Restricted episode distribution with repeated biometric authentication

• US 20030109306A1
• Filed: 10/03/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jayant S. Karmarkar
• Original Assignee: Jayant S. Karmarkar
• Inventors: Karmarkar, Jayant S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,285,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication

Abstract

Virtual gaming is provided at a remote location on-site or off-site of the casino premises using live multimedia video or restricted pre-recorded video from autonomous randomly selected live casino games. The restricted pre-recorded video could be obtained from prior casino security video or from closed regulated tournament video recordings. The multimedia video source is at a casino and provides video signals depicting a number of various legally-authorized live casino games. An accounting subsystem manages the compensation, credit accounts, and authentication for a remote player. A communication distribution hub connects the multimedia video source and the player accounting subsystem to a remote player station. The remote player station includes an appropriately secured display for displaying to a remote player the multimedia video signal depicting the legally-authorized live casino game or a pre-recorded legally randomized casino game. The remote player station also provides appropriately secured gaming information which enables the legally authenticated (biometric or otherwise) remote player to place a bet. The remote player station also provides gaming information to enable the remote player to receive a payout. Simplified wagering rules also enable the remote player to bet either for or against the actual player using either a live casino multimedia video signal or a restricted randomized casino multimedia game video from a pre-recorded storage medium. Pay table related decisions for the simplified wagering rules are as simple as video slot wagering compared to more complicated casino pay tables for card and other table games. A remote player can concurrently play several dissimilar casino games with these simplified wagering rules at the same gaming station. When selecting a game, the remote player can virtually roam around a casino and then participate in a plurality of selected games and purchase casino sponsored E-commerce services and products without leaving the remote game station.

Claims

1. A legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system, comprising:

a multimedia virtual gaming content generation array presenting one or more legally-authorized live casino games played by real players in a legally-authorized gaming casino;

a multimedia virtual gaming content acquisition sensor array for sensing and for providing multimedia output signals corresponding to one or more player per sensor in each of said respective one or more legally-authorized live casino games;

a multimedia virtual gaming episode signal processing array for receiving and processing said multimedia output signals of the multimedia virtual gaming content acquisition sensor array to provide processed live and delayed multimedia output signals;

a multimedia virtual gaming content distribution array including a communication hub with a switching subsystem or distributing the processed multimedia output signals to one or more remote player stations through a bi-directional transmission medium; and

the remote player station including a multimedia display, wagering equipment, and a processor enabling a remote player to place a wager on one or more respective legally-authorized live casino games and to enable a remote player to be credited with a payout for the one or more casino game displayed on the station displays, said remote player station including means for transmitting information back to the communication hub of the multimedia virtual gaming content distribution array.

2. The legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system of claim 1 including one or more legally-authorized computer-based random number generators for controlling the switching subsystem to distribute the processed multimedia output signals to the remote player station through the bi-directional transmission medium.

3. The legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system of claim 2 wherein the output signal to the remote player station is comprised of a random number.

4. The legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system of claim 3 wherein an encrypted random number received by the remote player station drives the appropriate video display representing the progress or outcome of the game.

5. The legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia virtual gaming content distribution array is implemented with one or more field programmable gate arrays.

6. The legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia virtual gaming content distribution array is implemented with one or more digital processors.

7. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia virtual gaming content acquisition sensor array includes video sensors and the remote player stations includes a video display wherein the video display does not disclose the identity of the real players in the legally-authorized live casino game.

8. The legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system of claim 7 wherein the video sensor locations facilitate a clear unobscured view of each individual player'"'"'s actions.

9. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 7 wherein the remote player station includes a head-mounted virtual video display.

10. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 7 wherein the remote player station is a portable terminal with a wireless communication link to the distribution array.

11. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 7 wherein the remote player station is a floor mounted station with a wireless communication link to the distribution array.

12. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia virtual gaming content acquisition sensor array provides multimedia signals from legally-authorized, restricted-access tournament games.

13. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 wherein the source of multimedia gaming-content signals provide legally-authorized, restricted-access, live presentations of live legally-authorized casino games using hired professional gamers and hired celebrities.

14. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 wherein the remote player station presents the multimedia signals to the remote player at a speed different than the speed of the live legally-authorized casino games.

15. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 14 wherein the multimedia signals are presented at a reduced speed for instruction of novice players.

16. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 wherein the source of multimedia gaming-content signals provide previously-recorded, legally-authorized, restricted-access, presentations of casino games.

17. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia virtual gaming content acquisition sensor array provides multimedia signals from legally-authorized, restricted-access games.

18. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia virtual gaming content acquisition sensor array provides signals obtained from legally-authorized video recordings that a casino has previously recorded on storage media for the live casino games for surveillance and other regulatory purposes.

19. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia virtual gaming content acquisition sensor array provides video signals for a casino to use for surveillance and other regulatory purposes.

20. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 wherein the bi-directional transmission medium includes a network and the multimedia virtual gaming content distribution array includes a network server connected through the network system to the remote player station.

21. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 1 wherein the network is a wired virtual private network.

22. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 1 wherein the network is a wireless virtual private network.

23. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia virtual gaming episode signal processing array provides synthetic computer generated and encoded video signals corresponding to live casino gaming components to the remote player station.

24. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia virtual gaming episode signal processing array provides data compression for the multimedia signals.

25. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia virtual gaming episode signal processing array provides data encryption for the multimedia signals.

26. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 wherein the multimedia virtual gaming episode signal processing array provides rapid editing of the content of the multimedia signals.

27. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 1 including a player authentication subsystem in the communication hub for periodic verification of a player'"'"'s identity and eligibility to play.

28. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 27 including a player accounting server which provides a data repository for player authentication, player compensation, and player rating for player rewards and other casino compensation.

29. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 28 wherein a hotel reservation server provides notice of player registration to the player accounting server.

30. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 28 wherein the player accounting server provides a casino surveillance system with information pertaining to player authentication failure.

31. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 28 wherein the player authentication subsystem uses biometric information about a player to periodically authenticate that player.

32. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 31 wherein biometric information is obtained from a miniature camera sensor mounted within a head-mounted portion of a player station.

33. The legally-authorized virtual distributed gaming system of claim 27 wherein the remote player station provides regulatory compliance information to the player accounting server regarding verification of the identity and age eligibility of any person within a predetermined distance from the remote player station.

34. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 1 wherein the legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system is connected via a virtual private network to ancillary casino systems including hotel reservation, surveillance, player accounting, and E-commerce systems.

35. A legally-authorized virtual distributed, interactive casino gaming system, comprising:

a gaming signal source providing multimedia signals corresponding to a legally-authorized live casino game;

a legally-authorized computer-based array of one or more random number generators;

a bi-directional transmission medium;

a processor array of the gaming distribution complex including a communication hub with a switching subsystem controlled by the legally-authorized computer-based random number generator for randomly distributing the multimedia signals to remote player gaming stations through the bi-directional transmission medium;

wherein the remote player gaming stations are located remotely from the gaming distribution complex and communicate with the communication hub to receive the multimedia signals, the remote player stations including multimedia displays for displaying to remote players one or more of the multimedia signals depicting a legally-authorized live casino game; and

wagering equipment at the remote player station to enable remote players to place a wager on one or more respective legally-authorized live casino games and to enable remote players to be credited with a payout for the one or more casino games displayed on the station displays.

36. The legally-authorized virtual distributed, interactive casino gaming system of claim 35 wherein the gaming signal source provides multimedia signals corresponding to one or more real players in one or more legally-authorized live casino games played by said real players in a legally-authorized gaming casino.

37. The legally-authorized virtual distributed, interactive casino gaming system of claim 35 wherein the gaming signal source provides multimedia signals which are processed to provide processed live and delayed multimedia output signals.

38. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 35 wherein the processor array is a multi-processor array with one or more servers.

39. The legally-authorized virtual distributed, interactive casino gaming system of claim 35 wherein the multimedia virtual gaming content distribution array is implemented with one or more field programmable gate arrays.

40. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 39 including an accounting system server for remote players.

41. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 40 wherein the accounting system server provides player credit authorization and for player ratings for player rewards and casino compensation to players.

42. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 35 wherein the wagering equipment at the remote player station allows remote players to wager for or against a player depicted by one of the multimedia sources.

43. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 35 wherein the wagering equipment at the remote player station allows remote players to wager with the casino against a player depicted by one of the multimedia sources.

44. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 35 wherein the wagering equipment at the remote player station allows a remote player to wager on an accumulating jackpot contributed to by a number of interconnected player stations.

45. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 35 wherein the gaming distribution complex declares a bonus jackpot for various live casino games at various times and at various player stations.

46. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 35 including a remote-player authentication server in the processor array.

47. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 46 wherein the remote player authentication server in the processor array communicates with a governmental regulatory site which monitors compliance with governmental gaming regulations.

48. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 46 wherein the remote-player authentication server uses biometric information received from the remote player gaming stations.

49. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 48 wherein biometric information is obtained from a miniature camera sensor mounted within a head-mounted portion of a player station.

50. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 46 wherein the communication hub provides a connection between a remote player gaming station and an E-commerce server to facilitate E-commerce transactions by a remoter player.

51. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 50 wherein the E-commerce server has a mode to advertise special offers on various products and services, on a remote player station.

52. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 35 wherein the processor array includes a network server and the remote player gaming stations are connected through a network system to the network server.

53. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 52 wherein the network is a wired virtual private network.

54. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 52 wherein the network is a wireless virtual private network.

55. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 52 wherein the processing array and the remote player gaming station communicate with data packets with destination routing addresses over a network.

56. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 52 wherein the network system is an Internet system and the network server is an Internet server.

57. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 56 wherein the Internet server is located in a Native American Nation'"'"'s Territory.

58. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 35 wherein the remote player gaming stations are located on casino gaming premises.

59. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 35 wherein the remote player gaming stations are located in casino premises under the physical control of the casino.

60. The legally-authorized virtual distributed casino gaming system of claim 35 wherein the remote player gaming stations are located off of the casino premises and are not under the physical control of the casino.

61. A player gaming station for playing legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino games, comprising:

a legally-authorized player gaming station which receives a plurality of multimedia signals, each of which depict a corresponding legally-authorized live game played at a licensed casino, the legally-authorized player gaming station enables a player to play a corresponding legally-authorized live casino game at a site remote from the live game;

the player gaming station including a processor controlled multimedia display for presenting images to a player corresponding to the plurality of multimedia signals depicting the legally-authorized live casino games; and

wagering equipment controlled by a processor at the player gaming station which allows the player to place a wager on one or more of the respectively depicted legally-authorized live casino games and to credit the players with a payout for one or more casino games displayed on the multimedia display.

62. The player gaming station of claim 61 wherein the multimedia display of the player gaming station includes a flat panel video display with a touchscreen area.

63. The player gaming station of claim 62 wherein the flat panel video display is adapted to be mounted on a wall of a casino premises.

64. The player gaming station of claim 62 wherein the flat panel video display communicates with the video distribution center with cables.

65. The player gaming station of claim 64 wherein the flat panel video display communicates with a wireless communication link to the distribution array.

66. The player gaming station of claim 64 wherein the cables have portions thereof routed along the lower edge of the wall of the casino premises near the floor thereof.

67. The licensed player gaming station of claim 61 wherein the multimedia display enables a player to view images, which correspond to the plurality of multimedia signals, sequentially and simultaneously and wherein the wagering equipment enables a player to wager on one or more of the legally-authorized live casino games.

68. The licensed player gaming station of claim 67 wherein the network system is an Internet system and the remote-player gaming station includes a processor adapted for processing information received from and transmitted to a network Internet server.

69. The licensed player gaming station of claim 67 wherein the Internet server is located in a Native American Nation'"'"'s Territory.

70. The licensed remote player gaming station of claim 68 wherein the gaming station includes a head-mounted assembly with a video display.

71. The licensed player gaming station of claim 70 wherein the display is a pair of miniature CRT'"'"'s.

72. The licensed player gaming station of claim 70 wherein the display is a pair of approved eye-safe laser scanners.

73. The licensed player gaming station of claim 70 wherein the display is a pair of LCD'"'"'s.

74. The licensed remote player gaming station of claim 70 wherein the gaming station includes a display providing a three-dimensional video presentation.

75. The licensed remote player gaming station of claim 70 wherein the head-mounted assembly includes a head-mounted camera sensor for obtaining player retina biometric data for authentication purposes.

76. The licensed player gaming station of claim 61 wherein said processors are microprocessors.

77. The licensed player gaming station of claim 61 wherein said processors are field programmable gate arrays with code encryption.

78. The licensed player gaming station of claim 61 wherein said processors are comprised of microprocessors and field programmable gate arrays with code encryption.

79. A method of distributing copyrighted video content depicting legally-authorized real casino game episodes played by real players, comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of multimedia signals corresponding to the copyrighted, legally-authorized real casino games played by real players in a legally-authorized gaming casino; and

distributing the multimedia signals corresponding to the legally-authorized real casino games to legally-authorized players.

