Abstract:
Provided in embodiments of the present invention is a gaming device with a player interaction mechanism included in a gaming machine handle. In one embodiment, a gaming device operable by a player includes a gaming cabinet housing a processor to operate gaming sessions on the gaming device and having a display to visually represent the outcome of the gaming session. The gaming device also includes a first player interaction mechanism arranged on the gaming cabinet, a gaming handle attached to the gaming cabinet, and a second player interaction mechanism located on the gaming handle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally a device embedded in a gaming machine handle, and more particularly to a device structured to interact with a player, where the device is embedded in the handle of a gaming device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Although gaming has existed in some form for many years, its present familiar form of slot devices, table games, sports books, etc. has mainly developed in the last few decades. In gaming devices such as slot machines, handles have traditionally been included as a means to initiate a game by spinning the reels of the slot machine. With early mechanical slot machines, the pull on the handle of the gaming machine actuated the mechanical reels and set them spinning. However, with advancement in technology, buttons or other input means on the gaming machine now largely provide the function of initiating a game. This is due in part because recent gaming machines have become processor based instead of mechanically based. Since the mechanical action of pulling the handle is no longer critical to spin the reels or otherwise initiate a gaming session, the need for these gaming handles has all but ceased. Although gaming handles still can be pulled to initiate a gaming session on current games (even those with buttons), they generally remain on spinning reel-type slot machines more as a traditional element. Further, as the buttons used to initiate a gaming session are generally faster and easier to operate than the gaming handles, many players opt to forgo the handle pull as a means of initiating game play. 
         [0003]    One problem with the constant increase in technology and new designs in the gaming cabinets of gaming devices is that an increased emphasis is being put on display quality and graphics layouts. This, in turn, often times makes the player interface portion of the cabinet crowded or overly complicated. That is, as the display areas become larger or include features such as secondary VFD (vacuum florescent display) or LCD (liquid crystal display) screens, the actual area for the buttons used to place bets and the card reader to read a player tracking card has become scarce. Further, gaming themes and concepts that require more player interaction have become desirable creating the need for more player interaction devices on the gaming devices. However, these additional interaction devices further crowd and complicate the player interaction area of gaming devices, frustrating players and slowing down the rate of play of the gaming devices. These and other problems in conventional gaming devices are addressed by embodiments of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a device embedded in a gaming machine handle of a gaming device. In one embodiment, a gaming device operable by a player includes a gaming cabinet housing a processor to operate gaming sessions on the gaming device and having a display to visually represent the outcome of the gaming session. The gaming device also includes a first player interaction mechanism arranged on the gaming cabinet, a gaming handle attached to the gaming cabinet, and a second player interaction mechanism located on the gaming handle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic view of a gaming device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1B  is an isometric view of the gaming device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 2A  is a side view of a gaming device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2B  is a side view of a gaming device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2C  is a view of the gaming handle illustrated in  FIG. 2B  taken along the line  2 C. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a detailed view of a gaming handle according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a detailed view of the gaming handle illustrated in  FIG. 2B  taken along the line  2 B. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3C-3E  show alternative embodiments of the gaming handle illustrated in  FIG. 3B . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a gaming device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a gaming device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of a gaming device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of networked gaming devices according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    To address the problems discussed above and other problems, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a gaming handle of a gaming device, where the gaming handle includes at least one peripheral player interaction mechanism. Some of these embodiments are described below in detail, and in addition, some specific details are shown for purposes of illustrating the inventive principles. However, numerous other arrangements are possible and may be devised in accordance with the inventive principles of this patent disclosure. Thus, while the present invention is described in conjunction with the specific embodiments illustrated in the drawings, it is not limited to these embodiments or drawings. Rather, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that come within the scope and spirit of the inventive principles set out in the appended claims. Further, well-known processes have not been described in detail in order to not obscure the present invention. Thus, the inventive principles are not limited to the specific details disclosed herein. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a gaming device according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1A  is a schematic view of the gaming device and  FIG. 1B  is an isometric view of the gaming device. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the gaming device  100  shown in this embodiment is an electro-mechanical slot machine. That is, the gaming device  100  is a spinning reel type slot machine, where the reels are driven by mechanical means, such as stepper motors (not shown), that are controlled by electronic circuitry housed in the gaming device  100 . Although the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  includes such a electro-mechanical slot machine, other embodiments of the present invention may include various non-spinning reel type gaming devices, such as video slot machines, computer based gaming machines, wireless gaming devices, multi-player gaming stations, modified personal electronic gaming devices, and the like. 
