Method, apparatus and article for wagering and accessing casino services

Abstract

An integrated system for identifying casino customers, placing wagers and tracking wins and losses, and for placing reservations and services, that is capable of automatically verifying that sufficient funds are available, and that tracks the cumulative amounts of money won, lost, and spent by a customer. A hand-held wireless communications device includes a biometric sensor to measure at least one piece of biometric data from a customer during operation which is compared to a previously measured piece of reference biometric data to authenticate the request. One or more receivers receiving requests from a handheld wireless communications device accepts the requests if the requests originated from within an area having access restricted to customers meeting the desired criteria, such as minimum age. Automatic notification of a wagering results are provided. Updated cumulative totals of funds remaining in a customer's account are tracked and displayed. The system can automatically verify that sufficient funds are available to pay for such requested waters, reservations and services.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A hand-held wireless communication device for wagering, comprising: 
 a housing;    a processor received in the housing;    a user interface to provide and receive gaming and wagering information between the processor and a user operating the hand-held wireless communication device;    a transmitter coupled to the processor to wirelessly transmit at least a portion of the wagering information externally from the housing;    a receiver coupled to the processor to provide at least a portion of the gaming information wirelessly received externally from the housing; and    a bio-metric sensor associated with the housing and positionable with respect to the user operating the hand-held wireless communication device to measure at least one piece of access bio-metric data from the user during operation of the hand-held wireless communication device to place a wager.    
     
     
         2 . The hand-held wireless communication device of  claim 1  wherein the biometric sensor is coupled to the transmitter to transmit the measured piece of access biometric data externally from the housing.  
     
     
         3 . The hand-held wireless communication device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a memory containing at least one piece of reference bio-metric data measured before the operation of the hand-held wireless communication device by the user to place the wager, the memory coupled to the processor to compare the measured piece of access bio-metric data with the piece of reference bio-metric data, wherein the processor prevents the transmission of the wagering information by the transmitter unless the measured piece of access bio-metric data corresponds to the piece of reference bio-metric data.    
     
     
         4 . The hand-held wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-metric sensor consists of at least one of a fingerprint imager, an iris print imager, a voice pattern imager, and a facial component imager.  
     
     
         5 . The hand-held wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter and receiver are formed as a transceiver.  
     
     
         6 . The hand-held wireless communication device of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter consists of at least one of radio frequency transmitter, an infrared transmitter, and an optical transmitter.  
     
     
         7 . The hand-held wireless communication device of  claim 1  wherein the user interface consists of at least one of a display, an icon driven menu, a pointer device, a cursor, a keyboard, a keypad, a speaker, and a microphone.  
     
     
         8 . A sever system for controlling wagering by hand-held wireless communication devices, the server system comprising: 
 a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting gaming information to at least one of the plurality of hand-held wireless communications devices;    a receiver for wirelessly receiving wagering information from the at least one of the plurality of hand-held wireless communication devices; and    a processor programmed to accept wagers from a user operating the at least one of the plurality of hand-held wireless communication devices where a piece of access bio-metric data measured from the user during the operation of the hand-held wireless communication device to place a wager corresponds to a piece of reference bio-metric data measured from the user before the operation of the hand-held wireless communication device to place the wager.    
     
     
         9 . The sever system of  claim 8  wherein the receiver wirelessly receives at least the one piece of access bio-metric data from the at least one of the plurality of hand-held wireless communication devices, and further comprising: 
 a memory containing at least the one piece of reference bio-metric data, the memory coupled to the processor to compare the measured piece of access bio-metric data with the piece of reference bio-metric data, wherein the processor prevents a placement of any wagers contained in the received wagering information unless the piece of measured access bio-metric data corresponds to the piece of reference bio-metric data.  
 
     
     
         10 . The sever system of  claim 8  wherein the receiver wirelessly receives at least an access code from the at least one of the plurality of hand-held wireless communication devices, along with the wagering information.  
     
