Broadcast gaming

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel broadcast gaming methods and devices. Some implementations involve broadcasting real-time video streams of game content to a player's receiver, such as a television, a mobile phone, a computer, etc. Various games may be simultaneously broadcast on separate channels. Players can purchase time slots during which the players will passively participate in the wins or losses of a game. Alternatively, players may elect to financially participate in a predetermined number of games. Based on the outcomes of games in which a player participates, a player's pre-established account is either debited or credited. Players may view gaming content at the time of broadcast or record it for later viewing.

1 . A gaming method, comprising:
 receiving a first indication that a first viewer will have a passive financial participation in the gaming activity;   broadcasting the gaming activity during the first time slot;   determining a first gaming activity outcome for the first time slot; and   adjusting a first gaming account according to the first gaming activity outcome.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming activity comprises a slot game. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming activity comprises a table game. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming activity involves gaming decisions that are made during the first time slot. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a menu indicating a plurality of gaming activities that will be broadcast during a corresponding plurality of time slots. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming method of  claim 1 , wherein the first indication indicates a condition for terminating the first viewer's passive financial participation in the gaming activity before the end of the first time slot. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming method of  claim 1 , wherein the broadcasting step comprises:
 making a recording of the gaming activity with a video camera; and   broadcasting the recording of the gaming activity.   
   
   
       8 . The gaming method of  claim 1 , wherein the broadcasting step comprises:
 generating the gaming activity video from a game server; and   broadcasting the gaming activity video.   
   
   
       9 . The gaming method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that a bonusing event has occurred during the first time slot; and   awarding a bonus.   
   
   
       10 . The gaming method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving 2 nd  though N th  indications that 2 nd  though N th  viewers will have passive financial participation in the gaming activity; and   adjusting 2 nd  though N th  gaming accounts according to the first gaming activity outcome.   
   
   
       11 . The gaming method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of scheduling the gaming activity broadcast for the first time slot. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying information that identifies the session being viewed. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming method of  claim 4 , wherein the gaming decisions are made by a gaming proxy. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming method of  claim 4 , wherein the gaming decisions are made by applying rules from a predetermined rule set. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming method of  claim 6 , wherein the condition comprises at least one of the following: (a) the passage of a predetermined time interval shorter than the first time slot; (b) the occurrence of a predetermined loss; or (c) the occurrence of a predetermined win. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming method of  claim 9 , wherein the bonusing event is specific to the first viewer. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming method of  claim 9 , wherein the bonus comprises extending a time of passive financial participation in the gaming activity. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming method of  claim 9 , wherein the bonus comprises a multiplier of the win amount for a certain time period. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the information comprises an on-screen clock. 
   
   
       20 . A network, comprising:
 means for receiving a first indication that a first viewer will have a passive financial participation in the gaming activity;   means for broadcasting the gaming activity during the first time slot;   means for determining a first gaming activity outcome for the first time slot; and   means for adjusting a first gaming account according to the first gaming activity outcome.   
   
   
       21 . Software embodied in at least one machine-readable medium, the software including instructions for controlling a network to perform the following steps:
 receiving a first indication that a first viewer will have a passive financial participation in the gaming activity;   broadcasting the gaming activity during the first time slot;   determining a first gaming activity outcome for the first time slot; and   adjusting a first gaming account according to the first gaming activity outcome.   
   
   
       22 . A gaming method, comprising:
 scheduling a plurality of gaming activities that will be broadcast during a corresponding plurality of time slots;   providing a menu indicating the plurality of gaming activities and the corresponding plurality of time slots; and   broadcasting the plurality of gaming activities during the corresponding plurality of time slots.   
   
   
       23 . The gaming method of  claim 22 , wherein the menu comprises a graphical user interface (“GUI”) that allows gaming activities to be selected for viewing. 
   
   
       24 . The gaming method of  claim 23 , wherein the GUI comprises an on-screen guide. 
   
   
       25 . The gaming method of  claim 23 , wherein the GUI comprises a 3-D casino environment. 
   
   
       26 . The gaming method of  claim 23 , wherein a simulated casino environment is created through the use of sounds similar to what a player would experience in a live casino environment. 
   
   
       27 . The gaming method of  claim 23 , wherein the GUI allows the selection of gaming activities in which a user will have a passive financial participation. 
   
   
       28 . The gaming method of  claim 27 , wherein the GUI allows a user to indicate a condition for terminating a passive financial participation in a gaming activity before the end of a corresponding time slot. 
   
   
       29 . The gaming method of  claim 28 , wherein the condition comprises at least one of the following: (a) the passage of a predetermined time interval shorter than the corresponding time slot; (b) the occurrence of a predetermined loss; and (c) the occurrence of a predetermined win. 
   
   
       30 . A network, comprising:
 means for scheduling a plurality of gaming activities that will be broadcast during a corresponding plurality of time slots;   means for providing a menu indicating the plurality of gaming activities and the corresponding plurality of time slots, the menu comprising a graphical user interface (“GUI”) that allows gaming activities to be selected for viewing; and   means for broadcasting the plurality of gaming activities during the corresponding plurality of time slots.   
   
   
       31 . Software embodied in at least one machine-readable medium, the software including instructions for controlling a network to perform the following steps:
 scheduling a plurality of gaming activities that will be broadcast during a corresponding plurality of time slots;   providing a menu indicating the plurality of gaming activities and the corresponding plurality of time slots, the menu comprising a graphical user interface (“GUI”) that allows gaming activities to be selected for viewing; and   broadcasting the plurality of gaming activities during the corresponding plurality of time slots.   
   
   
       32 . A gaming method, comprising:
 scheduling a plurality of gaming activities that will be broadcast during a corresponding plurality of time slots;   providing a menu indicating the plurality of gaming activities and the corresponding plurality of time slots, the menu comprising a graphical user interface (“GUI”) that allows gaming activities to be selected for viewing and allows the selection of gaming activities in which a user will have a passive financial participation;   verifying that a user is authorized to have a passive financial participation in gaming activities, the verifying step comprising a determination that the user is located within a first jurisdiction in which at least some of the gaming activities are legal and that the user meets age requirements of the first jurisdiction;   receiving a first indication that a first user will have a passive financial participation in a first gaming activity scheduled for broadcast during a first time slot, the first gaming activity being legal within the first jurisdiction;   broadcasting the first gaming activity during the first time slot;   determining a first gaming activity outcome for the first time slot; and   adjusting a first gaming account according to the first gaming activity outcome, the gaming account located within the first jurisdiction.   
   
   
       33 . The gaming method of  claim 32 , wherein the user is enabled to view the gaming activity while the viewer is within a second jurisdiction in which the first gaming activity is not legal.