80. The method of claim 79 including the step of distributing the multimedia signals using a legally-authorized computer-based random number generator to autonomously control selection of a particular multimedia signal for distribution.

81. The method of claim 79 wherein the step of distributing the multimedia signals includes distributing multimedia signals for ongoing, live casino games.

82. The method of claim 79 wherein the step of distributing the multimedia signals includes distributing multimedia signals for previously-recorded, legally-authorized, restricted-access, presentation of legally-authorized casino games.

83. The method of claim 79 wherein the step of distributing the multimedia signals to legally-authorized players includes distributing to remote player stations.

84. The method of claim 79 wherein the step of distributing the multimedia signals includes connecting the multimedia signals to a gaming distribution complex for distribution to one or more remote player station.

85. The method of claim 79 including the step of distributing the multimedia signals through a communication hub which has a switching subsystem controlled by a licensed random number generator for distributing an autonomously randomly selected one of the plurality of multimedia signals.

86. The method of claim 79 including the step of controlling the communication hub with a processor array.

87. The method of claim 79 including the step of distributing the multimedia signals with a network server which is adapted to be connected to remote player gaming stations through a network system.

88. The method of claim 87 wherein the network is a wired virtual private network.

89. The method of claim 87 wherein the network is a wireless virtual private network.

90. The method of claim 79 including the step of distributing the multimedia signals with an Internet server which is adapted to be connected to remote player gaming stations through an Internet server system.

91. The method of claim 90 wherein the Internet server system is located in a Native American Nation'"'"'s Territory.

92. The method of claim 79 including the step of editing the content of the multimedia signals prior to distribution.

93. The method of claim 79 including the step of data compressing the multimedia signals prior to distribution.

94. The method of claim 79 including the step of data encrypting the multimedia signals prior to distribution.

95. The method of claim 79 wherein the step of generating multimedia signals includes generating signals for presenting three-dimensional video presentations.

96. The method of claim 79 wherein the steps of generating and distributing the multimedia signals includes generating and distributing multimedia signals corresponding to live legally-authorized, restricted-access games.

97. The method of claim 79 wherein the steps of generating and distributing the multimedia signals includes generating and distributing live legally-authorized games played by individuals hired or invited by a casino at casino-operated entertainment gaming tables.

98. The method of claim 79 wherein the step of distributing the multimedia signals includes distributing previously-recorded, restricted-access tournament games.

99. The method of claim 79 wherein the step of generating multimedia signals includes obtaining signals from video recordings that a casino records on storage media for every gaming table game for surveillance and regulatory purposes.

100. The method of claim 79 wherein the step of generating multimedia signals includes obtaining signals from video recordings that a casino records on video tapes for every gaming table game for surveillance and regulatory purposes.

101. A method of providing multimedia signals corresponding to legally-authorized virtual distributed, interactive casino games, comprising the steps of:

presenting one or more legally-authorized live casino games played by real players in a legally-authorized gaming casino;

sensing said one or more legally-authorized live casino games played by real players in a legally-authorized gaming casino with a multimedia virtual gaming content acquisition sensor array;

providing multimedia output signals corresponding to one or more players in each of said respective one or more legally-authorized live casino games; and

processing said multimedia output signals to provide processed live and delayed multimedia output signals.

102. The method of claim 101 wherein the step of providing multimedia output signals corresponding to one or more players in each of said respective one or more legally-authorized live casino games includes providing multimedia output signals from legally-authorized, previously-recorded, restricted-access games.

103. The method of claim 101 wherein the step of providing multimedia output signals corresponding to one or more players in each of said respective one or more legally-authorized live casino games includes providing multimedia signals providing multimedia signals obtained from video recordings that a casino has previously recorded on storage media for table games in the casino for surveillance and other regulatory purposes.

104. The method of claim 101 wherein the step of processing said multimedia output signals to provide processed live and delayed multimedia output signals includes the step of data compressing the multimedia signals prior to distribution.

105. The method of claim 104 wherein the data compression means include performing image processing on the individual video frames to identify gaming components in the frame and appropriately encode said components.

106. The method of claim 101 wherein the step of processing said multimedia output signals to provide processed live and delayed multimedia output signals includes the step of data encrypting the multimedia signals prior to distribution.

107. The method of claim 101 wherein the step of processing said multimedia output signals to provide processed live and delayed multimedia output signals includes the step of editing the content of the multimedia signals prior to distribution.

108. The method of claim 101 wherein the step of providing multimedia output signals includes providing video signals obtained from video recordings that a casino has previously recorded on storage media for the live casino games for surveillance and other regulatory purposes.