     
         11 . A wagering system, comprising: 
 a host; comprising: 
 a host processor;  
 a host receiver for wirelessly receiving wagering information from at least one of a plurality of hand-held wireless communication devices;  
 a host transmitter for wirelessly transmitting gaming information to the at least one of the plurality of hand-held wireless communications devices; and  
   a plurality of hand-held wireless communications devices, at least one of the hand-held wireless communication devices, comprising: 
 a housing;  
 a player processor received in the housing;  
 a user interface to provide and receive the gaming and wagering information between a user and the player processor;  
 a player transmitter coupled to the player processor to wirelessly transmit at least a portion of the wagering information externally from the housing;  
 a player receiver coupled to the player processor to provide at least a portion of the gaming information wirelessly received externally from the housing; and  
 a bio-metric sensor associated with the housing to measure at least one piece of access bio-metric data from the user during operation of the hand-held wireless communication device by the user to place a wager.  
   
     
     
         12 . The wagering system of  claim 11  wherein the bio-metric sensor is coupled to the player transmitter to transmit the measured access bio-metric data externally from the housing to the host receiver, and wherein the host processor prevents a placement of any wager contained in the received wagering information unless the measured piece of access bio-metric data corresponds to the piece of reference bio-metric data measured before the operation of the hand-held wireless communication device by the user to place the wager.  
     
     
         13 . The wagering system of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a memory containing at least one piece of reference bio-metric data measured before the operation of the hand-held wireless communication device by the user to place the wager, the memory coupled to the player processor to compare the measured piece of access bio-metric data with the piece of reference bio-metric data, wherein the player processor prevents the transmission of the wagering information by the transmitter unless the measured piece of access bio-metric data corresponds to the piece of reference bio-metric data.    
     
     
         14 . A method of wagering, comprising: 
 measuring a piece of access biometric data from a user during the operation of the hand-held wireless communication device by the user to place a wager;    determining a wagering authorization status for the user based at least in part on the measured access bio-metric data; and    accepting or denying a wager from the user based on the determined authorization status.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein determining a wagering authorization status for the user based on the measured access bio-metric data, comprises: 
 comparing the measured piece of access bio-metric data to at least one piece of reference bio-metric data measured before the operation of the hand-held wireless communication device by the user to place the wager;  
 assigning a first authorization status if the measured piece of access bio-metric data corresponds to the piece of reference bio-metric data; and  
 assigning a second authorization status if the measured piece of access biometric data does not correspond to the piece of reference biometric data.  
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein determining a wagering authorization status for the user based on the measured access bio-metric data, comprises: 
 receiving a user identifier;  
 comparing the measured piece of access bio-metric data to a piece of reference bio-metric data corresponding to the user identified by the received user identifier, where the piece of reference bio-metric data was measured before the operation of the hand-held wireless communication device by the user to place the wager;  
 assigning a first authorization status if the piece of measured bio-metric data corresponds to the piece of reference bio-metric data; and  
 assigning a second authorization status if the piece of measured biometric data does not correspond to the piece of reference biometric data.  
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein determining a wagering authorization status for the user based on the measured access bio-metric data, comprises: 
 wirelessly transmitting the measured access bio-metric data to a host; and  
 at the host, comparing the measured piece of access bio-metric data to at least one piece of reference bio-metric data measured before the operation of the hand-held wireless communication device by the user to place the wager.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein determining a wagering authorization status for the user based on the measured access bio-metric data, comprises: 
 at a player hand-held communication device, comparing the measured piece of access bio-metric data to at least one piece of reference bio-metric data measured before the operation of the hand-held wireless communication device by the user to place the wager; and  
 wirelessly transmitting wagering information from the player hand-held communication device if the measured piece of access biometric data corresponds to the piece of reference biometric data.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein determining a wagering authorization status for the user based on the measured access bio-metric data, comprises: 
 at a player hand-held communication device, comparing the measured piece of access bio-metric data to at least one piece of reference bio-metric data measured before the operation of the hand-held wireless communication device by the user to place the wager;  
 wirelessly transmitting wagering information and an authorization code from the player hand-held communication device to a host, if the measured piece of access biometric data corresponds to the piece of reference biometric data.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein determining a wagering authorization status for the user based on the measured access bio-metric data, comprises: 
 verifying an age of the user;  
 assigning a user identifier to the user if the age of the user is above a predefined age;  
 receiving the user identifier;  
 comparing the measured piece of access bio-metric data to a piece of reference bio-metric data corresponding to the user identified by the received user identifier, where the piece of reference bio-metric data was measured before the operation of the hand-held wireless communication device by the user to place the wager;  
 assigning a first authorization status if the piece of measured bio-metric data corresponds to the piece of reference bio-metric data; and  
 assigning a second authorization status if the piece of measured biometric data does not correspond to the piece of reference biometric data.  
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the authorization status is further determined in at least part on at least one of a credit rating, an age, a birth date, a citizenship, a residency, a registration status, a previous performance record.  
     
