Method and apparatus for displaying a symbol on a wheel associated with a gaming apparatus

A gaming apparatus, comprising:

• a display unit that is capable of generating video images;
• a value input device;
• a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
• said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,
• said controller being programmed to cause a display portion representing an image of a rotating wheel to be generated on said display unit, said rotating wheel image having a section with a symbol image displayed thereon,
• said controller being programmed to cause said symbol image to be displayed in a first orientation relative to said rotating wheel image when said rotating wheel image lies in a first angular orientation and to cause said symbol image to be adjusted so that said symbol image is displayed in a second orientation angularly spaced from said first angular orientation, and
• said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of a game incorporating said wheel image.

A gaming apparatus, comprising:

• a display unit that is capable of generating video images;
• a value input device;
• a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
• said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,
• said controller being programmed to cause a display portion to be generated on said display unit, said display portion representing a game with an image of a rotating wheel, said rotating wheel image having a section with a symbol image disposed thereon,
• said controller being programmed to cause said symbol image to be displayed in a first orientation relative to said rotating wheel image when said rotating wheel image lies in a first angular orientation and to cause said symbol image to be adjusted so that said symbol image is displayed in a second orientation angularly spaced from said first angular orientation, and
• said controller being programmed to determine, after said display portion has been displayed, a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said display portion.

A gaming apparatus, comprising:

• a value input device;
• a mechanically rotatable wheel divided into a plurality of sections, at least one of said sections comprising an electronic display;
• a controller operatively coupled to said mechanically rotatable wheel, said value input device, and said electronic display, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
• said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,
• said controller being programmed to cause a symbol image to be generated on said electronic display,
• said controller being programmed to cause said symbol image to be displayed in a first orientation relative to said mechanically rotatable wheel when said mechanically rotatable wheel lies in a first angular orientation and to cause said symbol image to be adjusted so that said symbol image is displayed in a second orientation angularly spaced from said first angular orientation, and
• said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of a game incorporating said mechanically rotatable wheel.

A gaming apparatus, comprising:

• a housing;
• a transparent display portion associated with said housing;
• a value input device;
• a mechanically rotatable wheel having a section disposed on a first surface of said mechanically rotatable wheel, said section comprising an electronic display,
• said mechanically rotatable wheel being disposed in said housing so that said first surface of said wheel and said electronic display are visible to a player of said gaming apparatus through said transparent display portion;
• a controller operatively coupled to said mechanically rotatable wheel, said value input device, and said electronic display, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
• said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,
• said controller being programmed to cause a symbol image to be generated on said electronic display,
• said controller being programmed to cause said symbol image to be displayed in a first orientation relative to said mechanically rotatable wheel when said mechanically rotatable wheel lies in a first angular orientation and to cause said symbol image to be adjusted so that said symbol image is displayed in a second orientation angularly spaced from said first angular orientation, and
• said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of a game associated with said mechanically rotatable wheel.

A gaming apparatus, comprising:

• a video display unit that is capable of generating video images, said video display unit being associated with a first game;
• a value input device;
• a mechanically rotatable wheel associated with a second game, said mechanically rotatable wheel having a section displayed thereon, said section comprising an electronic display;
• a controller operatively coupled to said video display unit, said value input device, said mechanically rotatable wheel, and said electronic display, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
• said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,
• said controller being programmed to cause a display portion representing a first game to be generated on said video display unit, said display portion representing one of the following first games:
• video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,
• said display portion comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said first game comprises video poker,
• said display portion comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said first game comprises video slots,
• said display portion comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said first game comprises video blackjack,
• said display portion comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said first game comprises video keno,
• said display portion comprising an image of a bingo grid if said first game comprises video bingo, and
• said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said first game,
• said controller being programmed to cause a symbol image to be generated on said electronic display,
• said controller being programmed to cause said symbol image to be displayed in a first orientation relative to said mechanically rotatable wheel when said mechanically rotatable wheel lies in a first angular orientation and to cause said symbol image to be adjusted so that said symbol image is displayed in a second orientation angularly spaced from said first angular orientation, and
• said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said second game.

A gaming apparatus, comprising:

• a value input device;
• a mechanically rotatable wheel divided into a plurality of sections;
• an electronic display positioned adjacent to said mechanically rotatable wheel;
• a controller operatively coupled to said mechanically rotatable wheel, said value input device, and said electronic display, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,
• said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,
• said controller being programmed to cause a symbol image to be displayed on said electronic display,
• said controller being programmed to determine an appropriate symbol image to display on said electronic display based on one of said plurality of sections of said mechanically rotatable wheel aligned with an award pointer, and
• said controller being programmed to determine a value payout based on one of said sections of said wheel aligned with said award pointer after said mechanically rotatable wheel has stopped rotating.

A method of displaying a symbol on a wheel in a gaming apparatus comprising:

• causing said wheel to rotate about an axis;
• monitoring said rotation of said wheel;
• displaying said symbol on said rotating wheel;
• adjusting an orientation of said symbol from a first orientation relative to said rotating wheel when said when said rotating wheel lies in a first angular orientation to a second orientation angularly spaced from said first angular orientation;
• determining a value payout associated with an outcome of a game corresponding to said rotating wheel.