Method and apparatus for providing insurance policies for gambling losses

• US 7,771,273 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tulley, Stephen C., Downs, Michael D., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US11/423,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/40 for devices for accepting orders, advertisements, or the like

Abstract

A method according to some embodiments of the present invention provides for a game server to receive policy requirements of a user for a gambling loss insurance policy from a terminal. The game server determines a premium amount based on the policy requirements of the user and transmits information concerning the premium amount to the user.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable to facilitate wagering activity, said gaming device comprising:

(a) at least one display device;

(b) at least one input device;

(c) at least one processor; and

(d) at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(i) store data related to a gambling loss insurance policy on a smart card, the data comprising a policy identifier, a player identifier, and at least one term associated with the gambling loss insurance policy; and

(ii) access the data related to the gambling loss insurance policy to determine a refund due a player.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to store an indication of player losses on the smart card.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to update the data stored on the smart card.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to authorize the smart card to be used at another gaming device.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to authorize the smart card to be used at a kiosk.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to provide the determined refund to the player.

7. A smart card comprising:

memory configured to store data related to a gambling loss insurance policy including a policy identifier, a player identifier, and one or more terms associated with the gambling loss insurance policy, the memory also configured to be accessed to determine a refund due a player.

8. A kiosk comprising:

(a) at least one display device;

(b) at least one input device configured to access data on a smart card;

(c) at least one processor; and

(d) at least one memory device, which stores a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(i) access data related to a gambling loss insurance policy on the smart card, the data comprising a policy identifier, a player identifier, and at least one term associated with the gambling loss insurance policy;

(ii) determine any refund due to a player based on the accessed data on the smart card; and

(iii) provide the determined refund to the player.

9. A kiosk comprising:

(a) at least one display device;

(b) at least one input device configured to access data on a smart card;

(c) at least one processor; and

(d) at least one memory device, which stores a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(i) store data related to a gambling loss insurance policy on a smart card, the data comprising a policy identifier, a player identifier, and at least one term associated with the gambling loss insurance policy; and

(ii) access the data on the smart card related to a gambling loss insurance policy to determine a refund due to a player.

10. The kiosk of claim 9, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to provide the determined refund to the player.