Method for Verifying the Age or Location of a Player before Initiating Play of an Internet-Based Game

• US 20130225255A1
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games International Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Irwin, Kenneth Earl Jr., Kline, Charles, Streeter, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,827,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• 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: G06Q 30/0607 Regulated
• 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 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A method for verifying the age or location of a player of an Internet-based lottery game entails providing lottery tickets for purchase by players at an authorized retail location, the lottery tickets having a game authorization code that is entered by the initiate play of the Internet-based lottery game on an internet enabled device. The age of the player is verified at the retail location and a separate verification password is entered via a terminal that is in communication with to the lottery system central computer, with the password linked to the game authorization code. Upon initiating play of the game via a web site, the player enters the verification password separately from the game authorization code. An Internet game server communicates with the lottery system central computer to ensure that the entered verification password corresponds to the linked verification password prior to permitting play of the Internet-based lottery game.

Claims

1. A server implemented method for verifying the age or location of a player of an Internet-based lottery game, comprising:

providing lottery tickets for purchase by a player at an authorized retail location, the lottery tickets having a game authorization code wherein the player enters the game authorization code via an Internet enabled device to initiate play of the Internet-based lottery game;

the retail location having a terminal in communication with a lottery system central computer that is in further communication with an Internet game server for implementing the Internet-based lottery game via a web site;

verifying the age of the player at the retail location and, for verified players, entering a separate verification password via the terminal to the lottery system central computer, the verification password linked to the game authorization code;

providing the verification password to the player;

upon the player initiating play of the game via the web site, requiring the player to enter the verification password separately from the game authorization code;

wherein the Internet game server communicates with the lottery system central computer to ensure that the entered verification password corresponds to the linked verification password prior to permitting the player to proceed with play of the Internet-based lottery game.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the verification password is a personal identification number (PIN) entered by the player at the terminal.

12. The method as in claim 1, wherein upon verification that the IDE is within the given geographic area, a confirmation code is generated and transmitted to the player'"'"'s IDE and stored at the lottery system central computer, the player being given the option to enter the code in a different gameplay IDE for actual play of the lottery game, wherein the entered confirmation code is then compared to the stored confirmation code prior to access being granted to play the lottery game via the gameplay IDE.

3. A method for verifying geographical location of a player'"'"'s internet enabled device (IDE) prior to play of an Internet-based lottery game on the IDE, wherein the IDE is equipped with wireless location data transmission capability, the method comprising:

upon the player initiating play of an Internet-based lottery game with an IDE via a web site maintained by an Internet game server in communication with a lottery system central computer, determining a geographic location of the IDE with the location data transmission capability;

via the IDE, seeking permission from the player to transmit the determined geographic location to the Internet game server;

if permission from the player is denied, providing the player with an option to transmit a location verification code (LVC) from the IDE to the Internet game server; and

wherein the LVC is a code generated by the IDE that confirms location of the IDE within a given a given geographic area without providing actual position of the IDE within the geographic area.

4. The method as in claim 3, wherein the geographic area corresponds to a lottery authority'"'"'s jurisdictional area.

5. The method as in claim 4, further comprising providing software from the lottery authority to the IDE to implement generation of the LVC.

6. The method as in claim 3, wherein the LVC is displayed to the player and is input by the player via the IDE prior to commencement of the game.

7. The method as in claim 3, wherein the location data transmission capability is any one or combination of global positioning system (GS), cell phone receiver, or WiFi positioning system.

8. The method as in claim 7, wherein the IDE includes a WiFi receiver, wherein location of the IDE is determined by an embedded software application as a function of known media access control (MAC) addresses of WiFi access points accessed by the IDE, wherein the software application also generates the LVC in the event that the player refuses permission to transmit location of the IDE as determined by the WiFi access points.

9. The method as in claim 7, wherein the IDE is equipped with multiple wireless location data transmission capabilities, the method further comprising establishing a hierarchy of the wireless location data transmission capabilities, wherein a second one of the location data transmission capabilities in the hierarchy is attempted only if a first one of the location data transmission capabilities is unable to determine location of the IDE or the player has refused permission to transmit the LVC associated with the first one of the location data transmission capabilities.

10. The method as in claim 9, wherein the IDE is a mobile cellular device and the player refuses permission to transmit the LVC associated with all wireless location data transmission capabilities, the method further comprising providing the player with a code via the IDE and a prompt instructing the player to place an initial call to a given telephone number via a land line telephone and enter the code, wherein a location is determined for the land line telephone via a caller ID system to verify that the player is within the given geographic area for play of the lottery game.

11. The method as in claim 10, wherein a call is placed back to a caller ID number generated by the player'"'"'s initial call, and the player is prompted to enter the code before play of the lottery game can be initiated.