DISTRIBUTED ACCOUNT BASED GAMING SYSTEM

A back office system is preferably located in a secure area and includes one or more central computers. Each central computer stores a number of game records with each game record representing a play in a game. A database computer included in the back office system maintains an account for each authorized player in the gaming system. A casino floor system is operatively connected for communication with the back office system and includes a number of player terminals through which players may participate in various games offered in the gaming system. Each player terminal in the casino floor system is serviced by one central computer in the back office system. Each player terminal allows a player to log in and make a request for a game play, and then communicates the entered game play request to the respective central computer servicing that particular player terminal. In response to the game play request from the player terminal, the central computer system reads a selected game record from the group of game records stored in the back office system and identifies the result associated with the game record. The central computer also directs the database computer to change the player's account balance according to the game play request and result of the selected game record. The central computer also sends information regarding the game play result back to the player terminal, which then uses the information to notify the player of the result.