         [0020]    Returning to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the gaming device  100  includes a gaming cabinet  110  that houses various components of the gaming device  100 . The gaming cabinet  110  may include a display area  120  that displays the result of a gaming session and a player interface area  115  or panel that includes one or more buttons for game play. The gaming device  100  also includes a gaming handle  150  that is coupled to the gaming cabinet  110  by way of a coupler  155 . The gaming handle  150  may include a top portion  160  and a player interaction device  170 . Additional details of the gaming handle  150  and the player interaction device  170  included with the gaming handle  150  are discussed in further detail below. However, basic features and operations of the gaming device  100  will first be discussed. 
         [0021]    The gaming device  100  may be connected to a gaming server or other gaming devices (see  FIG. 7  for example) through a gaming network  22  that connects to the gaming device  100  through a machine communication interface (MCI)  50  housed in the gaming cabinet  110 . The MCI  50  may facilitate communication between the network  22  and processor  52 , which controls the operation of the gaming device  100 . This communication may occur via a serial port  54  on the processor to which the MCI  50  is connected. 
         [0022]    Also included in the gaming device  100  is a display area  120  that may include three to five spinning reels. Note that while the schematic view ( FIG. 1 ) generally represents the display area  120  as having three spinning reels, the isometric view of the gaming device  100  in  FIG. 1B  shows the gaming machine  100  having a display area  120  including four reels. Each reel includes a plurality of different symbols thereon. These reels may spin in response to a gaming session being initiated in response to, for example, a pull on a gaming handle  150  or actuation of a spin button  53  after a wager is made. One or all of the reels in display area  120  may include a special bonus initiator symbol which, when obtained on the gaming machine&#39;s payline, will cause the MCI  50  to initiate the secondary bonus game. 
         [0023]    The MCI  50  may also include a random access memory (RAM), which can be used to store gaming information, such as storing total coin-in statistics about a present gaming session. The MCI may also facilitate communication between the network  22  and a vacuum florescent display (VFD)  58 , a card reader  60 , a player-actuated push button  62 , and a speaker  64 . 
         [0024]    During typical play on a slot machine, like gaming device  100 , a player plays by placing a wager and then initiating a gaming session by pulling the gaming handle  51  or depressing the spin button  53 . The wager may be placed, for example, by inserting a bill into a bill acceptor  68 . The gaming device  100  may also include a coin acceptor (not shown) that may also be used by the player to make a wager. A credit meter  70  is a numeric display that indicates the total number of credits available for the player to wager. The credits are in the base denomination of the machine. For example, in a nickel slot machine, when a five-dollar bill is inserted into bill acceptor  68 , a credit of “100” appears on credit meter  70 . To place a wager, the player can generally depress a coin-in button (one of the buttons on the player interface panel  115 , such as  130 ), which transfers a credit from the credit meter  70  to a coin-in meter  72 . Each time the button is depressed a single credit transfers to the coin-in meter up to a maximum bet that can be placed on a single play of the machine. In addition, a maximum-bet button (another button on the player interface panel  1115 , such as  130 ) may be provided to immediately transfer the maximum number of credits that can be wagered on a single play from the credit meter  70  to the coin-in meter  72 , and may further initiate the gaming session by spinning the reels. Otherwise when the coin-in meter  72  reflects the number of credits that the player intends to wager, the player can initiate the gaming session by pulling the gaming handle  150  or depressing the spin button  53 . 
         [0025]    The player may choose to have any jackpot won applied to credit meter  70 . When the player wishes to cash out, the player depresses a cash-out button (another button on the player interface panel  115 , such as  130 ), which causes the credits on meter  70  to be paid out to the player in the form of a ticket (which can later be cashed in or inserted into another gaming device) through ticket printer  78 , or may be paid out in the form of returning coins to the player at a hopper (not shown). The machine consequently pays to the player the number of credits—in the base denomination of the machine—that appear on credit meter  70 . 