     
         22 . A method of accepting wagers from a remote location, comprising: 
 receiving access biometric data corresponding to a user attempting to place a wager;    determining a wagering authorization status for the user based on the measured access bio-metric data; and    accepting or denying a wager from the user based on the determined authorization status.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein determining a wagering authorization status for the user based on the measured access bio-metric data, comprises: 
 comparing the measured piece of access biometric data to at least one piece of reference biometric data previously sampled from the user in-person.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein accepting or denying a wager from the user based on the determined authorization status, comprises: 
 accepting the wager if the measured piece of access biometric data corresponds to at least one piece of reference biometric data previously sampled from the user in-person.  
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein accepting or denying a wager from the user based on the determined authorization status, comprises: 
 accepting the wager if the measured piece of access bio-metric data corresponds to at least one piece of reference bio-metric data previously sampled from the user in-person and associated with a user identity.  
 
     
     
         26 . A computer-readable media whose contents cause a computer system to accept and reject wagers, by: 
 receiving a piece of measured access biometric data corresponding to a user who is attempting to place a wager;    determining a wagering authorization status for the user based on the measured access bio-metric data; and    accepting or denying a wager from the user based on the determined authorization status.    
     
     
         27 . The computer-readable media of  claim 26  whose contents cause a computer system determine a wagering authorization status for the user based on the measured access bio-metric data, by: 
 comparing the measured piece of access bio-metric data to at least one piece of reference bio-metric data previously sampled from the user while independently verifying at least one additional characteristic of the user.  
 
     
     
         28 . The computer-readable media of  claim 26  whose contents cause a computer system determine a wagering authorization status for the user based on the measured access bio-metric data, by: 
 comparing the measured piece of access bio-metric data to at least one piece of reference bio-metric data previously sampled from the user while independently verifying the age of the user.  
 
     
     
         29 . The computer-readable media of  claim 26  whose contents cause a computer system determine a wagering authorization status for the user based on the measured access bio-metric data, by: 
 comparing the measured piece of access bio-metric data to at least one piece of reference bio-metric data previously sampled from the user while independently verifying the age of the user in-person.  
 
     
     
         30 . A hand-held wireless communications device for wagering, comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory coupled to the processor for control thereby to provide instructions and data to the processor for execution;    a display coupled to the processor for control thereby to present a user interface having a number of wagering prompts;    a user selectable input device coupled to the processor to provide user input to the processor; and    a transmitter coupled to the processor for control thereby to transmit wagering information from the hand-held wireless communications device.    
     
     
         31 . The hand-held wireless communications device of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 a global positioning system receiver to receive global positioning data, the global positioning system receiver coupled to the processor to provide the global positioning data to the transmitter for transmission along with the wagering information.    
     
     
         32 . The hand-held wireless communications device of  claim 30  wherein the user selectable input device comprises a touch sensitive portion of the display.  
     
     
         33 . The hand-held wireless communications device of  claim 30  wherein the transmitter comprises a light.  
     
     
         34 . The hand-held wireless communications device of  claim 30  wherein the transmitter comprises an infrared light.  
     
     
         35 . The hand-held wireless communications device of  claim 30  wherein the transmitter comprises a radio frequency transmitter.  
     
     
         36 . The hand-held wireless communications device of  claim 30  wherein the wager prompts include a place wager icon.  
     
     
         37 . The hand-held wireless communications device of  claim 30  wherein the wager prompts include a wager amount field.  
     
     
         38 . A computing system for wagering, comprising: 
 a first wireless receiver positioned to receive wirelessly transmitted wagering information; and    a processor coupled to the receiver and programmed to determine a position from which the wagering information was transmitted, to determine whether the determined position is within a first restricted access gaming area and to accept a wager based on the wagering information if the determined position is within the first restricted access gaming area.    
     
