Gaming system with location verification

• US 20030087701A1
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Virtgame Corp. (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Paravia, Joseph R., Merati, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 6,811,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A system and method for providing an automated gaming service to one or more players can be implemented in a computer-based environment allowing automated computation of wagers, payouts, and other gaming parameters. The automated gaming system can be implemented in an Internet or other network-type environment such that various players can access the automated gaming system from remote locations, thus establishing a virtual gaming environment. Player accounts can be established and players can be granted access to the system and to their accounts. The accounts can be set up as debit-type accounts, whereby a player funds or replenishes his or her account in advance of wagering, using a credit card or other payment technique. Various gaming environments or formats can be established to provide flexibility in implementing the system and handling various games or other events. The system can use a pari-mutuel or guaranteed-payout gaming formats, among others. Other embodiment of the present invention utilizes player location apparatus to evaluate the general location of the player to regulate access to players in authorized locations.

Claims

1. A method of accepting gaming wagers at a gaming control center comprising:

providing wagering options to at least one remotely located player device over a shared network;

recording at either of said gaming control center or said at least one remotely located player device gaming selections from said at least one remotely located player device over a shared network;

establishing a non-shared communication link between said at least one remotely located player device and said gaming control center;

analyzing the location of said one or more player devices to determine if said at least one player device is in an authorized location; and

if said at least one player device is in an authorized location, registering said gaming selections with said gaming control center.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein recording comprises storing said gaming selections on said at least one player device for communication to said gaming center over said non-shared communication link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said shared network comprises the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein recording comprises transmitting said gaming selections over said non-shared communication link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one player device is a computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said authorized location comprises an area governed by laws and regulations that permit remote wagering.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing comprises transmitting requested information to said at least one player device over the Internet.

8. A method for analyzing player location in an automated gaming environment, comprising:

establishing a communication link with a player;

utilizing data gained from said communication link to analyze location information regarding the location of said player;

comparing said location information to locations that authorize participation in an automated gaming environment; and

authorizing access to said automated gaming environment if said comparing determines said player is in a location that authorizes participation in an automated gaming environment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said establishing comprises directly calling said player over the PSTN.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said player comprises a player'"'"'s computer.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said location information comprises ANI data.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein comparing said location information comprises comparing said location information against a list of states that allow participation in an automated gaming environment.

13. A system for analyzing the location of a remotely located party and providing automated gaming to one or more players over at least one communication link, said system comprising:

means for automatically providing gaming options to at least one player over a first communication link;

means for allowing said at least one player to make gaming selections;

means for disconnecting said at least one player from said first communication link;

means for establishing a second communication link wherein from said second communication link information regarding the location of said player is available;

means for analyzing said player location from information from said second communication link; and

means for officially placing a wager with said system over said second communication link if said means for analyzing determines said player is in an authorized location.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said first communication link also provides access to said wager data after said means for officially placing a wager places a wager.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said first communication link comprises the Internet.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said second communication link comprises the Internet.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said means for providing gaming options comprises a computer server having a player interface, said player interface embodied in a computer program code logic.

18. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for providing an automated gaming environment for use by a plurality of players, comprising:

computer program code logic configured to analyze the location of said one or more players to determine if said one or more players are at a location from which wagers may be accepted;

computer program code logic configured to accept wagers from one or more players on one or more events;

computer program code logic configured to compute system finances based on said accepted wagers;

computer program code logic configured to update player accounts to reflect winnings earned by one or more players as a result of an event wager and an outcome of the event.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said computer program code logic configured to analyze the location of said one or more players is further configured to utilize caller-ID information to analyze the location of said one or more players.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, further including computer program code logic configured to automatically establish a direct communication link with said one or more players.

21. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising computer program code logic configured to determine the outcome of said one or more events, said outcome determined based on user input to the automated gaming environment.

22. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising computer program code logic configured to display event parameters for at least one of a plurality of events on which said players can place wagers.

23. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said event parameters comprise at least one of the group of a payout amount, a point spread, or a competitor identification.

24. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said computer program code logic configured to compute system finances is configured to compute payout amounts for wagers placed.

25. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising computer program code logic configured to allow a player to establish an account from which funds can be drawn for wagering on said events.

26. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising computer program code logic configured to suspend wagering on a competitor when said system exposure reaches a predetermined limit.

27. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising computer program code logic configured to adjust at least one of a payout amount or a point spread when said system exposure reaches a predetermined limit.

28. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising computer program code logic configured to compute payout amounts in a pari-mutuel format for sporting events.

29. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising computer program code logic configured to allow said players to place wagers via at least one of the Internet, a network or a direct connection.

30. A method for receiving input by one or more remotely located parties, comprising:

providing information to said one or more remotely located parties over a communication link;

obtaining input over said communication link from said one or more remotely located parties based on said information provided over said communication link;

verifying at least one aspect regarding said one or more remotely located parties;

accepting or officially recording said input if said verifying at least one aspect determines that said one or more remotely located parties is authorized to provide said input.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said aspect comprises the location of said one or more remotely located parties.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said aspect comprises the identity of said one or more remotely located parties.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said communication link is established between computing devices.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein said verifying comprises comparing said at least one aspect to a stored list of authorized aspects.

35. The method of claim 30, further including the step of terminating said communication link and establishing a second communication link to verify said aspect of said one or more remotely located party.

36. A method for achieving participation in an on-line activity wherein only certain parties are allowed to participate in said on-line activity, said method comprising

providing access to one or more parties via a computer network to said on-line activity, said one or more parties using a personal computing device to connect to an on-line computing device over said computer network;

presenting on-line activity options to said one or more parties so that said one or more parties may make selections from said options;

storing said selections made by said one or more parties on either of said personal computing device or said on-line activity computing device;

verifying information regarding said one or more parties to determine if said one or more parties are authorized to participate in said on-line activity; and

accepting said stored selections at said on-line computing device if said verify determines that one or more parties are authorized to participate.

37. The method of claim 36, further including the step of establishing a direct communication link after said storing said selections to facilitate said verifying.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said verifying comprises utilizing said caller identification information to determine said phone number of said one or more parties.

39. An apparatus for selectively providing access to a computerized gaming system comprising:

a communication module configured to;

receive a communication request made from one or more remote locations;

establish a communication link in response to said communication request; and

facilitate access to a worldwide computer network;

a location verification module in communication with said communication module, said location verification module configured to evaluate the remote location from which said communication request was made; and

a player interface configured to provide automated gaming services via said communication link.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said communication request comprises a call over the PSTN.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said location verification module is configured to connect said communication link to said player interface if said evaluation determines that said remote location is an authorized remote location.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said location verification module evaluates the ANI data received from said incoming call.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said communication module comprises an Internet service provider and said worldwide computer network comprises the Internet.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said player interface comprises an Internet computer server.

45. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for providing Internet communication services and computerized gaming, comprising

computer program medium configured to establish a communication link in response to a communication request from subscriber at an originating location;

computer program medium configured to obtain information via said communication link regarding said originating location;

computer program medium configured to compare said originating location to authorized locations to determine whether to allow participation in computerized gaming; and

computer program medium configured to optionally facilitate access by said subscriber to;

a worldwide computer network or;

said computerized gaming if said subscriber is in an authorized location.

46. The computer program of claim 45, wherein said communication request comprises a call over a telephone line.

47. The computer program of claim 45, wherein said originating location comprises a location remote from said computer program product.

48. The computer program of claim 45, wherein authorized location comprises a location in which computerized gaming is legal.

49. A method for providing subscribers access to the Internet and for providing qualified subscribers access to a computerized gaming system:

establishing a communication link in response to a communication request from a subscriber;

obtaining data from said communication link regarding the originating location of said communication request;

evaluating said data to determine whether said subscriber is a qualified subscriber;

optionally providing access to said subscriber to said Internet over said communication link; and

optionally providing access to said computerized gaming system to said subscriber if said evaluating determines said subscriber is a qualified subscriber.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said worldwide computerized network comprises the Internet.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein said authorized subscriber comprises an individual authorized to participate in said computerized gaming system.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein said obtaining data comprises obtaining ANI data.

53. A method for providing access to the Internet or an automated gaming system:

receiving a request via a communication link for access to said Internet or said automated gaming system from a remote terminal;

receiving data over said communication link regarding the location of said remote terminal;

establishing a communication link with said remote terminal;

monitoring for requests to access said automated gaming system;

receiving a request to access said automated gaming system;

evaluating said data to determine if said remote terminal is authorized to connect to said automated gaming system; and

transmitting gaming information to said remote terminal from said automated gaming system if said evaluating determines said remote terminal is authorized to connect to said automated gaming system.

54. The method of claim 53, further including transmitting information to said remote terminal from said Internet if said remote terminal is not authorized to connect to said automated gaming system.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein said data comprises ANI data.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein said communication link comprises a circuit through the PSTN.