Gaming machine providing pop-up advertising

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention is incorporated in a video gaming machine that emulates the spinning and random stopping of reels, where awards are granted based on symbol combinations across one or more activated paylines. In one embodiment, during a time when the virtual reels are spinning or at other times, a pop-up advertisement or other offer appears on the screen either obscuring or not obscuring the reels. In one embodiment, the player is rewarded in any one of various ways for viewing the various advertisements in the pop-up window. Offers made in the pop-up window may be printed on a ticket by the gaming machine. Other features are described.

1 . A method performed by a gaming machine for use in a casino comprising: 
 receiving a wager by the gaming machine for playing a game;    displaying a game by the gaming machine;    displaying, upon detecting a triggering event, a pop-up window on a video display displaying information unrelated to the game being displayed; and    canceling the pop-up window after a certain period of time.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein displaying the game comprises displaying rotating reels on the video display and randomly stopping the reels, the triggering event occurring during the rotating of the reels.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein displaying the game comprises displaying rotating reels on the video display and randomly stopping the reels, the triggering event occurring during a time between when the reels are stopped and when the reels are rotating.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the triggering event occurs after a certain number of games played.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the triggering event occurs at a random time.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising offering a player a choice to enable or disable displaying the pop-up window.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pop-up window comprises a background for the information displayed.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pop-up window comprises a frame around the information displayed.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising offering a player a choice to accept an offer displayed by the pop-up window.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pop-up window is an advertisement.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pop-up window is an offer.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising printing out a ticket documenting the information displayed by the pop-up window.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gaming machine is connected to a network, the method further comprising transmitting the information to be displayed by the pop-up window to the gaming machine via the network.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a reward to a player for viewing the information.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the reward is other than a reward offered by the information displayed by the pop-up window.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the information comprises questions to be answered by a player.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pop-up window and game are displayed on the same video screen.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pop-up window and game are displayed on different video screens.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the game is displayed on motor-driven reels.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pop-up window comprises an item of value, the value- being dependent on an amount wagered by a player for the game.  
   
   
       21 . A gaming device for being installed in a casino comprising: 
 a video display:    one or more processors for carrying out a game, the one or more processors also displaying on the video display, upon detection of a triggering event, a pop-up window on the video display displaying information unrelated to the game being displayed; and    canceling the pop-up window after a certain period of time.    
   
   
       22 . The gaming device of  claim 21  wherein the game is displayed on the video display.  
   
   
       23 . The gaming device of  claim 21  wherein the pop-up window and game are displayed on the same video display screen.  
   
   
       24 . The gaming device of  claim 21  wherein the pop-up window and game are displayed on different video display screens.  
   
   
       25 . The gaming device of  claim 21  wherein the game is displayed on motor-driven reels.