109. The method of claim 101 wherein the step of providing multimedia output signals includes providing video signals for a casino to use for surveillance and other regulatory purposes.

110. A method of enabling a remote player to wager on a legally-authorized and regulated real casino games played in a legally-authorized manner by one or more real players, comprising the steps of:

the remote video player inserting an acceptable form of payment in an acceptor-validator subsystem at a remote player gaming station to establish the remote video player'"'"'s creditworthiness and age eligibility to wager;

if the remote video player is creditworthy and age eligible, presenting on a presentation and response screen area of the remote player station the remote video player'"'"'s current credit balance;

the creditworthy and age-eligible remote video player choosing a casino activity previewed on the presentation and response screen;

presenting on the presentation and response screen an appropriate live or pre-recorded multimedia video episode package corresponding to one or more of said legally-authorized and regulated real casino games;

the remote video player selecting a predetermined play mode by touching one of a plurality of action buttons in a touch-sensitive subarea of the presentation and response screen area of the remote player gaming station;

presenting a game having the predetermined play mode on the response screen area of the player station and presenting a table number and a player number for a real player selected in a response screen area;

the remote video player selecting the dollar amount of a wager; and

the remote video player signaling that he or she wishes to play the next game by activating the a play action button in the touch-sensitive subarea of the presentation and response screen.

111. The method of claim 110 wherein the step of presenting on the presentation and response screen an appropriate live or pre-recorded multimedia video gaming episode package corresponding to one or more of said legally-authorized and regulated real casino games includes distributing a processed multimedia output signals to the remote player station through a bi-directional transmission medium using a legally-authorized computer-based random number generator for controlling a switching selection system.

112. A packaging system for encapsulating a gaming episode in a legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system, comprising:

a multimedia virtual gaming content generation array presenting one or more legally-authorized live casino games played by real players in a legally-authorized gaming casino;

a multimedia virtual gaming content acquisition sensor array for sensing and for providing multimedia output signals corresponding to one or more player per sensor in each of said respective one or more legally-authorized live casino games;

a multimedia virtual gaming episode signal processing array for receiving and processing said multimedia output signals of the multimedia virtual gaming content acquisition sensor array to provide processed live and delayed multimedia output signals; and

recording the processed live and delayed multimedia output signals on a recording media.

113. A method of wagering on a virtual gaming episode of a legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system, comprising the steps of:

generating multimedia signals corresponding to legally-authorized real casino games played by real players in a legally-authorized gaming casino;

distributing the multimedia signals corresponding to the legally-authorized real casino games to licensed users at remote player gaming stations having wagering equipment enabling remote players to place a wager for or against a selected real player depicted by the multimedia signals corresponding to legally-authorized real casino games played by real players in a legally-authorized gaming casino.

114. The method of wagering on a virtual gaming episode of a legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system of claim 113 including the step of enabling remote players to place a wager with the casino and against a player depicted by one of the multimedia sources.

115. The method of wagering on a virtual gaming episode of a legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system of claim 114 wherein the wager is placed on any existing casino game including video wagering games.

116. The method of wagering on a virtual gaming episode of a legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system of claim 114 wherein the wager is placed on a real player playing a legally-authorized casino game.

117. The method of wagering on a virtual gaming episode of a legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system of claim 114 wherein the wager is placed on a simplified version of a conventional casino game.

118. The method of wagering on a virtual gaming episode of a legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive gaming system of claim 114 wherein the wager is placed on a real player participating in any game of skill.

119. The method of wagering on a virtual gaming episode of a legally-authorized virtual distributed interactive casino gaming system of claim 114 wherein the wager is placed on a real player participating in any game of chance.

120. A method of simplified wagering on regulated games presented by a casino, comprising the steps of:

generating a live game with real players;

providing a remote player with a presentation of a live game;

the secondary players placing bets for or against one or more of the real players;

collecting wagers from the remote player prior to the start of the live game;

completing play of the live game; and

paying the secondary player appropriately for their wager on the one or more real players.

121. The method of claim 120, wherein the step of providing the remote player with the presentation of the live game includes providing the presentation using one or more mirrors.

122. The method of claim 120, wherein the steps of providing the remote player with the presentation of the live game includes providing the presentation using a video camera and a video monitor.

123. The method of claim 120, wherein the steps of providing the remote player with the presentation of the live game includes providing the presentation by direct viewing by the remote players.