Gaming System

Abstract

A gaming system is disclosed which comprises at least one gaming communications module, at least one gaming server, a communications link between the at least one gaming communications module and the gaming server for facilitating communications between the gaming server and the at least one gaming communications module. The communications link includes at least one communication wire and the gaming server is arranged to supply first and second server signals to the communication wire from the gaming server. The system also comprises a splitter device in communication with the communication wire and arranged to provide the gaming communications module with two signal sources, one of the signal sources being for reception of the first server signals at the gaming communications module and the other of the signal sources being for reception of the second server signals at the gaming communications module.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a gaming communications module arranged to communicate with at least one gaming server through a communications link having at least one communication wire; and   at least one splitter device in communication with the gaming communications module and arranged during use to provide the gaming communications module with two signal sources from the or each communication wire, one of the signal sources being for reception of first server signals at the gaming communications module from a gaming server, and the other of the signal sources being for reception of second server signals at the gaming communications module from the gaming server.   
   
   
       2 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising at least one gaming server and a communications link between the at least one gaming communications module and the gaming server for facilitating communications between the gaming server and the at least one gaming communications module, the communications link including at least one communication wire and the gaming server being arranged to supply first and second server signals to the communication wire from the gaming server. 
   
   
       3 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system includes at least one joining device arranged to supply first and second server signals to the communication wire. 
   
   
       4 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the splitter device is separate from and connectable to the gaming communications module. 
   
   
       5 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the splitter device is incorporated into the gaming communications module. 
   
   
       6 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the joiner device is separate from and connectable to the gaming server. 
   
   
       7 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the joiner device is incorporated into the gaming server. 
   
   
       8 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first server signals conform to RS485 or RS422 interface standards. 
   
   
       9 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second signals conform to Ethernet standards. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein communications link is a Cat 5E or Cat 6 cable. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the communications link includes a plurality of communication wires and the splitter device is arranged to provide the gaming communications module with two signal sources for each of the communication wires. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming server arranged to supply first and second server signals to a gaming communications module through a communications link having at least one communication wire, the gaming server comprising:
 at least one joining device arranged to supply first and second server signals to the communication wire.   
   
   
       13 . A method of gaming comprising:
 providing a gaming communications module;   communicating with at least one gaming server through a communications link having at least one communication wire;   splitting communications from the communication link so as to provide the gaming communications module with two signal sources from the or each communication wire, one of the signal sources being for reception of first server signals at the gaming communications module from a gaming server, and the other of the signal sources being for reception of second server signals at the gaming communications module from the gaming server.   
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising providing at least one joining device for supplying first and second server signals to the at least one communication wire. 
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising providing a splitter device separate from and connectable to the gaming communications module. 
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising incorporating the splitter device into the gaming communications module. 
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , comprising providing a joiner device separate from and connectable to the gaming server. 
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , comprising incorporating the joiner device into the gaming server. 
   
   
       19 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the first server signals conform to RS485 or RS422 interface standards. 
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the second signals conform to Ethernet standards. 
   
   
       21 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein communications link is a Cat 5E or Cat 6 cable. 
   
   
       22 . A method as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising providing the communications link with a plurality of communication wires and arranging the splitter device to provide the gaming communications module with two signal sources for each of the communication wires.