Wireless gaming network

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide a gaming system 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 to the game server over a network. In one aspect, the gaming system enables real-time game play on the game units via the network connection to the game server. The gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to one or more gaming units. Notably, a game that is downloaded to a gaming unit is stored and executed locally by a processor of the gaming unit without requiring further interaction with the server to operate the game.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gaming system that provides 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 gaming units connected to the game server over a network, wherein the gaming units are at least partially connected to the game server using a wireless network;   wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to one or more gaming units, and wherein a game that is downloaded to a gaming unit is stored and executed locally by a processor of the gaming unit without requiring further interaction with the server to operate the game.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming units are at least partially connected to the game server by one or more busses. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming units are at least partially connected to the game server over a network line, phone line, cable line, local area network, wide area network, ISDN line, or data line. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming units are at least partially connected to the game server using wireless receiver/transmitter devices. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming units are at least partially connected to the game server using modems. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming units are at least partially connected to the game server using an intelligent data transmission device. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein a gaming unit includes a client machine. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein a gaming unit includes a personal computer. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein a gaming unit includes a housing that is configured to receive a personal computer. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein a gaming unit includes voice recognition technology. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein a game server includes an alterable computer readable storage medium. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming units are electrically coupled to the game server over one or more cables or wires, and wherein the gaming units are physically separated from the game server. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming units are electrically coupled to the game server over one or more cables or wires, and wherein the gaming units are physically coupled to the game server. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system enables real-time game play on the gaming units via the network connection to the game server. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the network includes the Internet, and wherein the game play includes game play at a residence of a player. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system enables the plurality of gaming units to dispense generic coupons for redemption both inside and outside of a casino environment. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system enables the plurality of gaming units to periodically award promotional coupons to an eligible player, and wherein a player is eligible to receive the promotional coupons by being logged onto the gaming system network at a time when the promotional coupon is awarded. 
     
     
         18 . A gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system enables the plurality of gaming units to periodically award promotional coupons to an eligible player, and wherein a player is eligible to receive a promotional coupon by being logged onto a casino portal on the gaming system network at a time when the promotional coupon is awarded. 
     
     
         19 . A server for a gaming system, wherein the gaming system includes a game server and a plurality of gaming units connected to the game server over a network, the server comprising:
 a computer readable medium containing one or more games; and   an operating system that is responsive to instructions received from a user interface;   wherein the server enables management of one or more games including downloading one or more games over the network from the game server to one or more gaming units, and wherein a game that is downloaded to a gaming unit is stored and executed locally by a processor of the gaming unit without requiring further interaction with the server to operate the game.   
     
     
         20 . A user interface for a gaming system, wherein the gaming system includes a game server having one or more games and a plurality of game units connected to the game server over a network, the user interface comprising:
 an input device for sending information to the game server; and   a display device for receiving information from the game server, wherein the user interface enables management of one or more games including downloading one or more games over the network from the game server to one or more game units, and wherein a game that is downloaded to a gaming unit is stored and executed locally by a processor of the gaming unit without requiring further interaction with the server to operate the game.   
     
     
         21 . 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 real-time game play on the game units via the network connection to the game server, wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to one or more gaming units, and wherein a game that is downloaded to a gaming unit is stored and executed locally by a processor of the gaming unit without requiring further interaction with the server to operate the game; and   wherein the gaming system enables normalization of game parameters from different games to facilitate players that are playing games having different parameters to compete against each other in tournament games.   
     
     
         22 . 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 gaming system enables real-time game play on the game units via the network connection to the game server, wherein the gaming system enables one or more games to be downloaded over the network from the game server to one or more gaming units, wherein a game that is downloaded to a gaming unit is stored and executed locally by a processor of the gaming unit without requiring further interaction with the server to operate the game; and wherein the game units include touch screen input controls that enable player identification, player verification, player specific account access, and player game play tracking.