Gaming systems and methods for building enhancements into free games

Abstract

Abstract A gaming system and method utilize a plurality of reels, a wheel, and a plurality of different free-game enhancement icons. The wheel includes a plurality of wedges. Each wedge bears a respective free-game enhancement associated with at least one of the free-game enhancement icons. The wheel is spun and stopped. In response to the stopped wheel landing on a wedge, the system marks the free-game enhancement icon associated with the free-game enhancement borne by the wedge, and transforms both that wedge and any other wedges bearing the same free-game enhancement as that wedge to a start-free-games indicator. The above operations are repeated until the wheel lands on a wedge bearing the start-free-games indicator. The system then animates a series of enhanced free spins of the reels using the free-game enhancements represented by the marked ones of the free-game enhancement icons. Abstract 20 26 20 32 94 30 A pr 2 02 6 2 0 2 6 2 0 3 2 9 4 3 0 2 0 2 6 A p r A b s t r a c t 2 0 2 6 2 0 3 2 9 4 3 0 2 0 2 6 A p r A b s t r a c t

Description

Copyright

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Copyright 2025, LNW Gaming, Inc. Technical Field

[0002] Embodiments described herein relate to electronic gaming machines and, more particularly, to systems and methods for controlling one or more display devices to provide animated feature games. Background

[0003] Electronic gaming machines (EGMs) may be deployed in regulated environments and are typically configured to execute wagering games using authenticated and verifiable software and hardware components. The users of an EGM are players of the wagering games, and such users may operate the EGM on the belief that, for a relatively small investment to play the game, they can receive a disproportionately large return. To incentivize the user to engage with the EGM in this manner, the EGM performs operations during gameplay that rely upon an internal or external random element generator to generate one or more random elements such as random numbers. The EGM determines a game outcome based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements.

[0004] Some existing EGMs are configured to operate by performing the random number generation in a manner that makes the game executed by the machine yield a negative return on investment over a period of time (e.g., over a high quantity and / or frequency of player / apparatus interactions), while maintaining a degree of randomness and / or volatility to promote a perception from the player that they will receive a positive return from the game over a shorter period of time. Seeking to balance yield against randomness and / or volatility of the gameplay creates technical challenges in operating the EGM. 2026203294   28 Aug 2026

[0005] For example, it is desired to achieve randomness and volatility in the game features while performing the operations of the EGM with a high degree of speed and efficiency in the usage of processing and / or memory resources. Some EGMs display advanced graphics and special effects for one or more feature games each with different game formats, and multiple random outcome determinations per feature. Presenting players with clear and engaging mechanisms for accumulating and understanding combinations of multiple feature outcomes, while seeking to reduce cognitive burden on the player and simultaneously reducing demands on graphical rendering resources of the EGM hardware, may therefore be difficult. Summary

[0006] There is provided an electronic gaming machine, comprising: a presentation assembly having one or more display devices; a value input device configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value and establish a credit balance; a player input device configured to receive a wager input covered by the credit balance and transform the wager input into an electronic data signal; a value output device configured to initiate a payout from the credit balance in response to a cashout input; and game-logic circuitry comprising one or more processors and one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing random-number-generator programming and instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the game-logic circuitry to: in response to receiving the electronic data signal indicative of the wager, execute the random-number-generator programming to spin and stop a plurality of symbol-bearing reels to land symbols on the reels in an array of symbol positions, and determine whether a triggering event has occurred; in response to determining that the triggering event has occurred, control the presentation assembly via the one or more display devices to present the plurality of symbol-bearing reels, a wheel, and a plurality of different free-game enhancement icons, the wheel including a plurality of wedges, each wedge bearing a respective free-game enhancement associated with at least one of the free-game enhancement icons; spin and stop the wheel by executing the random-number-generator programming; in response to the stopped wheel landing on one of the plurality of wedges, (a) mark the free-game enhancement icon associated with the free-game enhancement borne by the one of the plurality of wedges, and (b) transform both the one of the plurality of wedges and any other ones of the plurality of wedges bearing the same free-game enhancement as the one of the plurality of wedges to a start-free-games indicator; repeat the spinning, stopping, marking, and transforming steps by executing the random-number-generator programming until the wheel lands on a wedge bearing the start-free-games indicator; control the presentation 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 assembly to animate a series of enhanced free spins of the plurality of symbol-bearing reels using the free-game enhancements represented by the marked ones of the free-game enhancement icons, wherein in each free spin the plurality of symbol-bearing reels are spun and stopped to land symbols on the reels in an array of symbol positions; present an award for any winning outcomes in the series of enhanced free spins; and in response to receiving the cashout input via the player input device, cause the value output device to initiate the payout from the credit balance.

[0007] In some embodiments, the one or more memory devices further store (i) an authentication program, and (ii) a trusted authentication code, and the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the game-logic circuitry to: generate, via execution of the authentication program, a live authentication code based on contents of at least one of the one or more memory devices; compare the live authentication code to the trusted authentication code; and permit execution of random-number-generator programming and game-outcome logic only upon determining that the live authentication code matches the trusted authentication code.

[0008] In some embodiments, the electronic gaming machine further comprises a game play mechanism configured for operation by a player to initiate the play of a base game, and the game-logic circuitry is responsive to initiation of the play of the base game with the game play mechanism and is operable to control the one or more display devices.

[0009] In some embodiments, the one or more memory devices further store a wheel-state data record comprising wedge-state data identifying a current state of each of the plurality of wedges and enhancement-tracking data identifying which of the plurality of free-game enhancement icons have been marked, and the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the game-logic circuitry to update the wedge-state data in response to transforming a wedge to a start-free-games indicator and to update the enhancement-tracking data in response to marking a free-game enhancement icon.

[0010] In some embodiments, the game-logic circuitry is configured to generate displaycontrol signals for the one or more display devices by executing a state-to-animation mapping comprising: translating an update to the wedge-state data of the wheel-state data record into a corresponding change in a visual indicator presented on the one or more display devices by identifying one or more changed graphical elements of the wheel; and generating one or more rendering commands for updating the presentation of the visual indicator by rendering only the identified one or more changed graphical elements. 2026203294   28 Aug 2026

[0011] In some embodiments, the free-game enhancements include stacks of symbols, expanding wilds, and expanding the array.

[0012] In some embodiments, the wheel includes additional wedges bearing respective prizes.

[0013] In some embodiments, the prizes are progressive jackpots.

[0014] In some embodiments, the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the game-logic circuitry to: in response to the stopped wheel landing on one of the additional wedges, present an award for the prize borne by the one of the additional wedges.

[0015] In some embodiments, the spinning and stopping the wheel is in response to a triggering event in an underlying reel slot game.

[0016] There is provided a method of operating an electronic gaming machine having a presentation assembly, a value input device configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value and establish a credit balance, a player input device configured to receive a wager input covered by the credit balance and transform the wager input into an electronic data signal, and a value output device configured to initiate a payout from the credit balance in response to a cashout input, and game-logic circuitry including one or more processors and one or more memory devices storing random-number-generator programming, the method comprising: in response to receiving the electronic data signal indicative of the wager, execute the random-number-generator programming to spin and stop a plurality of symbol-bearing reels to land symbols on the reels in an array of symbol positions, and determine whether a triggering event has occurred; in response to determining that the triggering event has occurred, controlling the presentation assembly, via one or more display devices of the presentation assembly to present the plurality of symbol-bearing reels, a wheel, and a plurality of different free-game enhancement icons, the wheel including a plurality of wedges, each wedge bearing a respective free-game enhancement associated with at least one of the free-game enhancement icons; spinning and stopping the wheel by executing the random-number-generator programming; in response to the stopped wheel landing on one of the plurality of wedges, (a) marking the free-game enhancement icon associated with the free-game enhancement borne by the one of the plurality of wedges, and (b) transforming both the one of the plurality of wedges and any other ones of the plurality of wedges bearing the same free-game enhancement as the one of the plurality of wedges to a start-free-games indicator; repeating the spinning, stopping, marking, and transforming steps by executing the random-number-generator programming until the wheel lands on a wedge bearing the start-free-games indicator; 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 controlling the presentation assembly to animate a series of enhanced free spins of the plurality of symbol-bearing reels using the free-game enhancements represented by the marked ones of the free-game enhancement icons, wherein in each free spin the plurality of symbol-bearing reels are spun and stopped to land symbols on the reels in an array of symbol positions; presenting an award for any winning outcomes in the series of enhanced free spins; and in response to receiving the cashout input via the player input device, causing the value output device to initiate the payout from the credit balance.

