Universal game server

1. A gaming system coupled to a communication network, comprising:

at least one server being coupled to the communication network; and

at least one web browser-based gaming machine coupled to the communication network, the at least one server communicating with the at least one web browser-based gaming machine via at least one communication path, each of the at least one web browser-based gaming machines comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including instructions which, when executed by the processor cause the at least one web browser-based gaming machine to:

execute a web browser to display games produced by the at least one server,

take over processing from the web browser using a plug-in for the web browser upon detection of a predetermined player interaction with the web browser,

carry out a game transaction, using the plug-in for the web browser, including a game bet and an amount wagered for each game played,

commit each game transaction, using the plug-in for the web browser, by sending at least the game bet and the amount wagered to the at least one server and to receive a validation transaction corresponding to the committed game transaction back from the at least one server, and

relinquish control, using the plug-in for the web browser, back to the web browser upon receipt of the validation transaction from the at least one server, the at least one server including an audit log into which the game bet and the amount wagered for each game transaction is logged.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the communication network includes the Internet.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the committed game transaction includes an inbound game payload comprising at least one of a gaming machine ID, a user/player ID, a transaction GUID, a gaming machine originating/return address and a game ID.

4. The gaming system of claim 3 , whereby the validation transaction from the at least one server includes an outbound packet comprising at least one of a gaming machine ID, a user/player ID, a transaction GUID, and an outcome of the game.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the validation transaction includes an outcome of the game.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the validation transaction includes an outcome of the game, the outcome of the game logged to the audit log.

7. A gaming system coupled to a communication network, comprising:

at least one server coupled to the communication network; and

a web browser-based gaming machine coupled to the communication network, the web browser based gaming machine coupled to the at least one server by at least one communication path, the web browser based gaming machine comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to:

display games communicated from the at least one server using a web browser;

take over processing from the web browser using a plug-in for the web browser, upon detection of a predetermined player interaction with the web browser;

carry out a game transaction, using the plug-in for the web browser, comprising a game bet and a wager amount;

commit the game transaction to the at least one server, using the plug-in for the web browser, by sending the game bet and the wager amount, the at least one server including an audit log;

log at least the game bet and the wager amount to the audit log using the plug-in for the web browser;

receive a validation from the at least one server, the validation corresponding to the transaction committed to the at least one server, and

relinquish control back to the web browser upon receipt of the validation from the at least one server.

8. The gaming system of claim 7 , wherein the committed game transaction includes an inbound game payload comprising at least one of a gaming machine ID, a user/player ID, a transaction GUID, a gaming machine originating/return address and a game ID.

9. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the validation transaction from the at least one server includes an outbound packet comprising at least one of a gaming machine ID, a user/player ID, a transaction GUID, and an outcome of the game.

10. The gaming system of claim 7 , wherein the plug-in for the web browser is further configured to log at least the outcome of the game to the audit log.

11. A method, comprising:

displaying games on a web browser-based gaming machine including a web browser, in response to receiving a communication from a server via a communication network;

taking over processing from the web browser upon detection of a predetermined player interaction with the web browser;

carrying out a game transaction comprising a game bet and a wager amount;

committing the game transaction to the server by sending the game bet and the wager amount thereto, the server including an audit log;

logging at least the game bet and the wager amount to the audit log;

receiving a validation from the server, the validation corresponding to the transaction committed to the server; and

relinquishing control back to the web browser upon receipt of the validation from the server.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the committing step is carried out with the game transaction including an inbound game payload comprising at least one of a gaming machine ID, a user/player ID, a transaction GUID, a gaming machine originating/return address and a game ID.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the receiving step is carried out with the validation from the at least one central transaction server including an outbound packet comprising at least one of a gaming machine ID, a user/player ID, a transaction GUID, and an outcome of the game.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising logging at least the outcome of the game to the audit log.