Interactive wagering systems and methods for restricting wagering access

• US 7,229,354 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2001
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ODS Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ODS Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: McNutt, Richard E., Garahi, Masood, Marshall, Connie T., Ramsey, Douglas V.
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, SCOTT E
• Application Number:
  US09/827,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,259 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/25, 463/29, 463 40- 42, 709/227, 713200-204, 705 64- 67, 379/93.12, 379/93.13, 902/23
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• 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 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/254 Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server arrangements for maintenance or administration in data networks H04L41/00; network services using third party service providers H04L67/53
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4542 Blocking scenes or portions of the received content, e.g. censoring scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for an interactive wagering application that restricts wagering access. The restrictions may be based on user-defined restrictions on the location of the user equipment or any other suitable criterion. The interactive wagering application may compare blackout information and user equipment location information. When blackout information and location information match, wagering access may be restricted. An interactive wagering system may verify that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is permitted. If verified, the user equipment may be granted a location verification token. The location verification token may indicate to the interactive wagering application that the user may be provided with wagering access. User-defined wagering restrictions may also be used to restrict wagering access.

Claims

1. A method for restricting wagering access on user equipment, using an interactive wagering application comprising:

determining a geographic location of the user equipment;

checking whether wagering is allowed in the geographic location of the user equipment;

providing the user equipment with a location verification token in response to a determination that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed, wherein the location verification token comprises content that indicates that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed;

using the interactive wagering application to verify whether the location verification token is valid; and

restricting wagering access when the user equipment does not have a valid location verification token.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing wagering access when the user equipment has the location verification token.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the geographic location of the user equipment comprises using a global positioning satellite system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the geographic location of the user equipment comprises using automatic number identification on a telephone network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein checking whether wagering is allowed comprises:

determining in which geographic locations wagering is not allowed; and

comparing the geographic location of the user equipment with the geographic locations in which wagering is not allowed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein checking whether wagering is allowed comprises:

using an interactive wagering system and a location tracing service to analyze automatic number identification information obtained from having the user equipment establish a communications link using a telephone network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein using an interactive wagering system comprises using a component selected from a group consisting of a transaction processing and subscription management system, totalisators, a subscription verification facility, and any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the location verification token expires after a predetermined period of time.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a user with the ability to set user-defined wagering access restrictions; and

restricting wagering access based on the user-defined wagering access restrictions.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein restricting wagering access comprises performing a function selected from a group consisting of changing the appearance of wagering options in an interface, removing wagering options from an interface, displaying a message when a wagering option is selected from an interface, suppressing wager-related indicators from appearing on a display, suppressing a wagering event broadcast from being displayed, or any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein checking whether wagering is allowed comprises:

receiving blackout information at the user equipment; and

determining whether wagering is allowed based on the geographic location of the user equipment and on the blackout information.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically removing the location verification token from the user equipment after a predetermined period of time.

13. A method for enabling user equipment to verify whether it is located in a geographic location where wagering is allowed, using an interactive wagering application comprising:

using an integrated receiver decoder to receive blackout information, wherein blackout information indicates geographic regions that prohibit wagering;

obtaining location information that indicates the geographic location the user equipment is located; and

comparing the blackout information and the location information at the user equipment to determine whether the user equipment is located in a geographic location where wagering is allowed.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the location information is obtained by a location tracing service that analyzes automatic number identification information obtained from having the user equipment establish a communications link using a telephone network.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising restricting wagering access when the user equipment is determined to be in a location where wagering is not allowed.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the location information is obtained from a global positioning satellite receiver.

17. A method f or verifying that user equipment is located in a geographic location where wagering is allowed, using an interactive wagering application comprising:

determining in which geographic location the user equipment is located;

providing the user equipment with a location verification token in response to a determination that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed, wherein the location verification token is provided by an interactive wagering system, wherein the location verification token comprises content that indicates that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed, and wherein the location verification token is stored on the user equipment; and

restricting wagering access when the location verification token is not stored on the user equipment.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein determining in which geographic location the user equipment is located comprises using the interactive wagering system and a location tracing service to analyze automatic number identification information obtained from having the user equipment establish a communications link using a telephone network.

19. An interactive wagering system having user equipment that restricts wagering access, the interactive wagering system configured to:

determine a geographic location of the user equipment;

check whether wagering is allowed in the geographic location of the user equipment;

provide the user equipment with a location verification token in response to a determination that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed, wherein the location verification token comprises content that indicates that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed;

use an interactive wagering application to verify whether the location verification token is valid; and

restrict wagering access when the user equipment does not have a valid location verification token.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising user equipment configured to provide wagering access when the user equipment has the location verification token.

21. The system of claim 19 further comprising a global positioning satellite system to determine the location of the user equipment.

22. The system of claim 19 further comprising a telephone network having automatic number identification functionality that is used to determine the geographic location of the user equipment.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the interactive wagering system is further configured to:

determine in which geographic locations wagering is not allowed; and

compare the geographic location of the user equipment with the geographic locations in which wagering is not allowed.