[0017] In some embodiments, the method further includes generating, by execution of an authentication program stored in the one or more memory devices, a live authentication code based on contents of at least one of the one or more memory devices; comparing the live authentication code to a trusted authentication code stored in the one or more memory devices; and permitting execution of random-number-generator programming and game-outcome logic only upon determining that the live authentication code matches the trusted authentication code.

[0018] In some embodiments, the method further includes maintaining, in the one or more memory devices, a wheel-state data record comprising wedge-state data identifying a current state of each of the plurality of wedges and enhancement-tracking data identifying which of the plurality of free-game enhancement icons have been marked; updating the wedge-state data in response to transforming a wedge to a start-free-games indicator; and updating the enhancement-tracking data in response to marking a free-game enhancement icon.

[0019] In some embodiments, the method further includes generating display-control signals for the one or more display devices by executing a state-to-animation mapping comprising translating an update to the wedge-state data of the wheel-state data record into a corresponding change in a visual indicator presented on the one or more display devices by identifying one or more changed graphical elements of the wheel, and generating one or more rendering commands for updating the presentation of the visual indicator by rendering only the identified one or more changed graphical elements.

[0020] In some embodiments, the free-game enhancements include stacks of symbols, expanding wilds, and expanding the array.

[0021] In some embodiments, the wheel includes additional wedges bearing respective prizes.

[0022] In some embodiments, the prizes are progressive jackpots. 2026203294   28 Aug 2026

[0023] In some embodiments, the method further includes in response to the stopped wheel landing on one of the additional wedges, presenting an award for the prize borne by the one of the additional wedges.

[0024] There is also provided a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processing devices of an electronic gaming machine, causes the one or more processing devices to perform any of the methods described herein.

[0025] Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a gaming machine that may be used to implement one or more aspects described herein.

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a block diagram of a gaming-machine architecture.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates, in accordance with one or more embodiments, an example data sequence diagram of a process for rendering video frames of graphical game interfaces by hardware components of the gaming machine.

[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a flow diagram for a data processing method that corresponds to instructions executed by a controller.

[0030] FIGS. 5-15 illustrate, in accordance with one or more embodiments, exemplary representations of game screens.

[0031] Block diagrams illustrate example embodiments. Flowcharts illustrate example operations of such embodiments. It should be understood that each block of the block diagrams and flowcharts, and combinations of blocks, can be implemented by various means including hardware, firmware, and / or software, and that the arrangement of blocks and the ordering of operations are examples only unless explicitly stated otherwise. Detailed Description

[0032] While the embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the embodiments are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments described or illustrated herein are to be regarded as examples only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims to the particular forms disclosed. 2026203294   28 Aug 2026

[0033] Throughout this specification, the singular includes the plural and vice versa (unless specifically disclaimed); the words "and" and "or" shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive; the word "all" means "any and all"; the word "any" means "any and all"; and the word "including" means "including without limitation." Additionally, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

[0034] Throughout this specification, the terms "wagering game," "casino wagering game," "gambling," "slot game," "casino game," and the like include games in which a player places at risk a sum of money or other representation of value, whether or not redeemable for cash, on an event with an uncertain outcome, including without limitation those having some element of skill. In some embodiments, the wagering game involves wagers of real money, as found with typical land-based or online casino games. In other embodiments, the wagering game additionally, or alternatively, involves wagers of non-cash values, such as virtual currency, and therefore may be considered a social or casual game, such as would be typically available on a social networking web site, other web sites, across computer networks, or applications on mobile devices (e.g., phones, tablets, etc.). When provided in a social or casual game format, the wagering game may closely resemble a traditional casino game, or it may take another form that more closely resembles other types of social / casual games. For example, the "wagers" and "credits" described herein may instead be replaced with non-monetary values that dictate the duration of a gaming session and reflect game events occurring within the gaming session (e.g., awarding game events extend or increase a value balance, while nonawarding game events reduce the remaining duration of the gaming session). For example, and without limitation, casual game embodiments may use values defining scores, a remaining timed duration, a number of attempts (e.g., "lives" in video game terms), an in-game credit, and the like.

[0035] Systems and methods are provided for operating an EGM to control an animated feature game that improve upon existing gaming-machine architectures and mechanisms by at least partially ameliorating the above-described technical challenges.

[0036] Some embodiments relate to an EGM comprising a player interface and game-logic circuitry which includes a build-enhancements feature game. The player interface is interdependent with the game-logic circuitry, enabling manual interaction between a player and the EGM through components of the player interface such as one or more displays for presenting game outcomes and associated information, a credit input mechanism for enabling 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 a player to input credits, hardware meters, a random number generator, and / or a game play mechanism for receiving player instructions, as will be discussed in further detail below. During operation, the player interface and the game-logic circuitry operate interdependently as components of a system that implements the build-enhancements feature and cumulative free-game enhancement within the EGM. In other words, the build-enhancements feature operates within the EGM, including interacting with and being dependent upon, one or more physical features of the player interface.

[0037] Some embodiments relate to an EGM that mitigates technical challenges present in existing EGMs, and particularly in EGMs with multi-enhancement feature games. Feature games may provide persistent states that carry over across multiple sub-events of the feature, and such states may be maintained in memory. For example, the EGM may store data records that identify graphical element states, enhancement counters, meters, and other state variables. Such state data records may be repeatedly updated as the feature progresses. The EGM may use the state data records to render animated sequences that correspond to the evolving feature state.

[0038] When implementing a feature game that accumulates multiple distinct enhancements for subsequent application to a series of reel spins, tracking the state of each individual graphical element and the association between graphical elements and enhancement types may increase the number of state transitions that the EGM must track and render. This may increase the number of processing steps required and may result in higher memory usage. Furthermore, this creates a technical challenge in seeking to achieve precise coordination between game-outcome logic and the animation system to reduce a risk of inconsistency between the game state and the animated sequences rendered on the graphical user interface (for example, display lag), which can affect the user experience and player enjoyment.

[0039] In embodiments of the proposed technology, the EGM maintains a memoryresident wheel-state data record. The wheel-state data record specifies data such as wedge-state data identifying a current state of each of a plurality of wedges (for example, whether a given wedge bears a free-game enhancement or a start-free-games indicator), enhancement-tracking data identifying which of a plurality of free-game enhancement icons have been marked, and feature-progress data identifying whether a terminating condition for the feature has been reached. Use of such a wheel-state data record may reduce the number of state transitions that the EGM tracks and renders compared to previously known EGMs, resulting in a reduction in processing steps performed by the EGM and a more efficient use of memory. Such efficiencies 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 in processing may also result in a reduced use of power to operate the EGM, which may be significant when a bank of EGMs is operated simultaneously.

[0040] EGMs may be deployed in regulated environments and are typically required to execute wagering games using authenticated and verifiable software and hardware components. EGMs as described may additionally or alternatively maintain feature-related states in a more verifiable and / or deterministic manner than previous EGMs, making them more suitable for operation in such environments and better equipped to meet the technical limitations placed on such machines by the regulatory bodies. The EGM may implement the wheel-state data record using a predetermined data structure, such as for example a compact, indexed lookup table to represent at least part of the wedge-state data. This allows for the perspin computational overhead of the wedge-transformation operation to be reduced.

[0041] In some embodiments, the EGM is configured to selectively enable game logic functions to control the update of the wheel-state data record. For example, the cumulative free-game enhancement may be selectively disabled for particular invocations which avoids associated state updates and animation control signal generation for those invocations (thereby reducing memory access and rendering overhead).

[0042] Transforming the stored system states into display-control signals that accurately present the evolving feature state to the player presents a technical challenge. Described embodiments transform the state data into display-control signals that can be used to present visual indicators corresponding to stored states, and to present corresponding animations. For example, the EGM may separate the execution of the random-number-generation and gameoutcome logic functions, from the rendering of animations on the display device(s), such that there is a reduced risk of inconsistency between displayed animations and the feature state maintained in memory. That is, the use of the wheel-state data record as described to generate the display-control signals may increase coordination between authenticated game-outcome logic and the animation system, making the animation display of described embodiments smoother with respect to the game progress. The EGM may therefore more accurately present the evolving feature state information to the player, improving the appearance of indicators and animations presented on the graphical user interface and the user experience. The wheel-state data record provides a computationally efficient mechanism for managing the appearance of indicators and animations presented on the user interface. The improved appearance of indicators and animations may reduce cognitive burden on the user in interpreting game state. For example, this may improve consistency of rendered feature state information, for example by reducing a risk of needing to re-render feature state information. The improved presentation 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 of evolving feature state information to the player may assist the player in coordinating a next interaction with the EGM, in particular in seeking to select a next input, whether that be via a touchscreen or via a physical input mechanism.

