PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, I show a video-type slot machine 10 incorporated in a housing 12 and having a plurality of control buttons 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 to control the video wheel display bank 30.

[0013] A slot 32 is provided for the reception of coins to initiate the operation of the machine 10 and a delivery bin 34 is provided for the pay-outs.

[0014] Conventionally, three wheels 40 are provided in the bank 30 and are energized in various combinations determined by the utilization of the control buttons 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22.

[0015] Normally, when the bank 30 is operated, the wheels 40 will be spun simultaneously and the spinning action of the individual wheels will terminate seriatim, that is, the first second and third wheels 40 stop one after the other.

[0016] As previously mentioned, the pay-outs are determined by the proprietor of the machines and are frequently displayed on the machine as at 42. Therefore, a player is made aware of what the individual pay-outs will be.

[0017] The operation of such machines is normally controlled by a micro-processor which generates signals that determine the number of increments each of the respective reels or wheels 40 will be advanced. Winning combinations include those corresponding to the unalterable symbology on the reels, such as the bell, plum, melon, star, etc. previously discussed. In the present machine, the video circuitry has been modified to provide for the wheels 40 showing various advertising messages as represented by the word “AD” shown on the wheels 40 of FIG. 1. Alternatively, the winning combinations shown on the charts 42 will be modified to indicate the advertising combinations which will provide for a pay-out to the player.

[0018] For instance, the combination of all three wheels 40 having advertising messages thereupon, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, will result in one of the larger or, perhaps, the largest pay-out made by the machine. Other pay-outs made by the machine can include the presence of advertisements on one or two wheels in conjunction with the conventional symbology.

[0019] In these instances, for instance, the presence of one AD wheel 40 in conjunction with two conventional symbols can increase the pay-out above the amount which would normally be paid if all three symbols were present. Similarly, if two AD wheels are displayed in conjunction with a conventional symbol, a greater amount will be paid Thus, the products advertised will be associated in a the mind of a player with greater goodwill than that obtained by mere display in magazine, television, or other types of advertising.

[0020] The chart 60 of FIG. 2 is an illustration of the manner in which the advertising message can be displayed in conjunction with the conventional symbols. For instance, as illustrated, one, two, or three advertising messages on the wheels can display. The one and two messages can be displayed in conjunction with conventional symbols and the payout proportionately increased until the triune display of the advertising messages results in the greater pay-out.

[0021] In addition, during the dwell time on the machine, a message is conveyed to passers-by or, initially, to a player approaching the machine for the first time. It should be noted that the principles of the invention can be applied with equal cogency to conventional mechanical or electro-mechanical slot machines, although, of course, greater flexibility of combinations is achieved with the microprocessor of the machine 10.

[0022] It should be noted that the advertisers can confine their messages solely to the advertising function of the machine and that the gaming use of the ads is an additional aspect of the invention.