Location based restrictions on networked gaming

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12322256-B2
Application number	US-202418442223-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2024
Priority date	Jun 20, 2008
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

An electronic gaming system includes an administration server and communications interface(s). The server includes processor(s) and memory containing instructions to cause the processor(s) to: determine a current location of the gaming client; generate a list of electronic game(s) available for play on a gaming client; cause a graphical user interface including the list to be displayed on the gaming client; receive a selection by a player of a game from the list; initiate the game on the gaming client based on the selection; determine an updated location of the gaming client; and either enable continued play of the game on the gaming client for the updated location being in a jurisdiction legally permitting play of the electronic game, or disable play of the game on the gaming client for the updated location being in a jurisdiction in which play of the electronic game is illegal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic gaming system comprising:
a game administrative server including at least one processor; and
at least one communications interface operably coupled to the at least one processor and configured to transmit and receive data to and from a gaming client operable by a player,
wherein the game administrative server further includes a memory containing a plurality of program instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to:
direct the communications interface to establish communications with the gaming client over a telecommunications network;
determine a current location of the gaming client;
generate a customized list of one or more electronic games available for play by the player on the gaming client, wherein to generate the customized list, the program instructions are further configured to generate the customized list based at least in part, on the current location of the gaming client and a probability that a player of the gaming client is acing in a prohibited way, and wherein the customized list is limited to at least one electronic game legally available for play by the player in a jurisdiction corresponding to the current location;
cause a graphical user interface including the customized list to be displayed on an electronic display device of or associated with the gaming client;
receive data representative of a selection by the player of an electronic game from the customized list;
initiate the electronic game on the gaming client for play by the player based on the data representative of the selection by the player;
determine an updated location of the gaming client; and
one of:
enable continued play of the electronic game by the player on the gaming client for the updated location being in a jurisdiction legally permitting play of the electronic game; and
disable play of the electronic game by the player on the gaming client for the updated location being in a jurisdiction in which play of the electronic game is illegal.

2. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein to determine the current location, the plurality of program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one processor to: receive, via the at least one communications interface, data representative of the current location of the gaming client; and determine the current location based on the data representative of the current location.

3. The electronic gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the data representative of the current location includes at least one of: global positioning system (GPS) data, an IP address, a client device identification (ID), a player ID, geo-fencing data, reports from a player terminal, and data representative of an estimate of the current location.

4. The electronic gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the data representative of the current location is GPS coordinates.

5. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein for the updated location being in the jurisdiction legally permitting play of the electronic game, the plurality of program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one processor to calculate results of the electronic game.

6. The electronic gaming system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one processor to calculate any winnings to be distributed to the player based at least in part on the results.

7. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein to disable play of the electronic game comprises suspending play of the electronic game for the updated location being in the jurisdiction in which play of the electronic game is illegal, the plurality of program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one processor to suspend play of the electronic game.

8. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein for the updated location being in the jurisdiction in which play of the electronic game is illegal, the plurality of program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one processor to:
generate another customized list of one or more other electronic games besides the electronic game available for play by the player on the gaming client, wherein to generate the another customized list, the plurality of program instructions are further configured to generate the another customized list based at least in part, on the updated location, and wherein the another customized list is limited to at least one electronic game legally available for play by the player in a jurisdiction corresponding to the updated location; and
cause the graphical user interface including the another customized list to be displayed on the electronic display device of or associated with the gaming client.

9. A method in a game administration server of an electronic gaming system, the method comprising:
determining a current location of a gaming client in communication with the game administrative server and operable by a player;
generating a customized list of one or more electronic games available for play by the player on the gaming client, wherein generating the customized list comprises generating the customized list based at least in part, on the current location of the gaming client and a probability that a player of the gaming client is acing in a prohibited way, and wherein the customized list is limited to the one or more electronic games legally available for play by the player in a jurisdiction corresponding to the current location;
causing a graphical user interface including the customized list to be displayed on an electronic display device of or associated with the gaming client;
receiving data representative of a selection by the player of an electronic game from the customized list;
initiating the electronic game on the gaming client for play by the player based on the data representative of the selection by the player;
determining an updated location of the gaming client; and
one of:
enabling continued play of the electronic game by the player on the gaming client for the updated location being in a jurisdiction legally permitting play of the electronic game; and
disabling play of the electronic game by the player on the gaming client for the updated location being in a jurisdiction in which play of the electronic game is illegal.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the current location comprises: receiving data representative of the current location of the gaming client; and determining the current location based on the data representative of the current location.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the data representative of the current location includes at least one of: global positioning system (GPS) data, GPS coordinates, an IP address, a client device identification (ID), a player ID, geo-fencing data, reports from a player terminal, and data representative of an estimate of the current location.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining the updated location comprises: receiving data representative of the updated location of the gaming client; and determining the updated location based on the data representative of the updated location.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the data representative of the updated location includes at least one of: global positioning system data, an IP address, a client device identification (ID), a player ID, geo-fencing data, reports from a player terminal, and data representative of an estimate of the updated location.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the data representative of the updated location is GPS coordinates.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein

Assignees

• Ag 18 Llc

Inventors

• Simons Jordan
• Koustas Nicholas
• Mix John
• Oxman Alexander

Classifications

• G07F17/3262

  Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played · CPC title

• G07F17/3286

  Type of games · CPC title

• G07F17/3223

  Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, leader-follower, wireless communication · CPC title

• G07F17/32

  for games, toys, sports, or amusements · CPC title

• G07F17/3295 Primary

  Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking · CPC title