Devices, systems, and methods for dynamically simulating a component of a wagering game

1. A gaming device for playing a wagering game, the gaming device comprising:

an input device configured to receive an indication of a wager to play the wagering game;

a display configured to display an outcome of the wagering game; and

a multi-layer composite lighting assembly, including:

a first light-emitting layer configured to direct light of a first color in a first direction;

a second light-emitting layer configured to direct light of a second color in a second direction, the second color being different from the first color, and the second direction being different from the first direction; and

a spacer interposed between and coupled to both the first and second light-emitting layers, the spacer being configured to receive and focus at least a portion of the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer through at least a portion of the light emitted by the first light-emitting layer thereby creating a three-dimensional component of the wagering game,

wherein one or more outcomes of the wagering game are dependent, at least in part, upon the light received by the spacer from the second light-emitting layer and focused by the spacer through the light of the first light-emitting layer.

2. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the first light-emitting layer comprises a sheet of optical fibers with first ends of the optical fibers in optical communication with a first light source and second ends of the optical fibers extending transversely across the spacer.

3. The gaming device of claim 2 , wherein the second light-emitting layer comprises a second sheet of optical fibers with first ends of the optical fibers in optical communication with a second light source and second ends of the optical fibers extending transversely across the spacer.

4. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the first light-emitting layer comprises a plurality of individual optical fibers, a first end of the plurality of individual optical fibers being bundled together to form a tail with a distal tip in optical communication with a first light source, and a second end of the plurality of individual optical fibers being juxtaposed to form a sheet extending transversely across the spacer.

5. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the first light-emitting layer comprises an edge-lit display with a light source optically coupled to a non-emissive panel.

6. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the second light-emitting layer comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on a printed circuit board.

7. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a plate defining therethrough at least one channel, the at least one channel optically coupling the second light-emitting layer with the first light-emitting layer.

8. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a plate defining therethrough a plurality of channels, and the second light-emitting layer includes a plurality of discrete light sources, each of the discrete light sources projecting light through a respective one of the channels defined through the spacer.

9. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises at least one optical light pipe optically coupling the second light-emitting layer with the first light-emitting layer.

10. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer composite lighting assembly further comprises an optical diffuser interposed between the first light-emitting layer and the spacer.

11. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer composite lighting assembly further comprises a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer interposed between the first light-emitting layer and the spacer.

12. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the first light-emitting layer is adhered to a first side of the spacer and the second light-emitting layer is adhered to a second side of the spacer opposite the first side thereof.

13. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the first light-emitting layer has a surface emanating the first color, the second light-emitting layer projecting light through the surface of the first light-emitting layer with substantially no blending of the first and second colors.

14. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the component of the wagering game includes at least one gambling die, and wherein rolling of the at least one gambling die is simulated by varying the light output of at least one of the first and second light-emitting layers.

15. The gaming device of claim 8 , wherein a bonus-game outcome of the wagering game is dependent, at least in part, upon which one or ones of the channels of the spacer are transmitting light emitted by the second light-emitting layer through light emitted by the first light-emitting layer.

16. A gaming system comprising:

at least one input device configured to receive an indication of a wager to play a wagering game;

at least one display device configured to display an outcome of the wagering game;

at least one controller configured to execute the wagering game; and

a multi-layer composite lighting assembly, including:

a first light-emitting layer configured to direct light of a first color in a first direction;

a second light-emitting layer configured to direct light of a second color in a second direction, the second color being different from the first color, and the second direction being different from the first direction; and

a spacer interposed between and attached to both the first and second light-emitting layers, the spacer being configured to diffuse at least a portion of the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer and focus at least a portion of the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer through at least a portion of the light emitted by the first light-emitting layer,

wherein one or more outcomes of the wagering game are dependent, at least in part, upon the light received by the spacer from the second light-emitting layer and focused by the spacer through the light of the first light-emitting layer.

17. The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the first light-emitting layer comprises a plurality of individual optical fibers, a first end of the plurality of individual optical fibers being bundled together to form a tail with a distal tip thereof in optical communication with a first light source, and a second end of the plurality of individual optical fibers being juxtaposed to form a sheet extending transversely across the spacer.

18. The gaming system of claim 17 , wherein the second light-emitting layer comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) each of which is generally orthogonally oriented with respect to the second end of the plurality of individual optical fibers.

19. The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the spacer comprises a translucent plate defining therethrough a plurality of channels, each of the channels optically coupling at least one of the LEDs of the second light-emitting layer with the second end of the first light-emitting layer.

20. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the multi-layer composite lighting assembly further comprises a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) layer interposed between the first light-emitting layer and the spacer.

21. The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the first light-emitting layer is adhered directly to the PET layer, the PET layer is adhered directly to the spacer, and the spacer is adhered directly to the second light-emitting layer.

22. The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the spacer of the multi-layer composite lighting assembly includes a plurality of channels each being configured to receive and transmit at least a portion of the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer, and wherein at least one outcome of the wagering game is dependent, at least in part, upon which one or ones of the channels of the spacer are transmitting light emitted by the second light-emitting layer through light emitted by the first light-emitting layer.

23. The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the-multi-layer composite lighting assembly creates a three-dimensional component representing a gambling die, and wherein rolling of the gambling die is simulated by varying the light output of at least one of the first and second light-emitting layers.

24. The gaming system of claim 23 , wherein a bonus-game outcome of the wagering game is dependent, at least in part, upon the simulated rolling of the three-dimensional gambling die created by the multi-layer composite lighting assembly.

25. A method for playing a wagering game on a gaming system, the method comprising:

initiating the wagering game using at least one processor;

creating a three-dimensional component of the wagering game, including:

generating a surface of a first color via a first light-emitting layer of a multi-layer composite lighting assembly;

emitting light of a second color distinct from the first color via a second light-emitting layer of the multi-layer composite lighting assembly;

diffusing at least a portion of the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer via a spacer coupled to both the first and second light-emitting layers of the multi-layer composite lighting assembly; and

focusing at least a portion of the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer through the surface generated by the first light-emitting layer via the spacer;

randomly determining, via at least one processor, an outcome of the wagering game; and

causing at least one display device to display the wagering game outcome,

wherein one or more outcomes of the wagering game are dependent, at least in part, upon the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer and focused by the spacer through the light of the first light-emitting layer.

26. A gaming machine for playing a wagering game, the gaming machine comprising:

an input device configured to receive a wager to play the wagering game;

a display configured to display one or more outcomes of the wagering game; and

a multi-layer composite lighting assembly positioned so as to not visibly obstruct the display, the multi-layer composite lighting assembly including:

a first light-emitting layer configured to direct light of a first color in a first direction;

a second light-emitting layer configured to direct light of a second color in a second direction, the second color being different from the first color, and the second direction being different from the first direction; and

a spacer interposed between and coupled to both the first and second light-emitting layers, the spacer including a plurality of channels each being configured to receive and transmit at least a portion of the light emitted by the second light-emitting layer through at least a portion of the light emitted by the first light-emitting layer,

wherein at least one of the outcomes of the wagering game is dependent, at least in part, upon which one or ones of the channels of the spacer are transmitting light emitted by the second light-emitting layer through light emitted by the first light-emitting layer.