METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING COLLUSIONS IN ONLINE GAMES

• US 20100035694A1
• Filed: 09/20/2007
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Playtech Software Ltd. (Playtech Plc)
• Original Assignee: Playtech Software Ltd. (Playtech Plc)
• Inventors: Losica, Idan
• Granted Patent: US 9,202,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

A method and apparatus for preventing collusion or collusion attempt situation within an online computerized gaming environment, wherein an at least one player participates from a remote computing platform in one of more games. The method and apparatus comprise defining the collusion or collusion attempt situations, defining preventive actions to be taken in response to collusions or collusion attempts, associating the situations with actions, determining collusion or collusion attempt situation in run time, selecting one or more actions, and performing the actions to prevent the collusion.

Claims

1. A method for preventing an at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation within an online computerized gaming environment, wherein an at least one player participates in an at least one game from a remote computing platform over a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

defining an at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation;

defining an at least one action to be taken when an at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation occurs;

associating an at least one specific action selected from the at least one action with an at least one specific situation selected from the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation; and

performing the at least one specific action.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of detecting the at least one specific situation related to the at least one player.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of selecting the at least one specific action from the at least one action.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation situation is an Internet Protocol related situation.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the situation is a first player performing login from an Internet Protocol address used by a second player for registration.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the situation is a first player performing login from an Internet Protocol address used by a second player for performing login.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation is a situation involving an identifier of the remote computing platform.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation is a first player performing login from a computing platform having an identifier equal to an identifier of a remote computing platform used by a second player for registration.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the t least one collusion or collusion attempt situation is a first player performing login from a computing platform having an identifier equal to an identifier of a remote computing platform used by a second player for performing login.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation is a related players situation.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation is of a first player that referred a second player, wherein the first player and the second player wish to play together.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation is of a first player that transferred money to a second player, wherein the first player and the second player wish to play together.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the transfer is a direct transfer or an indirect transfer.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation is an affiliate-related situation.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation is a kiosk situation.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation is a player who was previously suspected in fraud registers for playing.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action is blocking the at least one player.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action involves disabling direct access of the at least one player to a game.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action is determining a minimal number of players to be placed on a queue before a game is opened or the at least one action is random assignment of players to games.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one action is swapping at least two players playing in at least two different games with each other.

21. An apparatus for preventing an at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation within an online computerized gaining environment, wherein an at least one player participates in an at least one game from a remote computing platform over a communication network, the apparatus comprising:

a situation definition component for defining an at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation;

an action definition component for defining an at least one action to be taken when the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation occurs;

an association component for associating the at least one action with the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation;

a situation detection component for detecting the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation; and

an action activation component for performing the at least one action.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising an action selection component for selecting from the at least one action, an at least one specific action to be performed.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising an action confirm/override component for confirming or overriding the at least one action.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a storage device for storing the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation or the at least one action.

25. A computer readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for a general purpose computer, the set of instructions comprising:

defining an at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation in an online game played by an at least one player;

defining an at least one action to be taken when the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation occurs;

associating an at least one specific action selected from the at least one action with an at least one specific situation selected from the at least one collusion or collusion attempt situation; and

performing the at least one specific action.