     
         39 . The computing system of  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 at least a second wireless receiver positioned to receive the wirelessly transmitted wagering information; and wherein the processor compares a time delay between receipt of the wirelessly transmitted wagering information by the first and the second wireless receivers to determine the position from which the wagering information was transmitted.    
     
     
         40 . The computing system of  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 at least a second and a third wireless receiver positioned to receive the wirelessly transmitted wagering information; and wherein the processor compares triangulates between receipt of the wirelessly transmitted wagering information by the first, the second and the third wireless receivers to determine the position from which the wagering information was transmitted.    
     
     
         41 . The computing system of  claim 38  wherein wirelessly transmitted wagering information is transmitted along with a set of global positioning system position data corresponding to a position from which the wagering information was transmitted.  
     
     
         42 . A system for remote wagering, comprising: 
 a first restricted access gaming area, the first restricted access gaming area having access restricted to persons meeting at least a first predefined criteria;    a shielding layer surrounding the first restricted access gaming area, the shielding layer being substantially impenetrable to signals of a first type;    at least a first receiver within the first restricted access gaming area; and    a computing system coupled to the receiver to receive wagering information via the receiver from a hand-held wireless communications devices located within the restricted access gaming area and transmitting the wagering information as signal of the first type.    
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 a number of game sensors positioned to monitor a gaming table, the game sensors coupled to the computing system to provide gaming information to the computing system.    
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the computing system is programmed to simulate a wagering game.  
     
     
         45 . A system for remote wagering, comprising: 
 a first restricted access gaming area, the first restricted access gaming area having access restricted to persons meeting at least a first predefined criteria;    a first receiver positioned to receive wirelessly transmitted wagering information;    a second receiver spaced from the first receiver and positioned to receive wirelessly transmitted wagering information; and    a processor coupled to the first and the second receivers to receive the wirelessly transmitted wagering information and programmed to determine a position from which the wagering information was transmitted, and to accept a wager contained in the wagering information if the determined position is within the first restricted access gaming area.    
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the processor is programmed to compare a time delay between receipt of the wirelessly transmitted wagering information by the first and the second receivers to determine the position from which the wagering information was transmitted.  
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the processor is programmed to triangulate between the receipt of the wirelessly transmitted wagering information by the first, the second and the third receivers to determine the position from which the wagering information was transmitted.  
     
     
         48 . A method of automated wagering, comprising: 
 controlling access by a number of users to a first restricted area, at least one of the number of users having a hand-held wireless communication device;    operating a first number of wireless receivers having a range approximately coextensive with the first restricted area;    receiving a wireless transmission of wager information from at least one of the hand-held wireless communication devices located within the first restricted area, the wager information including at least one wager; and    accepting the at least one wager received by the first number wireless receivers.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 controlling access by the number of users to a second restricted area;    operating a second number of wireless receivers having a range approximately coextensive with the second restricted area;    receiving a number of wireless transmissions of wager information from at least some of the hand-held wireless communication devices located within the second restricted area, the wager information including at least one wager; and    accepting the wagers in the wager information received by the second number of wireless receivers.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48  wherein operating a first number of wireless receivers having a range approximately coextensive with the first restricted area includes positioning a number of optical sensors to provide line-of-sight coverage extending over approximately an entire room.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48  wherein operating a first number of wireless receivers having a range approximately coextensive with the first restricted area includes positioning a number of infrared sensors to provide line-of-sight coverage extending over approximately an entire room.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48  wherein operating a first number of wireless receivers having a range approximately coextensive with the first restricted area includes positioning a number of antennas to provide coverage extending over approximately an entire room.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 48  wherein operating a first number of wireless receivers having a range approximately coextensive with the first restricted area includes positioning a number of antennas to provide coverage extending over approximately an entire room; and shielding an outer perimeter of the room from wireless transmissions originating outside of the room.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 48  wherein controlling access by the number of users to a first restricted area includes: 
 for each of the users, determining an approximate age of the user; and  
 permitting the user access to the first restricted area if the user has an approximate age greater than or equal to a pre-defined minimum age.  
 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 48  wherein controlling access by the number of users to a first restricted area includes: 
 for each of the users, determining an approximate amount of credit for the user; and  
 permitting the user access to the first restricted area if the user has an approximate amount of credit greater than or equal to a pre-defined minimum.  
 
