System and method for connecting gaming devices to a network for remote play

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

establishing, by a gaming controller, a session of a gambling game over a network to a first remote player device after receiving a first security certificate for authentication of the first remote player device and after determining by the gaming controller that the first remote player device is within a predetermined geographic scope;

recording a state of the gambling game that is in progress and being displayed on the first remote player device by the remote player device, the first remote player device being a television or a television with a set-top box having access to the Internet, the first remote player device being connected via wireless connection to a remote control that is a handheld computer, the remote control including software that, when executed, interactively causes the gambling game, including an animation, to be presented through a remote player interface of the first remote player device, wherein the state of the gambling game is configured to be transferred to the gaming controller;

detecting, by the gaming controller, an interruption of the gambling game;

receiving, at the gaming controller from a second remote player device, a second security certificate for authentication of the second remote player device;

determining that the second remote player device is within the predetermined geographic scope by the gaming controller;

transferring the state of the gambling game over a network to the second remote player device by the gaming controller; and

resuming the gambling game on the second remote player device for enabling interaction with the gambling game via the second remote player device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless connection uses an infra-red based protocol.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second remote player device is a mobile or wireless telephone handset having access to the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second remote player device is a handheld computer having access to the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second remote player device is a personal computer having access to the Internet.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second remote player device is a television or a television with a set-top box having access to the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless connection uses a RF wireless protocol.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second remote player device is a personal computer having access to the Internet.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the RF wireless protocol is Bluetooth.

10. One or more computer-readable media, that are non-transitory, storing a program which when executed by a processor performs the following operations:

establish, by a gaming controller, a session of a gambling game over a network to a first remote player device after having received a security certificate for authentication of the first remote player device and after having determined that the first remote player device is within a predetermined geographic scope;

record a state of the gambling game that is in progress on the first remote player device, the first remote player device being a television or a television with a set-top box having access to the Internet, the first remote player device being connected via wireless connection to a remote control that is a handheld computer, the remote control including software that, when executed, interactively causes the gambling game, including an animation, to be presented through a remote player interface of the first remote player device;

interrupt the gambling game;

receiving, from a second remote player device, indicia of identity of a user associated with the second remote player device, the indicia of identity for authorizing the second remote player device;

determining that the second remote player device is within a predetermined geographic scope;

transfer the state of the gambling game over a network to the second remote player device; and

resume the gambling game on the second remote player device for enabling interaction with the gambling game via the second remote player device.

11. The computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the wireless connection uses an infra-red based protocol.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the second remote player device is a mobile or wireless telephone handset having access to the Internet.

13. The computer-readable media of 10 , wherein the second remote player device is a handheld computer having access to the Internet.

14. The computer-readable media of 10 , wherein the second remote player device is a personal computer having access to the Internet.

15. The computer-readable media of 10 , wherein the second remote player device is a television or a television with a set-top box having access to the Internet.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 10 , wherein the wireless connection uses a RF wireless protocol.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second remote player device is a personal computer having access to the Internet.