Networked gaming system and method

1. A method implemented by an authorized authentication center for allowing remote players to participate in live games offered by a central gaming server, the method comprising:

receiving authentication information from a person wishing to participate in the live games offered by the central gaming server;

storing the authentication information in a memory;

receiving an authentication request from an individual over a network interface, the authentication request comprising authentication information sent by the individual wishing to participate in the live games;

comparing the authentication information in the authentication request to the authentication information in the memory by a processor;

granting access to the central gaming server if the authentication information in the authentication request matches the authentication information in the memory; and

receiving a scaled commission determined by the central gaming server, the scaled commission paid by the central gaming server in exchange for the authorized authentication center authenticating the individual, the scaled commission comprising a portion of a fee received from the authenticated individual and other game players during game play;

wherein granting access to the individual who sent the authentication request comprises re-directing data packets received from the authenticated individual to the central gaming server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scaled commission is shared among any authorized gaming establishment having a player participating in one of the live games offered by the central gaming server and the authorized authentication center.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scaled commission is shared among the authorized authentication center and one or more other authorized authentication centers each having authenticated at least one player participating in one of the live games offered by the central gaming server.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating further authentication information in response to receiving the authentication information from the person wishing to participate in the live games; and

providing the further authentication information to the person.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending a subsequent authentication request to the individual after the individual has been granted access to the central gaming server;

receiving a response to the subsequent authentication request;

comparing information in the response to the authentication information stored in the memory; and

denying access to the central gaming server if at least some of the information in the response does not match at least some of the information stored in the memory.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the subsequent authentication request is sent to the individual upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the subsequent authentication request is sent to the individual at random time intervals.

8. A method implemented by an authorized authentication center for allowing remote players to participate in live games offered by a central gaming server, the method comprising:

receiving authentication information from a person wishing to participate in the live games offered by the central gaming server;

storing the authentication information in a memory;

receiving an authentication request from an individual over a network interface, the authentication request comprising authentication information sent by the individual wishing to participate in the live games;

comparing the authentication information in the authentication request to the authentication information in the memory by a processor;

granting access to the central gaming server if the authentication information in the authentication request matches the authentication information in the memory; and

receiving a scaled commission determined by the central gaming server, the scaled commission paid by the central gaming server in exchange for the authorized authentication center authenticating the individual, the scaled commission comprising a portion of a fee received from the authenticated individual and other game players during game play;

wherein granting access to the individual who sent the authentication request comprises:

providing a first code to the individual for use in connecting directly with the central gaming server; and

providing a second code to the central gaming server, the second code equal to the first code, for the central gaming center to compare the first code to the second code as the second code is provided to the central gaming server by the authenticated individual and for allowing the authenticated individual access to the central gaming server if the first code matches the second code.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the scaled commission is shared among any authorized gaming establishment having a player participating in one of the live games offered by the central gaming server and the authorized authentication center.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the scaled commission is shared among the authorized authentication center and one or more other authorized authentication centers each having authenticated at least one player participating in one of the live games offered by the central gaming server.

11. An apparatus for allowing remote players to participate in live games offered by a central gaming server, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions and for storing authentication information from a person wishing to participate in the live games offered by the central gaming server;

a processor for executing the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive the authentication information from the person wishing to participate in the live games offered by the central gaming server;

store the authentication information in the memory;

receive an authentication request from an individual over a network interface, the authentication request comprising authentication information sent by the individual wishing to participate in the live games;

compare the authentication information in the authentication request to the authentication information in the memory by a processor; and

grant access to the central gaming server if the authentication information in the authentication request matches the authentication information in the memory;

receive a scaled commission determined by the central gaming server, the scaled commission comprising a portion of a fee imposed on the authenticated individual and other game players by the central gaming server, the scaled commission provided by the central gaming server as compensation for authenticating the individual;

and

a network interface for sending and receiving information between the apparatus and the individual;

wherein the instructions that cause the apparatus to grant access to the individual comprise instructions that cause the apparatus to re-direct data packets received from the authenticated individual to the central gaming server.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the scaled commission is shared among any authorized gaming establishment having a player participating in one of the live games offered by the central gaming server and the authorized authentication center.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the scaled commission is shared among the authorized authentication center and one or more other authorized authentication centers each having authenticated at least one player participating in one of the live games offered by the central gaming server.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the apparatus to:

generate further authentication information in response to receiving the authentication information from the person wishing to participate in the live games; and

provide the further authentication information to the person.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the apparatus to:

send a subsequent authentication request via the network interface to the individual after the individual has been granted access to the central gaming server;

receive a response to the subsequent authentication request via the network interface;

compare information in the response to the authentication information stored in the memory; and

deny access to the central gaming server if at least some of the information in the response does not match at least some of the information stored in the memory.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the subsequent authentication request is sent to the individual upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the subsequent authentication request is sent to the individual at random time intervals.

18. An apparatus for allowing remote players to participate in live games offered by a central gaming server, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions and for storing authentication information from a person wishing to participate in the live games offered by the central gaming server;

a processor for executing the processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive the authentication information from the person wishing to participate in the live games offered by the central gaming server;

store the authentication information in the memory;

receive an authentication request from an individual over a network interface, the authentication request comprising authentication information sent by the individual wishing to participate in the live games;

compare the authentication information in the authentication request to the authentication information in the memory by a processor; and

grant access to the central gaming server if the authentication information in the authentication request matches the authentication information in the memory;

receive a scaled commission determined by the central gaming server, the scaled commission comprising a portion of a fee imposed on the authenticated individual and other game players by the central gaming server, the scaled commission provided by the central gaming server as compensation for authenticating the individual;

and

a network interface for sending and receiving information between the apparatus and the individual;

wherein the instructions that cause the apparatus to grant access to the individual comprise instructions that cause the apparatus to:

provide a code to the individual for use in connecting directly with the central gaming server; and

provide a second code to the central gaming server, the second code equal to the first code, for the central gaming center to compare the first code to the second code as the second code is provided to the central gaming server by the authenticated individual and for allowing the authenticated individual access to the central gaming server if the first code matches the second code.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the scaled commission is shared among the authorized authentication center and one or more other authorized authentication centers each having authenticated at least one player participating in one of the live games offered by the central gaming server.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that cause the apparatus to:

generate further authentication information in response to receiving the authentication information from the person wishing to participate in the live games; and

provide the further authentication information to the person.