Patent ID: 6916247

Claim:
A centrally controlled gaming system, comprising: a communication network; at least one central server, each having a first computer controller that is configured to control and monitor the gaining system, and a first network interface coupled to first computer controller and to the communication network; at least one gaming terminal, each including a second computer controller that is configured to control game software of the gaming terminal; at least one first specialized device fitted inside or to a side of each of the at least one gaming terminal, each first specialized device being configured to perform specialized functions for each gaining terminal that include both software control functions and hardware functions, each first specialized device comprising: a third computer controller having software configured to perform the software control functions of the specialized functions; hardware means configured to perform the hardware functions of the specialized functions under the control of the software control functions; a second network interface coupled to the third computer controller and to the communication network, the third computer controller being configured to provide first network services via the second network interface independently of the second computer controller of the gaming terminal to which the at least one specialized device is fitted, the provided first network services including remote procedure calls to at least one of initiate, bind to, subscribe to notification of events, activate and access the specialized functions of the specialized device; each central server being further configured to at least one of request and consume at least one of the provided first network services via the first network interface.