elevation at which a mobile device is located to the one or more authorized elevations that correspond to areas where mobile gaming is permitted. The gaming system, responsive to the comparing, permits gaming using the mobile device when the mobile device elevation is within the one or more adjusted authorized elevations. The gaming system does not permit gaming using the mobile device when the mobile device elevation is outside the one or more adjusted authorized elevations.

A gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) for storing game software components and transaction information for gaming machine and gaming terminals is disclosed. A system database is partitioned according to different gaming entities allowing game software component configurations of particular gaming terminals to be easily analyzed and modified. Game software components for gaming terminals connected to the GTDR may be automatically updated using various triggers. System gaming machines may utilize a combination of game software components residing on the gaming machine and those received from the GTDR. A library of preset gaming terminal configurations can be stored at the system database, where each such preset configuration includes specific settings for each of a plurality of gaming terminal setting categories. Gaming terminals can be configured remotely using the GTDR, and possibly one or more of the stored preset gaming terminal configurations.

On a network of electronic gaming machines, data regarding the performance of the machines or the players of the machines is collected and processed to make predictions of future jackpots and recommendations of games to play. The predictions and recommendations are delivered via at least one virtual persona that communicates with players or potential players via displays in a casino or on a web browser, via smartphone. Players can conduct conversations with the persona using cellular telephone, text messaging, or other types of Internet communications.

A system and method of providing a player loyalty program to award a player of an electronic gaming machine, including conducting games with enhanced payouts based on a cash in or initial investment amount. In response to a player's initial investment or cash in amount, a payout schedule is selected. The larger the initial investment the better the selected payout schedule for the player. Live games facilitated by electronic gaming machines or devices and server-based games may utilize the method disclosed herein. Players may also receive enhanced awards such as enhanced player points based on the amount of the initial investment. Awards and bonuses may also be provided to players who exhaust an initial investment exceeding a threshold amount.

A game machine includes a game operation acceptance device configured to accept one or more game operations by a player. The game machine also includes a skill evaluating device configured to determine whether or not the one or more game operations that are accepted by the game operation acceptance device satisfy one or more predefined skill conditions. The game machine also includes a game value consuming device configured to consume a game value in case that the skill evaluating device determined that the one or more game operations by the player which are accepted by the game operation acceptance device satisfy the one or more predefined skill conditions.