Patent ID: 8092309

Claim:
A gaming system comprising, at least one server comprising: a memory; a network interface for communicating with a plurality of gaming devices; a processor coupled to the memory and the network interface, said processor designed or configured to 1) generate a plurality of poker games each poker game including game play between two or more different players; 2) determine whether one or more of the plurality of poker games is available for play from a first gaming device in the plurality of gaming devices, said availability determination for each of the plurality of poker games comprising; a) selecting a first poker game from among the plurality of poker games, b) selecting a second gaming device from among a first group of gaming devices currently granted access to the first poker game, c) determining first location information associated with the first gaming device and second location information associated with the second gaming device; d) based upon the first location information and the second location information, determining whether the first poker game is available for play from the first gaming device; e) repeating b), c) and d), for each of the first group of gaming devices currently granted access to the first poker game; 3) send a message to the first gaming device including information regarding one or more of the plurality of poker games available for play at the first gaming device; the plurality of gaming devices, including the first gaming device and the second gaming device, configured for playing the plurality of poker games, each of the plurality of gaming devices comprising; 1) a video display for displaying the one or more of the plurality of poker games available for play at the first gaming device; 2) one or more input mechanisms for selecting from the one or more of the plurality of poker games available for play and for making game playing decisions associated with a play of the selected one or more plurality of poker games available for play, said one or more input mechanisms designed or configured for human actuation; 3) a cabinet designed or configured to secure the video display and the one or more input mechanisms and to prevent access by a player to hardware, firmware or software associated with each of the plurality of gaming devices; and 4) a communication interface for communication with the at least one server.