Method and apparatus for peer-to-peer wagering game

• US 8,052,526 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Abbott, Eric L., Knowles, Brandon D., Ziems, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn; Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US11/517,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A wagering game system includes at least one server configured to generate wagering event data for presentation to players that play against each other using the wagering event data, and generate a bonus award to be provided to at least one of the players, wherein the bonus award includes at least one of a progressive jackpot and a mystery jackpot. The wagering game system also includes at least one wagering device configured to present the wagering event data to a player and receive player input from the player, and an interface device configured to communicate with the wagering device to provide wagering event data to the wagering device, and send player input from the wagering device to the server, wherein the player utilizes the wagering device to play against other players based on the wagering event data.

Claims

1. A wagering game system for providing a player versus remote player wagering event, the wagering game system comprising:

at least one server configured to;

generate wagering event data for presentation to two or more players where the two or more players play against each other using the wagering event data;

generate a bonus award to be provided to at least one of the two or more players, wherein the bonus award includes at, least one of a progressive jackpot and a mystery jackpot;

a plurality of wagering devices, each configured to present the wagering event data to a player using a respective one of the plurality of wagering devices and located remotely from other players using other respective ones of the plurality of wagering devices and receive player input from the player, each of the plurality of wagering devices including an identifier indicating a current location of the wagering device;

an interface device configured to;

enable wireless communication between the at least one server and the plurality of wagering devices;

transmit wagering device location information to said server;

determine when a distance between two wagering devices is less than a predetermined minimum distance;

generate a warning message to indicate that players may be colluding to cheat the system;

receive a verifiable player identity from a player remote from the plurality of wagering devices;

communicate the verifiable player identity to the at least one server for authorization of the player to receive or use one of the plurality of wagering devices;

communicate with the plurality of wagering devices to provide wagering event data to the plurality of wagering devices received by the interface device from the at least one server; and

send player input from the plurality of wagering devices to the at least one server, wherein the player utilizes the at least one wagering device to play against other players based on the wagering event data.

2. The wagering game system as in claim 1, wherein the progressive jackpot is awarded to a player based on a player receipt of a particular poker hand during play on the at least one wagering device.

3. The wagering game system as in claim 1, wherein the mystery award is randomly awarded to a player during play on a respective one of the plurality of wagering devices.

4. The wagering game system as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of wagering devices communicate with the interface device via a wireless communication link.

5. The wagering game system as in claim 4, wherein the plurality of wagering devices is a mobile handheld device configured for use within designated areas in a casino establishment.

6. The wagering game system as in claim 1, further comprising interactive control configured in the at least one server, the plurality of wagering devices, or both, wherein the interactive control determines whether to enable a camera on the at least one wagering device.

7. The wagering game system as in claim 6, wherein the interactive control is configured to display a player selectable icon instead of a picture or video of the player if the camera is not enabled.

8. A wagering game system for providing a player versus player wagering event, the wagering game system comprising:

at least one server configured to;

generate wagering event data for presentation to two or more players where the two or more players play against each other using the wagering event data; and

process player data to authorize player entry into a wagering game environment;

a plurality of wagering devices each configured to present the wagering event data to a respective player using a respective one of the plurality of wagering devices and located remotely from other players using other respective ones of the plurality of wagering devices and receive player input from the player, each of the plurality of wagering devices further configured to transmit wagering device location information to said server;

the server determining when a distance between the respective one of the plurality of wagering devices and other ones of the plurality of wagering devices playing the same game is less than a predetermined distance; and

generating a warning message that the players of the plurality of wagering devices may be colluding to cheat the system; and

a tracking interface device configured to;

communicate with the plurality of wagering devices to provide the wagering event data to the plurality of wagering devices; and

send player input from at least one wagering device of the plurality of wagering devices to the at least one server, wherein the player utilizes the at least one wagering device to play against other players based on the wagering event data.

9. The wagering game system as in claim 8, wherein the plurality of wagering devices each comprise a vibrating controller.

10. The wagering game system of claim 8, wherein the at least one server is further configured to generate a bonus award to be provided to at least one of the two or more players, wherein the bonus award includes at least one of a progressive jackpot and a mystery jackpot.

11. The wagering game system of claim 10, wherein the progressive jackpot is awarded in response to a particular game outcome received by the player playing on the at least one wagering device.

12. The wagering game system of claim 8, wherein the image of a player is one of a video and a still image.

13. The wagering game system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of wagering devices each comprise a camera configured to capture still image data or video image data.

14. The wagering game system of claim 8, wherein the player may select which wagering event to play on the wagering device.

15. The wagering game system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of wagering devices are configured to determine whether to display an image of the player during play based on player input.

16. A method for offering a wagering event to two or more players, the method comprising:

receiving player data remotely from a wagering device to authorize player entry into a wagering game environment;

providing a wagering device to each of a plurality of authorized players;

generating wagering event data at a central server;

wirelessly transmitting the wagering event data to at least one wagering device located remotely from others of the plurality of wagering devices via an interface device that is coupled to the central server;

receiving, via a wireless link, the wagering event at the plurality of wagering devices;

displaying a wagering event to the plurality of players, the wagering event related to the wagering event data;

accepting one or more wagers from at least one player of the plurality of players in response to the display of the wagering event;

transmitting, via the wireless link, player decision data regarding the wagering event to the interface device;

transmitting the player decision data to the central server;

determining a game outcome and a winning player at the central server;

providing an award to the winning player;

providing a bonus to a player, wherein the bonus includes a mystery jackpot or a progressive jackpot

transmitting wagering device location information to the central server from the at least one wagering device;

determining when a distance between the at least one wagering device and another wagering device playing the same game is less than a predetermined minimum distance; and

generating a warning message to a player indicating another player is close enough to observe the player'"'"'s game play.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the progressive jackpot is award to a player based on a particular game outcome which has been defined to generate a progressive jackpot win.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving player interactivity input via one of the plurality of wagering devices from one of the plurality of players, wherein the player interactivity input controls whether an image of the player will be shown to other players.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising capturing an image of at least one of the plurality of players with a camera in at least one of the plurality of wagering devices and displaying the image of the player to other players.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein further comprising causing at least a portion of the plurality of wagering devices to vibrate in response to wagering event data.