Method and system for verifying entitlement to play a game using a biometric identifier

• US 20060100012A1
• Filed: 12/27/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rowe, Rick, Chatigny, Michelle
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• 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

A player is permitted to participate in an interactive gaming event from a remote location, such as a hotel room or home computer, once the player'"'"'s entitlement to participate has been confirmed using a biometric identifier. One method of the invention includes first verifying the identity of a potential player of a gaming event, such as by verifying the age of the player. If verified, the fingerprint of the player is obtained and the fingerprint is stored in association with an assigned identification code. When a player requests to participate in a gaming event from a remote location, the player'"'"'s identification code is received from the player and is used to locate the corresponding stored fingerprint. The player then transmits their scanned fingerprint. If the transmitted fingerprint and stored fingerprint match, the player is verified as entitled to participate in the gaming event.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a player for determining entitlement of that player to participate in a gaming event comprising the steps of:

verifying the identity of a potential player of a gaming event;

confirming that the potential player is authorized to participate in a gaming event in the future;

obtaining a fingerprint of said potential player;

generating an identification code;

associating said identification code with said fingerprint;

storing said fingerprint and identification code;

obtaining a request by a player to participate in a gaming event;

accepting an identification code from said player;

using said identification code to locate a corresponding stored fingerprint;

accepting a fingerprint from said player; and

comparing said fingerprint with said stored fingerprint, whereby if said fingerprint accepted from said player and said stored fingerprint match, said player is verified as entitled to participate in said gaming event.