Detecting and preventing bots and cheating in online gaming

• US 8,708,791 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Wolf, Bryan D., Underdahl, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US13/721,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20130123011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• 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

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for detecting and/or preventing cheating in online gaming. Some implementations provide gaming information in formats that are difficult for a bot to interpret, but which are preferably easy for humans to interpret. Some implementations of the invention involve the tracking and analysis of players'"'"' gaming activities. Some implementations of the invention provide a multi-tier approach to data analysis. Some analysis may be performed, for example, by a centralized computing device such as a server, whereas other analysis may be performed by a host device. In some implementations, “challenge and response” measures will be employed. Some implementations of the invention involve detection and prevention of collaboration between players.

Claims

1. A gaming method in a gaming system having a plurality of host devices and at least one game server, the method comprising:

providing, by plurality of host devices and the at least one game server, an online wagering game;

presenting, by plurality of host devices, game data required for participation in the online wagering game in a format that requires a human interface or the use of pattern recognition methods;

gathering, by the plurality of host devices, game play data while players are using the plurality of host devices to play Internet wagering games;

analyzing, by the at least one game server, the game play data to determine individual players'"'"' typical gaming styles and times of deviation from the typical gaming styles; and

comparing, by the at least one game server, times of deviation from players'"'"' typical gaming styles to determine instances of probable collusion between players.

2. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the game data comprise playing card data and wherein the format comprises varying an angle of rotation for a playing card.

3. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the game data comprise playing card data and wherein the format comprises varying positions of playing card symbols on the playing cards.

4. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the game data comprises playing card data and wherein the format comprises a variable display of playing card hands.

5. The gaming method of claim 4, wherein the variable display comprises providing playing card hands as a single image of fanned-out playing cards.

6. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the game data comprise playing card data and wherein the format comprises playing card images displayed as playing card backs, wherein playing card symbols arc temporarily shown only at turned up corners of the playing card images.

7. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the format comprises an entire screen of game play information, including player input areas, displayed as one image.

8. The gaming method of claim 7, wherein the player input areas comprise buttons and wherein the format comprises displaying the buttons in different areas of the image at different times.

9. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein some game data required for participation in the online wagering game are provided in a format of voice commands.

10. The gaming method of claim 9, wherein the voice commands are provided by voices having a variety of regional accents.

11. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein wagering data for participation in the online wagering game are provided as images of wager tokens.

12. The gaming method of claim 11, wherein the images of wager tokens comprise images of poker chips.

13. The gaming method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the at least one game server, locations of at least some of the plurality of host devices; and

determining, by the at least one game server, whether at least some of the instances of probable collusion involve multiple host devices at one location.