Gaming machines and systems having multiple window displays

Abstract

An electronic game including at least one display exhibiting a plurality of windows or segments each displaying a different subject matter is disclosed. The different subject matter in each of the plurality of windows preferably includes a real time promotional points total, an awards display, a sponsor advertising material display, an Internet display and an electronic game. The electronic game, which may include a wagering game, may be played by tendering money or tendering promotional points instead of money. Promotional points may be awarded instead of a portion of a money award, or supplemental to it. Promotional points may be accumulated by players through both gaming and non-gaming activities, including activities not involving a commercial transaction. An electronic gaining apparatus is described which also serves as an Internet portal.

1 . A gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a payout based on the result of the game, comprising: 
 an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein;    a central processing unit in communication with at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components, said central processing unit being adapted to execute or control one or more aspects of said wager based game and also being adapted to facilitate the communication and display of advertising; and    a first display device in communication with said central processing unit, said first display device including a plurality of separate windows, wherein each of said separate windows is configured to display a subject that is different and independently alterable with respect to every other separate window.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a separate communication link from each of said plurality of separate windows to a separate display source for that respective window.    
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a second display device in communication with said central processing unit, said second display device including an additional plurality of additional separate windows, wherein each of said additional separate windows is configured to display a subject that is different and independently alterable with respect to every other additional separate window on said second display device.    
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein a first window is adapted to present one or more game play components and a second separate window is adapted to present advertising content.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 4 , wherein said second separate window comprises an Internet connection.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein said Internet window is provided as a reward based upon the play or performance of said player.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 4 , wherein said first window displays game play content from said central processing unit while said second window displays advertising content from an advertising source separate from said central processing unit.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said plurality of separate windows are arranged such that distinct inter-window borders are eliminated.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said plurality of separate windows are arranged such that distinct inter-window borders are represented by lines.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said windows comprises a LAN or WAN connection to a display content source outside the gaming machine.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said windows is adapted to display video content.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a separate dedicated receiver or tuner for each separate window adapted to display content that is not generated by said central processing unit.    
   
   
       13 . A method of displaying content on a wager based gaming machine, the method comprising: 
 providing a gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a payout based on the result of the game, said gaming machine including 
 an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein,  
 a central processing unit in communication with at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components, said central processing unit being adapted to execute or control one or more aspects of said wager based game and also being adapted to facilitate the communication and display of advertising, and  
 a display device in communication with said central processing unit, said display device including a plurality of separate windows, wherein each of said separate windows is configured to display a subject that is different and independently alterable with respect to every other separate window;  
   displaying a first display on a first window of said display device; and    displaying a second display on a second separate window of said display device.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the content of said second display is unrelated to the content of said first display.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the content of said first display includes one or more components of said wager based game, and wherein the content of said second display includes one or more components unrelated to said wager based game.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said content of said second display comprises advertising content.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , further including the step of: 
 providing a separate communication link from each of said plurality of separate windows to a separate display source for that respective window.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , further including the step of: 
 providing at least one window having an Internet content and Internet related content thereon.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said Internet window is provided as an incentive or reward to a player of said gaming machine.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13 , further including the step of: 
 providing at least one source of content for display at one or more windows of said gaming machine, wherein said at least one source is located outside said gaming machine.