         [0026]    Card reader  60  may read a player-tracking device, such as a player tracking card  66  that is issued by the casino to individual players who choose to have such a card. Card reader  60  and player-tracking card  66  are known in the art, as are player-tracking systems. Briefly summarizing such a system, a player registers with the casino prior to commencing gaming. The casino issues a unique player-tracking card to the player and opens a corresponding player account that is stored on a server or host computer (see, for example,  FIG. 7 ). The player account may include the player&#39;s name and mailing address and perhaps other information of interest to the casino in connection with marketing efforts. Prior to playing one of the gaming devices in the casino, the player inserts the player tracking card  66  into the player tracking reader  60  thus permitting the casino to track player activity, such as amounts wagered, credits won, and rate of play. 
         [0027]    To induce the player to use the card, the casino may award each player points proportional to the money wagered by the player. Players consequently accrue points at a rate related to the amount wagered. The points may be displayed on display  58 . In conventional player tracking systems, the player may take his or her card to a special desk in the casino where a casino employee scans the card to determine how many accrued points are in the player&#39;s account. The player may then redeem points for selected merchandise, meals in casino restaurants, or the like, which each have assigned point values. 
         [0028]    As mentioned above, gaming handle  150  is coupled to the gaming cabinet  110  through coupler  155 . The gaming handle  150  may be located on the right side of the gaming device  100  as with traditional gaming handles (side being determined by a side of a person facing the front of the gaming device). However, the gaming handle  150  may also be located on the left side of the gaming device or be located in the traditional player interaction portion  115  of the gaming cabinet (see  FIG. 6 , for example). Although it may be preferable to couple the gaming handle  150  to the right side of the gaming cabinet  110  because players are more familiar with this orientation, it may also be preferable to locate the gaming handle in a different portion of the gaming cabinet  110  so that the unique features of the gaming handle  150  stand out to the player as something different from conventional gaming handles. Additionally, some of the functionality of the gaming handles may determine the optimum location for them. 
         [0029]    The coupler  155  that is used in part to attach the gaming handle  150  to the gaming cabinet  110  may include a mechanism that allows the game handle  150  to be manipulated toward the player for a predetermined distance to initiate a gaming session. That is, a player may pull the gaming handle  150  toward them to initiate a gaming session after a wager has been placed. The coupler  155  may also include a mechanism such as a spring to return the gaming handle  150  to its initial resting position after a player has pulled the gaming handle  150  and let go of the gaming handle  150 . The coupler  155  may also include a detection mechanism for detecting when the gaming handle  150  has been pulled by the player. The coupler  155  will generally not detect slightly movements or pulls on the gaming handle; rather the coupler  155  will only trigger the initiation of a gaming session after the handle has been pulled past a certain point. This is in part to prevent accidental game initiations when only a partial wager has been made. Conventionally, the coupler  155  will not allow the gaming handle to be pulled when a wager has not yet been made, i.e., it locks the gaming handle  150  in its initial position to prevent non-wagering players from wearing out the manipulation mechanisms of the gaming handle  150 . 
         [0030]    The gaming handle  150  includes a peripheral player interaction mechanism  170  that allows a player to interact with the gaming device  100 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the peripheral player interaction mechanism  170  is included in the top portion  160  of the gaming handle  150 . More specifically, in this embodiment, the peripheral player interaction mechanism  170  is a button that a player may push with their thumb or finger. The peripheral player interaction button  170  may be located on the side of the top portion  160  of the gaming handle  150  so that it corresponds to the natural location of a player&#39;s thumb when the player grasps the top portion  160  of the gaming handle  150  in an over-hand manner. The peripheral player interaction button  170  may also be located near the top surface of the top portion  160  of the gaming handle  150  so that it corresponds to a player&#39;s thumb placement if the handle is grasp in a grip-like fashion, or so that it corresponds to a player&#39;s finger placement if the handle is grasp in an overhand manner. 
         [0031]    The peripheral player interaction button  170  may include the functionality of one of the buttons that conventionally is located on the player interaction panel  115  of the gaming cabinet  110 . As mentioned above, some of these button functionalities include the ‘bet one’ button for increasing a wager, a ‘max bet’ button for wagering the maximum allowed, a ‘cash out’ button for retrieving credits from the machine in the form of a ticket or coins, a ‘spin’ button for initiating a gaming session play, or a ‘service’ button for signaling a casino employee that assistance is needed. Additionally, the player interaction button  170  may have a specialized function associated with a particular game. For example, depressing the player interaction button  170  may initiate a bonus mechanism in a bonus game (such as spinning the wheel in a wheel based bonus game) or act as a trigger stop button in a phantom spin bonus game. 
