Gaming display with moveable indicator and methods of use

Abstract

A gaming apparatus includes a display device having a display surface. The display surface is moveable. The display surface includes several playing card indicia. A display device actuator is in communication with the display surface and can move the display surface. A controller is in communication with the display device actuator. The controller can position the display surface such that the playing card indicia form playing card hand that conveys a game outcome.

1 . A gaming apparatus comprising: 
 (A) a display device having a display surface, the display surface being moveable, the display surface comprising a plurality of playing card indicia;    (B) a display device actuator coupled with the display surface and configured to move the display surface; and    (C) a controller in communication with the display device actuator, the controller configured to position the display surface such that the plurality of playing card indicia convey a game outcome.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the playing card indicia are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a pay line indicates the game outcome playing card indicia.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display surface is at least partially transparent.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein at least one light is positioned behind the display surface such that the playing card indicia can be backlit.  
     
     
         6 . A method of gaming not necessarily in the order shown, comprising: 
 (A) determining a game outcome;    (B) moving a display surface, the display surface comprising a plurality of playing card indicia;    (C) stopping the display surface; and    (D) indicating a set of the plurality of playing card indicia as the game outcome.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising backlighting the set of the plurality of playing card indicia.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising allowing a player to keep or discard at least one of the playing card indicia.  
     
     
         9 . A gaming apparatus comprising: 
 (A) a plurality of display devices, each of the display devices having a display surface, the display surface being moveable, each display surface having a plurality of playing card indicia disposed thereon;    (B) a plurality of display device actuators, each of the display device actuators being coupled to one of the display devices and being configured to move the display surface; and    (C) a controller in communication with each of the display device actuators, the controller configured to position each of the display surfaces such that the plurality of playing card indicia convey a game outcome.    
     
     
         10 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the display device is a flexible band.  
     
     
         11 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a player input device is in communication with the controller.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a player is allowed to select at least one of the playing card indicia to keep or discard using the player input device.  
     
     
         13 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the playing card indicia are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns.  
     
     
         14 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a video display is positioned adjacent to the display devices.  
     
     
         15 . A gaming apparatus comprising: 
 (A) display device means for displaying a plurality of playing card indicia;    (B) actuator means for moving the display device means, the actuator means being coupled to the display device means; and    (C) controller means for controlling the actuator means, the controller means being in communication with the actuator means, the controller means being configured to move the display device means such that the playing card indicia convey a game outcome.    
     
     
         16 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the display device means comprises a plurality of flexible belts.  
     
     
         17 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator means comprises a plurality of actuators.  
     
     
         18 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising player input means in communication with the controller means.  
     
     
         19 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the player input means allows a player to select playing card indicia to keep or discard.  
     
     
         20 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising video display means for displaying the playing card indicia.  
     
     
         21 . A gaming apparatus comprising: 
 (A) a moveable display surface;    (B) a plurality of playing card indicia disposed on the moveable display surface;    (C) an actuator coupled to the moveable display surface;    (D) a controller in communication with the actuator, the controller being configured to: 
 (a) determine a game outcome;  
 (b) move the display surface; and  
 (c) stop the display surface such that the playing card indicia form a playing card hand that conveys the game outcome.  
   
     
     
         22 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 21  wherein a player input device is in communication with the controller.  
     
     
         23 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein a player is allowed to select at least one of the playing card indicia to keep or discard using the player input device.  
     
     
         24 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein a video display is in communication with the controller, the video display displaying the playing card indicia selected to be kept by the player.