Slot machines having advertising displays

Abstract

In a gaming device of the type that utilizes multiple rotatable wheels or a video display to present a random combination of predetermined symbols and which issues a “win” indication or payout whenever one of several predetermined winning combinations of symbols is obtained, the provision of advertising messages which can be utilized in substitution for or in combination with the conventional symbols and the payout can be determined by a combination of the conventional symbols with the advertising messages or other messages alone.

I claim:  
     
         1 . In a gaming device of the type having means for generating a random combination of symbols, means defining a plurality of winning combinations of symbols, and means responsive to said random combination generating means and to said winning combination defining means for providing an indication of a win whenever the generated random combination corresponds to one of said winning combinations, the improvement comprising: 
 means for generating a plurality of advertising messages; and    means for displaying said advertising messages, said advertising messages being displayable with one another or in conjunction with one or more of said symbols.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming device of    claim 1    in which the said symbols and said advertising messages are located upon a plurality of rotatable reels, said symbols and said messages having a predetermined value to establish a prize-winning combination.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming device of    claim 1    in which said symbols and advertising messages are video-generated images simulating the action of mechanical reels and in which, when said gaming device is disposed in a static mode, said advertising messages are presented for perusal.  
     
     
         4 . In a gaming device for generating a random combination of symbols, means defining a plurality of winning combinations of symbols and means responsive to said random combination generating means and to said winning combination defining means for providing an indication of a win whenever the generated random combination corresponds to one of said winning combinations, the improvement comprising: 
 a plurality of advertising messages displayable on said gaming device;    means for defining a plurality of winning combinations of messages; and    means responsive to said random combination-generating means and to said winning combination-defining means for providing an indication of a win whenever the generated random combination of messages corresponds to one of said winning combinations.    
     
     
         5 . The gaming device of    claim 1    in which said symbols and said advertising messages are displayed by means for interspersing or combining said symbols and said messages.  
     
     
         6 . The devices of claims  4  or  5  incorporating means for sequential display of said advertising messages to the exclusion of said symbols.  
     
     
         7 . In a method of operating a slot machine incorporating arbitrary symbols and advertising messages displayed on said machine, the steps of: 
 presenting a plurality of arbitrary, conventional symbols;    presenting a plurality of advertising messages; and,    simultaneously, energizing said symbols and said messages to produce a winning combination of said symbols and said messages.    
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 7    in which the method includes the step of providing a winning combination of advertising messages.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 7    in which static display means displays only said messages.