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A gaming system (100) includes gaming locations (102, 104, 106) that each comprise an interactive communication unit (119), including a display 118 visible from the gaming location. A network (126) is arranged to transmit data between the communication units. A touch screen liquid crystal display (1

A gaming system (100) includes gaming locations (102, 104, 106) that each comprise an interactive communication unit (119), including a display 118 visible from the gaming location. A network (126) is arranged to transmit data between the communication units. A touch screen liquid crystal display (118) unrelated to the operation of a gaming machine (102) generates graphics images.

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1. In a casino gaming system comprising a plurality of casino gaming locations, apparatus for enabling communication between a first and a second casino gaming location comprising: a first gaming terminal operable from the first casino gaming location, and arranged to facilitate play of a first game

1. In a casino gaming system comprising a plurality of casino gaming locations, apparatus for enabling communication between a first and a second casino gaming location comprising: a first gaming terminal operable from the first casino gaming location, and arranged to facilitate play of a first game by a first player, the first gaming terminal including a first display visible from the first casino gaming location, the first display being arranged to concurrently provide a first portion arranged to display the first game and a second portion enabling entry of at least one of a name of a second player and a second player code and enabling entry of a first message for the second player even when the second player is not at any casino gaming location;a second gaming terminal operable from the second casino gaming location, and arranged to facilitate play of a second game by a second player, the second gaming terminal including a second display visible from the second casino gaming location, the second display being arranged to concurrently provide a third portion arranged to display the second game and a fourth portion enabling entry of at least one of a name of the first player and a first player code and enabling entry of a second message for the first player even when the first player is not at any casino gaming location;a network arranged to transmit data resulting in display of a first menu including the first message and the name of the first player on the second display, the first menu enabling selection of a reply menu allowing the second player to enter a reply message to the first player even when the first player is not at any casino gaming location, the network also being arranged to transmit data resulting in display of a second menu including the second message and the name of the second player on the first display, the second menu enabling selection of a reply menu allowing the first player to enter a reply message to the second player even when the second player is not at any casino gaming location; anda casino central authority arranged: (1) to store player casino account and player identification information; (2) to locate the second gaming terminal associated with the second player identified as the recipient of the first message and to locate the first gaming terminal associated with the first player identified as the recipient of the second message; (3) to save the first message until the second gaming terminal is located; (4) to forward the first message to the second gaming terminal associated with the second player; (5) to save the second message until the first gaming terminal is located; and (6) to forward the second message to the first gaming terminal associated with the first player. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the casino central authority is arranged to identify the first casino gaming location in response to at least one of the name of the first player and the first player code and arranged to identify the second casino gaming location in response to at least one of the name of the second player and the second player code. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a first card reader operable from the first casino gaming location and a second card reader operable from the second casino gaming location, the first and second card readers being operable to read a code from a card entered by a player and wherein the casino central authority identifies the first casino gaming location based on the code read at the first casino gaming location and data entered at the second casino gaming location and identifies the second casino gaming location based on the code read at the second casino gaming location and data entered at the first casino gaming location. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the code comprises a player ID number. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first gaming terminal further comprises an alphanumeric keypad operable from the first casino gaming location and wherein the second message comprises data entered on the keypad. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first gaming terminal and second gaming terminal displays an image on one of the first display and second display suitable for entry of at least one of numeric data and alphabetic data by touching one of the first display and second display. 