METHODS FOR BIOMETRICALLY IDENTIFYING A PLAYER

• US 20090176566A1
• Filed: 01/07/2009
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelly, Bryan M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,972,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics

Abstract

Various systems, gaming devices, and methods for biometrically identifying a player are disclosed herein. The capture of the biometric information is undisclosed to the player. The captured biometric information may be used to verifying a player'"'"'s age, prevent underage gambling, promote responsible gaming, authorize and/or authenticate an electronic funds transfer. The biometric information may also be used to provide player-centric gaming. The player'"'"'s preferences are associated with the biometric information, and a gaming device is reconfigured to the player'"'"'s preferences once the player'"'"'s biometric information is obtained at the gaming device.

Claims

1. A method for providing responsible gaming, the method comprising:

receiving player input for gaming limits on a first biometric input device, wherein the first biometric input device captures biometric data and player input;

capturing a first biometric sample from the first biometric input device, wherein capturing of the first biometric sample is undisclosed to the player;

configuring a gaming device according to the gaming limits set by the player;

initiating game play in response to player input;

obtaining a second biometric sample from the player, wherein capturing of the second biometric sample is undisclosed to the player;

comparing the first and second biometric samples; and

preventing further game play when game limits are reached and the first and second biometric samples are matching.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first biometric input device is a touch screen or a player-actuated button having a biometric reader.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second device is a biometric input device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second device is a touch screen or a player-actuated button.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first biometric device and the second device are the same.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second biometric samples are fingerprints, retinal scan, iris scan, or any combination thereof.

7. A method for providing reconfigurable gaming device, the method comprising:

capturing a first biometric sample of a player at a first gaming device, wherein capturing of the first biometric sample is undisclosed to the player;

associating the first biometric sample with game session data from a first gaming session;

storing the first biometric sample and the game session data;

capturing a second biometric sample during a second gaming session at a second gaming device, wherein capturing of the second biometric sample is undisclosed to the player; and

reconfiguring the second gaming device based on the game session data from the first gaming session when the second biometric sample are matching.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second biometric samples are fingerprints, retinal scan, iris scan, or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first biometric sample is captured on a touch screen or a player-actuated button.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the game session data is a game configuration, game play preference, game state, accumulated game pieces, bonus points, bonus game pieces, bonus awards, accrued player tracking points, or any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first gaming device and the second gaming device are the same device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first biometric sample and the game session data are stored on the first gaming device.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the first biometric sample and the game session data are stored on a server in communication with the first gaming device.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein reconfiguring the second gaming device further comprises downloading one or more programs for execution the second gaming device.

15. A method for authorizing an electronic funds transfer, the method comprising:

receiving a request for an electronic funds transfer at a gaming device from a player;

capturing a biometric sample from the player;

verifying an identity of the player based on the captured biometric sample; and

authorizing the transfer of funds to the gaming device once the identity of the player is verified.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein capturing the biometric sample is undisclosed to the player.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the biometric sample is a retinal scan, iris scan, handprint, one or more fingerprints, or any combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein a single biometric input device is used to receive the player request for electronic funds transfer and to capture the biometric sample.

19. A method involving biometric identification, comprising:

storing biometric data based upon a first biometric scan from a player at a gaming device, wherein capturing of the first biometric sample is undisclosed to the player;

printing a voucher including data from the first biometric scan;

obtaining a second biometric scan from the player, wherein capturing of the second biometric sample is undisclosed to the player; and

determining whether the first and the second biometric scans are matching prior to redeeming the voucher.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising hashing the first biometric scan.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first and second biometric scans are one or more fingerprints, a handprint, retinal scan, iris scan, or any combination thereof.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the voucher is redeemable for cash, credit, or prizes.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the first and second biometric scans are one or more fingerprints, a handprint, retinal scan, iris scan, or any combination thereof.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the gaming device is wireless.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

presenting a second set of video images of play pieces on a single display of a gaming device in response to receiving funds from a second player;

obtaining a third biometric sample from a second player when the second player touches a location on the biometric input device that corresponds to the location of the second set of video images of the play pieces, wherein obtaining the third biometric sample is undisclosed to the player; and

associating the third biometric sample from the second player with the second set of video images of the play pieces, wherein the second set of video images are only moveable by the second player or a casino representative.

23. A method for age verification of a player at a gaming device, the method comprising:

verifying an age of a first player prior to commencing a gaming session on a gaming device;

obtaining a first biometric sample from the first player;

initiating a gaming session on the gaming device;

capturing a second biometric sample from a player during the gaming session wherein capturing of the second biometric sample is undisclosed to the player; and

preventing further game play during the gaming session when the second biometric sample does not match the first biometric sample.

26. A method for presenting a multi-player game on a single display having a biometric input device overlaying the single display, the method comprising:

presenting a first set of video images of play pieces on a single display of a gaming device in response to receiving funds from a first player;

obtaining a first biometric sample from the first player when the first player touches a location on the biometric input device that corresponds to the location of the video images of the play pieces, wherein obtaining the first biometric sample is undisclosed to the player;

associating the first biometric sample from the first player with the first set of video images of the play pieces;

receiving input from the first player moving one or more of the play pieces on the single display;

obtaining a second biometric sample when receiving first player input moving one or more of the play pieces to a new location on the single display, wherein obtaining the second biometric sample is undisclosed to the player; and

allowing movement of one or more of the play pieces to the new location when the first and second biometric samples are matching.