Network gaming system

Abstract

A gaming system is disclosed that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play. The gaming system includes a game server and a plurality of game units connected via a network. The game units each include a web browser. The game system enables a player to receive a prize at a casino game unit in response to winning game play, wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket voucher for a physical prize, coins, or cash. The gaming system enables game units to request games from the game server over the network. The games may be downloaded over the network from the game server to the requesting game unit to be executed at the game unit and to be displayed in one or more web browsers.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, the gaming system comprising:
 a game server, wherein the game server stores one or more games in electronic form; and   a plurality of game units each including a web browser, connected to the game server over a network, wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket voucher for a physical prize, coins, or cash;   wherein the gaming system enables one or more game units to request games from the game server over the network, and one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to the requesting game unit to be executed at the game unit and to be displayed in one or more web browsers.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein a game includes information that is sent using HTML, Java, Active X, VRML, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein a game is selected by a player at a game unit, and wherein the selected game is the game to be downloaded. 
     
     
         4 . A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, the gaming system comprising:
 a game server, wherein the game server stores one or more games in electronic form; and   a plurality of game units connected to the game server over a network, wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket voucher for a physical prize, coins, or cash;   wherein the gaming system enables one or more game units to request games from the game server over the network, and one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to one or more requesting game units.   
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 4 , wherein the game units are at least partially connected to the game server over a fiber optic line, an Ethernet line, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 4 , wherein the game units are at least partially connected to the game server using TCP/IP, IPX, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 4 , wherein the game units are at least partially connected to the game server using routers, switches, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 4 , wherein each game unit includes a Uniform Resource Locator. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 4 , wherein each game unit associates with resources on the game server using Uniform Resource Locators. 
     
     
         10 . A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, the gaming system comprising:
 a game server, wherein the game server stores one or more games in electronic form;   a web server; and   a plurality of game units connected to the game server over a network and the web server, wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket voucher for a physical prize, coins, or cash;   wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to one or more game units.   
     
     
         11 . A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, the gaming system comprising:
 a web server; and   a plurality of game units connected to the web server over a network, wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket voucher for a physical prize, coins, or cash;   wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the server to one or more game units.   
     
     
         12 . A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, the gaming system comprising:
 a game server, wherein the game server stores one or more games in electronic form; and   a plurality of game units connected to the game server over a network, wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket voucher for a physical prize, coins, or cash;   wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to one or more game units, and wherein at least one game unit includes a browser.   
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , wherein a game executes in the browser. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , wherein the browser displays game related data, tournament game related data, prize related data, advertising related data, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server using the browser. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to a game unit for use by a browser. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 12 , wherein the gaming system includes a monetary input device. 
     
     
         18 . A game unit that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, the game unit comprising:
 one or more displays associated with the game unit; and   a browser associated with at least one of the one or more displays, wherein the browser output is shown on at least one of the one or more displays, wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over a network from a server to the game unit;   wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at the game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket voucher for a physical prize, coins, or cash.   
     
     
         19 . The gaming unit of  claim 18 , wherein a game executes in the browser. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming unit of  claim 18 , wherein the browser displays game related data, tournament game related data, prize related data, advertising related data, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The gaming unit of  claim 18 , wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server using the browser. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming unit of  claim 18 , wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to a game unit for use by a browser. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming unit of  claim 18 , wherein the gaming system includes a monetary input device. 
     
     
         24 . A gaming system for providing game play data to a user located remote from a casino, the gaming system comprising:
 a game unit for playing a game that generates game play data;   a server, wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over a network from the server to the game unit, wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket voucher for a physical prize, coins, or cash; and   an access device configured to access the Internet, wherein the game play data is available to the user via the access device while the user is located remote from the casino.   
     
     
         25 . The gaming system of  claim 24 , wherein the game is a tournament game, and wherein the game play data is tournament game play data. 
     
     
         26 . The gaming system of  claim 24 , wherein the gaming system includes a player account that is accessible by the user via the access device while the user is located remote from the casino. 
     
     
         27 . A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, the gaming system comprising:
 a game server; and   a plurality of game units connected to the game server over a network, wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the server to the game unit and displayed in a web browser of the game unit, wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket voucher for a physical prize, coins, or cash;   wherein the gaming system includes direct play of one or more players located in a casino against one or more players located remote from the casino.   
     
     
         28 . The gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein one or more of the remote locations are player residences. 
     
     
         29 . The gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein the gaming system includes direct play of one or more players playing on a casino game unit against one or more players playing on a wireless receiver/transmitter device. 
     
     
         30 . The gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein the game play is a tournament. 
     
     
         31 . The gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein each game unit includes a player identification device for monitoring game play of a player. 
     
     
         32 . The gaming system of  claim 27 , further comprising a touch screen interface associated with the player identification device for enabling the player to input information and commands. 
     
     
         33 . A gaming system that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, the gaming system comprising:
 a game server; and   a plurality of game units connected to the game server over a network, wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the server to the game unit and displayed by the game unit, wherein the game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play, and wherein the prize comprises a physical prize, coins, cash, or a ticket voucher for a physical prize, coins, or cash;   wherein the gaming system enables remotely adjusting prize and payout percentages of the game units.   
     
     
         34 . The gaming system of  claim 33 , wherein the adjustment of prize and payout percentages is performed to achieve a desired profitability of the game units. 
     
     
         35 . The gaming system of  claim 33 , wherein the gaming system automatically enables prize and payout percentages to be remotely adjusted.