         [0032]    Although the discussion above with regard to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  describe the peripheral player interaction mechanism  170  as a button, other embodiments of the present invention may specify that the peripheral player interaction mechanism  170  be structured in different manners and have various other functionalities. Some of these embodiments are discussed below with reference to  FIG. 2A  through  FIG. 6 . However, even these embodiments do provide an exhaustive list of the possible configurations of the peripheral player interaction mechanism  170 . Rather, the peripheral player interaction mechanism  170  included on the gaming handle  150  may take any form that allows a player to interact with the gaming device  100 . As described in the embodiments below, this interactive structure may take the form of a simple button or switch, or may include more complex interactive structures such as touchscreen displays or docking stations for personal gaming modules. 
         [0033]    Additionally, the player interaction mechanism  170  may include various player interaction functionalities associated with it. The specific functionality associated with the player interaction mechanism  170  may be selectable by a player playing the gaming device  100  or a casino operator. In the case where the functionality of the player interaction mechanism  170  is selectable by the casino operator, firmware settings may be used to in the gaming circuitry connected to the processor  52  to effectuate a selection of the function associated with the player interaction mechanism  170 . In other embodiments, the functionality may be selected by manipulating a mechanical switch that is located inside the gaming cabinet  110  or coupled to the outside of the gaming cabinet  110 . In the case where the functionality of the player interaction mechanism  170  is selectable by the player, a mechanical switch coupled to the gaming cabinet may be used to effectuate a selection, a menu setting on a secondary display screen may be used for the selection, or a player preference stored in a player tracking account may be downloaded over the network  22  to automatically make the selection. A default setting for the function associated with the player interaction mechanism  170  may also be preferable. The function associated with the player interaction mechanism  170  may return to the default setting after all the credits on gaming device  100  have been wagered, a player tracking card is removed from the gaming device  100 , or the remaining credits are cashed out of the gaming device  100 . 
         [0034]    In conventional electro-mechanical slot machines, such as gaming device  100 , the top portion  160  of a gaming handle  150  is usually a black spherical-shaped structure mounted on a cylindrical chrome-shaded handle body. Embodiments of the present invention may be structured to retain this conventional look, by retaining the chrome-shaded handle body and simply adding a button  170  to the black spherical-shaped top portion  160  of the gaming handle  150 . The button  170  may be electrically connected to the processor  52  or the MCI  50  through signal wires that run down the interior of the gaming handle. However, in other embodiments, the signal generated by manipulating the button  170  may be transmitted wirelessly to a receiver  140  housed in the gaming cabinet  110 . 
         [0035]    It is also contemplated that existing gaming devices  100  with gaming handles  150  may be retrofitted with a new gaming handle  150  that includes a peripheral player interaction mechanism  170 . This may be accomplished by simply replacing the top black ball of the existing gaming devices with a new top portion  160  of the gaming handle  150  with a player interaction mechanism  170  that wireless communicates to a receiver  140  enclosed in the gaming cabinet  110  and connected to the game processor  52 . In such a configuration, minimal structural alteration is needed to the gaming cabinet  110 , but a receiver  140  and additional firmware or software may have to be added inside of the gaming cabinet. Another method of retrofitting existing gaming devices  100  with a gaming handle  150  that includes a player interaction mechanism  170  is to replace the entire gaming handle  150  and coupler  155  of the gaming device. In this configuration, the player interaction mechanism may be hardwired to the circuitry inside the gaming cabinet and electrically connected to the gaming processor  52 . 
         [0036]    While this configuration may require a more extensive replacement, it may be advantageous over the wireless top portion configuration because it would not require an additional receiver  140  or power source. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 2A-2C  illustrate different gaming handle configurations of a gaming device according to embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 2A  is a side view of a gaming device including a gaming handle according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 2B and 2C  respectively illustrate a side and plan view of a gaming device including a gaming handle according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , gaming device  200 A includes a gaming cabinet  210 A with a gaming handle  250 A coupled to the gaming cabinet  210 A with a coupler  255 A. The gaming handle  250 A extends in a substantially vertical direction from the coupler  255 A and then angles toward the front of the gaming device  200 A. This gaming handle orientation may make the gaming handle  250 A easier to reach for players sitting further from the front of the gaming device  200 A or players with shorter arm lengths. Further, this gaming handle orientation may encourage a player to notice and interact with the gaming handle  250 A because of its unique style and accessibility. The coupler  255 A may allow the gaming handle  250 A to be manipulated in at least one direction. Additionally, the coupler  255 A may include springs to return the gaming handle  255 A to an initial position after it has been manipulated by a player. 
