Central random number generation for gaming system

Claim 1

A method for using a gaming system comprising: providing a central computer; coupling said central computer to at least one gaming terminal having a terminal processor configured for playing a game; transmitting a series of game outcome seeds from said central computer substantially simultaneously to each gaming terminal; initiating play at a first of said plurality of gaming terminals by calculating a first random number in a range selected for said game of said first gaming terminal, in response to a user action occurring at a first time, wherein said first random number is based on a game outcome seed received at said first gaming terminal from said central computer at said first time; initiating play at a second of said plurality of gaming terminals by calculating a second random number in a range selected for said game at said gaming terminal, in response to a user action occurring at a second time, wherein said second random number is based on a game outcome seed received at said second gaming terminal from said central computer at said second time; and wherein said terminal processors are configured such that when said first and second terminals are configured for playing an identical game when play is initiated on both at predetermined times and when said first and second game outcome seeds are identical, said first and second random numbers calculated by the terminal processors of said first and second gaming terminals will be identical.

Claim 2

A method for using a gaming system comprising: providing a central computer; coupling said central computer to at least one gaming terminal having a terminal processor configured for playing a game; transmitting a series of game outcome seeds from said central computer substantially simultaneously to each gaming terminal; initiating play at a first of said plurality of gaming terminals by calculating a first random number in a range selected for said game of said first gaming terminal, in response to a user action occurring at a first time, wherein said first random number is based on a game outcome seed received at said first gaming terminal from said central computer at said first time; initiating play at a second of said plurality of gaming terminals by calculating a second random number in a range selected for said game at said gaming terminal, in response to a user action occurring at a second time, wherein said second random number is based on a game outcome seed received at said second gaming terminal from said central computer at said second time; and wherein said terminal processors are configured such that when said first and second terminals are configured for playing an identical game when play is initiated on both at predetermined times and when said first and second game outcome seeds are identical, said first and second random numbers calculated by the terminal processors of said first and second gaming terminals will be identical.

Claim 22

A method for using a gaming system comprising: providing a central computer; providing a plurality of gaming terminals; transmitting a series of random number seeds from said central computer to each of said plurality of gaming terminals; receiving a user input at least a first of said gaming terminals at a first time; calculating a random number at said first gaming terminal based on one of said series of random number seeds wherein one of said random number seeds is selected by said first terminal on the basis of the time of its receipt relative to said first time.

Claim 23

A method for using a gaming system comprising: providing a central computer; providing a plurality of gaming terminals; transmitting a series of random number seeds from said central computer to each of said plurality of gaming terminals; receiving a user input at least a first of said gaming terminals at a first time; calculating a random number at said first gaming terminal based on one of said series of random number seeds wherein one of said random number seeds is selected by said first terminal on the basis of the time of its receipt relative to said first time.

Claim 24

A method for playing a poker style game comprising: providing a central computer; providing a plurality of electronic terminals, each of said plurality of electronic terminals including a microprocessor and a memory wherein said memory stores a program for playing a poker style game and a pay table for determining a win/loss result; transmitting a plurality of random number seeds from said central computer to said electronic gaming terminal; receiving a first user input at said first electronic terminal; determining, in said first electronic terminal, whether the communication link between said first electronic terminal and said central computer is operable; when said communication link is operable, calculating five deal random numbers in the range of 1-52 based on the next random number seed received from said central computer after said step of determining whether said communication link is operable; displaying, on a display screen, coupled to said electronic terminal, images of five cards corresponding to said five random numbers; receiving an indication of a wager from said user in said first electronic terminal; receiving from said user an indication of cards which said user chooses to discard in said first electronic terminal; determining whether said communication link is operable; if said communication link is operable, calculating a number of draw random numbers equal to the number of cards selected as discard cards by said user in the range between 1-52, none of which are equal to said five deal random numbers to provide five hand random numbers based on the next seed received from said central computer after said step of determining whether said communication link is operable; determining a win/loss result by comparing said five hand numbers to said pay table and outputting the result thereof.

Claim 25

A method for playing a poker style game comprising: providing a central computer; providing a plurality of electronic terminals, each of said plurality of electronic terminals including a microprocessor and a memory wherein said memory stores a program for playing a poker style game and a pay table for determining a win/loss result; transmitting a plurality of random number seeds from said central computer to said electronic gaming terminal; receiving a first user input at said first electronic terminal; determining, in said first electronic terminal, whether the communication link between said first electronic terminal and said central computer is operable; when said communication link is operable, calculating five deal random numbers in the range of 1-52 based on the next random number seed received from said central computer after said step of determining whether said communication link is operable; displaying, on a display screen, coupled to said electronic terminal, images of five cards corresponding to said five random numbers; receiving an indication of a wager from said user in said first electronic terminal; receiving from said user an indication of cards which said user chooses to discard in said first electronic terminal; determining whether said communication link is operable; if said communication link is operable, calculating a number of draw random numbers equal to the number of cards selected as discard cards by said user in the range between 1-52, none of which are equal to said five deal random numbers to provide five hand random numbers based on the next seed received from said central computer after said step of determining whether said communication link is operable; determining a win/loss result by comparing said five hand numbers to said pay table and outputting the result thereof.

Claim 26

A method for using the gaming system comprising: providing a central computer means for selecting random number seeds which are determinative of winning symbols or combinations of symbols; providing a plurality of electronic gaming terminals connected on-line to said central computer wherein said random number seeds are communicated from said central computer to said electronic terminals wherein the selection of random number seeds by said central computer is independent of any activation, play, or other manipulation by any user of an electronic terminal; said electronic gaming terminal means incorporating a microprocessor that makes random selections of symbols for players, allows said players to make such selections, or draws symbols from a central repository which are communicated to such central computer and displays on a video screen winning symbols or combinations thereof wherein said electronic terminal does not select said winning symbols and wherein said winning symbols are determined on the basis of at least one random number seed communicated from said central computer to said electronic gaming terminal, said random number seed being one of a plurality of seeds transmitted from said central computer to said electronic terminal and when the decision regarding which of said plurality of random number seeds is used for determining said winning symbols is a function of when a user wagers or otherwise activates said electronic terminal.

Claim 27

A method for using the gaming system comprising: providing a central computer means for selecting random number seeds which are determinative of winning symbols or combinations of symbols; providing a plurality of electronic gaming terminals connected on-line to said central computer wherein said random number seeds are communicated from said central computer to said electronic terminals wherein the selection of random number seeds by said central computer is independent of any activation, play, or other manipulation by any user of an electronic terminal; said electronic gaming terminal means incorporating a microprocessor that makes random selections of symbols for players, allows said players to make such selections, or draws symbols from a central repository which are communicated to such central computer and displays on a video screen winning symbols or combinations thereof wherein said electronic terminal does not select said winning symbols and wherein said winning symbols are determined on the basis of at least one random number seed communicated from said central computer to said electronic gaming terminal, said random number seed being one of a plurality of seeds transmitted from said central computer to said electronic terminal and when the decision regarding which of said plurality of random number seeds is used for determining said winning symbols is a function of when a user wagers or otherwise activates said electronic terminal.