Patent ID: 7753790

Claim:
A computing system for conducting a gaming tournament among a first tournament player, a second tournament player, and a live person acting as a tournament host during said gaming tournament, wherein said computing system is configured to: generate host data, said host data configured to be generated from audio or visual input from said live person acting as said tournament host, said host data being generated during said gaming tournament; cause said host data to be transmitted to a first gaming unit including a gaming unit controller and together configured for communication with a host computer, said first gaming unit configured to be played by said first tournament player during said gaming tournament, said first gaming unit comprising a first display unit capable of generating video images representing a first instance of a tournament game of the gaming tournament, said host data generating a host display image on said first display unit; and cause said host data to be transmitted to a second gaming unit including a second gaming unit controller and together configured for communication with said host computer, said second gaming unit configured to be played by said second tournament player during said gaming tournament, said second gaming unit comprising a second display unit capable of generating video images representing a second instance of a tournament game of said gaming tournament, said host data generating said host display image on said second display unit, said first gaming unit controller being programmed to determine outcomes of said first and second instances of tournament games, respectively, without reference to said host data received from said host computer.