         [0039]    The gaming handle  250 A may also include a peripheral player interaction device  270 A in the top portion  260 A of the gaming handle  250 A. The top portion  260 A of the gaming handle  250 A illustrated in  FIG. 2A  includes a rotatable grip section  270 , where rotation of the grip section  270  allows the player to interact with the gaming device  200 A. That is, the gaming handle  250 A includes a grip section  270 A that may be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise by a player, where the rotation of the grip section  270 A triggers a player interaction mechanism. For example, the rotation of the grip section  270 A may increment the amount of a wager placed on a gaming session. Thus, in the above example, a player may twist the rotatable grip section  270 A twice to bet two and then pull the gaming handle  250 A towards them to initiate the gaming session in which they had wager two credits. The rotatable grip section  270 A may further have an ergonomically shaped portion so that a player&#39;s hand will fit comfortably on the gaming handle  250 A. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 2B and 2C , the gaming device  200 B includes a gaming cabinet  210 B with a gaming handle  250 B coupled to the gaming cabinet  210 B with a coupler  255 B. Unlike the gaming handle  250 A illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the gaming handle  250 B illustrated in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2B and 2C  is broader and may be shorter in overall length. For a perspective view of this type of handle see  FIG. 4 . Although the gaming handle  250 B is shown with a substantially vertical orientation in  FIG. 2B , the gaming handle  250 B may initially angle toward the front of the gaming device  200 B before angling back to a substantially vertical position (represented by the dashed lines in  FIG. 2B ). Such an orientation may place the gaming handle  250 B closer to the player for improved access to the gaming handle  250 B by the player. Additionally, the gaming handle  250 B may be adjustable between multiple positions, such that a player or casino operator may adjust the gaming handle between a plurality of initial positions. 
         [0041]    The top portion  260 B of the gaming handle  250 B may include ergonomic depressions and protrusions to comfortably fit with a player&#39;s hand shape, as shown in  FIG. 2C . More specifically,  FIG. 2C  illustrates the rear side of the handle; that is the side of the handle that faces the rear of the gaming cabinet  210 B (taken along the line  2 C in  FIG. 2B ). As  FIG. 2C  illustrates, the top portion  260 B of the gaming handle  250 B may further include slightly tapered sides and a rounded top surface. The broader layout of the gaming handle  250 B may help facilitate space for peripheral player interaction mechanisms  270 B that require more area, such as a player card reader (see  FIG. 3B ), a secondary display screen (see  FIG. 3D ), a docking station (see  FIG. 3E ), or the like. These peripheral player interaction mechanisms  270 B are generally mounted on the front side of the gaming handle  250 B (that is, the side facing the front of the gaming device  210 B or the left side in  FIG. 2B ) to provide easier access for the player to the interaction mechanism  270 B. Further, the substantially vertical orientation of the gaming handle  250 B may help keep such peripheral player interaction mechanisms  270 B visible and readily accessible to a player or casino operator. As with the gaming handle  250 A illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the gaming handle  250 B illustrated in  FIG. 2B  may be manipulated in a variety of directions by use of the coupler  255 B. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 3A-3E  illustrate detailed views of gaming handles according to various embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 3A  illustrates a detailed view of a gaming handle according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3B  is a detailed view of the gaming handle illustrated in  FIG. 2B  taken along the line  2 B.  FIGS. 3C-3E  show alternative embodiments of the gaming handle illustrated in  FIG. 3B . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 3A , the gaming handle  350 A includes a top portion  360 A and a body portion  365 A. The body portion  365 A of the gaming handle  350 A includes a toggle switch  370 A with which a player may interact. In particular, the player may set the toggle switch  370 A to one of three positions represented by the dashed lines. Toggles switches  370 A in various other embodiments may only include two positions or may include four or more positions. Further, the toggle switch  370 A may be in the form of a button with multiple positional settings, an electronic switch with multiple states, or a mechanical toggle switch with multiple physical positions. The toggle switch  370 A may allow the player to select options for how the game machine plays, such as the speed of the reel spins or the speed of the credit roll up, or may allow the player to vary the function of a gaming handle  350 A pull or function of one of the other player interaction devices (such as those shown on the player interaction panel  115  in  FIG. 1B ). For example, the toggle switch  370 A may allow a player to chose to place a max bet and spin the reels with each press of a “SPIN” button in one position, place the minimum bet and spin the reels with each press of the “SPIN” button a second position, or only allow the “SPIN” button to spin the reels after the player has pressed the “BET ONE” button at least one time in a third position. 
