Gaming system with identity verification

• US 8,708,805 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Amaitis, Lee M., Asher, Joseph M., Bahrampour, Robert F., Mylet, Darrin M., Wilkins, Alan B., Lutnick, Howard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US13/586,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20120309507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29, 463/39, 463/40, 463/42, 273/141, 705/64, 705/67, 705/72, 705/78
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/086 played via telephone, e.g. using a modem
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A gaming system is provided. The gaming system allows users to access applications via gaming communication devices coupled to a communication network. At least a portion of the network may be wireless. The gaming applications include gambling, financial, entertainment service, and other types of transactions. The system may include a user location determination feature to prevent users from conducting transactions from unauthorized areas. The gaming system may incorporate a user profile feature according to which certain information regarding users of the system may be maintained. Such information can include, without limitation, information relating to preferences, finances, activities participated in by the users, and trends and habits of the users.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining by at least one server a betting trend from a plurality of bets made by a user via a device on at least one gaming activity of a gaming system;

determining by the at least one server that the betting trend meets at least one parameter; and

responsive to determining that the betting trend meets the at least one parameter, the at least one server causing the user to perform an identity verification in order to continuing accessing the gaming system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises a directional movement in a betting amount occurring via the device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the directional movement includes an upward or downward movement.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises a directional movement in an average betting amount occurring via the device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the directional movement includes an upward or downward movement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises a directional movement in an amount of bets occurring via the device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the directional movement includes an upward or downward movement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises an acceleration in a betting amount occurring via the device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the acceleration includes an increase or decrease in the betting amount.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one threshold.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device comprises a mobile device;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

determining a plurality of locations of the device as the device moves; and

storing the plurality of locations.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of locations indicate a route of the user and the device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the user to perform an identity verification comprises causing the user to perform an identity re-verification.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining at least one debt owed by the user; and

prompting the user via the device to make a bet of at least a portion of the at least one debt owed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one debt comprises at least one:

a restaurant tab,

a bar tab,

a hotel invoice,

a bill for purchased merchandise,

a bill for a purchased service, and

a bill for a show.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting the user via the device to make a bet that will be matched by a casino.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, as part of the gaming system, a gaming application to a plurality of users, wherein the gaming application is configured to reside on devices owned by the users such that the devices are pre-programmed with the gaming application, and wherein the gaming application is configured to interface with a server application of the gaming system, and to enable users together with the server application to engage in the at least one gaming activity; and

responsive to a launching of the gaming application on the device, providing on the device the at least one gaming activity.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein responsive to the launching of the gaming application, certain functionality of the device is altered to ensure bets from the device originate from within boundaries of a pre-defined location.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the gaming application is configured, together with the server application, to enable users to engage in a plurality of gaming activities.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of gaming activities include at least one wagering activity and at least one non-wagering activity.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a mobile phone.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a PDA.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the device is located within a pre-defined location; and

providing access to the gaming system based upon the determination that the device is located in the pre-defined location.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the pre-defined location is a hotel room.

25. An apparatus of a gaming system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory electronically coupled to the at least processor and having software stored thereon that when executed by the at least one processor directs the at least one processor to;

determine a betting trend from a plurality of bets made by a user via a device on at least one gaming activity of the gaming system;

determine that the betting trend meets at least one parameter; and

responsive to determining that the betting trend meets the at least one parameter, cause the user to perform an identity verification in order to continuing accessing the gaming system.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises a directional movement in a betting amount occurring via the device.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the directional movement includes an upward or downward movement.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises a directional movement in an average betting amount occurring via the device.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the directional movement includes an upward or downward movement.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises a directional movement in an amount of bets occurring via the device.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the directional movement includes an upward or downward movement.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one betting trend comprises an acceleration in a betting amount occurring via the device.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the acceleration includes an increase or decrease in the betting amount.

34. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one threshold.

35. The apparatus of claim 25,

wherein the device comprises a mobile device;

and

wherein the software, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to;

determine a plurality of locations of the device as the device moves; and

store the plurality of locations.

36. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein causing the user to perform an identity verification comprises causing the user to perform an identity re-verification.

37. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein in connection with an accessing of the gaming system, certain functionality of the device is altered to ensure bets from the device originate from within boundaries of a pre-defined location.

38. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the device comprises a mobile phone.

39. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the device is a PDA.

40. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the software, when executed by the at least one processor, further directs the at least one processor to:

determine whether the device is located within a pre-defined location; and

provide access to the gaming system based upon the determination that the device is located in the pre-defined location.