System and method for convenience gaming

• US 20050187020A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Games LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Lutnick, Howard W., Asher, Joseph M., Amaitis, Lee M., Mylet, Darrin M., Wilkins, Alan B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,092,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

A convenience gaming system is provided. The convenience 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.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one server; and

at least one gaming communication device connected to the at least one server by a telecommunications network,

wherein the at least one gaming communication device is operable to send and receive gaming information to and from the at least one gaming server if the at least one gaming communication device meets at least one predetermined criteria.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein transmission of gaming information between the at least one gaming communication device and the at least one gaming server is at least partly enabled by software, the software being clean in that it has not been previously used in connection with an illegal activity.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming communication device is a personal data assistant.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming communication device is a mobile station.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network is a non-Internet communications network.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network comprises an 802.11x WiFi network.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network comprises an 802.16x WiMax network.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a private wireless network.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a private wireline network.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a private wireless network and a private wireline network.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a wireless telephone network.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a cellular network.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a private label mobile network.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a satellite network.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the server is located at a casino.

16. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the server is located remotely from a casino and is connected to a second server located at the casino.

17. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the telecommunications network is movable.

18. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the telecommunications network comprises a network located on board an ocean-going vessel.

19. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a location verification component for verifying the location of the at least one gaming communication device.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the location verification component verifies the location of the at least one gaming communication device by using geo-fencing.

21. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the location verification component verifies the location of the at least one gaming communication device by using global positioning satellite technology.

22. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the location verification component verifies the location of the at least one gaming communication device by using triangulation.

23. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the location verification component verifies the location of the at least one gaming communication device by using triangulation.

24. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the location verification module determines the location of the at least one gaming communication device by using a geographic map.

25. The gaming system of claim 24, wherein the geographic map comprises a geographical institute survey map.

26. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the location verification component verifies the location of the at least one gaming communication device by using a portion of information transmitted from the at least one gaming communication device to an element within the at least one telecommunications network.

27. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the location verification component determines the coordinates of the gaming communication device to within a predetermined certainty.

28. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein the location verification component ensures that the gaming communication device is located within an authorized gaming area.

29. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one telecommunications network comprises a cellular network, the cellular network comprising a plurality of base stations physically located within the boundaries of a pre-determined area, at least one of the base stations operable to receive signals from outside the boundaries of the pre-determined area, the system operable to disable communication of gaming information to or from at least one gaming communication device if the at least one gaming communication device is in communication with the at least one base station.

30. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one predetermined criterion is whether the at least one gaming communication device is located within an approved gaming area.

31. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the approved gaming area is the gambling area of a casino.

32. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the approved gaming area is a guest room within a casino hotel.

33. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the approved gaming area is an outdoor recreation area located adjacent to a casino.

34. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the approved gaming area is a service area located on a casino property.

35. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the service area is a restaurant.

36. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the service area is a lounge.

37. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the service area is a restroom.

38. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the service area is a retail store.

39. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the service area is a swimming pool.

40. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a location verification component for verifying the location of the at least one gaming communication device, the location verification component operable to determine whether the at least one gaming communication device is located within an approved gaming area, the system operable to allow the at least one gaming communication device to communicate gaming information to the at least one server from multiple points within the approved gaming area.

41. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a location verification component for verifying the location of the at least one gaming communication device, the location verification component operable to determine whether the at least one gaming communication device is within one of a plurality of approved gaming areas, the system operable to allow the at least one gaming communication device to communicate gaming information to the at least one server from at least two of the plurality of approved gaming areas.

42. The gaming system of claim 41, wherein the plurality of approved gaming areas comprises a first gaming area and a second gaming area, wherein the first and second gaming areas have different physical boundaries.

43. The gaming system of claim 42, wherein the first and second gaming areas overlap.

44. The gaming system of claim 42, wherein the first and second gaming areas are geographically distinct.

45. The gaming system of claim 42, wherein the at least one gaming communication device may be moved from the first gaming area to an unapproved area, wherein the system is operable to terminate communication of gaming information between the at least one gaming communication device and the at least one server when the at least one gaming communication device is located in the unapproved area.

46. The gaming system of claim 42, wherein the at least one gaming communication device may be moved from the first gaming area to the second gaming area by passing through an unapproved area, wherein the system is operable to suspend communication of gaming information between the at least one gaming communication device and the at least one server when the at least one gaming communication device is located in the unapproved area, and resume communication of gaming information when the at least one gaming communication device enters the second approved gaming area.

47. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the system is operable to store data corresponding to gaming information communicated between the at least one gaming communication device and the at least one server while the at least one gaming communication device is in the unapproved area during movement from the first gaming area to the second gaming area.

48. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed on the at least one gaming communication device, the sensor operable to detect movement of the at least one gaming communication device to a position external to an approved gaming area, the system operable to suspend or terminate communication of gaming information between the at least one gaming communication device and the at least one server if the sensor detects movement of the at least one gaming communication device to a position external to the approved gaming area.

49. The gaming system of claim 48, wherein the sensor is a radio frequency identification sensor.

50. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the communication of gaming information between the at least one gaming communication device and the at least one server comprises transmission of data.

51. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein transmission of voice to or from the at least one gaming communication device is disabled when gaming information is being communicated between the at least one gaming communication device and the at least one server.

52. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein communication of gaming information between the gaming communication device and the server occurs on a non-Internet path within the telecommunications network.

53. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network is configured to prohibit communication between the gaming communication device and the Internet during communication of gaming information between the gaming communication device and the server.

54. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming communication device is further operable to send and receive non-gaming information.

55. The gaming system of claim 54, wherein transmission of non-gaming information may occur during a gaming transaction in which a user is using the at least one gaming communication device to access at least one gaming activity enabled by software resident at least in part on the server.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein transmission of non-gaming information is disabled during transmission of gaming information.

57. The system of claim 54, wherein the non-gaming information includes service information.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the service information includes information associated with a food and beverage activity.

59. The system of claim 57 wherein the service information includes information associated with an entertainment activity.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the entertainment activity is a show.

61. The system of claim 59, wherein the entertainment activity is activity associated with a club.

62. The system of claim 57, wherein the service information includes information associated with a recreational activity.

63. The system of claim 57, wherein the service information includes information associated with a purchasing activity.

64. The system of claim 57, wherein the service information includes information associated with a reservation activity.

65. The system of claim 57, wherein the service information includes information associated with a news reporting activity.

66. The system of claim 57, wherein the service information includes information associated with financial services activity.

67. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming communication device comprises a first device and a second device, and wherein data transmitted from the first device to the at least one server affects actions associated with data exchanged between the second device and the at least one server.

68. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming communication device comprises a first device and a second device, and wherein a user of the first device interacts electronically during a gaming activity, with a user of the second device.

69. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising an identity verification component operable to determine whether a user of the at least one gaming communication device is a user authorized to access the gaming system.

70. The gaming system of claim 69, wherein the identity verification component comprises a data input function.

71. The gaming system of claim 69, wherein the identity verification component comprises a biometric function.

72. The gaming system of claim 71, wherein the biometric function comprises fingerprint identification.

73. The gaming system of claim 71, wherein the biometric function comprises photo identification.

74. The gaming system of claim 71, wherein the biometric function comprises retina scanning.

75. The gaming system of claim 71, wherein the biometric function comprises voice print matching.

76. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a keystroke logger operable to record key strokes entered by a user of the at least one gaming communication device.

77. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a financial transaction device in communication with at least one of the at least one gaming communication device and the at least one server operable to modify a parameter of a user account associated with an activity provided on the gaming system.

78. The gaming system of claim 77, wherein the financial transaction device comprises an automatic teller machine.

79. The gaming system of claim 77, wherein the financial transaction device comprises a card-swipe device.

80. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming information is associated with a gaming activity, and the gaming activity is associated with a predetermined gaming entity.

81. The gaming system of claim 80, wherein the gaming entity is a state gaming jurisdiction.

82. The gaming system of claim 80, wherein the gaming entity is an international gaming jurisdiction.

83. The gaming system of claim 80, wherein the gaming entity is a casino.

84. The gaming system of claim 80, wherein the gaming entity is a racino.

85. The gaming system of claim 80, wherein the gaming entity is an off-shore geographical area.

86. A method for conducting gaming activities on a gaming communication device in communication with a gaming server, the method comprising the steps of:

presenting a user of the gaming communication device with one or more gaming activity options;

accepting a selection of a gaming activity option by the user;

transmitting information associated with the selected gaming activity option between the gaming communication device and the server;

determining a result associated with the user'"'"'s selection; and

transmitting the result to the user.

87. The method of claim 86, further comprising verifying the location of the gaming communication device to determine whether the device is located within the boundaries of an authorized gaming area.

88. The method of claim 86, further comprising verifying the identity of the user of the gaming communication device to determine whether the user is authorized to access the gaming activities.

89. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

enabling transmission of information between the gaming communication device and the server when the user is in an authorized gaming area; and

providing for termination of the transmission if the user moves outside the authorized gaming area.

90. The method of claim 86, further comprising conducting a gaming transaction between the user and the server, the gaming transaction comprising a plurality of transmissions of gaming information between the gaming communication device and the server.

91. The method of claim 90, further comprising suspending, during a gaming transaction, the transmission of gaming information between the gaming communication device and the server depending on the location of the gaming communication device.

92. The method of claim 86, further comprising settling an account associated with the user.

93. The method of claim 92, further comprising establishing a waiting period if settling the account requires a predetermined activity.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein the predetermined activity comprises paying the user a predetermined sum of money.

95. The method of claim 93, further comprising adjusting the waiting period if the predetermined activity comprises paying the user a predetermined sum of money.

96. The method of claim 86, further comprising, in response to the transmission of predetermined gaming information between the gaming communication device and the server, presenting the user with an additional one or more gaming activity options.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the additional one or more gaming options are determined based on at least one criterion associated with the predetermined gaming information transmitted between the gaming communication device and the server.

98. A method of doing business, comprising:

establishing a gaming operation having a gaming service provider and a gaming host, wherein the gaming service provider provides a private wireless network for transacting gaming services between users and the host;

collecting gaming revenue from the users; and

allocating gaming revenues between the gaming service provider and the gaming host.

99. A method of doing business, comprising:

establishing a gaming operation having a gaming service provider, a gaming host, and a mobile carrier, wherein the mobile carrier provides a private label cellular network for transacting gaming services between users and the host;

collecting gaming and communication services revenue from the users;

allocating communication services revenue between all or a subset of the gaming service provider, the gaming host, and the mobile carrier; and

allocating gaming revenues among all or a subset of the gaming service provider, the gaming host, and the mobile carrier.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the gaming revenue is allocated among all or a subset of the gaming service provider and the gaming host.