         [0044]    In other embodiments, the toggle switch  370 A may be located on the top portion  360 A of the gaming handle  350 A. Also, the toggle switch  370 A may have its functionality customizable by a casino operator or a player. A player may also have his or her preferences stored in their player tracking account so that when they insert their player tracking card into a gaming device that includes a gaming handle  350 A with a toggle switch  370 A the functionality of the toggle switch adapts to the set preferences stored in the identified player&#39;s player tracking account. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 3B , the gaming handle  350 B includes a player tracking device reader  370 B. The player tracking device reader  370 B may read a variety of player tracking methods that may be implemented by a casino. For example, a shown in  FIG. 3B , the player tracking device reader  370 B may accept and hold a player tracking card and include a magnetic strip reader or electronic circuit decoder to read the identifying information on the player tracking card. However, in other embodiments, the player tracking device reader  370 B may include only an electronic pad to read the chip in a player&#39;s driver license or credit card when they place the card in close proximity to the player tracking device reader  370 B. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 3C , the gaming handle  350 C includes a biometric reader  370 C. The biometric reader  370 C may be used for player identifying and tracking purposes in a similar fashion as the player tracking reader  370 B of  FIG. 3B . The biometric reader  370 C illustrated in  FIG. 3C  reads thumbprints of players for player identification purposes. However, any type of biometric reader  370 C may be included in the gaming handle  350 C. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 3D , the gaming handle  350 D includes a display screen  370 D. The display screen  370 D is preferably a secondary display screen on the gaming device. The display screen  370 D may be a VFD screen, an LCD screen, or the like. The display screen  370 D may interact with a player by displaying information regarding a gaming session, such as total credits, credits bet, win amount, spins remaining on a “free spin” bonus, etc. The display screen  370 B may also display a secondary bonus game. In some embodiments, the gaming handle  350 D may include other player interaction devices, such as buttons or touch pads, so that the player can further interact with a secondary bonus displayed on the display screen  370 D. Display screen  370 D may also be a touchscreen where the player can interact directly with choices displayed on the display screen  370 D. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 3E , the gaming handle  350 E includes a docking station  370 E. The docking station  370 E may allow for the connection and docking of a personal gaming module (not shown). Personal gaming modules may include casino specific devices that store player information such as player identity and gaming history, or may include universal compatible devices such as cell phones loaded with specific software. Although the docking station  370 E is shown as including connection pins  373 E to connect to a personal gaming module, other embodiments may include infrared (IR) ports, wireless transmitters/receivers, or other similar devices that allow for the exchange of data between a personal gaming module and the gaming device  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . In addition to allowing the transfer of data, the docking station  370 E may provide power to a personal gaming module so as to recharge its batteries. The docking station  370 E may also be structured to hold the personal gaming module through, for example, retaining clips or a friction fit with the connection pins. This holding structure may further be arranged such that the personal gaming module is secure in the docking station  370 E when the gaming handle  350 E is manipulated. 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a gaming device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a gaming handle  450  including a peripheral player interaction device  470  is coupled to the gaming device  400  through a coupler  455  that allows the gaming handle  450  to be manipulated in multiple directions. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the coupler  455  allows for the gaming handle  450  to be manipulated toward a player along directional arc B-B′ as well as allowing the gaming handle  450  to be manipulated away from the gaming device along directional arc A-A′. Certain functionality may further be associated with each of the movements of the gaming handle  450 . For example, moving the gaming handle  450  along arc B-B′ may initiate a gaming session, while moving the gaming handle  450  along arc A-A′ may increment a wager placed. 
         [0050]    In addition, if the peripheral player interaction device  470  is a toggle switch (as shown in  FIG. 3A ), each position of the toggle switch  470  may determine the functionality of one of the directions of movement of the gaming handle  450 . For example, the movement along directional arc A-A′ may be determined by the position of toggle switch  470  such that if the toggle switch  470  was placed at a first position, manipulation of the gaming handle  450  along A-A′ may increment a wager amount while manipulation of the gaming handle  450  along A-A′ may “cash out” a player when the toggle switch is in a second position. 
