Remote Gaming Systems

Abstract

A remote gaming system, according to various embodiments, comprises: (1) a computer network; (2) a gaming device connected to the computer network; (3) a remote computing device connected to the computer network; and (4) a remote game play server that is adapted to facilitate communication between the gaming device and a remote computing device via the computer network. In particular embodiments, the remote gaming system is adapted to allow a user to play the gaming device via the remote computing device while the remote computing device and gaming device are in different geographical locations. During remote play, the system may lock one or more of the gaming device's controls (e.g., physical levers or buttons attached to the gaming device) to prevent local users from playing, or otherwise controlling, the gaming device using the gaming device's native controls.

1 . A remote gaming system comprising:
 a computer network;   a gaming device connected to said computer network; and   a remote game play server that is adapted to facilitate communication between said gaming device and a remote computing device via said computer network, wherein:   said remote gaming system is adapted to allow a user to play said gaming device via said remote computing device while said remote computing device and said gaming device are in different geographical locations.   
     
     
         2 . The remote gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said remote gaming system is adapted to disable one or more controls on said gaming device while said gaming device is being played via said remote computing device.   
     
     
         3 . The remote gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein said remote gaming system is adapted to selectively disable one or more controls on said gaming device so that said gaming device may not be played using said one or more controls while said gaming device is being played via said remote computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The remote gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said gaming device is a slot machine; and   said one or more controls comprises a spin reel activation mechanism associated with said slot machine.   
     
     
         5 . The remote gaming system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 said spin reel activation mechanism is a handle pull or a button press associated with said slot machine.   
     
     
         6 . The remote gaming system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said one or more controls comprise a control selected from a group consisting of: (a) a bill acceptor, (b) a coin acceptor, and (c) a cashout button.   
     
     
         7 . The remote gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein said remote gaming system is adapted to allow a user to use said remote device to electronically transfer winnings from said gaming device to an account associated with said user. 
     
     
         8 . The remote gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein said remote gaming system is adapted to allow a user to use said remote device to electronically transfer funds from an account associated with said user to said gaming device for funding play on said gaming device. 
     
     
         9 . The remote gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein said remote gaming system is adapted to allow a user to remotely play said gaming device via a user interface, displayed on said remote computing device, that is at least substantially a replication of a user interface of said gaming device. 
     
     
         10 . The remote gaming system of  claim 9 , wherein said user interface on said remote computing device is adapted to at least substantially mirror, at least substantially in real time, the current movement of one or more reels of said gaming device. 
     
     
         11 . A method of allowing an individual to play a gaming device comprising:
 (A) providing a gaming device at a particular location, said gaming device being adapted for being selectively converted between:
 (i) a standard-play mode, in which said gaming device is adapted to be played by a user that is in the same geographic location as said gaming device; to 
 (ii) a remote-play mode, in which said gaming device is adapted to be played remotely by a user that is not in the same geographic location as said gaming device; 
   (B) allowing a gamer who is in the same geographic location as the gaming device to play said gaming device in said standard-play mode;   (C) receiving a request from a user to play said gaming device in said remote-play mode; and   (D) in response to receiving said request to play said gaming device in said remote-play mode,
 (i) locking at least a portion of said gaming device, and 
 (ii) while said gaming device is locked, allowing said user to play said gaming device remotely on a remote computing device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said gamer and said user are the same individual. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 said method further comprises maintaining, in a disabled state, one or more controls on said gaming device while said gaming device is being played via said remote computing device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein method further comprises selectively disabling one or more controls on said gaming device so that said gaming device may not be played using said one or more controls while said gaming device is being played via said remote computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said gaming device is a slot machine; and   said one or more controls comprises a spin reel activation mechanism associated with said slot machine.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 said spin reel activation mechanism is a handle pull or a button press associated with said slot machine.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 said one or more controls comprise a control selected from a group consisting of: (a) a bill acceptor, (b) a coin acceptor, and (c) a cashout button.   
     
     
         18 . The method  claim 11 , wherein said method further comprises allowing a user to use said remote device to electronically transfer winnings from said gaming device to an account associated with said user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said method further comprises allowing a user to use said remote device to electronically transfer funds from an account associated with said user to said gaming device for funding play on said gaming device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said method further comprises allowing a user to remotely play said gaming device via a user interface, displayed on said remote computing device, that is at least substantially a replication of a user interface of said gaming device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said user interface on said remote computing device is adapted to at least substantially mirror, at least substantially in real time, the current movement of one or more reels of said gaming device.