[0043] Further, the process of transforming the updated wheel-state data record into display-control signals may allow the EGM to efficiently translate game-state changes to visual changes on the display device(s). For example, the EGM may perform a state-to-animation mapping that enables rendering of the cumulative free-game enhancement by identifying the changed graphical elements and generating rendering commands to update the presentation only for those elements. This may reduce data bandwidth and / or computational loads placed on the CPU and / or GPU components of the EGM.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a gaming machine 100 configured to present one or more wagering games. In the embodiments described here, the gaming machine 100 may be any type of gaming terminal or machine, such as a free-standing cabinet, a bar-top terminal, a slant-top terminal, a wall-mounted unit, or any other suitable housing or configuration. The gaming machine 100 can be implemented as a dedicated hardware platform, as a multi-game platform capable of presenting different wagering games, or as a client device that relies on a remote server for some or all game functionality. For example, in some aspects, the gaming machine 100 is an electromechanical gaming terminal configured to play mechanical slots, whereas in other aspects, the gaming machine is an electronic gaming terminal configured to play a video casino game, such as slots, keno, poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, etc. The gaming machine 100 may take any suitable form, such as floor-standing models as shown, handheld mobile units, bartop models, workstation-type console models, etc. Further, the gaming machine 100 may be primarily dedicated for use in playing wagering games, or may include non-dedicated devices, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, personal computers, etc. Exemplary types of gaming machines are disclosed in US Patent Nos. 6,517,433, 8,057,303, and 8,226,459, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0045] The gaming machine 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a gaming cabinet 112 that securely houses various input devices, output devices, input / output devices, internal electronic / electromechanical components, and wiring. The cabinet 112 includes exterior walls, interior walls and shelves for mounting the internal components and managing the wiring, and one or more front doors that are locked and require a physical or electronic key to gain access to the interior compartment of the cabinet 112 behind the locked door. The cabinet 112 forms an alcove 114 configured to store one or more beverages or personal items of a player. A 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 notification mechanism 116, such as a candle or tower light, is mounted to the top of the cabinet 112. It flashes to alert an attendant that change is needed, a hand pay is requested, or there is a potential problem with the gaming machine 100.

[0046] The input devices, output devices, and input / output devices are disposed on, and securely coupled to, the cabinet 112. By way of example, the output devices include a primary presentation device 118, a secondary presentation device 120, and one or more audio speakers 122. The primary presentation device 118 or the secondary presentation device 120 may be a mechanical-reel display device, a video display device, or a combination thereof. In one such combination disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,517,433, a transmissive video display is disposed in front of the mechanical-reel display to portray a video image superimposed upon electromechanical reels. In another combination disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,654,899, a projector projects video images onto stationary or moving surfaces. In yet another combination disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,452,276, miniature video displays are mounted to electro-mechanical reels and portray video symbols for the game. In a further combination disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,591,330, flexible displays such as OLED or e-paper displays are affixed to electromechanical reels. The aforementioned U.S. Patent Nos. 6,517,433, 7,654,899, 7,452,276, and 8,591,330 are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0047] The presentation devices 118, 120, the audio speakers 122, lighting assemblies, and / or other devices associated with presentation are collectively referred to as a "presentation assembly" of the gaming machine 100. The presentation assembly may include one presentation device (e.g., the primary presentation device 118), some of the presentation devices of the gaming machine 100, or all of the presentation devices of the gaming machine 100. The presentation assembly may be configured to present a unified presentation sequence formed by visual, audio, tactile, and / or other suitable presentation means, or the devices of the presentation assembly may be configured to present respective presentation sequences or respective information.

[0048] The presentation assembly, and more particularly the primary presentation device 118 and / or the secondary presentation device 120, variously presents information associated with wagering games, non-wagering games, community games, progressives, advertisements, services, premium entertainment, text messaging, emails, alerts, announcements, broadcast information, subscription information, etc. appropriate to the particular mode(s) of operation of the gaming machine 100. The presentation assembly is configured to present this information via one or more interfaces, including game interfaces. The game interface may be a graphical game interface presented on one or more electronic display devices (e.g., the 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 presentation devices 118, 120). The game interface is associated with a graphical video and / or image streams provided to the electronic display device to output the intended graphical elements and corresponding animations for the game. For example, the graphical game interfaces are defined by a plurality of pixels or other suitable display segments that have independently visual characteristics (e.g., color, light intensity, etc.), that, when observed collectively, form game and presentation elements of the game interface, including those described elsewhere herein. The electronic display devices are configured to, based on the image or video data representing the graphical elements of the game interface, control individually-addressable components (e.g., light-emitting devices, filters, power circuitry, etc.) to create a visible output representing the graphical game interface. It is to be understood that the game and presentation elements described herein may, unless otherwise noted, be presented via a graphical game interface of the gaming machine 100.

[0049] The gaming machine 100 may include a touch screen(s) 124 mounted over the primary or secondary presentation devices, buttons 126 on a button panel, a bill / ticket acceptor 128, a card reader / writer 130, a ticket dispenser 132, and player-accessible ports (e.g., audio output jack for headphones, video headset jack, USB port, wireless transmitter / receiver, etc.). It should be understood that numerous other peripheral devices and other elements exist and are readily utilizable in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming machine in accord with the present concepts.

[0050] The player input devices, such as the touch screen 124, buttons 126, a mouse, a joystick, a gesture-sensing device, a voice-recognition device, and a virtual-input device, which may collectively be referred to as a "game play mechanism" operable by a player to place a wager, accept player inputs and transform the player inputs to electronic data signals indicative of the player inputs. These inputs correspond to an enabled feature for such inputs at a time of activation (e.g., pressing a "Max Bet" button or soft key to indicate a player's desire to place a maximum wager to play the wagering game). The inputs, once transformed into electronic data signals, are output to the game-logic circuitry for processing. The electronic data signals are selected from a group consisting essentially of an electrical current, an electrical voltage, an electrical charge, an optical signal, an optical element, a magnetic signal, and a magnetic element.

[0051] The gaming machine 100 includes one or more value input / payment devices (also referred to as a "credit input mechanism") and value output / payout devices. In order to deposit cash or credits onto the gaming machine 100, the credit input mechanism is configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance. The gaming 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 machine also includes hardware meters configured for monitoring credits established via the credit input mechanism and changes to the established credits due to play of the gaming machine, the meters including at least a "credit meter" to which credit input is added. The physical item may, for example, be currency bills, coins, tickets, vouchers, coupons, cards, and / or computer-readable storage mediums. The deposited cash or credits are used to fund wagers placed on the wagering game played via the gaming machine 100. Examples of value input devices include, but are not limited to, a coin acceptor, the bill / ticket acceptor 128, the card reader / writer 130, a wireless communication interface for reading cash or credit data from a nearby mobile device, and a network interface for withdrawing cash or credits from a remote account via an electronic funds transfer. In response to a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance on the "credits" meter, the value output devices are used to dispense cash or credits from the gaming machine 100. The credits may be exchanged for cash at, for example, a cashier or redemption station. Examples of value output devices include, but are not limited to, a coin hopper for dispensing coins or tokens, a bill dispenser, the card reader / writer 130, the ticket dispenser 132 for printing tickets redeemable for cash or credits, a wireless communication interface for transmitting cash or credit data to a nearby mobile device, and a network interface for depositing cash or credits to a remote account via an electronic funds transfer.

[0052] Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown a block diagram of the gaming-machine architecture. The gaming machine 100 includes the game-logic circuitry 240 securely housed within a locked box inside the gaming cabinet 112 (see FIG. 1). The game-logic circuitry 240 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 242 connected to a main memory 244 that comprises one or more memory devices. The CPU 242 includes any suitable processor(s), such as those made by Intel and AMD. By way of example, the CPU 242 includes a plurality of microprocessors including a master processor, a slave processor, and a secondary or parallel processor. The game-logic circuitry 240, as used herein, comprises any combination of hardware, software, or firmware disposed in or outside of the gaming machine 100 that is configured to communicate with or control the transfer of data between the gaming machine 100 and a bus, another computer, processor, device, service, or network. The game-logic circuitry 240, and more specifically the CPU 242, comprises one or more controllers or processors and such one or more controllers or processors need not be disposed proximal to one another and may be located in different devices or in different locations. The game-logic circuitry 240, and more specifically the main memory 244, comprises one or more memory devices which need not be disposed proximal to one another and may be located in different 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 devices or in different locations. The game-logic circuitry 240 is operable to execute all of the various gaming methods and other processes disclosed herein. The main memory 244 includes a wagering-game unit 246. In one embodiment, the wagering-game unit 246 causes wagering games to be presented, such as video poker, video black jack, video slots, video lottery, etc., in whole or part.

