GAMING DEVICE BUTTON

1 . A button for a gaming device comprising:

(A) a housing, the housing being at least partially transparent, the housing adapted to be mounted to the gaming device, the housing having a cavity;

(B) at least one light emitting diode positioned in the cavity; and

(C) a control circuit in communication with the light emitting diode, the control circuit configured to control the operation of the light emitting diode.

2 . The button of claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode comprises red, green and blue light emitting diodes.

3 . The button of claim 1 wherein the control circuit is configured to cause the light emitting diode to change from a first mode to a second mode.

4 . The button of claim 1 wherein the control circuit is configured to detect when the gaming device has changed from a first state to a second state.

5 . The button of claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode is a white light emitting diode.

6 . The button of claim 1 wherein a switch is mounted below the housing, the switch being adapted to be contacted by the housing when the button is depressed.

7 . The button of claim 1 wherein the control circuit is mounted to a printed circuit board mounted in the cavity.

8 . The button of claim 3 wherein the control circuit causes the light emitting diode to change from the first mode to the second mode when the gaming device changes from a first state to a second state.

9 . A gaming device comprising:

(A) a button, the button comprising:

(a) a housing, the housing being at least partially transparent, the housing adapted to be mounted to the gaming device, the housing having a cavity;

(b) at least one light emitting diode positioned in the cavity; and

(c) a control circuit in communication with the light emitting diode, the control circuit configured to control the operation of the light emitting diode.

10 . The gaming device of claim 9 wherein the light emitting diode further comprises red, green, blue and white light emitting diodes.

11 . The gaming device of claim 9 wherein the control circuit causes the light emitting diode to operate in a plurality of modes.

12 . The gaming device of claim 11 wherein the plurality of modes are chosen from the group consisting of:

a) all light emitting diodes off;

b) white light emitting diodes on;

c) red, green, blue light emitting diodes on in one or more colors;

d) white and red, green, blue light emitting diodes on;

e) white light emitting diodes blinking;

f) red, green, blue light emitting diodes blinking in one or more colors;

g) white and red, green, blue light emitting diodes blinking.

13 . The gaming device of claim 9 wherein the control circuit and the light emitting diodes are mounted to a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board mounted in the cavity.

14 . The gaming device of claim 9 wherein the button further includes a switch, the control circuit being adapted to detect closing of the switch.

15 . The gaming device of claim 14 wherein the control circuit causes the light emitting diodes to change modes when the switch is closed.

16 . A button for a gaming device comprising:

a) light emitting diode means for generating light; and

b) control means for controlling the operation of the light emitting diode means.

c) housing means for housing the light emitting diode means.

17 . The button of claim 16 wherein the light emitting diode means comprises means for emitting red, green and blue light.

18 . The button of claim 16 wherein the control means comprises means for causing the light emitting diode means to change from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation.

19 . The button of claim 16 wherein the control means comprises means for detecting when the gaming device has changed from a first state to a second state.

20 . The button of claim 19 wherein the control means comprises means for causing the light emitting diode means to change from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to detecting when the gaming device has changed from a first state to a second state.

20 . A method of operating a button for a gaming device comprising, not all necessarily in the order shown:

a) detecting a control signal;

b) decoding the control signal to determine a first operating mode for the light emitting diode; and

c) illuminating a light source in the button according to the first operating mode.

21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising:

a) detecting a change in a game state of the gaming device from a first state to a second state; and

b) switching the operating mode of the light source from the first mode to a second mode.

22 . The method of claim 20 illuminating the light source in a second mode.