Safe gaming, personal selection of self-limiting option

• US 20030190944A1
• Filed: 04/03/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Acres Gaming Incorporated (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Manfredi, Vincent S., Schneider, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US10/117,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190944A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

To self-limit play, a player selects a trigger event and an associated action. During play, the game is monitored for the trigger event. If the trigger event occurs, the associated action is performed.

Claims

1. A method for self-limiting play of a game, the method comprising:

selecting a trigger event by a player;

selecting an action by the player;

playing the game; and

performing the action.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring the game for the trigger event.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein performing the action includes performing the action if the trigger event occurs.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising associating the action with the trigger event.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising removing the association between the action and the trigger event.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting a statistic about the game to a central station.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a statistic from a central station.

8. An apparatus for self-limiting play of a game, the apparatus comprising:

selecting means for selecting a trigger event and an associated action by a player;

the game;

monitoring means for monitoring the game for the trigger event; and

performance means for performing the associated action.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the games offers the selecting means to the player.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a kiosk offering the selecting means to the player.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a station offering the selecting means to the player.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the selecting means includes a microprocessor programmed to offer the player at least one trigger event and at least one action.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the selecting means further includes a transmission circuit designed to transmit the trigger event and action to a central station.

14. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the trigger event is drawn from a set including a play time, a total buy-in per unit time, a total coin-in per unit time, an accrued credit limit, a one time win limit, a total loss limit, a total win limit, and a maximum bet.

15. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the associated action is drawn from a set including a notification, a ban, a global ban, and a forced rest period.

16. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the game includes the monitoring means.

17. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the monitoring means includes a comparator designed to compare a statistic of the game with the trigger event.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a memory designed to store the statistics of the game and the trigger event.

19. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the game includes the performance means.

20. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the performance means includes a message displayed to the player.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the performance means further includes a blocking circuit designed to prevent the player from playing the game after the trigger event has occurred.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:

the action includes a global ban; and

the performance means further includes a transmission circuit designed to transmit a signal to a central station that the trigger event has occurred.