SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVENIENCE GAMING

• US 20120289321A1
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Amaitis, Lee M., Asher, Joseph M., Lutnick, Howard W., Mylet, Darrin M., Wilkins, Alan B.
• Application Number:
  US13/561,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20120289321A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

A convenience gaming system is provided. The convenience gaming system allows users to access applications via gaming communication devices coupled to a communication network. At least a portion of the network may be wireless. The gaming applications include gambling, financial, entertainment service, and other types of transactions. The system may include features to ensure that users are not permitted to participate in gambling activities if users communicate with the system through parts of system infrastructure located close enough to pick up or send signals across state lines or beyond authorized areas.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

responsive to a user using a device to access a gaming system to engage in at least one gaming activity, determining by at least one server whether the user'"'"'s device is located within a pre-defined location; and

allowing, by the at least one server, the user to engage in the at least one gaming activity from the user'"'"'s device based upon the determination that the user'"'"'s device is located in the pre-defined location, and

wherein responsive to the user accessing the gaming system, certain functionality of the device is altered to ensure wagers from the device originate from within boundaries of the pre-defined location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming activity is sports betting.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming activity is horse betting.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming activity is a gambling activity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming activity is a wagering activity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the altered functionality includes making voice calls.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the altered functionality includes receiving voice calls.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the altered functionality includes Internet connectivity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of geo-fencing.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of triangulation.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of multilateration.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through an identification of which network, portion of a network, or network component the user'"'"'s device is accessing.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the identification indicates at least one of a base station, group of base stations, a line, a channel, a trunk, a switch, a router, and a repeater.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes:

receiving the location of the user'"'"'s device; and

based upon the location, determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the location of the user'"'"'s device comprises receiving the location from the user'"'"'s device.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device electronically coupled to the at least one processor, in which the memory device stores instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to;

responsive to a user using a device to access a gaming system to engage in at least one gaming activity, determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within a pre-defined location; and

allowing the user to engage in the at least one gaming activity from the user'"'"'s device based upon the determination that the user'"'"'s device is located in the pre-defined location, and

wherein responsive to the user accessing the gaming system, certain functionality of the device is altered to ensure wagers from the device originate from within boundaries of the pre-defined location.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one gaming activity is sports betting.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one gaming activity is horse betting.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one gaming activity is a gambling activity.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one gaming activity is a wagering activity.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the altered functionality includes making voice calls.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the altered functionality includes receiving voice calls.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the altered functionality includes Internet connectivity.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of geo-fencing.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of triangulation.

26. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of multilateration.

27. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through an identification of which network, portion of a network, or network component the user'"'"'s device is accessing.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the identification indicates at least one of a base station, group of base stations, a line, a channel, a trunk, a switch, a router, and a repeater.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location includes:

receiving the location of the user'"'"'s device; and

based upon the location, determining whether the user'"'"'s device is located within the pre-defined location.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein receiving the location of the user'"'"'s device comprises receiving the location from the user'"'"'s device.