# US 2019/0318579 A1 · Gaming machine and method for displaying a free spin count-up > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0318579 A1 - Document ID: US20190318579A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/951,802 - Filed: 2018-04-12 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-12 - Assignees: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited - Applicants: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited - Inventors: David Marsh; Karl Roelofs; Michael P. Casey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190318579A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/3267: {Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games} - G07F 17/3213: {Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members} - G07F 17/3246: {involving coins and/or banknotes} - G07F 17/3251: {involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens} - G07F 17/34: depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract An electronic gaming machine includes a display, a credit input mechanism, and a processor configured to perform operations comprising: (i) initiating a free play bonus game; (ii) awarding, during the free play bonus game, a plurality of free spins of a plurality of reels; (iii) displaying, on the display, a plurality of numerical indicia, the plurality of numerical indicia displayed one at a time and increasing from an initial numerical indicium associated with an initial free spin to a final numerical indicium associated with a final free spin; and (iv) providing a game award in conjunction with the final free spin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic gaming machine comprising: a display; a credit input mechanism including at least one of a card reader, a ticket reader, a bill acceptor, and a coin input mechanism, the credit input mechanism configured to receive a credit wager; and a processor configured to perform operations comprising: determining, during a wagering game initiated in response to receiving the credit wager, that a free play trigger condition is satisfied, the wagering game including a plurality of reels; initiating, in response to the free play trigger condition, a free play bonus game; determining a number of free spins of the plurality of reels for use in the free play bonus game; displaying, on the display, an initial numerical indicium associated with an initial free spin of the number of free spins; sequentially counting up, on the display, from the initial numerical indicium to a final numerical indicium associated with a final free spin of the number of free spins; and providing, in response and in conjunction with the display of the final numerical indicium, a game award. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform operations comprising: determining whether the number of free spins exceeds a threshold number of free spins; and providing the game award if the number of free spins exceeds the threshold number of free spins. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform operations comprising: generating the initial free spin of the plurality of reels; displaying, in conjunction with the initial free spin, the initial numerical indicium; generating a plurality of intermediate free spins of the plurality of reels between the initial free spin and the final free spin; displaying, in conjunction with each intermediate free spin, an intermediate numerical indicium; generating the final free spin of the plurality of reels; and displaying, in conjunction with the final free spin, the final numerical indicium. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the free play trigger condition is a predetermined symbol combination occurring on the plurality of reels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game award is at least one of i) at least one additional free spin, ii) an additional bonus game different from the free play bonus game, iii) a change to at least one symbol displayed on the plurality of reels, iv) addition of an award multiplier in the wagering game, v) addition of one or more wild symbols in the wagering game, and vi) a jackpot award. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to perform operations comprising: determining a plurality of bingo game outcomes; identifying a plurality of winning bingo game outcomes from the plurality of bingo game outcomes; and awarding the plurality of free spins based upon the plurality of winning bingo game outcomes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein each free spin of the plurality of free spins corresponds to a respective winning outcome in the wagering game, and wherein the free play trigger condition corresponds to a determination that at least one such winning outcome has occurred in the wagering game. ### Claim 8 An electronic gaming machine comprising: a display; a credit input mechanism including at least one of a card reader, a ticket reader, a bill acceptor, and a coin input mechanism, the credit input mechanism configured to receive a credit wager; and a processor configured to perform operations comprising: initiating a free play bonus game; awarding, during the free play bonus game, a plurality of free spins of a plurality of reels; displaying, on the display, a plurality of numerical indicia, the plurality of numerical indicia displayed one at a time and increasing from an initial numerical indicium associated with an initial free spin to a final numerical indicium associated with a final free spin; and providing a game award in conjunction with the final free spin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to perform operations comprising displaying, on the display, a plurality of intermediate numerical indicia between the initial numerical indicium and the final numerical indicium, each intermediate numerical indicium of the plurality of intermediate numerical indicia associated with a respective free spin of the plurality of free spins. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The electronic gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to perform operations comprising: generating an initial free spin of the plurality of reels; displaying, in conjunction with the initial free spin, the initial numerical indicium; generating a plurality of intermediate free spins of the plurality of reels between the initial free spin and the final free spin; displaying, in conjunction with each intermediate free spin, an intermediate numerical indicium; generating the final free spin of the plurality of reels; and displaying, in conjunction with the final free spin, the final numerical indicium. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The electronic gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to perform operations comprising initiating the free play bonus game in response to a free play trigger condition, and wherein the free play trigger condition is a predetermined symbol combination occurring on the plurality of reels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The electronic gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the game award is at least one of i) at least one additional free spin, ii) an additional bonus game different from the free play bonus game, iii) a change to at least one symbol displayed on the plurality of reels, iv) addition of an award multiplier in the wagering game, v) addition of one or more wild symbols in the wagering game, and vi) a jackpot award. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The electronic gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to perform operations comprising: determining a plurality of bingo game outcomes; identifying a plurality of winning bingo game outcomes from the plurality of bingo game outcomes; and awarding the plurality of free spins based upon the plurality of winning bingo game outcomes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The electronic gaming machine of claim 8, wherein each free spin of the plurality of free spins corresponds to a respective winning outcome in the wagering game, and wherein a free play trigger condition that initiates the free play bonus game corresponds to a determination that at least one such winning outcome has occurred in the wagering game. ### Claim 15 A method of electronic gaming implemented on an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising: initiating a free play bonus game; awarding, during the free play bonus game, a plurality of free spins of a plurality of reels; displaying, on a display, a plurality of numerical indicia, the plurality of numerical indicia displayed one at a time and increasing from an initial numerical indicium associated with an initial free spin to a final numerical indicium associated with a final free spin; and providing a game award in conjunction with the final free spin. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying, on the display, a plurality of intermediate numerical indicia between the initial numerical indicium and the final numerical indicium, each intermediate numerical indicium of the plurality of intermediate numerical indicia associated with a respective free spin of the plurality of free spins. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: generating an initial free spin of the plurality of reels; displaying, in conjunction with the initial free spin, the initial numerical indicium; generating a plurality of intermediate free spins of the plurality of reels between the initial free spin and the final free spin; displaying, in conjunction with each intermediate free spin, an intermediate numerical indicium; generating the final free spin of the plurality of reels; and displaying, in conjunction with the final free spin, the final numerical indicium. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the game award is at least one of i) at least one additional free spin, ii) an additional bonus game different from the free play bonus game, iii) a change to at least on symbol displayed one the plurality of reels, iv) addition of an award multiplier in the wagering game, v) addition of one or more wild symbols in the wagering game, and vi) a jackpot award. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: determining a plurality of bingo game outcomes; identifying a plurality of winning bingo game outcomes from the plurality of bingo game outcomes; and awarding the plurality of free spins based upon the plurality of winning bingo game outcomes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein each free spin of the plurality of free spins corresponds to a respective winning outcome in the wagering game, and wherein a free play trigger condition that initiates the free play bonus game corresponds to a determination that at least one such winning outcome has occurred in the wagering game.