Patent ID: 6527638
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
A gaming system which enables a player at a remote location to purchase and redeem gambling credit for playing games of chance off-line on a remote game computer, comprising:at least one game computer including associated memory, means for receiving manual input, and processing means for executing at least one program from said associated memory, said at least one program including a game program, said processing means executing said game program to enable the player to play at least one game of chance on said game computer to the extent of available gambling credit in said associated memory while said game computer is not communicating with any other game device during game play except for loading gambling credit into said game computer, said gambling credit being loaded into said game computer by a central host computer using a challenge/response protocol, said game computer further having authentication means operatively associated therewith for generating authenticatable messages, at least one of said processing means, said authentication means and said associated memory being disposed within a secure enclosure; and said central host computer for authorizing game play on at least one remote game computer in the form of gambling credit and providing for verification of winnings after game play, said central host computer having associated memory, processing means for executing at least one program from said central host computer associated memory, and central host computer authentication means operatively associated therewith for generating, receiving, and authenticating authenticatable messages, said authenticatable messages being transmitted between said game computer and said central host computer to verify the integrity and winnings in the form of gambling credit stored in said at least one game computer associated memory, said central host computer loading and verifying authenticatable game data by communicating data through at least one direct electronic connection, said game computer manually receiving input data using said means for receiving manual input to enable said central host computer to authorize game play on said game computer.