Methods for biometrically identifying a player

• US 8,972,299 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2009
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelley, Bryan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ravetti, Dante
• Application Number:
  US12/350,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20090176566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,246 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 705/16, 705/21, 705/59, 705/71, 380/44, 380/262, 380/278, 380/279
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics

Abstract

Various systems, gaming devices, and methods for biometrically identifying a player are disclosed herein. The capture of the biometric information is undisclosed to the player. The captured biometric information may be used to verifying a player'"'"'s age, prevent underage gambling, promote responsible gaming, authorize and/or authenticate an electronic funds transfer. The biometric information may also be used to provide player-centric gaming. The player'"'"'s preferences are associated with the biometric information, and a gaming device is reconfigured to the player'"'"'s preferences once the player'"'"'s biometric information is obtained at the gaming device.

Claims

1. A method for providing verification on a gaming device, the method comprising:

capturing, by an input device on a first gaming device, a first biometric sample of a player at the first gaming device without knowledge of the player;

establishing game session data corresponding to a gaming session;

providing, by the first gaming device, game play to a player of the first gaming device;

associating, by a processor, the captured first biometric sample with the established game session data;

storing, by the processor, the captured first biometric sample and the established game session data in memory;

capturing, by an input device on a second gaming device, a second biometric sample at the second gaming device without knowledge of the player;

verifying, by the processor, that the first and second biometric samples match;

configuring the second gaming device based on the established game session data corresponding to the gaming session on the first gaming device;

receiving, by a cashout input device, a cashout request from the player at the first or second gaming device;

capturing, by the cashout input device, a biometric sample without knowledge of the player;

determining, by the gaming device, that the biometric sample captured by the cashout input device corresponds to the player associated with the first or second biometric sample; and

based on the determination that the biometric sample captured by the cashout input device corresponds to the player associated with the first or second biometric sample cashing out the player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second biometric samples are fingerprints, retinal scan, iris scan, or any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first biometric sample is captured on a touch screen or a player-actuated button.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the game session data is a game configuration, game play preference, game state, accumulated game pieces, bonus points, bonus game pieces, bonus awards, accrued player tracking points, or any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first gaming device and the second gaming device are the same.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first biometric sample and the game session data are stored on the first gaming device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first biometric sample and the game session data are stored on a server in communication with the first gaming device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein reconfiguring the second gaming device further comprises downloading one or more programs for execution the second gaming device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second biometric samples are verified according to a first threshold associated with reconfiguration that is different from a second threshold not associated with reconfiguration.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing one or more gaming limits set by the player.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising associating the one or more gaming limits with biometric information of the player.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising reaching the one or more gaming limits.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising disabling game play on the first or second gaming device upon the one or more gaming limits being reached.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising notifying the player that the one or more gaming limits have been reached.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising notifying the player of when game play will be enabled.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising cashing out remaining credits on the first or second gaming device without player input.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising enabling game play on the first or second gaming device after expiration of the disabled game play.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first biometric sample is captured on an input device of the gaming device that has a function unrelated to the capture of the first biometric sample.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein cashing out the player based on the determination that the biometric sample captured by the cashout input device corresponds to the player associated with the first or second biometric sample comprises transferring game credits from the first gaming device to the second gaming device.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying advertisements, offers, and bonuses presented to the player based on the first or second biometric sample.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the first or second gaming device for an out-of-bounds condition;

receiving, by the gaming device, a cashout request from the player after inputting a predefined amount of money into the first or second gaming device and after wagering an insignificant amount for a predefined number of games;

receiving the out-of-bounds condition; and

recording the out-of-bounds condition with the first or second biometric sample.