24. The system of claim 19 is further configured to:

use the interactive wagering system and a location tracing service to analyze automatic number identification information obtained from having the user equipment establish a communications link using a telephone network.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the interactive wagering system is comprised of a component selected from a group consisting of a transaction processing and subscription management system, totalisators, a subscription verification facility, user equipment, and any combination thereof.

26. The system of claim 19 wherein the location verification token expires after a predetermined period of time.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the user equipment is configured to:

provide a user with the ability to set user-defined wagering access restrictions; and

restrict wagering access based on the user-defined wagering access restrictions.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein the user equipment is configured to perform a function selected from a group consisting of changing the appearance of wagering options in an interface, removing wagering options from an interface, displaying a message when a wagering option is selected from an interface, suppressing wager-related indicators from appearing on a display, suppressing a wagering event broadcast from being displayed, or any combination thereof.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the user equipment is configured to:

receive blackout information; and

determine whether wagering is allowed based on the geographic location of the user equipment and on the blackout information.

30. The system of claim 19 wherein the user equipment is configured to determine the geographic location of the user equipment.

31. The system of claim 19 wherein the user equipment is configured to check whether wagering is allowed in the geographic location of the user equipment.

32. The system of claim 19, wherein the user equipment is configured to restrict wagering access when wagering is not allowed in the geographic location of the user equipment.

33. The system of claim 19, wherein the user equipment is configured to automatically remove the location verification token from the user equipment after a predetermined period of time.

34. An interactive wagering system that enables user equipment to verify whether it is located in a geographic location where wagering is allowed, the user equipment is configured to:

use an integrated receiver decoder to receive blackout information, wherein blackout information indicates geographic regions that prohibit wagering;

obtain location information that indicates the geographic location the user equipment is located; and

compare the blackout information and the location information at the user equipment to determine whether the user equipment is located in a geographic location where wagering is allowed.

35. The system of claim 34 further comprising a location tracing service to analyze automatic number identification information obtained from having the user equipment establish a communications link using a telephone network.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the user equipment is configured to restrict wagering access when the user equipment is determined to be in a location where wagering is not allowed.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the location information is obtained from a global positioning satellite receiver.

38. An interactive wagering system for verifying that user equipment is located in a geographic location where wagering is allowed, the system configured to:

determine in which geographic location the user equipment is located;

provide the user equipment with a location verification token in response to a determination that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed, wherein the location verification token is provided by an interactive wagering system, wherein the location verification token comprises content that indicates that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed, and wherein the location verification token is stored on the user equipment; and

restrict wagering access when the location verification token is not stored on the user equipment.

39. The system of claim 38 further comprising a location tracing service to analyze automatic number identification information obtained from having the user equipment establish a communications link using a telephone network.

40. A machine-readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions for use in a system that restricts wagering access on user equipment, the machine-readable instructions configured to:

determine a geographic location of the user equipment;

check whether wagering is allowed in the geographic location of the user equipment;

provide the user equipment with a location verification token in response to a determination that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed, wherein the location verification token comprises content that indicates that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed;

use the interactive wagering application to verify whether the location verification token is valid; and

restrict wagering access when the user equipment does not have a valid location verification token.

41. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-readable instructions further configured to provide wagering access when the user equipment has the location verification token.

42. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-readable instructions further configured to use a global positioning satellite system.

43. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-readable instructions further configured to use automatic number identification on a telephone network.

44. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-readable instructions further configured to:

determine in which geographic locations wagering is not allowed; and

compare the geographic location of the user equipment with the geographic locations in which wagering is not allowed.

45. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-readable instructions further configured to use an interactive wagering system and a location tracing service to analyze automatic number identification information obtained from having the user equipment establish a communications link using a telephone network.

46. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-readable instructions further configured to store the location verification token at the user equipment for a predetermined period of time.

47. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-readable instructions further configured to:

provide a user with the ability to set user-defined wagering access restrictions; and

restrict wagering access based on the user-defined wagering access restrictions.

48. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-readable instructions for configured to perform a function selected from a group consisting of changing the appearance of wagering options in an interface, removing wagering options from an interface, displaying a message when a wagering option is selected from an interface, suppressing wager-related indicators from appearing on a display, suppressing a wagering event broadcast from being displayed, or any combination thereof.

49. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-readable instructions further configured to:

receive blackout information at the user equipment; and

determine whether wagering is allowed based on the geographic location of the user equipment and on the blackout information.

50. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the location verification token expires after a predetermined period of time.

51. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-readable instructions further configured to use the user equipment to determine the geographic location of the user equipment.

52. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-readable instructions further configured to use the user equipment to check whether wagering is allowed in the geographic location of the user equipment.

53. The machine-readable medium of claim 40, the machine-readable instructions further configured to use the user equipment to restrict wagering access when wagering is not allowed in the geographic location of the user equipment.

54. A machine-readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions for enabling user equipment to verify whether it is located in a geographic location where wagering is allowed, the machine-readable instructions configured to:

use an integrated receiver decoder to receive blackout information, wherein blackout information indicates geographic regions that prohibit wagering;

obtain location information that indicates the geographic location the user equipment is located; and

compare the blackout information and the location information at the user equipment to determine whether the user equipment is located in a geographic location where wagering is allowed.

