Gaming machine with floating mid-screen input deck

1. A gaming machine comprising:

an active display region having an upper boundary and a lower boundary, the active display region facing a player viewing position;

a display housing supporting the active display region;

a pedestal extending from the display housing;

an input deck supported by the pedestal and imposed between the player viewing position and the active display region, the input deck spaced apart from the active display region and configured to receive inputs from a player at the player viewing position, the input deck having an edge proximal to the active display region that intersects an imaginary horizontal plane disposed between the upper and lower boundaries of the active display region;

wherein, the active display region subtends an angle of at least fifteen degrees from the horizontal plane to the lower boundary, measured through a vertex at the intersection of the edge and the imaginary horizontal plane; and

wherein, the pedestal extends upwards and outwards from the display housing below the active display region at a side offset relative to a horizontal axis defined through a horizontal center of the active display region and a horizontal center of the input deck.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the edge is offset by a range of 25 inches to 35 inches from the active display region measured along the imaginary horizontal plane.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the input deck includes a secondary display screen, an edge of the secondary display screen obscuring at least a part of the active display region when viewed from the player viewing position.

4. The gaming machine of claim 3 , wherein the secondary display screen includes a touchscreen configured to receive manual inputs from the player.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the input deck includes one or more mechanical buttons configured to receive manual inputs from the player.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the input deck includes a free-space sensing input device configured to receive inputs from the player.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the input deck includes sensors configured to detect one or more of eye movement, head movement, eye blinks, or facial expressions.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1 further comprising a second pedestal, wherein the input deck is supported between the pedestal and the second pedestal.

9. A gaming machine comprising:

an active display region having an upper boundary and a lower boundary, the active display region facing a player viewing position;

a display housing supporting the active display region;

a pedestal extending from the display housing;

an input deck supported by the pedestal and spaced apart from the active display region, the input deck being between the player viewing position and the active display region, the input deck configured to receive inputs from a player at the player viewing position, the input deck having an edge proximal to the active display region and intersecting an imaginary horizontal plane disposed between the upper and lower boundaries of the active display region;

wherein at least fifteen percent of the active display region extends below the imaginary horizontal plane; and

wherein the pedestal extends upwards and outwards from the display housing below the active display region at a side offset relative to a horizontal axis defined through a horizontal center of the active display region and a horizontal center of the input deck.

10. The gaming machine of claim 9 , wherein the input deck includes a touchscreen input device with a display screen, the display screen obscuring at least a part of the active display region when viewed by a player in the player viewing position.

11. The gaming machine of claim 9 , wherein the input deck is cantilevered off of the pedestal.

12. The gaming machine of claim 9 , farther comprising a seat configured to support a player proximal to the input deck.

13. The gaming machine of claim 9 further comprising a second pedestal, wherein the input deck is supported between the pedestal and the second pedestal.

14. A method of configuring a gaming machine for play of a wagering game, the method comprising:

providing an active display region with an upper boundary and a lower boundary, the active display region indicating a range of player viewing positions facing the active display region;

providing a display housing supporting the active display region;

providing a pedestal extending from the display housing;

providing an input deck supported by the pedestal and spaced apart from the active display region, the input deck being between the range of player viewing positions and the active display region, the input deck configured to receive inputs from a player within the range of player viewing positions, the input deck having an edge proximal to the active display region and intersecting a horizontal plane disposed between the upper and lower boundaries, wherein at least fifteen percent of the active display region extends below the horizontal plane, and wherein the pedestal extends upwards and outwards from the display housing below the active display region at a side offset relative to a horizontal axis defined through a horizontal center of the active display region and a horizontal center of the input deck;

presenting visual content on the active display region; and

receiving inputs at the input deck from a player within the range of player viewing positions, the inputs being associated with the visual content presented on the active display region.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the input deck includes a secondary display device, an edge of the secondary display device obscuring a portion of the active display region when viewed from a player within the range of player positions, and the method further comprising presenting visual content on the secondary display device that merges with the visual content on the active display region.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a displayed image appears to travel between the active display region and the secondary display region by traversing the edge of the secondary display device.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the visual content on the secondary display device appears to traverse the edge of the secondary display device and move across the edge to the active display region.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the secondary display device is positionally adjustable to accommodate the range of player viewing positions.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein visual content displayed on the secondary display device is adjustable to accommodate the range of player viewing positions.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the gaming machine is configured to accommodate a player standing at the input deck.