Building Anticipation Acres Technology’s Win Probability Display for Gaming Machines

Gaming technology company Acres Technology has filed a patent for a method and apparatus that graphically displays the changing likelihood of winning a bonus award on a gaming machine as each successive play increases that likelihood – an engagement feature that visually communicates the player’s accumulating progress toward a bonus opportunity.

The Problem

Electronic gaming machines – whether slot machines, video poker terminals or other electronic gaming devices – rely on engaging game mechanics to maintain player interest and encourage continued play. Base game features provide the core play experience, but bonus features and secondary games are particularly important engagement drivers: they interrupt the routine of base game play, offer elevated prizes or entertainment, and create the anticipation and excitement that are central to the gaming experience.

One common bonus structure involves a bonus award whose probability increases with each successive play of the base game – a design that creates an accumulating sense of proximity to a bonus outcome as play continues. However, without visual feedback, players may not be aware of how their current position in the accumulation cycle relates to the bonus trigger point. If a player cannot see that they are close to a bonus award, they may stop playing without experiencing the bonus they have effectively already earned through prior play – which reduces both player satisfaction and the engagement value of the bonus mechanic for the operator.

Conversely, if players can see a clear graphical representation of their current likelihood of winning the bonus award – and if that representation updates after each play to show the increasing probability – they receive immediate feedback that their play is progressing them toward a definite outcome. This transparency can enhance the perceived fairness and engagement value of the game without changing the underlying mathematics of the machine.

What This Invention Does

Acres Technology’s invention provides a display system that shows a graphical indication of the current likelihood of winning a bonus award, and updates that indication after each play of the base game. Because each play increases the likelihood of winning the bonus, the graphical indicator advances with each successive spin, showing the player their progress toward the bonus in a visual and immediately understandable format.

The system is designed to selectively indicate win probability – meaning the display of the probability indication can be managed and controlled as a feature of the game, rather than being a permanent fixed display. The selective nature of the indication allows game designers to choose when and how the probability display is shown, creating flexibility in how the mechanic is integrated into the overall game presentation.

The bonus award itself can comprise the opportunity to play a secondary game – meaning the primary incentive displayed on the probability indicator is not simply a cash prize but access to a secondary game experience with its own awards and entertainment value. This layered game structure – base game accumulating toward a secondary game trigger – is a widely used format in modern electronic gaming machines.

Key Features

Accumulating bonus probability. Each play of the base game increases the likelihood of winning the bonus award, creating a deterministic accumulation mechanic that guarantees the bonus will be triggered within a defined number of plays.

Graphical probability indication. A display provides a graphical representation of the current likelihood of winning the bonus award, making the player’s position in the accumulation cycle visible and immediately understandable.

Per-play update. The graphical indication updates after each play of the base game, providing real-time feedback on the changing probability and reinforcing the player’s sense of progress.

Selective display capability. The invention is described as selectively indicating win probability, providing game designers with control over when and how the probability display is presented as part of the overall game experience.

Secondary game bonus structure. The bonus award includes the opportunity to play a secondary game, creating a layered game structure where the base game accumulation leads to a distinct additional play experience.

Who Is Behind It?

Acres Technology is a US-based gaming technology company that provides software and hardware solutions for electronic gaming machines and casino management systems. The sole inventor John F. Acres is the company’s founder and a prolific inventor in the gaming technology space with a long history of innovation in player tracking, loyalty programmes and game mechanics. The application is filed through IP Sentinels in Perth and is a divisional of an earlier filing (AU 2024200982), indicating ongoing and active development of gaming technology intellectual property.

Why It Matters

The electronic gaming machine market – including casino floors, hotel gaming rooms, clubs and registered venues – is a significant industry in Australia, where gaming is heavily regulated and the technical specifications of gaming machines are subject to ongoing regulatory oversight. Engagement mechanics that communicate game state information transparently to players have become increasingly important in the context of regulatory requirements for responsible gambling, since they allow players to make more informed decisions about their play.

A probability display that shows players their progress toward a bonus award serves both commercial and transparency objectives. Commercially, it increases player engagement by making the accumulation mechanic explicit and creating visual anticipation. From a transparency perspective, it gives players clear information about the nature of the game mechanic, supporting informed decision-making. For Acres Technology, patents in this space protect the specific implementations of engagement mechanics that differentiate their gaming products in a competitive market – and for venues and operators deploying these systems, compelling bonus features with clear player communication can be a meaningful driver of player satisfaction and engagement.

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AU 2026201623 was published in the Australian Official Journal of Patents on 19 March 2026 and is open for public inspection. Patent applications represent inventions that are sought to be protected and do not necessarily reflect commercially available products.