Patent ID: 8142273

Claim:
A processor-based gaming machine configured to accept a wager, play a game based on the wager and grant a payout based on the result of the wager-based game, comprising: an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein; a master gaming controller in communication with at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components and configured to execute or control one or more aspects of said wager-based game; a multi-layer display device in communication with said master gaming controller and configured to display at least one spinning gaming wheel thereupon, said at least one spinning gaming wheel including a plurality of wheel stops distributed thereupon, said spinning gaming wheel configured to depict one or more symbols on a frontal surface of the spinning gaming wheel moving along a circular or elliptical path when viewed by a player of the gaming machine, wherein said multi-layer display device includes: at least one display controller configured to generate or transmit one or more display signals, a first display screen in communication with said at least one display controller and configured to present a first visual display thereupon based on said one or more display signals, and a second display screen in communication with said at least one display controller and configured to present a second visual display thereupon based upon said one or more display signals, said second display screen being positioned behind said first display screen such that said first and second visual displays are configured to combine for a single visual presentation that includes said at least one spinning gaming wheel to a viewer thereof, wherein said first visual display includes a first portion of said at least one spinning gaming wheel, and wherein said second visual display includes a second portion of said at least one spinning gaming wheel; and a dedicated wheel processor in communication with at least one of said master gaming controller and said multi-layer display device, wherein said dedicated wheel processor is configured to vary display parameters of said at least one spinning gaming wheel from play to play during a session of play of a wheel-type game on said processor-based gaming machine, said display parameters governing the length, speed, acceleration, and deceleration of wheel spins.