US2007259715A1PendingUtilityA1

Interactive wagering systems and methods for restricting wagering access

59
Assignee: MCNUTT RICHARD EPriority: Apr 5, 2000Filed: May 4, 2007Published: Nov 8, 2007
Est. expiryApr 5, 2020(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Richard E. McnuttConnie T. MarshallMasood GarahiDouglas Ramsey
G06Q 20/3674H04N 21/254H04N 21/25875G06Q 50/34H04N 21/4542H04N 21/4781H04N 7/17318H04N 21/4524G07F 17/3237G07F 17/3288G07F 17/32
59
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Claims

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

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 .- 33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . A method for restricting wagering functions in an interactive wagering application, the method comprising: 
 receiving a request from a user to access the interactive wagering application;    determining whether the user is located in a geographic location where wagering is prohibited; and    in response to determining that the user is located in a geographic location where wagering is prohibited, both 1) providing the user with access to the interactive wagering application and 2) restricting at least one wagering function in the interactive wagering application.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein determining whether the user is located in a geographic location where wagering is prohibited comprises comparing blackout information with location information.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising storing a location verification token in response to determining that the user is not located in a geographic location where wagering is prohibited.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the location verification token expires after a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising, in response to receiving the request from the user to access the interactive wagering application, obtaining location information indicative of a geographic location in which the user is located.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein obtaining location information comprises accessing a global positioning satellite system.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein obtaining location information comprises using automatic number identification on a telephone network.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 34  wherein restricting the at least one wagering function comprises changing the appearance of at least one wagering option in the interactive wagering application, wherein the at least one wagering option corresponds to the at least one wagering function.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein changing the appearance of the at least one wagering option comprises displaying the at least one wagering option in a different color indicating that the at least one wagering option is disabled from user selection.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41  wherein changing the appearance of the at least one wagering option comprises replacing the at least one wagering option with at least one other option, wherein the at least one other option is unrelated to wagering.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 34  wherein restricting the at least one wagering function comprises removing at least one wagering option from a wagering menu of the interactive wagering application, wherein the at least one wagering option corresponds to the at least one wagering function.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 34  wherein restricting the at least one wagering function comprises displaying a message when the at least one wagering option corresponding to the at least one wagering function is selected in the interactive wagering application.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the message is an access denied message.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 34  wherein restricting the at least one wagering function comprises suppressing the display of wager-related indicators associated with the at least one wagering function in the interactive wagering application.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 34  wherein restricting the at least one wagering function comprises suppressing the display of a wagering event broadcast associated with the at least one wagering function in the interactive wagering application.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the wagering event broadcast comprises a video broadcast.  
     
     
         50 . A system for restricting wagering functions in an interactive wagering application, the system comprising processing circuitry configured to: 
 receive a request from a user to access the interactive wagering application;    determine whether the user is located in a geographic location where wagering is prohibited; and    in response to determining that the user is located in a geographic location where wagering is prohibited, both 1) provide the user with access to the interactive wagering application and 2) restrict at least one wagering function in the interactive wagering application.    
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether the user is located in a geographic location where wagering is prohibited by comparing blackout information with location information.  
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to store a location verification token in response to determining that the user is not located in a geographic location where wagering is prohibited.  
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52  wherein the location verification token expires after a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to, in response to receiving the request from the user to access the interactive wagering application, obtain location information indicative of a geographic location in which the user is located.  
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54  wherein the processing circuitry is configured to obtain location information by accessing a global positioning satellite system.  
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 54  wherein the processing circuitry is configured to obtain location information by using automatic number identification on a telephone network.  
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the processing circuitry is configured to restrict the at least one wagering function by changing the appearance of at least one wagering option in the interactive wagering application, wherein the at least one wagering option corresponds to the at least one wagering function.  
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 57  wherein the processing circuitry is configured to display the at least one wagering option in a different color indicating that the at least one wagering option is disabled from user selection.  
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 57  wherein the processing circuitry is configured to replace the at least one wagering option with at least one other option, wherein the at least one other option is unrelated to wagering.  
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the processing circuitry is configured to restrict the at least one wagering function by removing at least one wagering option from a wagering menu of the interactive wagering application, wherein the at least one wagering option corresponds to the at least one wagering function.  
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the processing circuitry is configured to restrict the at least one wagering function by displaying a message when the at least one wagering option corresponding to the at least one wagering function is selected in the interactive wagering application.  
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the message is an access denied message.  
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the processing circuitry is configured to restrict the at least one wagering function by suppressing the display of wager-related indicators associated with the at least one wagering function in the interactive wagering application.  
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the processing circuitry is configured to restrict the at least one wagering function by suppressing the display of a wagering event broadcast associated with the at least one wagering function in the interactive wagering application.  
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64  wherein the wagering event broadcast comprises a video broadcast.

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