[0053] The game-logic circuitry 240 is also connected to an input / output (I / O) bus 248, which can include any suitable bus technologies, such as an AGTL+ frontside bus and a PCI backside bus. The I / O bus 248 is connected to various input devices 250, output devices 252, and input / output devices 254 such as those discussed above in connection with FIG. 1. The I / O bus 248 is also connected to a storage unit 256 and an external-system interface 258, which is connected to external system(s) 260 (e.g., wagering-game networks).

[0054] In some implementations, the gaming machine 100 includes security monitoring circuitry configured to detect unauthorized access to the gaming machine 100. For example, the security monitoring circuitry may monitor one or more security switches coupled to one or more front doors of the gaming cabinet 112 (FIG. 1). In response to detecting an access condition indicative of unauthorized access, the security monitoring circuitry and / or the gamelogic circuitry 240 may suspend game play and initiate one or more security operations to preserve a current state of game play, such as maintaining and / or protecting one or more memory-resident state data records stored in the main memory 244 and / or the storage unit 256. In some implementations, following detection of an opening of a front door of the gaming cabinet 112, the game-logic circuitry 240 maintains the suspended state until the security monitoring circuitry detects a closing of the front door. Following detection of the closing of the front door, the CPU 242 may load stored data associated with a state of the gaming machine 100 prior to detection of the opening of the front door to reconstitute the state of the gaming machine 100 and resume executing a wagering-game instance and / or a bonus feature from the reconstituted state. In some implementations, at least a portion of the security monitoring circuitry remains operable when primary power is off (e.g., via battery backup) to continue monitoring the one or more front doors of the gaming cabinet 112. When primary power is restored, the CPU 242 may determine whether any access condition occurred while power was off (e.g., by reading one or more status registers and / or other stored security status data maintained in the main memory 244 and / or the storage unit 256), and, in response, may cause generation of one or more event log entries (e.g., stored in the storage unit 256) and / or cause execution of a trusted authentication program stored in the main memory 244 to generate a live 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 authentication code from memory contents and compare the live authentication code to a trusted code stored in the main memory 244.

[0055] The external system 260 includes, in various aspects, a gaming network, other gaming machines or terminals, a gaming server, a remote controller, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components, in any combination. In yet other aspects, the external system 260 comprises a player's portable electronic device (e.g., cellular phone, electronic wallet, etc.) and the external-system interface 258 is configured to facilitate wireless communication and data transfer between the portable electronic device and the gaming machine 100, such as by a near-field communication path operating via magnetic-field induction or a frequency-hopping spread spectrum RF signals (e.g., Bluetooth, etc.).

[0056] The gaming machine 100 optionally communicates with the external system 260 such that the gaming machine 100 operates as a thin, thick, or intermediate client. The gamelogic circuitry 240, whether located within ("thick client"), external to ("thin client"), or distributed both within and external to ("intermediate client") the gaming machine 100, is utilized to provide a wagering game on the gaming machine 100. In general, the main memory 244 stores programming for a random number generator (RNG), game-outcome logic, and game assets (e.g., art, sound, etc.), all of which obtained regulatory approval from a gaming control board or commission and are verified by a trusted authentication program in the main memory 244 prior to game execution. The authentication program generates a live authentication code (e.g., digital signature or hash) from the memory contents and compare it to a trusted code stored in the main memory 244. If the codes match, authentication is deemed a success and the game is permitted to execute. If, however, the codes do not match, authentication is deemed a failure that must be corrected prior to game execution. Without this predictable and repeatable authentication, the gaming machine 100, external system 260, or both are not allowed to perform or execute the RNG programming or game-outcome logic in a regulatory-approved manner and are therefore unacceptable for commercial use. In other words, through the use of the authentication program, the game-logic circuitry 240 facilitates operation of the game in a way that a person making calculations or computations could not.

[0057] When a wagering-game instance is executed, the CPU 242 (comprising one or more processors or controllers) executes the RNG programming to generate one or more pseudorandom numbers. The pseudo-random numbers are divided into different ranges, and each range is associated with a respective game outcome. Accordingly, the pseudo-random numbers are utilized by the CPU 242 when executing the game-outcome logic to determine a resultant outcome for that instance of the wagering game. The resultant outcome is then presented to a 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 player of the gaming machine 100 by accessing the associated game assets, required for the resultant outcome, from the main memory 244. The CPU 242 causes the game assets to be presented to the player as outputs from the gaming machine 100 (e.g., audio and video presentations). Instead of a pseudo-RNG, the game outcome may be derived from random numbers generated by a physical RNG that measures some physical phenomenon that is expected to be random and then compensates for possible biases in the measurement process. Whether the RNG is a pseudo-RNG or physical RNG, the RNG uses a seeding process that relies upon an unpredictable factor (e.g., human interaction of turning a key) and cycles continuously in the background between games and during game play at a speed that cannot be timed by the player. Accordingly, the RNG cannot be carried out manually by a human and is integral to operating the game.

[0058] The gaming machine 100 may be used to play central determination games, such as electronic pull-tab and bingo games. In an electronic pull-tab game, the RNG is used to randomize the distribution of outcomes in a pool and / or to select which outcome is drawn from the pool of outcomes when the player requests to play the game. In an electronic bingo game, the RNG is used to randomly draw numbers that players match against numbers printed on their electronic bingo card.

[0059] The gaming machine 100 may include additional peripheral devices or more than one of each component shown in FIG. 2. Any component of the gaming-machine architecture includes hardware, firmware, or tangible machine-readable storage media including instructions for performing the operations described herein. Machine-readable storage media includes any mechanism that stores information and provides the information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., gaming terminal, computer, etc.). For example, machine-readable storage media includes read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic-disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory, etc.

[0060] In accord with various methods of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system in accord with the present concepts, the wagering game includes a game sequence in which a player makes a wager and a wagering-game outcome is provided or displayed in response to the wager being received or detected. The wagering-game outcome, for that particular wagering-game instance, is then revealed to the player in due course following initiation of the wagering game. The method comprises the acts of conducting the wagering game using a gaming apparatus, such as the gaming machine 100 depicted in FIG. 1, following receipt of an input from the player to initiate a wagering-game instance. The gaming machine 100 then communicates the wagering-game outcome to the player via one or more output devices (e.g., 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 primary presentation device 118 or secondary presentation device 120) through the presentation of information such as, but not limited to, text, graphics, static images, moving images, etc., or any combination thereof. In accord with the method of conducting the wagering game, the game-logic circuitry 240 transforms a physical player input, such as a player's pressing of a "Spin" touch key or button, into an electronic data signal indicative of an instruction relating to the wagering game (e.g., an electronic data signal bearing data on a wager amount).

[0061] In the aforementioned method, for each data signal, the game-logic circuitry 240 is configured to process the electronic data signal, to interpret the data signal (e.g., data signals corresponding to a wager input), and to cause further actions associated with the interpretation of the signal in accord with stored instructions relating to such further actions executed by the controller. As one example, the CPU 242 causes the recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage media (e.g., storage unit 256), the CPU 242, in accord with associated stored instructions, causes the changing of a state of the storage media from a first state to a second state. This change in state is, for example, effected by changing a magnetization pattern on a magnetically coated surface of a magnetic storage media or changing a magnetic state of a ferromagnetic surface of a magneto-optical disc storage media, a change in state of transistors or capacitors in a volatile or a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., DRAM, etc.). The noted second state of the data storage media comprises storage in the storage media of data representing the electronic data signal from the CPU 242 (e.g., the wager in the present example). As another example, the CPU 242 further, in accord with the execution of the stored instructions relating to the wagering game, causes the primary presentation device 118, other presentation device, or other output device (e.g., speakers, lights, communication device, etc.) to change from a first state to at least a second state, wherein the second state of the primary presentation device comprises a visual representation of the physical player input (e.g., an acknowledgement to a player), information relating to the physical player input (e.g., an indication of the wager amount), a game sequence, an outcome of the game sequence, or any combination thereof, wherein the game sequence in accord with the present concepts comprises acts described herein. The aforementioned executing of the stored instructions relating to the wagering game is further conducted in accord with a random outcome (e.g., determined by the RNG) that is used by the game-logic circuitry 240 to determine the outcome of the wagering-game instance. In at least some aspects, the game-logic circuitry 240 is configured to determine an outcome of the wagering-game instance at least partially in response to the random parameter. 2026203294   28 Aug 2026

