Peer-to-peer wagering platform

• US 8,414,387 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2012
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skillz Platform, Inc. (Skillz Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lookout Gaming, LLC
• Inventors: Paradise, Andrew, Chafkin, Casey
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US13/569,424
• Time in Patent Office: 244 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A system includes a third party game server, a plurality of third party game instances and a transactional server. The third party game server provides data related to a third party game. Each of the third party game instances is in communication with and receiving game data from the third party gaming server. Additionally, each third party game instances includes a peer-wagering module to receive a wager amount from a player associated with the corresponding third party game instance. Each third party game instance is associated with an online gaming competition and each player is participating in the online gaming competition. The transactional server receives the wager amount from each peer-wagering module. The transactional server secures previously deposited funds associated with each of the associated corresponding players. The fund amount is equal to the respective wager amount. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a third party gaming server providing data related to a third party game;

a plurality of third party game instances each third party game instance in communication with and receiving game data from the third party gaming server, each third party game instance including a peer-wagering module to receive a wager amount from a player associated with the corresponding third party game instance, each third party game instance associated with an online gaming competition, each player participating in the online gaming competition; and

a transactional server to receive from each peer-wagering module the wager amount, and secure an amount of funds previously deposited and associated with each of the associated corresponding players, the secured fund amount equal to the respective wager amount, the funds being secured such that they cannot be transferred, withdrawn, or secured for a different wager;

wherein each server comprises at least one computing system having at least one data processor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transactional server receives game statistics describing the results of the online gaming competition from the third party gaming server and automatically transfers, based on the received game statistics, at least a portion of the secured funds to at least one account associated with at least one of the players.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the third party game is an asynchronous competitive skill based game played between each player.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the third party game is a synchronous competitive skill based game played between each player.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transactional server sends a notification of each player winnings and losses to the peer-wagering module in each of the plurality of game instances.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transactional server determines if the previously deposited funds associated with a player is less than the wager amount.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the online gaming competition is a tournament.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the online game competition is selected from a group consisting of:

Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (“

MMORPG”

), First Person Shooters (“

FPS”

), and Real Time Strategy (“

RTS”

) games.

9. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving data characterizing a plurality of players and a wager amount for each player, each player being enrolled in a third party skills based digital gaming competition;

securing for each player, using an online skills based digital game wagering platform, an amount of funds previously deposited by the respective player, the secured funds equal to the wager amount, the funds being secured such that they cannot be transferred, withdrawn, or secured for a different wager; and

transmitting, data characterizing a confirmation that each of the plurality of players funds were successfully secured.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving data characterizing the outcome of the third party skills based gaming competition;

transferring, using the online skills based digital game wagering platform, at least a portion of the secured funds to an account associated with one of the plurality of players; and

transmitting data characterizing the transfer.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting data characterizing the winnings and losses of one or more of the plurality of players.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of player'"'"'s is rewarded with non-monetary compensation based on the outcome of the third party skills based gaming competition.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 12, wherein the non-monetary compensation can be used as a substitute to funds to enter a future online skills based gaming competition.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein the data characterizing the transfer is transmitted to a plurality of peer-wagering modules, each module included in an instance of a third party game.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the data characterizing the confirmation is transmitted to a plurality of peer-wagering modules, each module included in an instance of a third party game.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the data characterizing the outcome of the third party skills gaming competition is received from a third party game server, the game server providing game data to a plurality of game instances in communication with the game server, each game instance including a peer-wagering module.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the data characterizing the outcome of the third party skills gaming competition is received from a plurality of peer-wagering modules, each module included in an instance of a third party game in communication with a game server providing game data to the plurality of game instances.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the third party skills based gaming competition is associated with an asynchronous game.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the third party skills based gaming competition is associated with a synchronous game.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the wager amount includes a plurality of values, each value associated with one of the plurality of players.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving data characterizing the player'"'"'s game play;

monitoring one or more characteristics of the received data; and

comparing the monitored characteristics to historical characteristics associated with the player to detect fraudulent behavior by the player, wherein deviations between the monitored characteristics and historical characteristics indicate fraud.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 21, wherein the monitoring is performed in real time.

23. The computer implemented method of claim 21, wherein the monitoring is performed after the online skills based game competition is complete.

