Telephone gaming device
A gaming system that allows several game players to play a game and to interact with each other. The gaming system includes several gaming devices. The gaming devices each have a telephone that allows a game player to place or receive a telephone call. A server is in communication with the gaming devices. The server determines a game outcome and transmits the game outcome to the gaming devices. The server also allows game players to communicate with each other using the gaming device telephone.
1 . A gaming system, comprising:
a plurality of gaming devices, the gaming devices each having a telephone adapted to allow a game player to place or receive at least one telephone call; and
a server in communication with at least one of the plurality of gaming devices, the server adapted to determine at least one game outcome and to transmit the at least one game outcome to at least one of the gaming devices.
2 . The gaming system according to claim 1 , wherein the server controls a progressive jackpot, the game outcome being at least a portion of the progressive jackpot.
3 . The gaming system according to claim 1 , wherein the server facilitates audible communication between at least two game players using the telephone.
4 . The gaming system according to claim 3 , wherein the server determines which gaming device receives a telephone call.
5 . The gaming system according to claim 3 , wherein the game player is allowed to choose which gaming device receives a telephone call.
6 . The gaming system according to claim 1 wherein the gaming device includes a video display.
7 . The gaming system according to claim 6 wherein the server is adapted to store a plurality of images of telephone call recipients.
8 . The gaming system according to claim 7 wherein at least one of the images is displayed on the video display.
9 . A method of playing a game comprising:
allowing a player to place a wager and play a game on a first gaming device;
allowing the player to place at least one telephone call on a first telephone associated with the first gaming device to a second telephone associated with a second gaming device;
causing the second telephone to ring;
monitoring a number of times the second telephone rings before the second telephone is answered;
determining a prize at least in part by the number of times the second telephone rings before the second telephone is answered; and
awarding the prize to the player.
10 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein a server facilitates communication between the first and second gaming devices.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
providing a plurality of gaming devices, the plurality of gaming devices including the first and second gaming device; and
allowing the game player to choose the second gaming device.
12 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the game player is allowed to talk to a telephone call recipient on the second gaming device telephone.
13 . A method of playing a game comprising:
allowing a player to place a wager and play a game on a first gaming device in communication with a plurality of gaming devices;
if a predetermined event occurs, allowing the player to make a telephone call on a telephone associated with the first gaming device to a telephone associated with at least one of the plurality of gaming devices; and
awarding a prize to the game player.
14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the player is allowed to talk to a telephone call recipient.
15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein a server facilitates communication between the first gaming device and the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices.
16 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the prize is at least a portion of a progressive jackpot.
17 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the game player is allowed to choose the at least one gaming device to receive a telephone call.
18 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the server determines the at least one gaming device to receive a telephone call.
19 . A gaming system, comprising:
a first gaming device having a first telephone;
a second gaming device having a second telephone;
a server in communication with the first and second telephones, the server facilitating communication between the first and second telephones, the server further adapted to determine a game outcome and to allow at least one of the gaming devices to award a prize.
20 . The gaming system according to claim 19 , wherein the server allows a game player to talk to a telephone call recipient.
21 . The gaming system according to claim 19 wherein the gaming devices include a video display.
22 . The gaming system according to claim 21 wherein the server is adapted to store a plurality of images of telephone call recipients and to display at least one of the images on the video display.