55. The machine-readable medium of claim 54, wherein the location information is obtained by a location tracing service that analyzes automatic number identification information obtained from having the user equipment establish a communications link using a telephone network.

56. The machine-readable medium of claim 54, the machine-readable instructions further configured to restrict wagering access when the user equipment is determined to be in a location where wagering is not allowed.

57. The machine-readable medium of claim 54, wherein the location information is obtained from a global positioning satellite receiver.

58. An interactive wagering system having user equipment that restricts wagering access, the system comprising:

means for determining a geographic location of the user equipment;

means for checking whether wagering is allowed in the geographic location of the user equipment;

means for providing the user equipment with a location verification token in response to a determination that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed, wherein the location verification token comprises content that indicates that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed;

means for using the interactive wagering application to verify whether the location verification token is valid; and

means for restricting wagering access when the user equipment does not have a valid location verification token.

59. The system of claim 58, further comprising means for providing wagering access when the user equipment has the location verification token.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the means for determining the geographic location comprises means for using a global positioning satellite system.

61. The system of claim 58, wherein the means for determining the geographic location comprises means for using automatic number identification on a telephone network.

62. The system of claim 58, wherein the means for checking whether wagering is allowed comprises:

means for determining in which geographic locations wagering is not allowed; and

means for comparing the geographic location of the user equipment with the geographic locations in which wagering is not allowed.

63. The system of claim 58, wherein the means for checking whether wagering is allowed comprises means for using an interactive wagering system and a location tracing service to analyze automatic number identification information obtained from having the user equipment establish a communications link using a telephone network.

64. The system of claim 58, wherein the location verification token expires after a predetermined period of time.

65. The system of claim 58, further comprising:

means for providing a user with the ability to set user-defined wagering access restrictions; and

means for restricting wagering access based on the user-defined wagering access restrictions.

66. The system of claim 58, wherein the means for restricting wagering access comprises means for performing a function selected from a group consisting of changing the appearance of wagering options in an interface, removing wagering options from an interface, displaying a message when a wagering option is selected from an interface, suppressing wager-related indicators from appearing on a display, suppressing a wagering event broadcast from being displayed, or any combination thereof.

67. The system of claim 58, wherein the means for checking whether wagering is allowed comprises:

means for receiving blackout information at the user equipment; and

means for determining whether wagering is allowed based on the geographic location of the user equipment and on the blackout information.

68. The system of claim 58, further comprising means for automatically removing the location verification token from the user equipment after a predetermined period of time.

69. The system of claim 58, further comprising means for using the user equipment to determine the geographic location of the user equipment.

70. The system of claim 58, further comprising means for using the user equipment to check whether wagering is allowed in the geographic location of the user equipment.

71. The system of claim 58, further comprising means for using the user equipment to restrict wagering access when wagering is not allowed in the geographic location of the user equipment.

72. An interactive wagering system for enabling user equipment to verify whether it is located in a geographic location where wagering is allowed, the system comprising:

means for using an integrated receiver decoder to receive blackout information, wherein blackout information indicates geographic regions that prohibit wagering;

means for obtaining location information that indicates the geographic location the user equipment is located; and

means for comparing the blackout information and the location information at the user equipment to determine whether the user equipment is located in a geographic location where wagering is allowed.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the location information is obtained by a location tracing service that analyzes automatic number identification information obtained from having the user equipment establish a communications link using a telephone network.

74. The system of claim 72, further comprising means for restricting wagering access when the user equipment is determined to be in a location where wagering is not allowed.

75. The system of claim 72, wherein the location information is obtained from a global positioning satellite receiver.

76. An machine-readable medium encoded with machine-readable instructions for use in an interactive wagering system for verifying that user equipment is located in a geographic location where wagering is allowed, the machine-readable instructions configured to:

determine in which geographic location the user equipment is located;

provide the user equipment with a location verification token in response to a determination that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed, wherein the location verification token is provided by an interactive wagering system, wherein the location verification token comprises content that indicates that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed, and wherein the location verification token is stored on the user equipment; and

restrict wagering access when the location verification token is not stored on the user equipment.

77. The machine-readable medium of claim 76, the machine-readable instructions further configured to use the interactive wagering system and a location tracing service to analyze automatic number identification information obtained from having the user equipment establish a communications link using a telephone network.

78. An interactive wagering system for verifying that user equipment is located in a geographic location where wagering is allowed, the system comprising:

means for determining in which geographic location the user equipment is located;

means for providing the user equipment with a location verification token in response to a determination that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed, wherein the location verification token is provided by an interactive wagering system, wherein the location verification token comprises content that indicates that the user equipment is in a location where wagering is allowed, and wherein the location verification token is stored on the user equipment; and

means for restricting wagering access when the location verification token is not stored on the user equipment.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein the means for determining comprises means for using the interactive wagering system and a location tracing service to analyze automatic number identification information obtained from having the user equipment establish a communications link using a telephone network.