Safe gaming, personal selection of self-limiting option

Abstract

To self-limit play, a player selects a trigger event and an associated action. During play, the game is monitored for the trigger event. If the trigger event occurs, the associated action is performed.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for self-limiting play of a game, the method comprising: 
 selecting a trigger event by a player;    selecting an action by the player;    playing the game; and    performing the action.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the game for the trigger event.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein performing the action includes performing the action if the trigger event occurs.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising associating the action with the trigger event.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , further comprising removing the association between the action and the trigger event.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a statistic about the game to a central station.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a statistic from a central station.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for self-limiting play of a game, the apparatus comprising: 
 selecting means for selecting a trigger event and an associated action by a player;    the game;    monitoring means for monitoring the game for the trigger event; and    performance means for performing the associated action.    
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the games offers the selecting means to the player.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising a kiosk offering the selecting means to the player.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising a station offering the selecting means to the player.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the selecting means includes a microprocessor programmed to offer the player at least one trigger event and at least one action.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the selecting means further includes a transmission circuit designed to transmit the trigger event and action to a central station.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the trigger event is drawn from a set including a play time, a total buy-in per unit time, a total coin-in per unit time, an accrued credit limit, a one time win limit, a total loss limit, a total win limit, and a maximum bet.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the associated action is drawn from a set including a notification, a ban, a global ban, and a forced rest period.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the game includes the monitoring means.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the monitoring means includes a comparator designed to compare a statistic of the game with the trigger event.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17 , further comprising a memory designed to store the statistics of the game and the trigger event.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the game includes the performance means.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the performance means includes a message displayed to the player.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the performance means further includes a blocking circuit designed to prevent the player from playing the game after the trigger event has occurred.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the action includes a global ban; and    the performance means further includes a transmission circuit designed to transmit a signal to a central station that the trigger event has occurred.