7. In a gaming system comprising a plurality of casino gaming locations and a casino central authority storing player casino account and player identification information, a method of enabling communication between a first casino gaming location arranged to facilitate play of a first game by a first player and a second casino gaming location arranged to facilitate play of a second game by a second player, wherein a first display visible from the first casino gaming location is arranged to concurrently provide a first portion arranged to display the first game and a second portion, and wherein a second display visible from the second casino gaming location is arranged to concurrently provide a third portion arranged to display the second game and a fourth portion, comprising: generating messages at the first casino gaming location and displaying messages from the second casino gaming location at the first casino gaming location interactively;enabling entry of at least one of a name of the second player and a second player code from the first casino gaming location using the second portion provided by the first display;enabling entry of a first message for the second player from the first casino gaming location using the second portion provided by the first display, even when the second player is not at any casino gaming location;saving the first message for the second player from the first casino gaming location in a memory when the second player is not at any casino gaming location;retrieving the first message from the memory and forwarding the first message for the second player from the first casino gaming location after the casino central authority has located the second player at the second casino gaming location;generating messages at the second casino gaming location and displaying messages from the first casino gaming location at the second casino gaming location interactively;enabling entry of at least one of a name of the first player and a first player code from the second casino gaming location using the fourth portion provided by the second display;enabling entry of a second message for the first player from the second casino gaming location using the fourth portion provided by the second display, even when the first player is not at any casino gaming location;saving the second message for the first player from the second casino gaming location in the memory when the first player is not at any casino gaming location;retrieving the second message from the memory and forwarding the second message for the first player from the second casino gaming location after the casino central authority has located the first player at the first casino gaming location;transmitting the messages between the first and second casino gaming locations resulting in display of a first menu including the first message and the name of the first player at the second casino gaming location and display of a second menu including the second message and the name of the second player at the first casino gaming location;enabling selection of a first reply menu from the first menu;allowing from the first reply menu the second player to enter a reply message to the first player using the fourth portion provided by the second display, even when the first player is not at any casino gaming location;saving the reply message for the first player in the memory when the first player is not at any casino gaming location;retrieving the reply message from the memory and forwarding the reply message for the first player after the casino central authority has located the first player at the first casino gaming location;enabling selection of a second reply menu from the second menu;allowing from the second reply menu the first player to enter a reply message to the second player using the second portion provided by the first display, even when the second player is not at any casino gaming location;saving the reply message for the second player in the memory when the second player is not at any casino gaming location; andretrieving the reply message from the memory and forwarding the reply message for the second player after the casino central authority has located the second player at the second casino gaming location. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein at least one of the messages generated at the second casino gaming location comprises a reply to a message generated at the first casino gaming location. 9. The method of claim 7 wherein at least one of the messages generated at the first casino gaming location comprises a reply to a message generated at the second casino gaming location. 10. The method of claim 7 wherein the first casino gaming location comprises a touch screen display and wherein said generating messages at the first casino gaming location comprises touching the display. 11. The method of claim 7 wherein the code comprises a player ID number. 12. The method of claim 7 wherein the first casino gaming location comprises a keypad and wherein said generating messages at the first casino gaming location comprises entering data from the keypad. 13. The method of claim 7 wherein said generating messages at the first casino gaming location comprises: generating an image of an alphabetic input; andgenerating messages at the first casino gaming location at least in part in response to touching of the image. 14. The method of claim 7 wherein said generating messages at the second casino gaming location comprises: generating an image of an alphabetic input; andgenerating messages at the second casino gaming location at least in part in response to touching of the image. 15. In a gaming system comprising a plurality of casino gaming locations and a casino central authority storing player casino account and player identification information, a method of enabling communication between a first casino gaming location arranged to facilitate play of a first game by a first player and a second casino gaming location arranged to facilitate play of a second game by a second player, wherein a first display visible from the first casino gaming location is arranged to concurrently provide a first portion arranged to display the first game and a second portion, and wherein a second display visible from the second casino gaming location is arranged to concurrently provide a third portion arranged to display the second game and a fourth portion, comprising: enabling the first player to enter at the first casino gaming location an identification of the second casino gaming location using the second portion provided by the first display;enabling the first player to enter at the first casino gaming location a message for the second player using the second portion provided by the first display;locating the second casino gaming location based on the entered identification of the second casino gaming location, wherein the step of locating the second casino gaming location is performed by the casino central authority;transmitting the message from the first to the second casino gaming location;displaying the message at the second casino gaming location such that it is visible to the second player.