Granted Patent B1

US 7,470,196 · App. 09/688,501 · Granted Dec 30, 2008

Abstract

Claims (51)

1. A remote gaming method comprising:

accessing, via a remote terminal, a gaming site on a global computer network connected to said remote terminal;

providing, via said remote terminal, personal identification information to said gaming site;

selecting, via said remote terminal, a game of chance from a plurality of gaming machines located at a gaming establishment for remote play, said remote terminal being located outside said gaming establishment;

placing, via said remote terminal, a wager for playing said selected game; and

receiving randomly-generated text or graphical outcome data at said remote terminal for said selected game, said outcome data being generated by one of said plurality of gaming machines at said gaming establishment and relayed to said gaming site through a gaming server connected to said gaming site.

2. A remote gaming method using a gaming server, a remote terminal, and a gaming site on a global computer network, said gaming server being located at a gaming establishment, said remote terminal being located outside said gaming establishment, said gaming site being provided on said global computer network, the method comprising:

receiving, at said gaming server, personal identification information, game selection information, and wager information from a player accessing said gaming site via said remote terminal, said remote terminal being connected to said global computer network;

randomly generating outcome data at one of a plurality of gaming machines communicatively coupled to said gaming server, said outcome data being generated for a game selected according to said game selection information, said plurality of gaming machines being located at said gaming establishment;

receiving said outcome data at said gaming server; and

transmitting said outcome data from said gaming server to said gaming site for display to said player on said remote terminal in text or graphical form.

3. A method for playing a gaming machine located inside a gaming establishment from a remote terminal located outside the gaming establishment comprising:

establishing a communication link between said remote terminal and a gaming site on a global computer network, said gaming site in communication with a gaming server for collecting outcome data from gaming machines located inside the gaming establishment;

selecting a gaming machine at said gaming establishment using said remote terminal;

making a wager to play the selected gaming machine;

receiving outcome data, including game outcome, at said remote terminal resulting from a play of said gaming machine; and

generating a payout if said game outcome meets predetermined criteria.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said outcome data comprises information identifying the value of said payout; and further comprising the step of using said payout information to simulate a display of said game outcome at said remote location.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising using said outcome data to simulate a display of said game outcome on said remote terminal.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein said selected gaming machine comprises a slot machine and wherein said game outcome data includes a reel position.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein said selected gaming machine comprises a video poker machine including a display for displaying a poker hand.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of receiving outcome data includes receiving outcome data from a plurality of gaming machines for remote play.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of receiving outcome data includes receiving a gaming machine identifier.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of receiving outcome data includes receiving a gaming machine type.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of receiving outcome data includes receiving player preferences.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein said selected gaming machine comprises a slot machine and wherein said game outcome comprises information identifying a reel position of said gaming machine; and further comprising the step of using said outcome information to display said reel position on said remote terminal.

13. The method of claim 3 and further including the steps of receiving a player identifier; and transmitting said player identifier for identification of said player.

14. The method of claim 3 wherein said game outcome results from the server initiating game play on the selected gaming machine.

15. The method of claim 3 wherein said game outcome results from the manual game play on the selected gaming machine.

16. A remote computer for the remote play of a local gaming machine located within a gaming establishment and connected to a gaming server, said remote computer being located outside said gaming establishment, said remote computer connected to a gaming site through a global computing network served by said gaming server, said gaming server collecting outcome data from a plurality of local gaming machines in said gaming establishment, said remote computer comprising:

a microprocessor;

memory connected to said microprocessor and including instructions for controlling said microprocessor; and

said microprocessor being operative with said instructions in said memory to:

receive information identifying said plurality of local gaming machines located within said gaming establishment from a gaming server;

transmit data selecting of at least one said plurality of local gaming machines for remote play;

receive, from said gaming server, a text or graphical outcome corresponding to said collected outcome data for each of said selected local gaming machines, said text or graphical outcome resulting from a local play of each of said selected local gaming machines; and

generate a payout if said outcome meets predetermined criteria.

17. The remote computer of claim 16 , wherein each of said selected gaming machines comprises a slot machine and wherein said text or graphical outcome includes a reel position.

18. The remote computer of claim 16 wherein said operation of said microprocessor to receive information includes receiving information selecting at least two of said plurality of local gaming machines for remote play.

19. The remote computer of claim 16 wherein said operation of said microprocessor to receive information includes receiving a gaming machine identifier.

20. The remote computer of claim 16 wherein said operation of said microprocessor to receive information includes receiving a gaming machine type.

21. The remote computer of claim 16 wherein said operation of said microprocessor to receive information includes receiving player preferences.

22. The remote computer of claim 16 wherein one of said selected gaming machines comprises a video poker machine and said text or graphical outcome includes a display of a poker hand.

23. The remote computer of claim 16 wherein said outcome data comprises payout data identifying a value of said payout, and said microprocessor is further operative to use said payout data to simulate a display of said outcome on a display of said remote computer.

24. The remote computer of claim 16 wherein said outcome data comprises information identifying a reel position of said selected gaming machine, and said microprocessor is further operative to use said reel position information to display said reel position on a display of said remote computer.

25. The remote computer of claim 16 , wherein said microprocessor is further operative to receive a player identifier and transmit said player identifier for identification of said player.

26. A remote computer located outside a gaming establishment, said gaming establishment having a plurality of gaming machines linked by a gaming server, said remote computer connected to a gaming site through a global computing network served by said gaming server, said gaming server collecting outcome data from said plurality of gaming machines, said remote computer comprising:

means for receiving information identifying a plurality of local gaming machines, each of said plurality of local gaming machines engaged in play within said gaming establishment;

means for transmitting data from said remote computer for selecting at least one of said plurality of local gaming machines for information transfer;

means for receiving, from said gaming server, a text or graphical outcome resulting from a play of said selected local gaming machines, said text or graphical outcome being included in said outcome data collected at said gaming server; and

for generating a payout if said outcome meets predetermined criteria.

Assignments (8)