[0062] In one embodiment, the gaming machine 100 and, additionally or alternatively, the external system 260 (e.g., a gaming server), means gaming equipment that meets the hardware and software requirements for fairness, security, and predictability as established by at least one state's gaming control board or commission. Prior to commercial deployment, the gaming machine 100, the external system 260, or both and the casino wagering game played thereon may need to satisfy minimum technical standards and require regulatory approval from a gaming control board or commission (e.g., the Nevada Gaming Commission, Alderney Gambling Control Commission, National Indian Gaming Commission, etc.) charged with regulating casino and other types of gaming in a defined geographical area, such as a state. By way of non-limiting example, a gaming machine in Nevada means a device as set forth in NRS 463.0155, 463.0191, and all other relevant provisions of the Nevada Gaming Control Act, and the gaming machine cannot be deployed for play in Nevada unless it meets the minimum standards set forth in, for example, Technical Standards 1 and 2 and Regulations 5 and 14 issued pursuant to the Nevada Gaming Control Act. Additionally, the gaming machine and the casino wagering game must be approved by the commission pursuant to various provisions in Regulation 14. Comparable statutes, regulations, and technical standards exist in or are used in other gaming jurisdictions, including for example GLI Standard #11 of Gaming Laboratories International (which defines a gaming device in Section 1.5) and N.J.S.A 5:12-23, 5:12-45, and all other relevant provisions of the New Jersey Casino Control Act.

[0063] For example, under Nevada Technical Standard 2, the 'theoretical payback percentage of a gaming device must not be capable of being changed without making a hardware or software change in the device', a restriction not inherent to general-purpose software. Furthermore, these devices are mandated to 'be equipped with electronic digital storage meters of at least 10 digits' for specific game and financial data, such as 'Coin In' and 'Bill In,' and must communicate these meters to an 'on-line slot system'. Integrity of the game's core randomness is paramount; GLI-11, for instance, requires that the 'random number generator and random selection process shall be impervious to influences from outside the device, including\...electro-magnetic interference'. New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 5:12-100(e)) even dictates a functional parameter, requiring that 'Each slot machine shall have a minimum payout of 83%'. Critically, N.J.S.A. 5:12-100(h)(1) mandates that a slot machine must be 'identical in all electrical, mechanical and other aspects to a model thereof which has been specifically tested and licensed', precluding the kind of flexible software and hardware configuration typical of general-purpose computers. These enumerated requirements---related to fixed operational parameters, specialized metering and communication hardware / software, RNG 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 integrity, and adherence to a certified, unalterable model---collectively define a device distinct in purpose and capability from a general-purpose computer. As can be seen from the description herein, the gaming machine 100 may be implemented with hardware and software architectures, circuitry, and other special features that differentiate it from general-purpose computers (e.g., desktop PCs, laptops, and tablets).

[0064] FIG. 3 illustrates an example data sequence diagram of a process 300 for rendering video frames of graphical game interfaces by the hardware components of the gaming machine 100 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). The diagram illustrates the link between underlying changes to game state and visual changes visible via a graphical user interface presented via a presentation assembly of the gaming machine. In other embodiments, the graphical rendering process 300 may include additional, fewer, or alternative data structures, graphical data manipulations, subcomponents of the gaming machine 100, and / or configuration of data communication relative to the elements shown and described with respect to the diagram, including those elements described elsewhere herein.

[0065] The rendering of a single frame for the graphical user interface (GUI) presented on the primary presentation device 118 or the secondary presentation device 120 of the presentation assembly involves a coordinated data flow between specialized hardware components, orchestrated by the game-logic circuitry 240, specifically the CPU 242. Frames of graphical data are generated sequentially to form a video data stream that, when presented via the presentation assembly, appears as graphical video content to the player. The process begins with the execution of stored game code by the wagering game unit 246 (shown in FIG. 2) within the main memory 244, which determines the current game state based on player inputs, RNG outcomes, stored game data, and the specific predefined rules and functions of the wagering game being played.

[0066] To begin process 300, the rendering pipeline for a frame commences when the CPU 242 determines the required graphical elements based on the current game state at step 302. The required graphical elements include presentation elements for presenting a particular theme or appearance of the interface and game elements that convey game outcomes, events, conditions, and the like. The determination is tied to the specific approved game logic and state transitions defined by the wagering game unit 246 within stored, computer-readable instructions and data structures adapted to data formats accepted by the game-logic circuitry 240. The CPU 242 identifies the necessary game assets (e.g., 2D textures, 3D models, shaders, UI layout data, animation parameters) required to visually represent this state. 2026203294   28 Aug 2026

[0067] At step 304, the CPU 242 then issues data requests, via the I / O bus 248 (shown in FIG. 2), to retrieve the data structures representing the specific game assets from the storage unit 256 or directly from main memory 244 if already loaded. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the I / O bus 248 may be configured to facilitate the data communication described herein between components. In other embodiments, at least a portion of the data communication described herein occurs via data buses and other communication components (e.g., wireless antennas) separate from the I / O bus 248. The retrieval is optimized for the architecture of the gaming machine 100 to facilitate rapid access to approved and authenticated assets. In at least some embodiments, the asset retrieval includes an authentication or authorization process to ensure the retrieved data is secure and accurate. For example, the game-logic circuitry 240 may store hash data or other verification data linked to the available assets that is stored separately within the logic circuitry 240 for comparison to the retrieved graphical data assets. The regulatory requirements of the gaming machine 100 may define a particular authentication or verification process for graphical data distinct from how a general-purpose computer handles unverified graphical data.

[0068] Once the necessary assets are loaded into the main memory 244 at step 306, the CPU 242, in combination with a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) 362 of the game-logic circuitry 240 processes the loaded graphical assets. The GPU 362, which may be integrated with the CPU 242 or connected via the I / O bus 248 is configured with a hardware architecture adapted to primarily render graphical content, particularly graphical video content. That is, in comparison to the CPU 242, the GPU 362 may feature an architecture that favors parallel processing for the rendering tasks described herein. The CPU 242 executes stored rendering commands (e.g., draw calls) specific to the graphics API of the GPU 362 and the hardware capabilities of the gaming machine 100 at step 308. The rendering commands instruct the GPU 362 on how to manipulate the asset data (e.g., applying transformations, lighting, physics engine mechanics, shaders) according to the game state and animation sequences dictated by the wagering game unit 246.

[0069] The GPU 362 renders the scene, pixel by pixel (i.e., by each addressable location for presenting graphical data, as described herein), into a designated area of the main memory 244 known as a frame buffer at step 310. The frame buffer is a data structure in which graphical data is temporarily stored in a format configured for the hardware and / or video drivers of an output device (e.g., an electronic display, such as the presentation devices 118, 120), thereby enabling accumulation of the per-pixel rendering at least until a full frame of graphical data is ready to be transmitted for display. The data stored within the frame buffer is packaged as 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 "frame data" for the output device to be presented as one or more frames of video game content. This rendering step 310 transforms the game state data and asset data into a specific, structured visual representation suitable for display.

[0070] At step 312, the completed frame data is transferred from the frame buffer in the main memory 244, via the I / O bus 248, to the appropriate presentation device (e.g., primary presentation device 118). In some embodiments, the output or presentation device receiving the frame data may include a display controller (not shown) that also includes a frame buffer for storing the frame data. The frame buffers act as queues of video frames, to be presented sequentially. In some embodiments, the display controller may convert the frame data into a data format recognized by the underlying hardware of the presentation device. Based on the frame data, the presentation device hardware then displays the frame at step 314. Presentation of the frame data includes causing the hardware forming the presentation device to present different colors, light intensities, and / or other visual characteristics across different pixels that, when viewed by an observer, creates a unified game interface. For example, light-emitting devices of the presentation device may be adjusted to vary light outputs at different pixels, and / or a light-filtering layer, such as a liquid crystal layer, is adjusted to selectively block or pass through emitted light to a color filter, thereby generating a particular color at a given pixel location.

