Networked Gaming System and Method

Abstract

A system for providing live-play, network-based gaming to players is described, the system comprising a first electronic gaming device located inside an authorized gaming establishment for allowing a first player to play a game of chance and/or skill against a second player or with the second player against a house entity, a second electronic gaming device located within the authorized gaming establishment for allowing the second player to play the game against the first player or with the first player against the house entity, a server for providing the game to the first player and the second player via the first electronic gaming device and the second electronic gaming device, respectively, and a communication medium for electronically coupling the server to the first electronic gaming device, the second electronic gaming device, and to other user terminals that are located within the gaming establishment, only.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for providing live-play, network-based gaming to players, comprising:
 a first electronic gaming device located inside an authorized gaming establishment for allowing a first player to play a game of chance and/or skill against a second player or with the second player against a house entity;   a second electronic gaming device located within the authorized gaming establishment for allowing the second player to play the game against the first player or with the first player against the house entity;   a server for providing the game to the first player and the second player via the first electronic gaming device and the second electronic gaming device, respectively; and   a communication medium for electronically coupling the server to the first electronic gaming device, the second electronic gaming device, and to other user terminals that are located within the gaming establishment, only.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server further performs the following functions:
 determine a location of the first electronic gaming device and the second electronic gaming device;   receive a first indication from the first electronic gaming device that the first player of the first electronic gaming device wishes to participate in the game;   receive a second indication from the second electronic gaming device that the second player of the second electronic gaming device wishes to participate in the game; and   assign the first player and the second player to the same virtual game table associated with the game only if the location of the first electronic gaming device and the location of the second electronic gaming device meet a predefined criterion.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the server further performs the following function:
 determine the location of the first electronic gaming device by receiving location information from the first electronic gaming device.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the predefined criterion comprises the first electronic gaming device being located more than a predetermined distance from the second electronic gaming device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the predefined criterion comprises the first electronic gaming device being located on a different floor as the second electronic gaming device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the server further performs the following functions:
 receive a third indication from a third electronic gaming device located in the authorized gaming establishment that the third player wishes to participate in a second game;   receive a fourth indication from a fourth electronic gaming device located in a second authorized gaming establishment that the fourth player wishes to participate in the second game;   determine a location of the third electronic gaming device and the fourth electronic gaming device; and   assign the third player and the fourth player to the same virtual game table associated with the second game only if the location of the first electronic gaming device and the location of the second electronic gaming are located in different authorized gaming establishments based on the location of the third electronic gaming device and the fourth electronic gaming device.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a slot club card server, the slot club card server for tracking the first and second player's play, and providing an award to any player that meets a predetermined play criteria. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined play criteria comprises a number of all-in bets made by a player. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server further performs the following functions:
 determining whether a player position has become available;   providing an indication to the first and second electronic gaming devices that a player position has become available; and   each of the first and second gaming devices comprises a video display for providing the status of live-play games, and each of the first and second gaming devices displays a visual indication that a player position has become available if each of the first and second gaming devices receives the indication from the server.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server further performs the following functions:
 determining whether a player position has become available;   providing an indication to the first and second electronic gaming devices that a player position has become available; and   each of the first and second gaming devices comprises an audio system for providing the status of live-play games, and each of the first and second gaming devices providing an audio indication that a player position has become available if each of the first and second gaming devices receives the indication from the server.   
     
     
         11 . A method for providing live-play network-based gaming to a plurality of electronic gaming devices, comprising:
 providing a first electronic gaming device to a first authorized gaming establishment;   providing a second electronic gaming device to the first authorized gaming establishment;   providing a server that provides a game to a first player operating the first electronic gaming device and a second player operating the second electronic gaming device, the game comprising a live game of chance and/or skill played between the first and second players or between the first and second players and a house entity; and   connecting the server to a communication medium for electronically coupling the server to the first electronic gaming device, the second electronic gaming device, and to other electronic gaming devices that are located within the first authorized gaming establishment, only.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining a location of the first electronic gaming device;   determining a location of the second electronic gaming device;   receiving a first indication from the first electronic gaming device that the first player wishes to participate in the game;   receiving a second indication from the second electronic gaming device that the second player wishes to participate in the game; and   assigning the first player and the second player to the same virtual game table associated with the game if the location of the first electronic gaming device and the location of the second electronic gaming device meet a predefined criterion.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined criterion comprises the first electronic gaming device being located more than a predetermined distance from the second electronic gaming device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predefined criterion comprises the first electronic gaming device being located on a different floor as the second electronic gaming device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein determining the location of the first electronic gaming device comprises receiving location information from the first electronic gaming device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 tracking the first and second player's play; and   providing an award to any player that meets a predetermined play criteria.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined play criteria comprises a number of all-in bets made by a player. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining whether a player position has become available; and   providing an indication to the first and second electronic gaming devices that a player position has become available.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 determining a first time that the first electronic gaming device should present the indication to potential players;   determining a second time that the first electronic gaming device should present the indication to potential players; and   providing the first and second times to the first and second electronic gaming devices, respectively.