Gaming apparatus and method involving secondary display

Abstract

A gaming machine arranged to play at least one game in which symbols are selected, presented on a game display, and evaluated for a winning outcome. The gaming machine includes a player tracking module having a controller, and a player tracking module display separate from the game display. The controller operates to control the player tracking module display and to present information relating to a different game. The determination of information to be presented is dependent on a player identifier read from a player tracking card inserted into the player tracking module. The gaming machine is configured to detect a predefined player input and to initiate a process to provide a game relating to the information presented on the secondary display when the predefined player input was detected.

1 . A method for use with a gaming machine arranged to provide play of a game in which at least one symbol is selected and presented on a game display, the gaming machine including a player tracking module and a player tracking module display separate from the game display, wherein the method comprises:
 presenting information relating to at least one other game on the player tracking module display;   receiving a predefined input at a player interface; and   in response to receipt of said input, providing the at least one other game on the gaming machine.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said presented information is dependent on a player identifier read by the player tracking module, wherein said player identifier includes a player history of a player and said presented information relates to at least one game that share at least one common or like characteristic to games said player has previously played. 
   
   
       3 . A method for use with a gaming machine arranged to play at least one game in which symbols are selected and presented on a game display, the method comprising:
 initiating a first gaming session on the gaming machine in which a first game is played;   presenting information relating to at least one other game on a secondary display;   receiving at a player interface a predefined input; and   in response to receipt of said input, providing the at least one other game on the gaming machine.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein information presented on the secondary display relates to a set of games dependent on at least one of a current and past selection of games played by the player. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising also presenting information on the secondary display regarding at least one event at a gaming venue where the gaming machine is located. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein data defining said presented information is communicated from at least one source remote from the gaming machine to a secondary display controller of the secondary display. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a communication path of said communication does not involve a game controller of the gaming machine that controls the play of the first game. 
   
   
       8 . A method for use with a plurality of linked gaming machines wherein each said gaming machine is associated with an electronic secondary display, the method being initiated during a gaming session on each of said plurality of linked gaming machines and comprising:
 presenting information relating to at least one other game on said secondary display;   detecting a certain player input at the gaming machine; and   in response to the detected player input, providing a game relating to the presented information.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the provision of said games on at least one of the linked gaming machines is monitored by a licensing server, wherein said licensing server maintains in electronic storage license records identifying a number of licenses available and regulates the provision of the games depending on the number of licenses available. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein if no licenses are available for a game, information relating to said game is not presented on the secondary display. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising independently controlling at least one of the secondary displays to present information relating to the at least one other game. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein a plurality of the secondary displays are controlled to temporarily and simultaneously display the same information and then return to presenting information relating to the at least one other game. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the information presented on the secondary display is dependent on at least one of the parameters selected from a group comprising:
 a game currently being played at a gaming machine;   a recorded history of game selections by a player currently identified at a gaming machine;   recorded characteristics of at least one game available to be played; and   recorded categorisations of at least one game available to be played.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein data relating to the presented information is communicated from a central electronic processing system to a controller of the secondary display. 
   
   
       15 . Instructions stored in a storage medium readable by a game controller and executable to implement a method for use with a gaming machine arranged to play at least one game in which symbols are selected and presented on a game display, wherein an electronic secondary display is associated with said gaming machine, the method caused to be implemented comprising:
 initiating a first gaming session on the gaming machine in which a first game is played;   presenting information relating to at least one other game on said secondary display;   receiving at a player interface a predefined input; and   in response to receipt of said input, providing the at least one other game on the gaming machine.   
   
   
       16 . A gaming machine implementing a game wherein at least one symbol is selected and presented on a display, the gaming machine comprising a user interface and a primary display in communication with a game controller that controls the presentation of images on the primary display at least partly in response to a user operation of said user interface, the gaming machine further comprising a secondary display presenting information relating to at least one other game during a gaming session, wherein the gaming machine is arranged to detect a predefined player input and in response to the detection of said input initiate a process that causes the gaming machine to provide the at least one other game relating to the information presented on the secondary display when said input was detected. 
   
   
       17 . A gaming machine of  claim 16  wherein a player interface configured to receive said predefined player input is provided on a part of the user interface, wherein the secondary display is provided in a housing distinct from a housing of the primary display and the user interface is provided in the same housing as the secondary display. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine of  claim 16  further comprising a communication interface for communicating with a remote display controller, wherein said gaming machine is arranged to present information on the secondary display in response to at least one control signal received at the communication interface. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine of  claim 18  wherein the secondary display alternatively presents information dependent on at least one control signal, and said presented information is controlled by a display controller local to the gaming machine, wherein said display controller is operable as a game controller. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine of  claim 16  wherein said gaming machine is configured to play at least two games. 
   
   
       21 . The gaming machine of  claim 16  wherein said presented information relates to at least one game playable on said gaming machine. 
   
   
       22 . The gaming machine of  claim 16  including a top box comprising a further electronic display. 
   
   
       23 . A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine providing a game in which at least one symbol is selected and presented on a primary display, wherein said plurality of gaming machines are each associated with a secondary display and a plurality of secondary displays are controlled to present information relating to at least one game other than a game currently being played on the gaming machine, wherein the said gaming machine is configured to detect a predefined player input and initiate a process to provide a game relating to the information presented on the secondary display when the predefined player input was detected. 
   
   
       24 . The gaming system of  claim 23  wherein the information presented by said plurality of secondary displays is determined by an electronic processing system remote from the gaming machine. 
   
   
       25 . The gaming system of  claim 23  wherein the secondary displays are independently controllable. 
   
   
       26 . The gaming system of  claim 23  wherein data relating to said information is used for identifying the provision of games by said plurality of gaming machines and is recorded in electronic storage wherein said data is further used for regulating the provision of at least one game to said gaming machines. 
   
   
       27 . A gaming machine arranged to play at least one game in which symbols are selected, presented on a game display, and evaluated for a winning outcome, the gaming machine including a player tracking module having a controller and a player tracking module display separate from the game display, wherein the controller controls the player tracking module display to present information relating to at least one other game wherein the information relating to the at least one other game is selected dependent on a player identifier read by the player tracking module, wherein the gaming machine is configured to detect a predefined player input and initiate a process to provide a game relating to the information presented on the secondary display when the predefined player input was detected. 
   
   
       28 . A gaming machine of  claim 27  wherein said information is determined by a player history of the player and relates to at least one game that share at least one common or like characteristic to games that said player has previously played. 
   
   
       29 . A gaming machine of  claim 28  wherein a process of selecting the information to be presented is performed via the gaming machine by at least one of the following apparatus:
 the controller of the player tracking module;   a controller of the gaming machine; and   a remote controller in data communication with the player tracking module.   
   
   
       30 . A method for use with a gaming machine arranged to play at least one game in which symbols are selected and presented on a game display, the method comprising initiating a first gaming session on the gaming machine and presenting information relating to at least one other game on a secondary display. 
   
   
       31 . A method of  claim 30  wherein said gaming machine includes a player tracking module. 
   
   
       32 . A method of  claim 30  wherein the at least one other game is a game playable on the gaming machine.