[0071] This entire pipeline (i.e., steps 302-314) executes repeatedly to present sequential video frames that create the illusion of motion and to present a dynamically evolving game state according to the game events, conditions, inputs, and the like described herein. When the wagering game unit 246 determines a change in game state -- such as awarding a win, triggering a specific animation sequence (e.g., symbol explosion, reel highlight, character movement), updating meters (e.g., credit meter, award meter, etc.), or processing a new player input -- the rendering process effectively restarts at step 302 to generate a new, updated frame. The CPU 242 identifies the new set of required assets and rendering commands that reflect this updated game state. The subsequent execution of steps 304 through 314 generates and displays a distinct frame that visually embodies the specific change in game state.

[0072] In at least some embodiments, the system may optimize this process 300 when graphical data is maintained between frames, thereby reducing the data bandwidth required to create a stream of video data. For example, if assets required for the updated frame (determined in the step 302) are already present in the main memory 244 from the previous frame, the data retrieval from the storage unit 256 via the I / O bus 248 in step 304 may be bypassed or reduced, proceeding directly to confirming, or using, the assets already residing in the main memory 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 244 at step 306. Similarly, rendering commands sent at step 308 may pertain only to the changed graphical elements, and the rendering process at step 310 may intelligently update only the necessary portions of the frame buffer in main memory 244, preserving unchanged areas (e.g., static background elements) from the prior frame's buffer or frame data. These optimizations represent specific technological enhancements to improve rendering efficiency, reduce data transfer over the I / O bus (248), lessen computational load on the CPU (242) and GPU, and decrease latency on the specialized hardware of the gaming machine 100, directly impacting the machine's performance and responsiveness during dynamic game events. The continuous, state-driven transformation of game logic outcomes and player interactions into specific graphical outputs via the defined hardware pathway constitutes a practical application of graphical processing technology specifically adapted to the technical demands and regulatory requirements of a wagering environment, improving the functioning and interactivity of the gaming machine 100 itself. Accordingly, the game and presentation functionality described herein may incorporate the graphical rendering process 300 to convert dynamic game states into specific, correspondingly dynamic game presentations.

[0073] Exemplary Game Sequence and Feature Description

[0074] The present disclosure relates to gaming apparatus that presents feature games with multiple accumulable enhancements. In some existing EGMs, systems for presenting combined enhancements can involve complex user interfaces or numerous distinct game elements that a player tracks, which may increase demands on the gaming system's presentation capabilities and may affect how the gaming apparatus conveys complex game states and opportunities to the player.

[0075] Feature games that accumulate multiple enhancements for subsequent application to reel spins may present technical challenges relating to state tracking, coordination between game-outcome logic and the animation system, and efficient rendering of dynamically updated graphical elements. Maintaining a consistent mapping between internal feature state and the visual indicators presented to the player creates a technical challenge in seeking to achieve precise, authenticated coordination between the game-outcome logic and the rendering pipeline.

[0076] Described embodiments improve upon existing gaming-machine architectures and mechanisms by at least partially ameliorating the above-described technical challenges.

[0077] As used herein, the game-outcome logic referenced in connection with the gamelogic circuitry 40 encompasses the wagering-game logic and game-outcome logic described above with reference to FIG. 2, and the display-control signals referenced in connection with 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 the one or more display devices encompass the graphical rendering commands and frame data communicated via the rendering pipeline described above with reference to FIG. 3.

[0078] As used herein, "authenticated memory" refers to one or more memory devices, or one or more portions thereof, that store data or program components whose contents have been verified by an authentication process, such as for example by generating a live authentication code from the memory contents and comparing the live authentication code to a trusted authentication code, before the data or program components are used in game operation.

[0079] The following description proceeds with reference to the figures, which illustrate various non-limiting example embodiments.

[0080] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a flowchart representing one data processing method corresponding to at least some instructions stored and executed by the game-logic circuitry 40 in FIG. 2 to perform operations according to an embodiment. The data processing method is described below in connection with an exemplary representation of game screens in FIGS. 5-15.

[0081] The data processing method commences at step 200. At step 202, the game-logic circuitry controls a presentation assembly (for example, mechanical-reel display device, video display device(s), or a combination thereof) that presents a plurality of symbol-bearing reels 300 (see FIG. 5), an array 302 (see FIG. 5), a wheel 304 (see FIGS. 5-13), and a plurality of different free-game enhancement icons 306 (see FIGS. 5-13). Although the method is described with respect to a presentation assembly having one presentation device, it is to be understood that the presentation described herein may be performed by a presentation assembly including more than one presentation device. The symbol positions of the array may be arranged in a variety of configurations, formats, or structures and may comprise a plurality of rows and columns. The rows of the array are oriented in a generally horizontal direction, and the columns of the array are oriented in a generally vertical direction. The symbol positions in each row of the array are horizontally aligned with each other, and the symbol positions in each column of the array are vertically aligned with each other. The number of symbol positions in different rows and / or different columns may vary from each other. As shown in FIG. 5, the reels 300 may be associated with the respective columns of a 4x5 array 302 such that the reels 300 spin vertically and each reel populates a respective column of the array. In another embodiment, the reels may be associated with the respective rows of the array such that the reels spin horizontally and each reel populates a respective row. In yet another embodiment, the reels may be associated with respective individual symbol positions of the array such that each reel populates only its respective symbol position. 2026203294   28 Aug 2026

[0082] The reels bear a plurality of symbols. In one embodiment, the plurality of symbols includes standard symbols 308 (see FIG. 5), short stacks or clumps of Unicorn symbols 310 (see FIG. 5), and bonus-triggering Mystical Unicorn Wheel symbols 312 (see FIG. 5). The stacks or clumps of Unicorn symbols 310 appear adjacent to each other along the reel. A stack of Unicorn symbols 310 may consist of two, three, four, or more adjacent Unicorn symbols.

[0083] At step 204, the game-logic circuitry detects, via a value input device, a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance. The credit or monetary balance may be shown on a credit meter 314 (see FIG. 5).

[0084] At step 206, the game-logic circuitry initiates a wagering game cycle in response to an input indicative of a wager covered by the credit balance. To initiate a spin of the reels, the player may press a "Spin" or "Max Bet" key on a button panel or touch screen. The wager may be shown on a bet meter 316 (see FIG. 5).

[0085] At step 208, using an RNG, the game-logic circuitry spins and stops the reels to randomly land symbols from the reels in the array in visual association with one or more paylines (also known as lines, ways, patterns, or arrangements). The reel spin may be animated on a video display by depicting symbol-bearing strips moving vertically across the display and synchronously updating the symbols visible on each strip as the strip moves across the display.

[0086] At step 210, the game-logic circuitry awards standard pays in accordance with a pay table. The pay table may, for example, include "line pays" and "scatter pays." Line pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear along an activated payline, typically in a particular order such as left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, etc. Scatter pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear anywhere in the displayed array without regard to position or paylines. Each payline preferably consists of a single symbol position in each column of the array. The number of paylines may be as few as one or as many as possible given each payline consists of a single symbol position in each column of the array. To animate a standard pay, the display may apply a border, pattern, color change, background change, watermark, or other distinguishing characteristic to the winning payline and / or winning symbols that contributed to the pay. The awarded pays are added to a win meter 318 (see FIG. 5).

[0087] At step 212, the game-logic circuitry determines whether or not to trigger a free spins feature. The free spins feature may, for example, be triggered by the appearance of three or more Mystical Unicorn Wheel symbols 312 (see FIG. 5) anywhere in the array 302 (see FIG. 5). In another embodiment, the free spins feature may be triggered by the appearance of less than three Mystical Unicorn Wheel symbols 312: each symbol 312 causes the RNG to 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 randomly determine whether or not to trigger the free spins feature. In yet another embodiment, the free spins feature may be triggered by a mystery or hidden trigger independent of the particular symbols appearing in the array: the reel spin at step 208 causes the RNG to randomly determine whether or not to trigger the free spins feature regardless of whether any particular symbols appear in the array. If the free spins feature is not triggered at step 212, the method proceeds to step 226. If, however, the free spins feature is triggered at step 212, the method proceeds to step 214.

[0088] Prior to conducting a series of free spins, however, the game-logic circuitry first presents a series of one or more spins of the wheel 304 (see FIGS. 5-13) to "build" the free spins. In particular, at step 214, using the RNG, the game-logic circuitry spins and stops the wheel 304 (see FIG. 6) on a randomly-selected wedge. The selected wedge is disposed at the 12 o'clock position and may be denoted by a stationary pointer, highlighted border, or other means for identifying that wedge. The wheel 304 may be a video wheel, an electro-mechanical wheel, or a combination thereof (for example, an electro-mechanical wheel that can physically rotate but has a round video screen mounted to its face). The wheel 304 may have wedges as shown in FIGS. 5-13, or may be a closed loop or trail of icons wherein the loop or trail of icons are arranged in a circle, rectangle, or other closed shape. In an alternative embodiment, instead of rotating the wheel 304, the wheel 304 may be held stationary while a pointer at a center of the wheel 304 or along the exterior of the wheel 304 is spun and stopped on a wedge. In yet another embodiment, the wheel 304 is replaced with an oversized reel.

