System and Method for Connecting Gaming Devices to a Network for Remote Play

1 . A method, which is computer-implemented, comprising operations of:

authenticating over a network a user of a remote player device for a gaming system for a gambling game;

providing software to the remote player device, wherein the software, when executed, interactively presents the gambling game through a remote player interface and causes media associated with the gambling game to be presented on the remote player device; and

causing the remote player device to present a customized promotional message.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the customized promotional message is based at least in part on a profile of the user stored by the gaming system

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the gaming system includes a central gaming controller and a random number generator.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the customized promotional message is an instant message.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the media includes an animation or video.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the media includes music.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote player device is a mobile or wireless telephone handset.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote player device is a handheld computer.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote player device is a personal computer.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the customized promotional message includes jackpot or bonus information.

11 . One or more computer-readable media, that are non-transitory, storing a program which when executed, instructs a processor to perform the following operations:

authenticate over a network a user of a remote player device for a gaming system for a gambling game;

provide software to the remote player device, wherein the software, when executed, interactively presents the gambling game through a remote player interface and causes media associated with the gambling game to be presented on the remote player device; and

cause the remote player device to present a customized promotional message.

12 . The computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the customized promotional message is based at least in part on a profile of the user stored by the gaming system

13 . The computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the gaming system includes a central gaming controller and a random number generator.

14 . The computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the customized promotional message is an instant message.

15 . The computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the media includes an animation or video.

16 . The computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the media includes music.

17 . The computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the remote player device is a handheld computer.

18 . The computer-readable media of claim 11 , wherein the customized promotional message includes jackpot or bonus information.

19 . A method, which is computer-implemented, comprising operations of:

authenticating over the Internet a user of a remote player device for a gaming system that includes a central gaming controller and a random number generator for a gambling game;

providing software to the remote player device, wherein the software, when executed, interactively presents the gambling game through a remote player interface and causes animation or video associated with the gambling game to be presented on the remote player device; and

causing the remote player device to present a customized promotional message.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the customized promotional message is based at least in part on a profile of the user stored by the gaming system.