Universal button module

1 . A gaming machine, comprising:

a cabinet having a game display;

a playing deck;

one or more games having one or more pay lines; and

one or more universal button modules.

2 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the universal button module controls the selection of the number of pay lines to play in a game or the number of credits to bet per pay line in a game.

3 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the universal button module comprises a first button portion for incrementally increasing the number of pay lines to play or credits to bet per pay line, and a second button portion for incrementally decreasing the number of pay lines to play or credits to bet per pay line.

4 . The gaming machine of claim 3 , wherein the universal button module further comprises a maximum button portion for automatically selecting a maximum number of pay lines to play or a maximum number of credits to bet per pay line.

5 . The gaming machine of claim 3 , wherein the universal button module further comprises a minimum button portion for automatically selecting a minimum number of pay lines to play or a minimum number of credits to bet per pay line.

6 . The gaming machine of claim 3 , wherein the universal button module includes a display.

7 . The gaming machine of claim 6 , wherein the display outputs information to a game player.

8 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein one or more universal button modules are positioned on the playing deck.

9 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising two universal button modules.

10 . The gaming machine of claim 9 , wherein the first universal button module controls the selection of the number of pay lines.

11 . The gaming machine of claim 9 , wherein the second universal button module controls the selection of the number of credits to bet per pay line.

12 . The gaming machine of claim 11 , wherein the number of credits to bet per pay line is different for one or more pay lines.

13 . A universal button module for use in connection with a gaming machine, comprising:

a first button portion for increasing the number of pay lines to play or the number of credits to bet per pay line; and

a second button portion for decreasing the number of pay lines to play or the number of credits to bet per pay line.

14 . The universal button module of claim 13 , further comprising a display for outputting information.

15 . The universal button module of claim 13 , the wherein the first button portion increases the number of pay lines to play and the second button portion decreases the number of pay lines to play.

16 . The universal button module of claim 15 wherein the universal button module is in communication with a second universal button module, and the second universal button model comprises:

a first button portion for increasing the number of credits to bet per pay line; and

a second button portion for decreasing the number of credits to bet per pay line.

17 . The universal button module of claim 16 , wherein the second universal button module further comprises a display.

18 . The universal button module of claim 16 , wherein the number of credits to bet per pay line is different for one or more pay lines.

19 . The universal button module of claim 14 , wherein the display is a LED display.

20 . The universal button module of claim 14 , wherein the display is a VFD display.

21 . The universal button module of claim 14 , further comprising a third button portion for automatically selecting a maximum number of pay lines to play or credits to bet per pay line to be selected.

22 . The universal button module of claim 21 , further comprising a fourth button portion automatically selecting a minimum number of pay lines to play or credits to bet per pay line to be selected.

23 . The universal button module of claim 22 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth button portions are positioned around the display.

24 . The universal button module of claim 13 , further comprising one or more lights.

25 . A universal button module for use in connection with a machine, comprising:

a first button portion for controlling a first function in connection with the machine;

a second button portion for controlling a second function in connection with the machine; and

a display for outputting information.

26 . The universal button module of claim 25 , wherein the first function of the first button portion counteracts the second function of the second button portion.

27 . The universal button module of claim 25 , wherein the universal button module is used in connection with a vending machine.

28 . The universal button module of claim 25 , wherein the universal button module is used in connection with an automated teller machine.

29 . The universal button module of claim 25 , wherein the universal button module is used in connection with a gaming machine.

30 . The universal button module of claim 29 , wherein the first function is the increase of the number of pay lines, and the second function is the decrease of the number of pay lines.

31 . The universal button module of claim 30 , wherein the first button portion controls the increase of the number of pay lines.

32 . The universal button module of claim 31 , wherein the number of credits to bet is different per pay line.

33 . The universal button module of claim 25 , wherein the display is a LED display.

34 . The universal button module of claim 25 , wherein the display is a VFD display.

35 . The universal button module of claim 25 , wherein the display outputs text information.

36 . The universal button module of claim 25 , wherein the display outputs promotional information.

37 . The universal button module of claim 25 , wherein the display outputs player specific information.

38 . The universal button module of claim 25 , wherein the information output by the display is in the form of animated graphics.

39 . The universal button module of claim 25 further comprising lights.