Detecting and preventing bots and cheating in online gaming

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for detecting and/or preventing cheating in online gaming. Some implementations provide gaming information in formats that are difficult for a bot to interpret, but which are preferably easy for humans to interpret. Some implementations of the invention involve the tracking and analysis of players' gaming activities. Some implementations of the invention provide a multi-tier approach to data analysis. Some analyses may be performed, for example, by a centralized computing device such as a server, whereas other analyses may be performed by a host device. In some implementations, “challenge and response” measures will be employed. Some implementations of the invention involve detection and prevention of collaboration between players.

We claim: 
     
         1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A gaming method, comprising:
 providing an online wagering game involving a plurality of host devices and at least one game server; and   presenting game data required for participation in the online wagering game in a format that requires a human interface or the use of pattern recognition methods.   
     
     
         18 . The gaming method of  claim 17 , wherein the game data comprise playing card data and wherein the format comprises varying an angle of rotation for a playing card. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming method of  claim 17 , wherein the game data comprise playing card data and wherein the format comprises varying positions of playing card symbols on the playing cards. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming method of  claim 17 , wherein the game data comprises playing card data and wherein the format comprises a variable display of playing card hands. 
     
     
         21 . The gaming method of  claim 17 , wherein the game data comprise playing card data and wherein the format comprises playing card images displayed as playing card backs, wherein playing card symbols are temporarily shown only at turned up corners of the playing card images. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming method of  claim 17 , wherein the format comprises an entire screen of game play information, including player input areas, displayed as one image. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming method of  claim 17 , wherein some game data required for participation in the online wagering game are provided in the format of voice commands. 
     
     
         24 . The gaming method of  claim 17 , wherein wagering data for participation in the online wagering game are provided as images of wager tokens. 
     
     
         25 . The gaming method of  claim 20 , wherein the variable display comprises providing playing card hands as a single image of fanned-out playing cards. 
     
     
         26 . The gaming method of  claim 22 , wherein the player input areas comprise buttons and wherein the format comprises displaying the buttons in different areas of the image at different times. 
     
     
         27 . The gaming method of  claim 23 , wherein the voice commands are provided by voices having a variety of regional accents. 
     
     
         28 . The gaming method of  claim 24 , wherein the images of wager tokens comprise images of poker chips. 
     
     
         29 . A gaming method, comprising:
 gathering game play data while players are using a plurality of host devices to play Internet wagering games;   analyzing the game play data to determine individual players' typical gaming styles and times of deviation from the typical gaming styles; and   comparing times of deviation from players' typical gaming styles to determine instances of probable collusion between players.   
     
     
         30 . The gaming method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 determining locations of at least some of the plurality of host devices; and   determining whether at least some of the instances of probable collusion involve multiple host devices at one location.   
     
     
         31 - 45 . (canceled)