Systems and methods for maintaining anonymity in a gaming or other environment

Abstract

The present application provides methods and systems for maintaining anonymity in a gaming environment that include or perform the step or steps of receiving a user preference from a first user for maintaining an identity of the first user anonymous during at least one game; tracking game play involving the first user and at least one other user; receiving a request from the at least one other user to initiate at least one game with the first user; retrieving game history data specific to the first user and the at least one other user; retrieving at least one rule for controlling interactions between anonymous users and the at least one other user in to the gaming environment; and disposing the request to initiate the at least one game with the first user based at least on the game history data and the at least one rule for controlling interactions between anonymous users and the at least one other user. The game may be a casino-type game, such as poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat.

1 . A method for maintaining anonymity in a gaming environment comprising:
 receiving, by at least one processor, a user preference from a first user for maintaining an identity of the first user anonymous during at least one game;   tracking, by the at least one processor, game play involving the first user and at least one other user;   receiving, by the at least one processor, a request from the at least one other user to initiate at least one game with the first user;   retrieving, by the at least one processor, game history data specific to the first user and the at least one other user;   retrieving, by the at least one processor, at least one rule for controlling interactions between anonymous users and the at least one other user in the gaming environment; and   disposing, by the at least one processor, the request to initiate the at least one game with the first user based at least on the game history data and the at least one rule for controlling interactions between anonymous users and the at least one other user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game comprises a casino-type game. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the game comprises at least one of poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising assigning at least one anonymous identifier to the first user and wherein disposing the request to initiate the at least one game comprises highlighting the at least one anonymous identifier assigned to the first user in the game. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 initiating game play between at least the first user and the at least one other user; and   displaying at least one interface screen for at least the first user and the at least one other user to play the at least one game.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising assigning a plurality of anonymous identifiers to the first user and wherein disposing the request to initiate the at least one game comprises highlighting at least one of the plurality anonymous identifiers assigned to the first user in the game. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of anonymous identifiers are assigned periodically. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of anonymous identifiers are each assigned at a trigger event. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the trigger event comprises initiating game play with the first user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disposing the request to initiate the at least one game comprises at least one of blocking, hiding, and highlighting the first user in the game. 
     
     
         11 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus, comprising:
 method for maintaining anonymity in a gaming environment comprising:   at least one processor; and   at least one memory having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:
 receive a user preference from a first user for maintaining an identity of the first user anonymous during at least one game; 
 track game play involving the first user and at least one other user; 
 receive a request from the at least one other user to initiate at least one game with the first user; 
 retrieve game history data specific to the first user and the at least one other user; 
 retrieve at least one rule for controlling interactions between anonymous users and the at least one other user in the gaming environment; and 
 dispose the request to initiate the at least one game with the first user based at least on the game history data and the at least one rule for controlling interactions between anonymous users and the at least one other user. 
   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the game comprises a casino-type game. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the game comprises at least one of poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising assigning at least one anonymous identifier to the first user and wherein disposing the request to initiate the at least one game comprises highlighting the at least one anonymous identifier assigned to the first user in the game. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising:
 initiating game play between at least the first user and the at least one other user; and   displaying at least one interface screen for at least the first user and the at least one other user to play the at least one game.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising assigning a plurality of anonymous identifiers to the first user and wherein disposing the request to initiate the at least one game comprises highlighting at least one of the plurality anonymous identifiers assigned to the first user in the game. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the plurality of anonymous identifiers are assigned periodically. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the plurality of anonymous identifiers are each assigned at a trigger event. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the trigger event comprises initiating game play with the first user. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein disposing the request to initiate the at least one game comprises at least one of blocking, hiding, and highlighting the first user in the game.