Interactive gaming in licensed locations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11037398-B2
Application number	US-201816200206-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2018
Priority date	Jul 14, 2005
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

A system for interactive gaming among a plurality of players includes a host computer system and a plurality of player terminals communicably coupled to the host computer system via a network. The plurality of player terminals are located at a plurality of licensed gaming locations. The plurality of player terminals are configured to engage the plurality of players in a common interactive game operated by the host computer system. The plurality of player terminals include means for dispensing player winnings from the player terminal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic gaming system comprising:
a host computer system configured to: host at least two electronic games having different gaming rules, and facilitate play of the at least two electronic games at licensed gaming locations authorized to provide the at least two electronic games, wherein the licensed gaming locations include: a casino, a restaurant, a bar, a race track, a gas station, a store, an airport, a hotel, or other locations at which electronic gaming is legal; and
a plurality of player terminals in communication with the host computer system and operated by players, wherein at least one of the players is in a location different from a location of the host computer system, and wherein each of the plurality of player terminals is configured to:
receive a request to enter an electronic gaming session facilitated by the host computer system, wherein the request includes a selection of an electronic game from among the at least two electronic games;
responsive to receiving the request, connect to the host computer system to facilitate play by two or more of the players in the electronic gaming session;
transmit a signal to the host computer system to initiate the electronic gaming session;
receive signals related to the electronic gaming session when an associated player terminal is located in a licensed gaming location; and

a collusion detection component to:
monitor the received signals related to the electronic gaming session being played by the two or more of the players;
identify, based on the monitored signals, at least one of: collusion or other forms of cheating, and unusual activity, including as indicated by a frequency of common play between at least two players;
monitor locations of associated with player terminals operated by the two or more of the players;
restrict any of the two or more player terminals that are located outside of the licensed gaming locations from the electronic gaming session; and
cause, by the collusion detection component, any value received from violating players to be held in response to a determination of the at least one of: collusion or other forms of cheating, and unusual activity.

2. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of player terminals include: a personal computing device, cell phone, a hand-held player terminal, and a free-standing player terminal.

3. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the host computer system includes at least one of:
a graphics module to control graphics displayed on the each of the player terminals;
a game storage arrangement to house software or computer-executable code that controls the at least two electronic games offered by the host computer system;
a game processor to control the at least two electronic games using the software or computer-executable code from the game storage arrangement;
a tournament processor to control player tournaments;
a loyalty tracker to track game play of any of the players that have registered and to thereby reward those players for an amount of time spent playing one or more of the at least two electronic games; and
an accounting processor to control flow of value within a gaming network.

4. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the at least two electronic games include an interactive electronic game that requires at least one interaction from the two or more of the players.

5. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the host computer system includes an internal network, a web server and a game server.

6. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the host computer system includes a terminal control module to interact with or control the plurality of player terminals.

7. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of player terminals is a wireless, hand-held player terminal.

8. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein each of the licensed gaming locations has a local server to facilitate communication between at least one of the associated player terminals and the host computer system.

9. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the licensed gaming locations include a casino having a local server in communication with the host computer system, and wherein the local server administers a common electronic interactive game to a subset of the one or more plurality of player terminals.

10. An electronic gaming system comprising:
one or more processors;
a gaming interaction area configured to receive interactions from the player to play, using a player terminal, multiple electronic games hosted by a host computer in communication with a plurality of player terminals, wherein at least one of the plurality of player terminals is in a location different from a location of the host computer;
a display to depict action from the at least one of the multiple electronic games selected by the player; and
a memory having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the one or more processors cause the player terminal to:
receive a request from the player to enter an electronic gaming session facilitated by the host computer, wherein the request includes a selection of an electronic game from among the multiple electronic games;
responsive to receiving the request, connect to the host computer to facilitate play by the player in the electronic gaming session;
transmit a signal to the host computer to initiate the electronic gaming session;
receive signals related to the electronic gaming session when the player terminal is located in a licensed gaming location authorized to provide the electronic game, wherein the licensed gaming location includes: a casino, a restaurant, a bar, a race track, a gas station, a store, an airport, a hotel, or other location at which electronic gaming is legal; and
monitor the gaming interaction area for interactions from the player;

a collusion detection component to:
monitor the received signals related to the electronic gaming session being played by the player;
identify, based on the monitored signals, unusual activity by the player including frequency of common play between two or more of the plurality of players; and
monitor a location of the player terminal operated by the player,
wherein the collusion detection component causes the player terminal to be excluded from betting on any the multiple electronic games; and
wherein, in response to a determination of unusual activity by the collusion detection component, violating players are banned and any value received from violating players is held until resolution.

11. The electronic gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the gaming interaction area includes a touch screen to present interactive buttons that change depending on a state of the multiple electronic games.

12. The electronic gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the multiple electronic games include an interactive game that requires at least one interaction by the player.

13. The electronic gaming system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a graphics module to control graphics displayed;
a game storage arrangement to house software or computer-executable code that controls the multiple electronic games offered;
a game processor to control the multiple electronic games using the software or computer-executable code from the game storage arrangement;
a tournament processor to control player tournaments;
a loyalty tracker to track game play of registered players that have registered and to thereby reward those registered players for an amount of time spent playing at least one of the multiple electronic games; and
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Assignees

• Ag 18 Llc

Inventors

• Frenkel Brian

Classifications

• G07F17/3241

  Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance (computer security G06F21/00) · CPC title

• G07F17/3209

  Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen · CPC title

• G07F17/3276

  wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament · CPC title

• G07F17/3258

  Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots · CPC title

• G07F17/3211

  Display means · CPC title