[0089] The wheel 304 includes a plurality of free-game enhancement wedges 320 (see FIG. 6) and a plurality of jackpot wedges 322 (see FIG. 6). Each free-game-enhancement wedge 320 bears a respective free-game enhancement associated with at least one of the free-game enhancement icons 306 (see FIG. 6). The free-game enhancements may, for example, include Super Stacks (that is, extra-long stacks of Unicorn symbols), Expanding Wilds (that is, when a wild lands in a column of the array, it expands to fill the entire column), and Reel Growth (that is, at the start of each free spin, the reel array grows to add one to four more rows). Each jackpot wedge 322 bears a respective progressive jackpot. The progressive jackpots may, for example, be MINI, MINOR, MAJOR, and GRAND jackpots.

[0090] At step 216, in response to the stopped wheel landing on a free-game enhancement wedge 320 (see FIG. 7), the game-logic circuitry (a) marks / highlights the free-game enhancement icon 306 (see FIG. 8) associated with that free-game enhancement wedge 320, and (b) transforms both that free-game enhancement wedge and any other free-game enhancement wedges bearing the same free-game enhancement as that free-game enhancement 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 wedge to a start-free-games indicator 324 (see FIG. 8). At step 218, in response to the stopped wheel landing on a jackpot wedge 322, the game-logic circuitry presents an award for the jackpot borne by that jackpot wedge but does not transform that jackpot wedge or like wedges to a start-free-games indicator 324. In one embodiment, if the wheel lands on a GRAND wedge, the game-logic circuitry presents the GRAND jackpot award and then proceeds to step 226 without conducting the series of free spins described below.

[0091] FIGS. 7-13 depict an exemplary series of wheel spin outcomes after the game-logic circuitry has spun and stopped the wheel 304. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the wheel 304 stopped on a Reel Growth wedge, thereby marking the Reel Growth icon 306 and transforming all Reel Growth wedges to start-free-games indicators. In FIGS. 9 and 10, the wheel 304 stopped on an Expanding Wilds wedge, thereby marking the Expanding Wilds icon 306 and transforming all Expanding Wilds wedges to start-free-games indicators. In FIGS. 11 and 12, the wheel 304 stopped on a Super Stacks wedge, thereby marking the Super Stacks icon 306 and transforming all Super Stacks wedges to start-free-games indicators.

[0092] At step 220, the game-logic circuitry determines whether or not the wheel 304 stops on a wedge bearing a start-free-games indicator 324. If the wheel 304 does not stop on a start-free-games indicator 324, the method returns to step 214. If, however, the wheel 304 stops on a start-free-spins indicator 324, the method proceeds to step 222. In FIG. 13, for example, the wheel 304 stopped on a start-free-games indicator 324.

[0093] At step 222, the game-logic circuitry animates a series of enhanced free spins of the plurality of symbol-bearing reels using the free-game enhancements represented by the marked free-game enhancement icons. In other words, the free-game enhancements earned from the wheel spin outcomes at step 216 are redeemed in the series of free spins at step 222. The number of free spins may be fixed (for example, 10 free spins) or variable. The number of free spins may vary with the number of Mystical Unicorn Wheel symbols that triggered the free spins feature, for example three, four, or five such symbols triggers 10, 15, or 25 free spins, respectively. In each free spin, using the RNG, the game-logic circuitry spins and stops the reels 300 (see FIG. 15) to land symbols on the reels in the array 302 (see FIG. 15) of symbol positions. FIG. 14 depicts an introductory screen showing the awarded number of free spins (for example, 10 free spins) and the free-game enhancements (for example, Expanding Wilds, Super Stacks, and Reel Growth) applicable to those free spins. In FIG. 15, for example, there is shown an outcome of a free spin enhanced with all three enhancements: Expanding Wilds, Super Stacks, and Reel Growth. At step 224, the game-logic circuitry presents an award for any winning outcomes in the series of enhanced free spins. The winning outcomes may include 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 line pays and scatter pays as described above in connection with step 210. At the conclusion of the free spins, the method proceeds to step 226.

[0094] At step 226, the game-logic circuitry determines whether or not it has received a cashout input via at least one of the one or more player input devices of the gaming machine. If it has not received a cashout input, the game-logic circuitry waits for the next wager input at step 206. If it has received a cashout input, the game-logic circuitry initiates a payout from the credit balance on the credit meter. The data processing method then ends at step 228.

[0095] The gaming system and methods described herein provide specific technical solutions that improve the functioning of the gaming machine itself, particularly in how it manages, presents, and allows players to accumulate multiple game enhancements for a feature such as free spins. This is achieved through a specific configuration and operation of the gamelogic circuitry in conjunction with the presentation assembly.

[0096] A technical challenge in designing engaging wagering games is the clear and efficient presentation of complex game features, especially when multiple enhancements can be combined. The disclosed system addresses this by employing the game-logic circuitry to execute a specific sequence of operations centered around the interactive wheel feature. The process of spinning the wheel, landing on a free-game enhancement wedge, marking an associated icon, and transforming that wedge and all other wedges bearing the same free-game enhancement to a start-free-games indicator is a computationally managed process. This transformation is not merely an abstract game rule, but a direct manipulation of the game state and its visual representation controlled by the game-logic circuitry, which dynamically alters the probabilities and outcomes of subsequent wheel spins within the feature.

[0097] This method offers a technical improvement over systems that display all possible combinations of enhancements simultaneously or require players to track multiple disparate game elements (such as multiple "pots" in "triple pot" style slot games). The described wheel mechanism provides a visually intuitive and progressive way for the player to see their combination of enhancements being built. The game-logic circuitry controls the presentation assembly to update the wheel display dynamically, such that the player's focus is drawn to a single, evolving interface element (the wheel). This may reduce cognitive burden on the player and may make the process of accumulating enhancements more readily comprehensible.

[0098] Furthermore, this approach can lead to more efficient use of the gaming machine's processing and graphical resources. Instead of rendering numerous potential combinations or the states of multiple separate enhancement-tracking elements, the system, under the control of the game-logic circuitry, needs only to manage and render the state changes on the wedges of 2026203294   28 Aug 2026 a single wheel and the associated enhancement icons. This can simplify the data calls and rendering commands required, potentially optimizing the graphical rendering pipeline (as exemplified in FIG. 3) by focusing updates on specific, defined areas of the display. The transformation of wedges is a defined state change that the game-logic circuitry tracks and uses to determine the end condition for the wheel feature and the set of enhancements to apply to the subsequent free spins.

[0099] The system thereby provides an improved human-machine interface for a complex feature, which is achieved by a specific technical implementation within the gaming machine. It is a practical application of gaming technology that streamlines the presentation of combined game enhancements, improving player comprehension and engagement while offering potential efficiencies in system resource utilization. This controlled, interactive method of building feature enhancements represents a technological improvement in the field of gaming systems.

[00100] The following additional embodiments and technical effects are provided to further illustrate, without limitation, variations of the systems and methods described herein. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the embodiments described below may be implemented in combination with one another and may be applied to the cumulative free-game enhancement as described herein and the associated screen-display regions and indicators.

[00101] In some embodiments, the wheel-state data record is replicated in non-volatile storage for recovery in the event of a power interruption or other fault. The wheel-state data record may be replicated in non-volatile storage following completion of updates associated with a single spin of the wheel within the feature. The wheel-state data record may be replicated in non-volatile storage following completion of one or more from among: an update to the wedge-state data associated with marking a free-game enhancement icon, an update to the wedge-state data associated with transforming one or more wedges to a start-free-games indicator, and an update to the enhancement-tracking data identifying which of the plurality of free-game enhancement icons have been marked.

[00102] In some embodiments, the execution of the random-number-generator programming and game-outcome logic is permitted only upon successful authentication by an authentication program that generates a live authentication code from contents of one or more memory devices and compares the live authentication code to a trusted authentication code. Separating the authentication gate from the rendering of animations on the display device(s) may reduce a risk of inconsistency between displayed animations and the underlying authenticated feature state. 2026203294   28 Aug 2026

[00103] In some embodiments, the wheel-state data record is implemented as a compact indexed data structure in which each wedge of the wheel is represented by an entry identifying the current appearance of that wedge and the associated free-game enhancement, if any. This compact representation may allow the per-spin computational overhead of wedgetransformation operations to be reduced compared to representations that store redundant appearance data for each wedge.

