Network gaming architecture, gaming systems, and related methods
A gaming system, a network gaming architecture, and related methods are disclosed that provides game content to server-based gaming platforms. Players access game content and place wagers on through a client server. The client server may act as a thin client to the gaming platform such that the client server establishes the communication link to a remote gaming engine that performs game play processing. The gaming system includes the remote gaming engine, which may comprise a game rules server configured to administer a set of game rules for the wagering game, and a deck server that randomly selects game pieces according to the set of game rules. A network gaming architecture includes separating functions that require regulation on one set of regulated servers, and functions that do not require regulation on at least one unregulated server.
1. A network gaming architecture, comprising:
a plurality of regulated servers, including:
a game rules server storing game rules for a wagering game; and
a deck server coupled with the game rules server, and configured to randomly select game pieces for the wagering game in response to requests received from the game rules server; and
at least one unregulated server configured to support an additional function of the gaming system, wherein reconfiguration of at least one of the plurality of regulated servers requires validation from gaming authorities, and wherein reconfiguration of the at least one unregulated server does not require validation from the gaming authorities;
wherein each of the plurality of regulated servers and the at least one unregulated server scale to meet increased demand at a different rate.
2. The network gaming architecture of claim 1 , wherein access privileges to the game rules server are different than access privileges to the deck server.
3. The network gaming architecture of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of regulated servers and the at least one unregulated server are configured as a cloud computing architecture.
4. A method of enabling the play of on-line wagering games, comprising:
providing code on an external client server to enable access to an on-line wagering platform having a game rules server and a deck server;
receiving at least an indication of a placed wager from the external client server;
randomly generating at least one number in the deck server, the at least one number used for selecting a virtual game piece for an on-line wagering game;
determining a game outcome on the on-line wagering platform according to game rules stored in the game rules server;
transmitting the game outcome information to the external client server; and
generating a plurality of instances of virtual servers for the game rules server and the deck server in response to an increase of usage in play of the on-line wagering games.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein selecting a virtual game piece includes selecting virtual cards from a stored set of virtual cards to dispense into the on-line game.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising routing the game outcome information from the game rules server to the external client server through a game routing server.
7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising waiting to transfer information regarding the virtual game piece from the deck server to the game rules server until after verifying that an appropriate wager has been placed.
8. A network gaming architecture, comprising:
a plurality of regulated servers, including:
a game rules server storing game rules for a wagering game; and
a deck server coupled with the game rules server, and configured to randomly select game pieces for the wagering game in response to requests received from the game rules server; and
at least one unregulated server configured to support an additional function of the gaming system, wherein reconfiguration of at least one of the plurality of regulated servers requires validation from gaming authorities, and wherein reconfiguration of the at least one unregulated server does not require validation from the gaming authorities;
wherein access privileges to the game rules server are different than access privileges to the deck server.
9. The network gaming architecture of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of regulated servers and the at least one unregulated server scale to meet increased demand at a different rate.
10. The network gaming architecture of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of regulated servers and the at least one unregulated server are configured as a cloud computing architecture.
11. A network gaming architecture, comprising:
a plurality of regulated servers, including:
a game rules server storing game rules for a wagering game; and
a deck server coupled with the game rules server, and configured to randomly select game pieces for the wagering game in response to requests received from the game rules server; and
at least one unregulated server configured to support an additional function of the gaming system, wherein reconfiguration of at least one of the plurality of regulated servers requires validation from gaming authorities, and wherein reconfiguration of the at least one unregulated server does not require validation from the gaming authorities;
wherein the plurality of regulated servers and the at least one unregulated server are configured as a cloud computing architecture.
12. The network gaming architecture of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of regulated servers and the at least one unregulated server scale to meet increased demand at a different rate.
13. The network gaming architecture of claim 11 , wherein access privileges to the game rules server are different than access privileges to the deck server.