Network gaming system
View Patent ↗A gaming system is disclosed that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, each game being played in exchange for monetary input. The gaming system includes a game server and a plurality of game units connected via a network. The game server stores one or more games. The game units each include a web browser. The game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play. The gaming system enables game units to request games from the game server over the network. The games may be downloaded over the network from the game server to the requesting game unit to be executed at the game unit and to be displayed in one or more web browsers.
1. A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, each game being played in exchange for monetary input, the gaming system comprising:
a game server, wherein the game server stores one or more games in electronic form; and
a plurality of game units each including a web browser, wherein the game units are connected to the game server over a network, and wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit via the ticket dispenser in response to winning game play, wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket for a physical prize, coins, or cash, and wherein each game is played in exchange for monetary input received;
wherein the gaming system enables one or more game units to request games from the game server over the network, and one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to the requesting game unit to be executed at the game unit and to be displayed in one or more web browsers.
2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein a game includes information that is sent using Hypertext Markup Language.
3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein a game includes information that is sent using Java.
4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein a game includes information that is sent using Active X.
5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the game includes information that is sent using Virtual Reality Modeling Language.
6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein a game is selected by a player at a game unit, and wherein the selected game is the game to be downloaded.
7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein a game is downloaded in response to a request.
8. A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, each game being played in exchange for monetary input, the gaming system comprising:
a game server, wherein the game server stores one or more games in electronic form; and
a plurality of game units each connected to the game server over a network;
wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to one or more game units, wherein each game is executed at the game unit; and
wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket for a physical prize, coins, or cash.
9. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the game units are at least partially connected to the game server over a fiber optic line.
10. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the game units are at least partially connected to the game server over an Ethernet line.
11. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the game units are at least partially connected to the game server using Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.
12. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the game units are at least partially connected to the game server using Internetwork Packet Exchange.
13. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the game units are at least partially connected to the game server using routers.
14. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the game units are at least partially connected to the game server using switches.
15. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein each game unit includes a Uniform Resource Locator.
16. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein each game unit associates with resources on the game server using Uniform Resource Locators.
17. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein each game unit includes a player identification device for monitoring game play of a player.
18. The gaming system of claim 8 , wherein a touch screen interface associated with the player identification device for enabling the player to input information and commands.
19. A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, each game being played in exchange for monetary input, the gaming system comprising:
a web server; wherein the web server stores one or more games in electronic form; and
a plurality of game units each connected to the web server over a network, wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the web server to one or more game units,
wherein each game is executed at the game unit, wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket for a physical prize, coins, or cash.
20. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the browser displays game related data.
21. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the browser displays tournament game related data.
22. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the browser displays prize game related data.
23. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to the game unit for use by the browser.
24. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the browser displays advertising related data.
25. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the gaming system includes a monetary input device.
26. A game unit that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, each game being played in exchange for monetary input, the game unit comprising:
one or more displays associated with the game unit, wherein each game is executed at the game unit; and
a browser associated with at least one of the one or more displays, wherein the browser output is shown on at least one of the one or more displays, wherein one or more games are downloaded over a network from a game server to the game unit, wherein the game unit enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket for a physical prize, coins, or cash.
27. The game unit of claim 26 , wherein the browser displays game related data.
28. The game unit of claim 26 , wherein the browser displays tournament game related data.
29. The game unit of claim 26 , wherein the browser displays prize game related data.
30. The game unit of claim 26 , wherein one or more games are downloadable over a network from a game server to the game unit for use by the browser.
31. The game unit of claim 26 , wherein the browser displays advertising related data.
32. The game unit of claim 26 , wherein the gaming system includes a monetary input device.
33. A gaming system for providing game play data to a remote user, the gaming system comprising:
a game unit for playing a game that generates game play data, wherein each game is executed at the game unit;
a server, wherein the server stores the game play data, wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over a network from the server to the game unit; and
an access device capable of accessing the Internet, wherein the game play data is available to the user via the access device while the user is located remote from the game unit,
wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket for a physical prize, coins, or cash.
34. The gaming system of claim 31 , wherein the gaming system includes a player account that is accessible by the user via the access device while the user is located remote from the game unit.
35. The gaming system of claim 31 , wherein the game is a tournament game that generates tournament play data.
36. A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, each game being played in exchange for monetary input, the gaming system comprising:
a game server; and
a plurality of game units each connected to the game server over a network, wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the server to the game unit and displayed in a web browser of the game unit, wherein each game is executed at the game unit,
wherein the gaming system enables remotely adjusting prize and payout percentages of the game units, wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket for a physical prize, coins, or cash.
37. The gaming system of claim 36 , wherein the adjustment of prize and payout percentages is performed to achieve a desired profitability of the game units.