Secure distributed gambling

Abstract

A secure distributed gambling system and method is described. The system includes a plurality of mobile computing devices and a plurality of secure gambling microprocessors. Each of the plurality of secure gambling microprocessors is coupled with a different one of the plurality of mobile computing devices to provide a plurality of secure stand-alone gambling platforms. A gambling management system is communicatively coupled with one or more of the plurality of secure stand-alone gambling platforms to maintain gambling integrity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A distributed gambling method comprising:
 communicatively coupling a secure gambling microprocessor with a mobile computing device having a graphic user interface, the secure gambling microprocessor comprising:
 a firmware with gambling code and a purse stored thereon; 
   establishing a communication channel between the secure gambling microprocessor and a gambling management system via the mobile computing device;   activating, at the gambling management system, the secure gambling microprocessor coupled with the mobile device;   providing periodic communication between the secure gambling microprocessor and the gambling management system via the communication channel, the periodic communication comprising:
 providing updates to at least a portion of the secure gambling microprocessor; 
 monitoring a security of the secure gambling microprocessor; and 
 determining a monetary value of the purse; and 
   authorizing payment to or from the secure gambling microprocessor via the gambling management system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing an end-to-end security between the gambling management system and the secure gambling microprocessor where the authenticity and integrity of all communication can be verified by either the secure gambling microprocessor or the gambling management system. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 encrypting the communication channel from end-to-end between the gambling management system and the secure gambling microprocessor to provide a secure channel. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 utilizing Near Field Communication (NFC) for said communications channel. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 utilizing a Bluetooth communication for said communications channel. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 utilizing a Wi-Fi communication for said communications channel. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 utilizing a mobile device communication for said communications channel. 
 
     
     
         8 . A distributed gambling system comprising:
 a plurality of mobile computing devices;   a plurality of secure gambling microprocessors, each of the plurality of secure gambling microprocessors coupled with a different one of the plurality of mobile computing devices to provide a plurality of secure stand-alone gambling platforms; and   a gambling management system communicatively coupled with one or more of the plurality of secure stand-alone gambling platforms to maintain gambling integrity.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said secure gambling microprocessor is a tamper resistant secure gambling microprocessor comprising:
 a firmware with gambling code and a purse stored thereon. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said secure gambling microprocessor is in a form factor from the group consisting of: debit, credit, closed loop prepaid, General Purpose Reloadable (GPR) card, hotel room key card, smart cards, microSD cards, and SIM cards. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the plurality of secure gambling microprocessors is coupled with a different one of the plurality of mobile computing devices via a communications port. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the plurality of secure gambling microprocessors is embedded in a different one of the plurality of mobile computing devices. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said gambling management system comprises:
 a gambling routine provider module; 
 a purse management module; and 
 a gambling operation reporter module. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said gambling management system comprises:
 a network data communications interface; and 
 a hardware security module. 
 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of mobile computing devices are selected from the group consisting of: mobile phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, and personal digital assistants. 
     
     
         16 . A distributed gambling method comprising:
 communicatively coupling a secure gambling microprocessor with a mobile computing device having a graphic user interface, the secure gambling microprocessor comprising:   a firmware with gambling code and a purse stored thereon;   establishing a secure communication channel between the secure gambling microprocessor and a gambling management system via the mobile computing device;   activating, at the gambling management system, the secure gambling microprocessor coupled with the mobile device;   providing periodic communication between the secure gambling microprocessor and the gambling management system via the secure communication channel, the periodic communication comprising:   providing updates to at least a portion of the secure gambling microprocessor;   monitoring a security of the secure gambling microprocessor; and   determining a monetary value of the purse; and
 authorizing payment to or from the secure gambling microprocessor. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the gambling management system further comprises:
 utilizing a unique identifier to identify the secure gambling microprocessor; 
 determining at least one game supported by an operating system of the mobile computing device; 
 establishing a secure communications channel between the gambling management system and the secure gambling microprocessor; and 
 transmitting the at least one game to the secure gambling microprocessor via the secure communication channel. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the gambling management system further comprises:
 creating a customer account; 
 establishing at least one customer gaming preference; 
 determining a value of the purse; and 
 transmitting the customer account, the at least one customer gaming preference, and the value of the purse to the secure gambling microprocessor via the secure communication channel. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 determining the purse value at the secure gambling microprocessor; 
 transmitting the purse value to the gambling management system via the secure communication channel; and 
 authorizing a payment from the gambling management system to a user. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 transmitting a log data from a gaming session on the secure gambling microprocessor to the gambling management system via the secure communication channel; 
 confirming at the gambling management system the validity of the purse value. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising:
 removing the customer account, the at least one customer gaming preference and the value of the purse from the secure gambling microprocessor. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the gambling management system payout is accomplished via the management system. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the gambling management system payout is accomplished via a legacy lottery validation system. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the legacy lottery system is an instant ticket validation system. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein virtual instant tickets, packs, and pools are downloaded into the secure gambling microprocessor's memory. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein virtual instant tickets, packs, and pools are downloaded into the secure gambling microprocessor's memory at the time of manufacture. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein virtual instant tickets, packs, and pools are downloaded into the secure gambling microprocessor's memory encrypted over a network. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the secure gambling microprocessor only passes starting seed(s) to the associated computing device that ultimately determine the game's outcome. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16  wherein winnings from previous plays may be used to purchase additional wagers on the secure system without the need to cash out.