Patent ID: 7811170

Claim:
A gaming machine comprising: a gaming machine cabinet having an exterior surface; an input device configured to receive an indication of a wager for play of one or more games of chance; an output device configured to output an item of value based on play of the one or more games of chance; a main display configured to display game play data of one or more games of chance; an electro-luminescent skin display mounted to the gaming machine cabinet and being separate from the main display, the electro-luminescent skin display covering or integral with at least a portion of the exterior surface of the gaming machine cabinet, the electro-luminescent skin display comprising: an electro-luminescent skin comprising a plurality of electro-luminescent elements formed in a light emitting layer, the electro-luminescent elements dynamically configurable to display a first graphical pattern of game theme information associated with a first game theme and a second graphical pattern of game theme information associated with a second game theme different from the first game theme, the displayed graphical patterns of game theme information not including the game play data of the one or more games of chance; and one or more controllers in communication with the main display and the electro-luminescent skin display, the one or more controllers configured to: output the game play data to the main display for play of the one or more games of chance, output the first graphical pattern of game theme information to the electro-luminescent skin display responsive to selection of the first game theme for play of a first game, and output the second graphical pattern of game theme information to the electro-luminescent skin display responsive to selection of the second game theme for play of a second game.