A specialized slot machine for conducting a wagering fantasy sports tournament is disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: prompting a plurality of users at a plurality of geographically distributed user platforms to each submit a wager for entry as contestants into a fantasy sports tournament; gathering a plurality of contestants of the fantasy sports tournament into a contestant group; receiving from a contestant of the contestant group credits corresponding to the wager via a value input mechanism of a handheld device, the value input mechanism including a tangible credit storage device to enable a transfer of value from the credit storage device to an account for the contestant in the fantasy sports tournament; and enabling each of the contestants of the contestant group to view athlete cards for selection while the timers are running and while other contestants of the contestant group are viewing the athlete cards for selection.

Various embodiments provide management of virtual goods. In some embodiments, a gaming platform can be used to provide a secure ledger system for recording money transfer, play action, bets, analytics, gaming statistics, and the like, which are associated with virtual goods. Non-limiting examples of virtual goods comprise: characters; badges/icons; gameplay attributes; virtual money; cryptocurrencies; tokens; digital gifts; gameplay levels/add-ons; and prizes, among other examples. In some examples, gaming systems can directly interact with the distributed multi-ledger architecture for secure and transparent transactions which can also be accessed by auditors, tax authorities, partners, and/or other entities. Some examples may use private and/or public blockchains as part of the distributed multi-ledger gaming architecture. For instance, multiple distributed network nodes may be utilized to manage transaction records.

An electronic gaming machine includes a processor configured to at least display a plurality of reel strips located within a matrix of symbol display positions, and present a first oversized symbol associated with a first game award in the matrix, where the first oversized symbol occupies at least a first symbol display position and a second symbol display position. The processor is also configured to present a third symbol in a third symbol display position adjacent at least one of the first symbol display position or the second symbol display position, and divide the first oversized symbol display position to display separate symbols in at least the first symbol display position and the second display position. In addition, the processor is configured to merge the third symbol display position with at least one of the first symbol display position or the second symbol display position to display a second oversized symbol in the matrix of symbol display positions, where the second oversized symbol is associated with a second game award that is greater than the first game award.

Various aspects are described herein for implementing in-game advertising, in-game product placement, and in-game promotion techniques in wager-based games conducted at an electronic gaming device of a casino gaming network. These techniques provide the ability for traditional video-type wager-based gaming machines (such as those deployed at casino gaming establishments) to be quickly and easily converted to wager-based games which support in-game advertising while still satisfying the strict regulatory compliance rules and regulations governing wager-based gaming

Systems and methods for live sporting event wagering with data security and integrity are disclosed. At least one input capture device and at least one user device are constructed and configured in network communication with at least one computing platform. The at least one input capture device is configured to transmit live input data relating to a live sporting event to the at least one computing platform in real time or near real time. The at least one computing platform is configured to aggregate and analyze the live input data, thereby creating analyzed data. The at least one computing platform is further configured to set odds for wagering in the live sporting event based on the analyzed data in real time or near real time. The at least one user device is configured to display the odds, receive bets, and transmit the bets to the at least one computing platform.

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatuses for managing contests that may be made available to one or more participants desiring to participate in a fantasy sports contest in which participants may use their knowledge of players and/or teams found in real-world sports. Participants are enabled to select one or more locations on a grid in order to participate in the contest, each location having been previously associated with two or more real-world players or teams. During the contest, at least one milestone is identified, the milestone being a preselected goal that may be achieved by the players or teams. When the milestone is achieved by one of the players or teams, one or more of the following may occur: (a) the processing apparatus indicates at least one of the participants will receive a prize; (b) at least one of the participants receives milestone-points, and the milestone-points are used to determine one or more winners from among the participants; (c) the contest ends.

A system includes a smart table that defines a plurality of player positions and that includes a plurality of wireless sensors. Each wireless sensor is associated with a respective player position of the plurality of player positions. The system is configured to determine, using a wireless sensor of the plurality of wireless sensors, that the mobile computing device is located proximate a wireless sensor of the plurality of wireless sensors. The system is further configured to control the wireless sensor to establish a wireless connection between the wireless sensor and the mobile computing device, and receive, from the mobile computing device, via the wireless connection, a player identifier. In addition, the system is configured to determine the respective player position associated with the wireless sensor, in response to determining the respective player position and based on the player identifier, associate the player with the respective player position within a table management database.

A method, system, and computer readable storage to implement a baccarat side wager which is placed alongside the main bet. The baccarat game is dealt according to standard baccarat rules. In order to win the side wager, all of the player's cards have to be a single color, and all of the dealer's (banker's) cards have to be the opposite color. If this condition is not true, then the side wager loses.

This disclosure provides a pari-mutuel wagering system that includes a first wagering facility communicably coupled with a network and operable to receive a bet on a wagering event hosted by a second wagering facility. The first wagering facility is further operable to transmit the bet to the second wagering facility via the network. The system further includes a clearinghouse communicably coupled with the network and operable to capture audit information associated with the bet from the network.

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 located in at least one of the plurality of symbol positions; a set of program instructions executable to implement: 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 at the stopping point on the display device, the portion of the plurality of reels comprising a first row; issuing a first award and unlocking a second row if a first winning symbol combination is positioned in the first row; and displaying the second row if the second row is unlocked, and issuing a second award if a second winning symbol combination is positioned in the second row.