Security methods and apparatus for a tangible medium containing wagering game outcomes

• US 20060246984A1
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Sammon, Russell P., Walker, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes that is recorded onto a tangible medium (e.g., DVD or CD-ROM). A player may then purchase a video presentation of (e.g., predetermined) outcomes in a jurisdiction in which gambling is legal and then view the presentation at the player'"'"'s convenience (e.g., from any jurisdiction and at any time). In some embodiments, a salesperson inspects at least one tamper evident item associated with the tangible medium for any indication of tampering. If no tampering is evident, then the salesperson activates the tangible medium upon receipt of a purchase price. In some embodiments, if the salesperson determines that tampering has occurred, then she refuses to activate the tangible medium, and information about the player and the tangible medium may be communicated to one or more databases.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

offering a tangible medium for sale, wherein the tangible medium stores a plurality of outcomes of a wagering game and has associated therewith at least one tamper evident item;

inspecting the at least one tamper evident item for any indication of tampering; and

activating the tangible medium upon receipt of a purchase price and if the at least one tamper evident item passes the inspection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising refusing to activate the tangible medium if at least one tamper evident item fails inspection.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising at least one of notifying appropriate authorities, updating a fraud database, updating a player database, and updating a tangible medium database.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a payout if the tangible medium is activated and if the plurality of wagering game outcomes is associated with a redemption value.

5. The method of claim 4, which further comprises:

providing a wagering game receipt if the tangible medium is activated; and

providing the payout when the wagering game receipt is redeemed.

6. The method of claim 1, which further comprises, prior to offering the tangible medium for sale, storing the plurality of outcomes on the tangible medium in response to at least one of a request by a player, a request by a gaming device, and a request by a gaming entity.

7. The method of claim 1, which further comprises, prior to offering the tangible medium for sale, associating the tamper evident item with the tangible medium at least one of after generating the plurality of outcomes and during packaging of the tangible medium.

8. The method of claim 1, which further comprises activating the tangible medium by at least one of scanning a barcode, providing a validation code, communicating with a database, providing a wagering game receipt, storing an indication of activation in a database, and removing the tamper evident item.

9. The method of claim 1, which further comprises associating the at least one tamper evident item to obscure at least a portion of a readable surface of the tangible medium.

10. The method of claim 1, which further comprises affixing the at least one tamper evident item to the tangible medium.

11. The method of claim 10, which further comprises the tamper evident item being at least one of difficult to reapply once removed, operable to leave a visible residue when removed, and operable to change at least one of color, size, texture, and shape when removed.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the tamper evident item comprises at least one of a tamper evident seal, a decal, a label, a polymer layer, a static-cling seal, a seal with a tab, a seal with a barcode, and a security strip.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to offering the tangible medium for sale, treating at least a portion of the tangible medium with a chemical composition operable to inhibit access to the plurality of outcomes.

14. The method of claim 13, which further comprises utilizing a reactive chemical to remove the chemical composition.

15. The method of claim 13, which further comprises, if the chemical composition is not removed, the treated portion of the tangible medium transforming into at least one of an opaque layer, a light barrier layer, and a colored layer when at least one predetermined condition is satisfied.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one predetermined condition comprises at least one of exposure to air, to moisture, to a predetermined range of temperatures, to humidity, and to pressure.

17. The method of claim 1, which further comprises embedding the at least one tamper evident item in the tangible medium.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the tamper evident item comprises at least one of a GPS chip, an RFID transponder, a security strip, an alarm device, and wireless communications circuitry.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to offering the tangible medium for sale, encasing the tangible medium in a package.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the package comprises at least one of a jewel case, a DVD case, a cardboard holder, a paper casing, a plastic sleeve, and a pocket.

21. The method of claim 20, which further comprises the package including at least one transparent portion, and wherein the at least one tamper evident item is visible through the at least one transparent portion.

22. The method of claim 21, which further comprises affixing marketing materials to the packaging such that at least a portion of the tamper evident item is visible.

23. The method of claim 19, which further comprises affixing the at least one tamper evident item to the package.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the tamper evident item comprises at least one of a security strip, a tamper evident seal, a chemical composition, a static-cling seal, a label, and a decal.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein removal of the tamper evident item results in at least one of characters appearing on the package and a visible residue remaining on the package.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the tamper evident item comprises at least one of an RFID transponder configured to become ineffective when the package is opened, a GPS device configured to provide information concerning the location of the tangible medium, an electronic security circuit, an audible alarm, a visual alarm, and a wireless communication device.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the tangible medium comprises at least one of a DVD, a CD-ROM, a floppy disc, a VHS tape, a flash memory, a memory stick, a portable viewing device, and a flip-through book.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising an RFID tag associated with the tangible medium for providing at least one of data associated with the tangible medium, data concerning when and where the tangible medium was placed on display for sale, tracking data related to the movements of the tangible medium, and a prompt signal for use to remind a player to purchase and activate the tangible medium.

29. An apparatus, comprising:

a tangible medium containing a plurality of outcomes of a wagering game;

at least one tamper evident item associated with the tangible medium; and

a package housing the tangible medium, the package including at least one transparent portion through which the at least one tamper evident item is visible.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the tangible medium comprises at least one of a DVD, a CD-ROM, a floppy disc, a VHS tape, a flash memory, a memory stick, a portable viewing device, and a flip-through book.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least one tamper evident item is affixed to the tangible medium.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the tamper evident item comprises at least one of a chemical composition, a security tape, a decal, a polymer coating, a chemical coating, an opaque material, a seal and a label.