         [0051]    Although the coupler  455  shown in  FIG. 4  allows for two different directions of movement, the coupler  455  may be structured to allow for additional directions of movement. For example, in some embodiments, coupler  455  may include a universal joint that allows the gaming handle  450  to be manipulated in substantially all directions. The coupler  455  may further include springs or be otherwise biased so that it remains in a neutral position when it is not being manipulated by a player and returns to that natural position after a player has manipulated it in a direction and has let go of the gaming handle  450 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a gaming device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 5 , gaming device  500  includes a gaming cabinet having display area  520 . Respectively coupled to either side of the gaming cabinet  510  are a first gaming handle  550  and a second gaming handle  551 . Although the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  illustrates only a first and second gaming handle  550  and  551 , additional gaming handles may be attached to the gaming device  500 . The first gaming handle  550  includes a top portion  560  that has a first peripheral player interaction device  570  and a body portion  565 . The first player interaction device  570  is shown as a button in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; however, any type of player interaction device may implemented either on the top portion  560  of the gaming handle  550  or on the body portion  565  of the gaming handle  550 . The second gaming handle  551  includes a body portion  566  that has a second peripheral player interaction device  571  and a top portion  561 . The second player interaction device  571  is shown as a toggle switch in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; however, as with the first peripheral player interaction device  570 , the second peripheral player interaction device  571  may include any type of player interaction device and may be implemented anywhere along the second gaming handle  551 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of a gaming device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 6 , gaming device  600  includes a gaming cabinet  610  that houses a video gaming display monitor  621  and speakers  664 . The gaming device  600  also includes a gaming handle  670  that is coupled to the gaming cabinet  610  in the traditional player interface portion  615  of the gaming cabinet  610 . The gaming handle  650  further includes a button  670  for player interaction. The gaming handle  650  may be structured to be manipulated in a variety of directions like a joystick. This joystick style of gaming handle  650  may enable a player to move a cursor on the video display screen  621  and use the button  670  to make an item selection at which the cursor is indicating. This style of gaming handle  650  may be advantageous, for example, in second screen bonuses where a plurality of items may be selected by a player. Additionally, the gaming handle  650  may be easier to use than a touchscreen for players with limited mobility. The joystick style gaming handle  650  may also be formed such that it ergonomically fits a player&#39;s hand. This may include placing the player interaction button  670  in a ‘trigger’ format under a player&#39;s index finger or placing the player interaction button  670  on the top surface of the gaming handle  650  so that a player&#39;s thumb could easily reach the button. 
         [0054]      FIG. 7  illustrates a block diagram of networked gaming devices according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , multiple electronic gaming devices or machines (EGM)  700  may be connected together and connected to a remote server  720  via a network  722 . Additionally, the gaming server  720  may be connected to one or more gaming databases  730 . These gaming network  722  connections may allow multiple gaming devices  700  to remain in contact during particular gaming modes such as tournament play or remote head to head play. Although some of the gaming devices  700  connected on the gaming network  722  may resemble the gaming devices  100  shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B , other connected gaming devices  700  may include traditional slot machines, smart tables, wireless handheld gaming machines, cell phones, etc. Therefore, while some of the gaming devices  700  connected to the gaming network  722  may have gaming handles with at least one peripheral player interaction mechanism, other gaming devices  700  connected to the same gaming network  722  may have conventional handles or no handles at all. 
         [0055]    Further, although in some embodiments each gaming devices  500  may have individual game controllers so that game play is independently controlled by the processor housed in the gaming cabinet, in other embodiments each gaming device  500  may be a gaming terminal connected to a central server based game controller for operation of server based games, such as BINGO or keno. 
         [0056]    In some embodiments, the network  722 , server  720 , and database  730  may be dedicated to communications regarding specific game or tournament play. However, in other embodiments, the network  722 , server  720 , and database  730  may be part of another existing system such as a player tracking network, server, and database. Additionally, a separate database  730  or server  720  may be connected to a common network  722  that can transmit both game/tournament data and player tracking data. 
         [0057]    Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in embodiments thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. I claim all modifications and variations coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims.