Methods and apparatus for remote gaming

• US 7,909,689 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Lardie, Brant
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US11/873,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20080176627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 9- 13, 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/29, 463 40- 43, 463 17- 19, 273/108.1, 273/145.R, 273/147, 273/141.A, 273/317.1, 273/351, 273454-456, 273460-461, 273/138.1, 273/139, 704/E15.047, 709203-207, 709216-219, 709/225, 709/227, 709/FOR.106, 709/FOR.111, 709/FOR.112, 709/FOR.115, 709/FOR.122, 709/FOR.130, 709/FOR.131, 709/FOR.132, 709/FOR.141, 709/FOR.148, 709/FOR.149, 709/FOR.153, 710/18, 710/20, 715/200, 715/700, 715/706, 715/738, 715/744, 715757-758, 715762-764, 902/10, 902/23
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

A gaming apparatus may include a display unit capable of generating video images, a first value input device, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the value input device. The first value input device may be located at a first geographic location. The controller may comprise a processor and a memory, and may be programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause a first video image to be generated on the display unit, and to determine a first value payout associated with an outcome of a game. The first video image may represent a first game wagered on the first value input device. The controller may also cause a second video image to be generated on the display unit. The second video image may represent a second game wagered on at a second value input device located at a second geographic location different from the first geographic location.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus, said gaming apparatus located within a first geographic location, comprising:

a display unit;

a first value input device; and

a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said first value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said controller being programmed to cause a first video image representing a first game to be generated on said display unit, said first video image representing one of the following games wagered on said first value input device;

video poker, video blackjack, video slots, video keno or video bingo,

said first video image comprising an image of at least five playing cards if said first game comprises said video poker,

said first video image comprising an image of a plurality of simulated slot machine reels if said first game comprises said video slots,

said first video image comprising an image of a plurality of playing cards if said first game comprises said video blackjack,

said first video image comprising an image of a plurality of keno numbers if said first game comprises said video keno, and

said first video image comprising an image of a bingo grid if said first game comprises said video bingo,

said controller being programmed to determine a first value payout associated with an outcome of said first game,

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image to be generated on said display unit, said second video image representing a second game wagered on by said person at a second value input device located within a second geographic location other than within said first geographic location of said gaming apparatus, said second video image including content based on information regarding said second game received from one or more servers configured to transmit said information, said second video image representing one of the following games wagered on said second value input device;

a multi-player lottery or a multi-player sports game, said first video image and said second video image displayed concurrently on said display unit,

said second video image comprising an image of a plurality of lottery numbers if said second game comprises said multi-player lottery, and

said second video image comprising an image of a sports score if said second game comprises said multi-player sports game.

2. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to allow said person to make said wager on at least one of said first game and said second game using said first value input device.

3. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to receive data representing a second value payout associated with an outcome of said second game, said second value payout data being determined by a multi-player gaming server of said one or more servers.

4. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first game is a single-player game.

5. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to receive identification information regarding said person, said controller being programmed to receive gaming information regarding said wager on said second game using said identification information, wherein said gaming information includes a gaming decision made by said person.

6. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said second video image comprises an image of a gaming decision made by said person in relation to said second game.

7. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 1, said plurality of gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a first network of said plurality of gaming apparatuses.

8. A gaming system as defined in claim 7, further comprising a second network operatively coupled to said first network, said second network comprising:

said second value input device; and

a multi-player gaming server operatively coupled to said second value input device and included in said one or more servers,

said multi-player gaming server being programmed to allow one or more people including said person to make said wager on said second value input device,

said multi-player gaming server being programmed to determine a second value payout, and

said multi-player gaming server being programmed to transfer gaming information regarding said second game to said controller, said gaming information including data representing said second value payout, and information regarding gaming decisions by said person for said second game.

9. A gaming apparatus, said gaming apparatus located within a first geographic location, comprising:

a display unit;

a first value input device; and

a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said first value input device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said controller being programmed to allow a person to make a wager,

said controller being programmed to cause a first video image to be generated on said display unit, said first video image representing a first game wagered on said first value input device,

said controller being programmed to determine a first value payout associated with an outcome of said first game represented by said first video image, and

said controller being programmed to cause a second video image to be generated on said display unit, said second video image representing a second game wagered on by said person at a second value input device located within a second geographic location other than within said first geographic location of said gaming apparatus, said second video image including content based on information regarding said second game received from one or more servers configured to transmit said information, said first video image and said second video image displayed concurrently on said display unit.

10. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said controller is programmed to allow said person to make said wager on at least one of said first game and said second game using said first value input device.

11. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said controller is programmed to receive data representing a second value payout associated with an outcome of said second game, said second value payout data being determined by a multi-player gaming server of said one or more servers.

12. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said first game is a single-player game and said second game is a multi-player game.

13. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said second video image represents one of the following games:

a multi-player lottery or multi-player sports gaming,

said second video image comprising an image of a plurality of lottery numbers if said second game comprises said multi-player lottery, and

said second video image comprising an image of a sports score if said second game comprises said multi-player sports gaming.

14. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said controller is programmed to receive identification information regarding said person, and said controller being programmed receive gaming information regarding said wager on said second game using said identification information, wherein said gaming information includes a gaming decision made by said person.

15. A gaming apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said second video image comprises an image of a gaming decision made by said person in relation to said second game.

16. A gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming apparatuses as defined in claim 9, said plurality of gaming apparatuses being interconnected to form a first network of said plurality of gaming apparatuses.

17. A gaming system as defined in claim 16, further comprising a second network operatively coupled to said first network, said second network comprising:

said second value input device; and

a multi-player gaming server operatively coupled to said second value input device and included in said one or more servers,

said multi-player gaming server being programmed to allow one or more people including said person to make a wager on said second value input device,

said multi-player gaming server being programmed to determine a second value payout, and

said multi-player gaming server being programmed to transfer gaming information regarding said second game to said controller, said gaming information including data representing said second value payout, and information regarding gaming decisions by said person for said second game.

18. A gaming system as defined in claim 17, wherein said plurality of gaming apparatuses are interconnected via the Internet.