Remote gaming using cell phones with location and identity restrictions

• US 7,437,147 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2006
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh; Sonny
• Application Number:
  US11/279,734
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/410, 455/411, 455/414.2, 455/422.1, 455/412.1, 455/41.2, 463/25, 463/28, 463/29, 463/39, 463/40, 463/41
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• 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 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

Disclosed is a remote lottery ticket purchasing or gaming event bet placement system using E-911 compliant cell phones. E-911 compliant cell phones provide the location of the caller, enabling the system of the present invention to determine in which jurisdiction the caller is located. The system further uses at least one identifier that the caller must provide, allowing an age check to be made. The use of both pieces of information, location and age, is used by the system to remotely purchase lottery tickets or make bets in full legal accordance with what is allowed in the caller'"'"'s jurisdiction.

Claims

1. A method for remote wagering using a cellular phone, comprising:

receiving a phone call from a remote location, wherein the phone call includes location data;

receiving age data during the phone call;

determining gaming restrictions for a gaming session, wherein the gaming restrictions are based upon the location data and the age data from the phone call;

receiving a first biometric identifier during the phone call;

activating the gaming session on the cellular phone, wherein activating the gaming session further comprises downloading software for the gaming session to the cellular phone;

obtaining a second biometric identifier during the gaming session, and verifying whether the second biometric identifier is substantially similar to the first biometric identifier; and

continuing the gaming session if the second biometric identifier is substantially similar to the first biometric identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing an electronic fund transfer account.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising suspending the gaming session if the second biometric identifier is not substantially similar to the first biometric identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the gaming session further comprises receiving one or more wagers.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading gaming-related data to the cellular phone.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein gaming-related data comprises lottery numbers.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying the age data, wherein the age data is a personal identification number, driver'"'"'s license number, credit card number, or other verifiable identification.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric data comprises voice data, fingerprint data, or facial image data.

9. A method for remote wagering using a cellular phone, comprising:

receiving a phone call from a remote location, wherein the phone call includes location data;

obtaining age data during the phone call;

verifying the received age data;

determining gaming restrictions for a gaming session, wherein the gaming restrictions are based upon the location data and the age data from the phone call;

establishing an electronic fund transfer account;

obtaining a first biometric identifier during the phone call;

downloading software for a wagering game to the cellular phone;

activating the gaming session on the cellular phone;

obtaining a second biometric identifier during the gaming session, and verifying whether the second biometric identifier is substantially similar to the first biometric identifier; and

continuing the gaming session if the second biometric identifier is substantially similar to the first biometric identifier.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising suspending the gaming session if the second biometric identifier is not substantially similar to the first biometric identifier.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the biometric data comprises voice data, fingerprint data, or facial image data.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the age data is a personal identification number, driver'"'"'s license number, credit card number, or other verifiable identification.

13. A method for remote wagering using a cellular phone, comprising:

receiving a phone call from a remote location, wherein the phone call includes location data;

establishing a client account;

obtaining and verifying age data during the phone call;

obtaining and verifying a first biometric identifier during the phone call;

receiving player input regarding a purchase of a lottery ticket;

obtaining a second biometric identifier during the phone call;

confirming the purchase of the lottery ticket if the second biometric identifier is substantially similar to the first biometric identifier;

sending the information regarding the lottery ticket to the cellular phone, and saving the lottery ticket information in the cellular phone;

sending a message to the cellular phone, wherein the message includes the winning lottery numbers;

comparing the winning lottery numbers to the purchased lottery ticket; and

sending a notification message to the cellular phone if the purchased lottery ticket is a winning ticket.