Display Device For Gaming Machines

A gaming machine reel 16 is provided with a display device comprising a flexible strip 20 of electronically programmable display material secured around the periphery of the reel. Symbols 25 may be selectively displayed on the material by appropriate programming thereof, for example by providing a plurality of addressable pixels on the material each of which may be driven to have a suitable translucence and to display a required colour. Discrete areas of the LCD displaying symbol images may use a large number of small pixels, whereas other areas displaying only uniform colour may use a fewer number of larger pixels. A rechargeable power source 26 is provided on the reel. The programming of the strip may be affected by a wireless fink comprising a transmitter 29 on the reel frame and a receiver on the reel, using either an RF or an infra-red link.