33. The apparatus of claim 29 which further comprises at least one opaque layer positioned between a playback surface of the tangible medium and the package, the opaque layer comprising at least one of marketing material, instructions, printed matter, artwork, advertising, support material, and a tangible medium protective layer.

34. The apparatus of claim 29 further comprising at least one second tamper evident item affixed to the package.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one second tamper evident item comprises at least one of a chemical composition, a security tape, a decal, a seal and a label.

36. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising at least one security device associated with at least one of the tangible medium and the package.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the security device comprises at least one of an RFID transponder configured to become ineffective when the package is opened, and a GPS device configured to provide information concerning the location of the tangible medium, an electronic security circuit, an audible alarm, a visual alarm, and a wireless communication device.

38. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising an RFID tag associated with at least one of the tangible medium and the packaging, the RFID tag configured to provide at least one of data concerning when and where the tangible medium was placed on display for sale, data associated with the tangible medium, tracking data related to the movements of the tangible medium, and a prompt signal for use to remind a player to purchase and activate the tangible medium.

39. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising at least one of a session results ticket, a cashout ticket, a video ticket, and a wagering game receipt associated with the tangible medium.

40. A method, comprising:

offering a tangible medium for sale, wherein the tangible medium stores an indication of a plurality of outcomes of a wagering game and has at least one tamper evident item associated therewith;

inspecting the tamper evident item for any indication of tampering; and

activating the tangible medium by providing an activation code upon receipt of a purchase price and if the tamper evident item passes inspection, wherein the activation code is operable to unlock the plurality of outcomes when input to a tangible medium reading device.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising refusing to provide the activation code if at least one tamper evident item fails inspection.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising at least one of notifying appropriate authorities, updating a fraud database, updating a player database, and updating a tangible medium database.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising providing a payout if the tangible medium is activated and if the plurality of wagering game outcomes is associated with a redemption value.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

providing a wagering game receipt if the tangible medium is activated; and

providing the payout when the wagering game receipt is redeemed.

45. The method of claim 40, which further comprises activating the tangible medium by at least one of scanning a barcode, providing a validation code, communicating with a database, providing a wagering game receipt, storing an indication of activation in a database, and removing the tamper evident item.

46. The method of claim 40, which further comprises associating the at least one tamper evident item to obscure at least a portion of a readable surface of the tangible medium.

47. The method of claim 40, which further comprises affixing the at least one tamper evident item to the tangible medium.

48. The method of claim 47, which further comprises the tamper evident item being at least one of difficult to reapply once removed, operable to leave a visible residue when removed, and operable to change at least one of color, size, texture, and shape when removed.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the tamper evident item comprises at least one of a tamper evident seal, a decal, a label, a polymer layer, a static-cling seal, a seal with a tab, a seal with a barcode, and a security strip.

50. The method of claim 40, further comprising, prior to offering the tangible medium for sale, treating at least a portion of the tangible medium with a chemical composition operable to inhibit viewing of the plurality of outcomes.

51. The method of claim 50, which further comprises utilizing a dissolvent chemical to remove the chemical composition.

52. The method of claim 50, which further comprises, if the chemical composition is not removed, the treated portion of the tangible medium transforming into at least one of an opaque layer, a light barrier layer, and a colored layer when at least one predetermined condition is satisfied.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the at least one predetermined condition comprises at least one of exposure to air, to moisture, to a predetermined range of temperatures, to humidity, and to pressure.

54. The method of claim 40, which further comprises embedding the at least one tamper evident item in the tangible medium.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the tamper evident item comprises at least one of a GPS chip, an RFID transponder, a security strip, an alarm device, and wireless communications circuitry.

56. The method of claim 40, further comprising, prior to offering the tangible medium for sale, encasing the tangible medium in a package.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the package comprises at least one of a jewel case, a DVD case, a cardboard holder, a paper casing, a plastic sleeve, and a pocket.

58. The method of claim 56, which further comprises the package including at least one transparent portion, and wherein the at least one tamper evident item is visible through the at least one transparent portion.

59. The method of claim 58, which further comprises affixing marketing materials to the packaging such that at least a portion of the tamper evident item is visible.

60. The method of claim 56, which further comprises affixing the at least one tamper evident item to the package.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the tamper evident item comprises at least one of a security strip, a tamper evident seal, a chemical composition, a static-cling seal, a label, and a decal.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein removal of the tamper evident item results in at least one of characters appearing on the package and a visible residue remaining on the package.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the tamper evident item comprises at least one of an RFID transponder configured to become ineffective when the package is opened, a GPS device configured to provide information concerning the location of the tangible medium, an electronic security circuit, an audible alarm, a visual alarm, and a wireless communication device.

64. The method of claim 40, further comprising an RFID tag associated with the tangible medium for providing at least one of data associated with the tangible medium, data concerning when and where the tangible medium was placed on display for sale, tracking data related to the movements of the tangible medium, and a prompt signal for use to remind a player to purchase and activate the tangible medium.

65. The method of claim 40, wherein the tangible medium comprises at least one of a DVD, a CD-ROM, a floppy disc, a VHS tape, a flash memory, a memory stick, a portable viewing device, and a flip-through book.