Patent ID: 7182690

Claim:
A method of conducting a wagering game on a network having a central database linked to a plurality of gaming machines, said central database being remote from said plurality of gaming machines, said method comprising: receiving a wager from a player at a first one of said plurality of gaming machines; initiating a wagering game at said first one of said plurality of gaming machines; pausing said wagering game; developing status information corresponding to a paused state of said wagering game; receiving, from said player at said first one of said plurality of gaming machines, a player card having identifying information; in response to receiving said player card, locating a record in said central database corresponding to said identifying information; storing said status information in said central database in association with said record; receiving, from said player at a second one of said plurality of gaming machines, said player card; retrieving said status information of said paused state of said wagering game from said central database; receiving another wager from said player at said second one of said plurality of gaming machines; and continuing play of said wagering game at said second one of said plurality of gaming machines beginning from a point of said paused state of said wagering game.