[00104] In some embodiments, the game-logic circuitry is configured to generate the display-control signals by executing a state-to-animation mapping that identifies the changed graphical elements of the wheel and the free-game enhancement icons and generates rendering commands to update the presentation only for those elements. This may reduce data bandwidth and / or computational loads placed on the CPU and / or GPU components of the gaming machine during the feature.

[00105] In some embodiments, the cumulative free-game enhancement is selectively disabled for particular invocations of the feature game, avoiding associated state updates and animation control signal generation for those invocations and thereby reducing memory access and rendering overhead.

[00106] In some embodiments, the wheel-state data record serves as an intermediary between the game-outcome logic and the rendering pipeline, such that the rendering pipeline consumes a structured, authenticated representation of the feature state rather than consuming game-outcome logic outputs directly. This may increase coordination between the authenticated game-outcome logic and the animation system, making the animation display smoother with respect to the game progress.

[00107] These and other modifications and variations thereof are contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claims. Moreover, the concepts described herein expressly include any and all combinations and subcombinations of the preceding elements and aspects.

[00108] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming machine, comprising:a presentation assembly having one or more display devices;a value input device configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value and establish a credit balance;a player input device configured to receive a wager input covered by the credit balance and transform the wager input into an electronic data signal;a value output device configured to initiate a payout from the credit balance in response to a cashout input; andgame-logic circuitry comprising one or more processors, and one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing random-number-generator programming and instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the game-logic circuitry to:in response to receiving the electronic data signal indicative of the wager, execute the random-number-generator programming to spin and stop a plurality of symbolbearing reels to land symbols on the reels in an array of symbol positions, and determine whether a triggering event has occurred;in response to determining that the triggering event has occurred, control the presentation assembly to present, via the one or more display devices, the plurality of symbol-bearing reels, a wheel, and a plurality of different free-game enhancement icons, the wheel including a plurality of wedges, each wedge bearing a respective free-game enhancement associated with at least one of the free-game enhancement icons;spin and stop the wheel by executing the random-number-generator programming;in response to the stopped wheel landing on one of the plurality of wedges, (a) mark the free-game enhancement icon associated with the free-game enhancement borne by the one of the plurality of wedges, and (b) transform both the one of the plurality of wedges and any other ones of the plurality of wedges bearing the same free-game enhancement as the one of the plurality of wedges to a start-free-games indicator;repeat the spinning, stopping, marking, and transforming steps by executing the random-number-generator programming until the wheel lands on a wedge bearing the start-free-games indicator;2026203294   28 Aug 2026control the presentation assembly to animate a series of enhanced free spins of the plurality of symbol-bearing reels using the free-game enhancements represented by the marked ones of the free-game enhancement icons, wherein in each free spin the plurality of symbol-bearing reels are spun and stopped to land symbols on the reels in an array of symbol positions;present an award for any winning outcomes in the series of enhanced free spins; and in response to receiving the cashout input via the player input device, cause the value output device to initiate the payout from the credit balance.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more memory devices further store (i) an authentication program, and (ii) a trusted authentication code, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the game-logic circuitry to: generate, via execution of the authentication program, a live authentication code based on contents of at least one of the one or more memory devices; compare the live authentication code to the trusted authentication code; and permit execution of randomnumber-generator programming and game-outcome logic only upon determining that the live authentication code matches the trusted authentication code.

3. The electronic gaming machine of any of claims 1 to 2, the electronic gaming machine further comprising: a game play mechanism configured for operation by a player to initiate the play of a base game, and wherein the game-logic circuitry is responsive to initiation of the play of the base game with the game play mechanism and is operable to control the one or more display devices.

4. The electronic gaming machine of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more memory devices further store a wheel-state data record comprising wedge-state data identifying a current state of each of the plurality of wedges and enhancement-tracking data identifying which of the plurality of free-game enhancement icons have been marked, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the game-logic circuitry to update the wedge-state data in response to transforming a wedge to a start-free-games indicator and to update the enhancement-tracking data in response to marking a free-game enhancement icon.2026203294   28 Aug 20265. The electronic gaming machine of claim 4, wherein the game-logic circuitry is configured to generate display-control signals for the one or more display devices by executing a state-to-animation mapping comprising: translating an update to the wedge-state data of the wheel-state data record into a corresponding change in a visual indicator presented on the one or more display devices by identifying one or more changed graphical elements of the wheel; and generating one or more rendering commands for updating the presentation of the visual indicator by rendering only the identified one or more changed graphical elements.

6. The electronic gaming machine of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the free-game enhancements include stacks of symbols, expanding wilds, and expanding the array.

7. The electronic gaming machine of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the wheel includes additional wedges bearing respective prizes.

8. The electronic gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the prizes are progressive jackpots.

9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the game-logic circuitry to: in response to the stopped wheel landing on one of the additional wedges, present an award for the prize borne by the one of the additional wedges.

10. The electronic gaming machine of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the spinning and stopping the wheel is in response to a triggering event in an underlying reel slot game.

11. A method of operating an electronic gaming machine having a presentation assembly, a value input device configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value and establish a credit balance, a player input device configured to receive a wager input covered by the credit balance and transform the wager input into an electronic data signal, and a value output device configured to initiate a payout from the credit balance in response to a cashout input, and game-logic circuitry including one or more processors and one or more memory devices storing random-number-generator programming, the method comprising:in response to receiving the electronic data signal indicative of the wager, executing the random-number-generator programming to spin and stop a plurality of symbol-bearing reels2026203294   28 Aug 2026to land symbols on the reels in an array of symbol positions, and determining whether a triggering event has occurred;in response to determining that the triggering event has occurred, controlling the presentation assembly to present, via the one or more display devices, the plurality of symbolbearing reels, a wheel, and a plurality of different free-game enhancement icons, the wheel including a plurality of wedges, each wedge bearing a respective free-game enhancement associated with at least one of the free-game enhancement icons;spinning and stopping the wheel by executing the random-number-generator programming;in response to the stopped wheel landing on one of the plurality of wedges, (a) marking the free-game enhancement icon associated with the free-game enhancement borne by the one of the plurality of wedges, and (b) transforming both the one of the plurality of wedges and any other ones of the plurality of wedges bearing the same free-game enhancement as the one of the plurality of wedges to a start-free-games indicator;repeating the spinning, stopping, marking, and transforming steps by executing the randomnumber-generator programming until the wheel lands on a wedge bearing the start-free-games indicator;controlling the presentation assembly to animate a series of enhanced free spins of the plurality of symbol-bearing reels using the free-game enhancements represented by the marked ones of the free-game enhancement icons, wherein in each free spin the plurality of symbol-bearing reels are spun and stopped to land symbols on the reels in an array of symbol positions;presenting an award for any winning outcomes in the series of enhanced free spins; and in response to receiving the cashout input via the player input device, causing the value output device to initiate the payout from the credit balance.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: generating, by execution of an authentication program stored in the one or more memory devices, a live authentication code based on contents of at least one of the one or more memory devices; comparing the live authentication code to a trusted authentication code stored in the one or more memory devices; and permitting execution of random-number-generator programming and game-outcome logic only upon determining that the live authentication code matches the trusted authentication code.

13. The method of any of claims 11 to 12, further comprising: maintaining, in the one or more memory devices, a wheel-state data record comprising wedge-state data identifying a current2026203294   28 Aug 2026state of each of the plurality of wedges and enhancement-tracking data identifying which of the plurality of free-game enhancement icons have been marked; updating the wedge-state data in response to transforming a wedge to a start-free-games indicator; and updating the enhancement-tracking data in response to marking a free-game enhancement icon.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: generating display-control signals for the one or more display devices by executing a state-to-animation mapping comprising translating an update to the wedge-state data of the wheel-state data record into a corresponding change in a visual indicator presented on the one or more display devices by identifying one or more changed graphical elements of the wheel, and generating one or more rendering commands for updating the presentation of the visual indicator by rendering only the identified one or more changed graphical elements.

15. The method of any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the free-game enhancements include stacks of symbols, expanding wilds, and expanding the array.

16. The method of any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the wheel includes additional wedges bearing respective prizes.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the prizes are progressive jackpots.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: in response to the stopped wheel landing on one of the additional wedges, presenting an award for the prize borne by the one of the additional wedges.

19. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processing devices of an electronic gaming machine, causes the one or more processing devices to perform the method of any of claims 11 to 18.

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