System and method for gaming

Abstract

A gaming system is provided. The gaming system allows users to access applications via gaming communication devices coupled to a communication network. At least a portion of the network may be wireless. The gaming applications include gambling, financial, entertainment service, and other types of transactions. The system may include a user location determination feature to prevent users from conducting transactions from unauthorized areas.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing, as part of a gaming system, a gaming application to a plurality of users, wherein the gaming application is configured to reside on devices owned by the users such that the devices are pre-programmed with the gaming application, and wherein the gaming application is configured to interface with a server application of the gaming system, and to enable users together with the server application to engage in at least one gaming activity;   responsive to a user launching the gaming application on the user's device, providing by the at least one server to the user on the user's device the at least one gaming activity, wherein the at least one gaming activity allows the user to place wagers on at least one event during that event, and wherein the event is one in which the user is not a participant;   receiving by the at least one server from the user from the user's device a wager on the event, wherein the wager is received during the event; and   determining an outcome of the wager.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user's device comprises a mobile phone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user's device is a PDA. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user's device comprises a computer or mini-computer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming application is configured, together with the server application, to enable users to engage in a plurality of gaming activities. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of gaming activities include at least one wagering activity and at least one non-wagering activity. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming application is configured to present information corresponding to the at least one gaming activity to users. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the event is sports activity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the event is a poker game or poker tournament. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the event comprises a card game. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wager on the event comprises a wager on a player participating in the event. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the event comprises a sports activity or a card game. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether the user's device is located within a pre-defined location; and   providing to the user on the user's device the at least one gaming activity based upon the determination that the user's device is located in the pre-defined location.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pre-defined location is a hotel room. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the user's device is located within a pre-defined location includes making the determination upon initial access by the user to the at least one server. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at pre-defined time intervals after the initial access, determining whether the user's device is still located within the pre-defined location; and   continuing to provide to the user on the user's device the at least one gaming activity based upon the determination that the user's device is still located in the pre-defined location.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the user's device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of geo-fencing. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the user's device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of triangulation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the user's device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of multilateration. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the user's device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through an identification of which network, portion of a network, or network component the user's device is accessing. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the identification indicates at least one of a base station, group of base stations, a line, a channel, a trunk, a switch, a router, and a repeater. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the user's device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of receiver signal strength indicator (RSSI) technology. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the user's device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of time difference of arrival (TDOA) technology. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining whether the user's device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of GPS. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pre-defined location comprises at least two geographically separate locations. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein responsive to the user accessing the gaming system from the user's device, certain functionality of the user's device is altered to ensure wagers from the device originate from within boundaries of the pre-defined location. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the altered functionality includes making voice calls. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the altered functionality includes receiving voice calls. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the altered functionality includes Internet connectivity. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one server is configured to communicate with the user's device via a private wireless network and a public wireless network. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the user has an account; and   wherein the method further comprises:
 debiting and/or crediting the account in response to the wager and/or the outcome of the wager; 
 receiving from the user from a kiosk an instruction to deduct funds from the account; and 
 providing the funds to the user via the kiosk. 
   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing to the user on the user's device real time odds. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing to the user on the user's device video of the event. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to the user using accessing the gaming system from the user's device, (1) authenticating the user, (2) authenticating the device, and (3) determining whether the user's device is located within a pre-defined location; and   providing to the user on the user's device the at least one gaming activity based upon (1) the authentication of the user, (2) the authentication of the device, and (3) the determination that the user's device is located in the pre-defined location.