Method and system for distributed syndicate gaming
View Patent ↗A gaming system comprising gaming machine terminal means operable by at least one member of a syndicate of members, server means for monitoring interactions on the gaming machine terminal means, wherein the gaming machine terminal means and the server means are linked by a communications network and a syndicate member is able to communicate with another syndicate member using the gaming machine terminal means. A syndicate member is identified to the system through a member identification means and is able to operate the gaming machine terminal means using the member identification means.
1. A first gaming machine for providing a game to a first player, the first gaming machine being associated with a plurality of second gaming machines for providing respective games to a plurality of second players, the first player and the plurality of second players being members of a syndicate, the first gaming machine comprising:
a visual display device; and
an electronic game control system arranged to cause a visual image to be depicted on the visual display device for display to the player during game play, the visual image comprising:
a first credit meter that depicts a number of wagerable credits available to the first player from an individual account of the first player; and
at least one second credit meter that depicts a number of wagerable credits from a syndicate account left to be played by members of the syndicate; and
wherein said electronic game control system is arranged to selectively transmit data indicative of a number of wagerable credits between said individual account and said syndicate account for cooperative play of the games by said first player and said plurality of second players.
2. The first gaming machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electronic game control system is arranged to:
receive first data from a computer system, via a communication link, that is remote to the first gaming machine; and
process the first data to determine the number of wagerable credits available to said plurality of second players.
3. The first gaming machine as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the electronic game control system is arranged to:
generate second data that represents the number of wagerable credits available to the first player of the first gaming machine; and
send the second data to the computer system via the communication link.
4. The first gaming machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electronic game control system is arranged to:
support a player interface that is arranged to allow the first player to initiate a transfer of at least one of the number of wagerable credits available to the first player of the first gaming machine to at least one of the plurality of the second gaming machines;
generate third data that represents the at least one of the number of wagerable credits; and
send the third data to the computer system, via the communication link, that is remote to the first gaming machine.
5. The first gaming machine as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the electronic game control system is arranged to:
receive fourth data from the computer system via the communication link;
process the fourth data to determine at least one of the number of wagerable credits available to said plurality of second players that said plurality of second players want to transfer to the first gaming machine; and
adding the at least one of the number of wagerable credits available to said plurality of second players, which said plurality of second players want to transfer to the first gaming machine, to the number of wagerable credits available to the first player of the first gaming machine.
6. A method for use with a first gaming machine for providing a game to a first player, the first gaming machine being associated with a plurality of second gaming machines for providing respective games to a plurality of second players, the first player and the plurality of second players being members of a syndicate, and that comprises a visual display device, the method comprising the step of
causing a visual image to be depicted on the visual display device for display to the player during game play, the visual comprising:
a first credit meter that depicts a number of wagerable credits available to the first player from an individual account of the first player; and
at least one second credit meter that depicts a number of wagerable credits from a syndicate account left to be played by members of the syndicate, and shareable with said members of the syndicate; and
wherein said electronic game control system is arranged to selectively transmit data indicative of a number of wagerable credits between said individual account and said syndicate account for cooperative play of the games by said first player and said plurality of second players.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:
receiving first data from a computer system, via a communication link, that is remote to the first gaming machine; and
processing the first data to determine the number of wagerable credits available to said plurality of second players.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
generating second data that represents the number of wagerable credits available to the first player of the first gaming machine; and
sending the second data to the computer system via the communication link.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:
supporting a player interface that is arranged to allow the first player to initiate a transfer of at least one of the number of wagerable credits available to the first player of the first gaming machine to at least one of the plurality of the second gaming machines;
generating third data that represents the at least one of the number of wagerable credits; and
sending the third data to a computer system, via a communication link, that is remote to the first gaming machine.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
receiving fourth data from the computer system via the communication link;
processing the fourth data to determine at least one of the number of wagerable credits available to said plurality of second players that said plurality of second players want to transfer to the first gaming machine; and
adding the at least one of the number of wagerable credits available to said plurality of second players, which said plurality of second players want to transfer to the first gaming machine, to the number of wagerable credits available to the first player of the first gaming machine.