Abstract: A special gaming system is provided with a portable controller comprising a remote control to remotely play a game on a slot machine. The remote control can be a battery-operated remote control, a cable-connected hand-held remote control, or a movable laptop keyboard, which is hard wired to the slot machine. Advantageously, the portable controller can simultaneously operate two or three slot machines to enhance the entertainment of customers. In the preferred form, the slot machine has a display to view the game and a coin-input slot to receive one or more coins to activate the game. The slot machine can also have at least one button and/or a manual pull arm to play the game.