     
     
         56 . A method of automated wagering, comprising: 
 receiving a wireless transmission of wager information including at least one wager from at least one hand-held wireless communication device;    accepting the at least one wager if the wireless transmission of wager information originated within a first one of a number of predefined restricted areas.    
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising: 
 determining a position of the origin of the wireless transmission of wager information; and    determining whether the determined position of the origin of the wireless transmission of wager information is within the first one of the number of predefined restricted areas.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56  wherein receiving the wireless transmission of wager information comprises receiving the wireless transmission of wager information at a first receiver and at a second receiver spaced from the first receiver, and wherein the method further comprises: 
 determining a time difference between receipt of the wireless transmission of wager information by the first and the second receivers;  
 determining a position of the origin of the wireless transmission based on the time difference; and  
 determining whether the determined position of the origin of the wireless transmission of wager information is within the first one of the number of predefined restricted areas.  
 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56  wherein receiving the wireless transmission of wager information comprises receiving the wireless transmission of wager information at a first receiver, at a second receiver spaced from the first receiver, and at a third receiver spaced from the first and the second receivers, and wherein the method further comprises: 
 determining a position of the origin of the wireless transmission by triangulation; and  
 determining whether the determined position of the origin of the wireless transmission of wager information is within the first one of the number of predefined restricted areas.  
 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 56  wherein receiving a wireless transmission of wager information includes receiving global positioning data corresponding to a position of the hand-held wireless communication device producing the wireless transmission; and 
 determining whether the hand-held wireless communication device producing the wireless transmission is within the first one of the number of predefined restricted areas.  
 
     
     
         61 . A method of automated wagering, comprising: 
 operating at least one wireless signal receiver to receive a plurality of wireless transmissions of wager information;    accepting at least one wager contained in the received wager information if the wireless transmission of the received wager information originated from within one of a number of predefined restricted areas; and    transmitting gaming information, including wager results to at least the predefined restricted areas.    
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising: 
 determining that the wireless transmission of the received wager information originated from within one of a number of predefined restricted areas by the mere receipt of the wireless transmission.    
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising: 
 determining that the wireless transmission of the received wager information originated from within one of a number of predefined restricted areas by:    determining a position of the origin of the wireless transmission of the received wager information; and    comparing the determined position with a position of at least the one of the number of predefined restricted areas.    
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 61  wherein transmitting gaming information includes transmitting gaming information beyond the predefined restricted areas.  
     
     
         65 . A host computing system for remote wagering, comprising: 
 a receiver for wirelessly receiving wagering information from a hand-held wireless communication device;    a processor coupled to the receiver to receive the received wagering information and programmed to accept a wager contained in the wagering information if the handheld communications device was within a restricted area when the wagering information was transmitted; and    a host transmitter coupled to the processor to wirelessly transmit a notification of a result of the wager to the hand-held wireless communications device outside of the restricted area.    
     
     
         66 . A method for remote wagering, comprising: 
 wirelessly receiving wagering information transmitted from a handheld communications device;    accepting a wager contained in the wagering information if the handheld communications device was within a restricted area when the wagering information was transmitted; and    automatically providing notification of a result of the wager to the handheld communications device when the handheld communications device is not within the restricted area.    
     
     
         67 . A hand-held wireless communications device for accessing casino services, comprising: 
 a housing;    a processor received in the housing;    a memory received in the housing and coupled to the processor to provide data and instructions thereto;    a display carried by the housing and coupled to the processor for control thereby, the display displaying a visual representation of a data structure stored in the memory, the visual representation including an indication of a cumulative amount of funds remaining in a user's account;    a transmitter coupled to the player processor to wirelessly transmit requests for wagering and guest services externally from the housing; and    a receiver coupled to the player processor to provide updated funds data received externally from the housing, the updated funds data based at least in part on the cost of the requested wagering and guest services.    
     
     
         68 . The hand-held wireless communications device of  claim 67  wherein the updated funds data includes an updated cumulative total of funds remaining in the user's account.  
     
     
         69 . The hand-held wireless communications device of  claim 67  wherein the updated funds data includes a cost of the requested wagering and guest services to be summed with a current cumulative amount of funds remaining in the user's account to updated the cumulative amount of funds remaining in the user's account.  
     
