General gaming engine

Abstract

An apparatus for implementing a game having a deterministic component and a non-deterministic component wherein a player uses the game through at least one player interface unit. Each player interface unit generates a player record indicating player-initiated events. A random number generator provides a series of pseudo-random numbers and a rules library stores indexed rules for one or more games. An interface registry stores mapping records used to associate the player-initiated events to pre-selected rules in the rules library. A control means processes the player record and returns an output record to the player interface unit where the output record is determined by executing the game's rules with reference to the pseudo-random numbers and predefined combinatorial algorithms for selecting sets of the pseudo-random numbers. Random numbers may be generated for use in a particular game or set of games, but not for use in all games.

1 . A method for playing a plurality of different games at a player interface unit comprising the steps of:
 receiving a player record of information from the player interface unit when a player playing a selected one of the plurality of different games initiates a game event;   determining game rules for the selected one game corresponding to the delivered player record of information;   generating a first set of random numbers for use in a first subset of the plurality of different games;   generating a second set of random numbers for use in a second subset of the plurality of different games;   determining that the selected one game is one of the first subset of the plurality of different games;   obtaining random numbers from the first set of generated random numbers when required by the determined game rules;   delivering to the player interface unit game play results in response to the determined game rules and obtained random numbers; and   implementing the game play results in the player interface unit so as to respond to the player initiated game event for the selected one game.