HAPTIC GAMING CHAIRS AND WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS AND MACHINES WITH A HAPTIC GAMING CHAIR

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

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

a display device configured to display an outcome of the wagering game, the outcome being randomly determined from a plurality of wagering game outcomes;

a gaming chair including a seat portion, a backrest portion, a base supporting the seat portion and the backrest portion, and an array of tactors at least partially embedded within at least one of the seat portion and the backrest portion, the array of tactors being configured to generate tactile stimulation; and

a controller in operative communication with the array of tactors, the controller being configured to synchronize actuation of the array of tactors to coincide with aspects of the wagering game being displayed via the display device.

2 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize actuation of the array of tactors to thereby create for a player a sensation of contact with objects being displayed via the display device.

3 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize actuation of the array of tactors to thereby elicit a predetermined reflex by the player.

4 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize actuation of the array of tactors to thereby create for the player a sensation of physical transport without repositioning the player.

5 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize actuation of the array of tactors to thereby create a tactile pattern on the player.

6 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize actuation of the array of tactors to thereby create for the player a sensation of physical contact with another player at another location.

7 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize actuation of the array of tactors to indicate an event that is not being displayed via the display device.

8 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the array of tactors includes a first matrix of individually actuable discrete tactile actuators embedded inside the backrest portion and a second matrix of individually actuable discrete tactile actuators embedded inside the seat portion.

9 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the array of tactors includes a number of individually actuable discrete tactile actuators, each of the tactile actuators being arranged at a separate location within the seat portion or the backrest portion, each of the locations of the tactile actuators coinciding with a respective location within a wagering game image displayed on the display device.

10 . The gaming system of claim 1 , further comprising a haptic apron with a second array of tactors at least partially embedded therein, the second array of tactors being configured to generate tactile stimulation.

11 . The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the haptic apron cooperates with at least one of the seat portion and the backrest portion to substantially circumscribe a periphery of the player, and wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize actuation of the array of tactors in conjunction with the second array of tactors to thereby generate tactile stimulation along the periphery of the player.

12 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein each of the tactors includes at least one of an electric-motor tactile actuator, a voice-coil tactile actuator, a linear tactile actuator, a pneumatic tactile actuator, an electrotactile actuator, and an active-material based tactile actuator.

13 . The gaming system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more actuators operatively attached to the gaming chair and operable to selectively reposition at least one of the base, the seat portion, and the backrest portion.

14 . The gaming system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensing devices operable to detect a position of the player relative to the gaming chair.

15 . A gaming system for playing a wagering game, the gaming system comprising:

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

a gaming chair;

an array of tactors operatively connected to the gaming chair, each of the tactors being configured to generate a respective tactile stimulation; and

a controller in operative communication with the array of tactors, the controller being configured to coordinate actuation of the array of tactors with displayed aspects of the wagering game being displayed via the display device to thereby elicit a predetermined reflex by the player.

16 . A gaming system for playing a wagering game, the gaming system comprising:

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

a gaming chair;

an array of tactors operatively connected to the gaming chair, each of the tactors being configured to generate a respective tactile stimulation; and

a controller in operative communication with the array of tactors, the controller being configured to coordinate actuation of the array of tactors with displayed aspects of the wagering game to thereby output a sensation of contact with objects being displayed via the display device.

17 . A haptic gaming chair for a wagering game system with a display device operable to display events associated with a wagering game, the haptic gaming chair comprising:

a seat portion;

a backrest portion;

a base connected to and supporting the seat portion and the backrest portion;

an array of tactors at least partially embedded within at least one of the seat portion and the backrest portion, each of the tactors being configured to generate a respective tactile stimulation; and

a controller in operative communication with the array of tactors, the controller being configured to synchronize actuation of the array of tactors to coincide with the displayed events of the wagering game.

18 . The haptic gaming chair of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize actuation of the array of tactors to thereby create for the player a sensation of contact with objects indicated by the display device, an audio device, or both.

19 . The haptic gaming chair of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize actuation of the array of tactors to thereby elicit a predetermined reflex by the player.

20 . The haptic gaming chair of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize actuation of the array of tactors to thereby create for the player a sensation of physical transport without repositioning the player.

21 . The haptic gaming chair of claim 17 , wherein the array of tactors includes a first matrix of individually actuable discrete tactile actuators embedded inside the backrest portion and a second matrix of individually actuable discrete tactile actuators embedded inside the seat portion.

22 . The haptic gaming chair of claim 21 , wherein the display device includes first and second image display areas, and wherein each of the tactile actuators in the first matrix is arranged at a separate location within the backrest portion which coincides with a respective location within the first image display area, and wherein each of the tactile actuators in the second matrix is arranged at a separate location within the seat portion which coincides with a respective location within the second image display area.

23 . The haptic gaming chair of claim 17 , further comprising one or more actuators operable to selectively reposition at least one of the base, the seat portion, and the backrest portion.

24 . The haptic gaming chair of claim 17 , wherein the array of tactors includes a number of individually actuable discrete tactile actuators, each of the tactile actuators being arranged at a separate location within the seat portion or the backrest portion, each of the locations of the tactile actuators coinciding with a respective location within a wagering game image displayed on the display device.

25 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system with a haptic gaming chair, a controller, and a display device operable to display events associated with a wagering game, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a wager from a player to play the wagering game;

displaying, via the display device, an event associated with the wagering game; and

activating, via the controller, one or more discrete tactors embedded within the haptic gaming chair to output, via the one or more discrete tactors, a tactile simulation of an aspect related to the event displayed via the display device.