     
         70 . A system for accessing casino services, comprising: 
 a handheld wireless communications device, comprising:    a housing;    a processor received in the housing;    a memory received in the housing and coupled to the processor to provide da 1 a and instructions thereto;    a display carried by the housing and coupled to the processor for control thereby, the display displaying a visual representation of a data structure stored in the memory, the visual representation including an indication of a cumulative amount of funds remaining in a user's account;    a transmitter coupled to the player processor to wirelessly transmit requests for wagering and guest services externally from the housing; and    a receiver coupled to the player processor to provide updated funds data received externally from the housing, the updated funds data based at least in part on the cost of the requested wagering and guest services; and    a host; comprising: 
 a host processor;  
 a host receiver for wirelessly receiving requests for wagering and guest services from the hand-held wireless communication device and coupled to the host processor to transmit the received requests; and  
 a host transmitter coupled to the host processor to wirelessly transmit the updated funds data in response to the requests for the wagering and guest services.  
   
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 70  wherein the visual representation further includes an indication of a number of user selectable wagering services and a number of user selectable guest services.  
     
     
         72 . A method of operating a hand-held wireless communications device for providing access to casino services, comprising: 
 displaying a visual representation of a data structure stored in a memory of the wireless communications device, the visual representation including an indication of a cumulative amount of funds remaining in a user's account;    wirelessly transmitting requests for wagering and guest services externally from the housing; receiving updated funds data externally from the wireless communications device, the updated funds data based at least in part on a cost of the requested wagering and guest services;    displaying an updated visual representation of the data structure stored in the memory, the updated visual representation including an indication of an updated cumulative amount of funds remaining in a user's account based at least in part on the cost of the requested wagering and guest services.    
     
     
         73 . A hand-held wireless communications device for accessing casino services, comprising: 
 a housing;    a processor received in the housing;    a memory received in the housing and coupled to the processor to provide data and instructions thereto;    a display carried by the housing and coupled to the processor for control thereby, the display displaying a visual representation of a data structure stored in the memory, the visual representation including an indication of at least one wagering service offered by a casino and an indication of at least one guest service offered by the casino;    a transmitter coupled to the player processor to wirelessly transmit requests for the wagering and guest services externally from the housing; and    a receiver coupled to the player processor to provide a confirmation of the requests for wagering and guest services wirelessly received externally from the housing.    
     
     
         74 . The hand-held wireless communications of  claim 73  wherein the indication of at least one wagering service includes a plurality of user selectable wagering games.  
     
     
         75 . The hand-held wireless communications of  claim 73  wherein the indication of at least one guest service includes a plurality of user selectable reservations for accommodations, meals and shows.  
     
     
         76 . The hand-held wireless communications of  claim 73 , wherein the visual representation further comprises: 
 an indication of a cumulative amount of funds remaining in a user's account.    
     
     
         77 . A system for accessing casino services, comprising: 
 hand-held wireless communications device, comprising: 
 a housing;  
 a processor received in the housing;  
 a memory received in the housing and coupled to the processor to provide data and instructions thereto;  
 a display carried by the housing and coupled to the processor for control thereby, the display displaying a visual representation of a data structure stored in the memory, the visual representation including an indication of at least one wagering service offered by a casino and an indication of at least one guest service offered by the casino;  
 a transmitter coupled to the player processor to wirelessly transmit requests for the wagering and guest services externally from the housing; and  
 a receiver coupled to the player processor to provide a confirmation of the requests for wagering and guest services wirelessly received externally from the housing.  
 a host; comprising: 
 a host processor;  
 a host receiver for wirelessly receiving the requests for the wagering and guest services from the hand-held wireless communication device and coupled to transmit the received wagering and guest services request to the host processor; and  
 a host transmitter coupled to the host processor to wirelessly transmit the confirmation of the requests for the wagering and guest services.  
 
   
     
     
         78 . A method of operating a hand-held wireless communications device for providing access to casino services, comprising: 
 displaying a visual representation of a data structure stored in a memory of the wireless communications device, the visual representation including an indication of at least one wagering service offered by a casino and an indication of at least one guest service offered by the casino;    wirelessly transmitting requests for the wagering and guest services externally from the wireless communications device; and    wirelessly receiving at the wireless communications device a confirmation of the requests for wagering and guest services transmitted externally from the housing.