System and method for allowing remote wagers (both for real wagers and for fun/points/prizes) by confirming player location using network generated and/or network centric data

Abstract

A system and method for allowing wager(s) to be placed over a wireless network using a remote device by authenticating an established user account, and validating the location of the player using network centric data. The player utilizes the remote device, which may be a cell phone or remote computing device, connected securely to a wagering system over a wireless network (e.g., 3G). Depending on the type of game, player location is determined using GPS and/or control plane technology utilizing carrier network information. Wagers may be placed using verbal instructions or keypad entries which communicate with an interactive voice recognition system, a dedicated software application, live operator and/or web browser based application. Regardless of the wager placement methodology, the remote device is linked to a wager server and location verification is specific to the subject remote device connected thereto. Other methods of verifying location are utilized as safeguards against spoofing.

1 . A system comprising:
 a wagering system including at least a processor, data storage device and means for communicating with remote devices; and   a program running on said wagering system, said program configured to permit placement of wagers remotely responsive to validation that a subject remote device is within a pre-established wagering location and prohibit placement of wagers remotely responsive to lack of validation that a subject remote device is within a pre-established wagering location; and   means for obtaining remote device location data derived from communications between said remote devices and remote device towers during wireless connections between said remote devices and said wagering system, said remote device location data used to validate a location of said remote devices.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a program running on said remote devices which validates to the wagering system that a user is utilizing a remote device user interface during a wireless connection between the remote devices and said wagering system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising means for obtaining GPS data to determine remote device location. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said remote device location data derived from communications between said remote devices and remote device towers during wireless connections between said remote devices and said wagering system include signal strength between the remote device and multiple remote device towers. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said remote device location data derived from communications between said remote devices and remote device towers during wireless connections between said remote devices and said wagering system include signal transmission times between the remote device and multiple remote device towers. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said program is further configured to compare and validate acquired remote device identification information with stored remote device identification information. 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 a wagering system including at least a processor and data storage device, said wagering system including means to communicate with remote devices;   a program running on said wagering system and configured to:
 utilize remote device location data derived from communications between said remote devices and remote device towers during wireless connections between said remote devices and said wagering system; 
 responsive to validation that a subject remote device is within a pre-established wagering location:
 transmit wagering data to said remote devices; 
 receive wager instructions input into said remote devices by users thereof; 
 accept and record one or more wagers pursuant to said wager instructions; 
 transmit confirmation of said one or more wagers to said remote devices; and 
 apply winnings associated with said wager instructions and collect losses associated with said wager instructions from pre-established user accounts; and 
 
 responsive to a lack of validation that a subject remote device is within a pre-established wagering location, reject placement of a wager to be placed through the wagering system. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising a program running on said remote devices which validates to the wagering system that a user is utilizing a remote device user interface during a wireless connection between the remote devices and said wagering system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the program is further configured to utilize GPS data to determine remote device location. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein remote device location data derived from communications between said remote devices and remote device towers during wireless connections between said remote devices and said wagering system include signal strength between the remote device and multiple remote device towers. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein remote device location data derived from communications between said remote devices and remote device towers during wireless connections between said remote devices and said wagering system include signal transmission times between the remote device and multiple remote device towers. 
     
     
         12 . A method facilitated by a wagering system including at least a processor, data storage device and means for communicating with remote devices, comprising:
 utilizing remote device location data premised on communications between said remote devices and remote device towers during wireless connections between said remote devices and said wagering system;   validating remote device location based on said location data;   responsive to validation that a subject remote device is within a pre-established wagering location, accepting placement of remote wagers submitted to said wagering system via said remote devices;   responsive to a lack of validation that a subject remote device in within a pre-established wagering location, prohibiting placement of remote wagers submitted to said wagering system via said remote devices.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising validating to the wagering system that a user is utilizing a remote device user interface during a wireless connection between the remote devices and said wagering system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising acquiring GPS location data. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising utilizing signal strength between the remote device and multiple remote device towers to validate remote device locations. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising utilizing signal transmission times between the remote device and multiple remote device towers to validate remote device location. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising comparing remote device identification information with stored remote device identification information. 
     
     
         18 . A method facilitated by a wagering system including at least a processor, data storage device and means for communicating with remote devices, comprising:
 utilizing remote device location data derived from communications between said remote devices and remote device towers during wireless connections between said remote devices and said wagering system to validate a location of remote devices;   responsive to validation that a subject remote device is within a pre-established wagering location:
 transmitting wagering data to said remote devices; 
 receiving wager instructions input into said remote devices by users thereof; 
 accepting and record one or more wagers pursuant to said wager instructions; 
 transmitting confirmation of said one or more wagers to said remote devices; and 
 applying winnings associated with said wager instructions and collecting losses associated with said wager instructions from pre-established user accounts; and 
   responsive to a lack of validation that a subject remote device is within a pre-established wagering location, rejecting placement of a wager through the wagering system.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising validating to the wagering system that a user is utilizing a remote device user interface during a wireless connection between the remote devices and said wagering system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising utilizing GPS location data. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising utilizing signal strength between the remote device and multiple remote device towers to validate remote device locations. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising utilizing signal transmission times between the remote device and multiple remote device towers to validate remote device location. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising comparing remote device identification information with stored remote device identification information.