Handheld Gaming Machines and System Therefor

1 . A gaming system comprising:

a central server for storing game information;

a plurality of boundary controllers defining a permissible gaming area; and

at least one handheld gaming machine in communication with the central server, the handheld machine comprising a display for displaying the execution of a wagering game;

wherein the handheld gaming machine wirelessly communicates with one or more of the plurality of boundary controllers to permit the central server to activate the wagering game only when the handheld gaming machine is within the permissible gaming area.

2 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the boundary controllers are electronically linked to form a fence comprising the border of the permissible gaming area.

3 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the boundary controllers is a radiating boundary controller, the radiating boundary controller emitting a point source wireless signal which defines a portion of the permissible gaming area.

4 . The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising at least one freestanding gaming machine in communication with the central server.

5 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the handheld gaming machine is in wireless communication with a wireless transceiver, the wireless transceiver in communication with the central server.

6 . The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising at least one handheld kiosk for either dispensing or receiving the handheld gaming machine to a player, the kiosk in communication with the central server.

7 . The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising at least one funding terminal for adding value to the handheld gaming machine, the funding terminal in communication with the central server.

8 . The gaming system of claim 7 , wherein the funding terminal accesses a player financial account stored on the central server, and debits the player financial account when adding value to the handheld machine.

9 . The gaming system of claim 1 further comprising at least one docking station in communication with the central server, the docking station connectable to a docking port on the handheld machine.

10 . The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein the docking station includes a power source for charging a battery of the handheld machine.

11 . A handheld gaming machine for displaying a wagering game, comprising:

a housing;

a display mounted on the housing for displaying the wagering game;

a power source for powering the display; and

a wireless transceiver operative to transmit and receive game play information, the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with at least one boundary controller defining a permissible gaming area so as to disable display of the wagering game if the handheld machine is removed from the permissible gaming area.

12 . The handheld machine of claim 11 further comprising a player input device for making game play selections.

13 . The handheld machine of claim 11 wherein the player input device comprises at least one of a touch screen overlying the display and a button mounted on the housing.

14 . The handheld machine of claim 11 , wherein the power source comprises at least one of a battery and a fuel cell.

15 . The handheld machine of claim 11 further comprising a docking port for coupling to a docking station, the docking station including a power source for charging the battery.

16 . A method of conducting a handheld wagering game, the method comprising:

issuing a player a handheld gaming machine for displaying the wagering game, the handheld machine including a display, a power source for powering the display, and a wireless transceiver;

receiving a wager from the player;

verifying that the handheld machine is located within a permissible gaming area, the permissible gaming area defined by one or more boundary controllers in communication with the wireless transceiver; and

if the handheld machine is within the permissible gaming area, enabling the wagering game on the handheld machine.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the game play is executed by a processor on the handheld gaming machine.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the game play is executed on a central server, the server in communication with the wireless transceiver on the handheld gaming machine.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of receiving a wager from the player comprises debiting a credit value on the handheld machine, the credit value funded by debiting a player financial account.

20 . A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming machine to perform the method of claim 16 .