24. A system comprising:

at least one data processor;

memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one data processor, causes the at least one data processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving data characterizing a plurality of players and a wager amount for each player, each player being enrolled in a third party skills based digital gaming competition;

securing for each player, using an online skills based digital game wagering platform, an amount of funds previously deposited by the respective player, the secured funds equal to the wager amount, the funds being secured such that they cannot be transferred, withdrawn, or secured for a different wager; and

transmitting data characterizing a confirmation that each of the plurality of players funds were successfully secured.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving data characterizing the outcome of the third party skills based gaming competition;

transferring, using the online skills based digital game wagering platform, at least a portion of the secured funds to an account associated with one of the plurality of players; and

transmitting data characterizing the transfer.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting data characterizing the winnings and losses of one or more of the plurality of players.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of players is rewarded with non-monetary compensation based on the outcome of the third party skills based gaming competition.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the non-monetary compensation can be used as a substitute to funds to enter a future online skills based gaming competition.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the data characterizing the transfer is transmitted to a plurality of peer-wagering modules, each module included in an instance of a third party game.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the data characterizing the confirmation is transmitted to a plurality of peer-wagering modules, each module included in an instance of a third party game.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein the data characterizing the outcome of the third party skills gaming competition is received from a third party game server, the game server providing game data to a plurality of game instances in communication with the game server, each game instance including a peer-wagering module.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the data characterizing the outcome of the third party skills gaming competition is received from a plurality of peer-wagering modules, each module included in an instance of a third party game in communication with a game server providing game data to the plurality of game instances.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein the third party skills based gaming competition is associated with an asynchronous game.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein the third party skills based gaming competition is associated with a synchronous game.

35. The system of claim 24, wherein the wager amount includes a plurality of values, each value associated with one of the plurality of players.

36. The system of claim 25, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving data characterizing the player'"'"'s game play;

monitoring one or more characteristics of the received data; and

comparing the monitored characteristics to historical characteristics associated with the player to detect fraudulent behavior by the player, wherein deviations between the monitored characteristics and historical characteristics indicate fraud.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the monitoring is performed in real time.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the monitoring is performed after the online skills based game competition is complete.

39. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions, which when executed by at least one data processor of at least one computing system, implement operations comprising:

receiving data characterizing a plurality of players and a wager amount for each player, each player being enrolled in a third party skills based digital gaming competition;

securing for each player, using an online skills based digital game wagering platform, an amount of funds previously deposited by the respective player, the secured funds equal to the wager amount, the funds being secured such that they cannot be transferred, withdrawn, or secured for a different wager; and

transmitting data characterizing a confirmation that each of the plurality of players funds were successfully secured.

40. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 39, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving data characterizing the outcome of the third party skills based gaming competition;

transferring, using the online skills based digital game wagering platform, at least a portion of the secured funds to an account associated with one of the plurality of players; and

transmitting data characterizing the transfer.

41. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 40, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting data characterizing the winnings and losses of one or more of the plurality of players.

42. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 40, wherein at least one of the plurality of player'"'"'s is rewarded with non-monetary compensation based on the outcome of the third party skills based gaming competition.

43. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 42, wherein the non-monetary compensation can be used as a substitute to funds to enter a future online skills based gaming competition.

44. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 40, wherein the data characterizing the transfer is transmitted to a plurality of peer-wagering modules, each module included in an instance of a third party game.

45. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 39, wherein the data characterizing the confirmation is transmitted to a plurality of peer-wagering modules, each module included in an instance of a third party game.

46. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 39, wherein the data characterizing the outcome of the third party skills gaming competition is received from a third party game server, the game server providing game data to a plurality of game instances in communication with the game server, each game instance including a peer-wagering module.

47. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 39, wherein the data characterizing the outcome of the third party skills gaming competition is received from a plurality of peer-wagering modules, each module included in an instance of a third party game in communication with a game server providing game data to the plurality of game instances.

48. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 39, wherein the third party skills based gaming competition is associated with an asynchronous game.

49. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 39, wherein the third party skills based gaming competition is associated with a synchronous game.

50. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 39, wherein the wager amount includes a plurality of values, each value associated with one of the plurality of players.

51. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 40, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving data characterizing the player'"'"'s game play;

monitoring one or more characteristics of the received data; and

comparing the monitored characteristics to historical characteristics associated with the player to detect fraudulent behavior by the player, wherein deviations between the monitored characteristics and historical characteristics indicate fraud.

52. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 51, wherein the monitoring is performed in real time.

53. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 51, wherein the monitoring is performed after the online skills based game competition is complete.