US20110130199A1

US20110130199A1 - Casino gateway network illustrating the connection of gaming device, servers, systems and network

Info

Publication number: US20110130199A1
Application number: US12/626,743
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald Lee Bailey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-27
Filing date: 2009-11-27
Publication date: 2011-06-02

Abstract

Herein is described a system comprising: a generic multi-player gaming station hardware platform that is downloaded with multiple games that gives a player at a given station a menu of available games, and a secure intranet network operating on the Internet to support the operation of the multi-player gaming station hardware platform.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a gaming network designed for intrastate and intratribal operation of casino games over a secure Intranet network operating on the Internet.
As can be seen, there is a need for a closed intranet system that includes casino games designed to be played over the Internet in a format that includes a flexible, multi-player game-station electronic gaming device and a system to link together tribal casinos across the United States.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a system comprises: a multi-player gaming station hardware platform that is downloaded with multiple games that gives a player at a given station a menu of available games, and a secure intranet network operating on the Internet to support via password-protected access the operation of the multi-player gaming station hardware platform.
In another aspect of the present invention, a system comprises: a flexible, multi-player game-station electronic gaming device, and a closed intranet connection that links together a configuration of tribal casinos across the United States where the device is used to effect the operation and processing of Class II and Class III games that are downloaded to the device and displayed in a menu format for player selection and play
In another aspect of the present invention a distributed casino comprises various gaming sites on Indian lands, within a state or in an international gaming jurisdiction linked to a primary gaming site through the Internet to form a network for game operation and processing and for purposes of linking various games and sites for progressive jackpots.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows various game station embodiments of the present invention, 1A shows 8-station, 1B shows 6-station, 1C shows 3-station, 1D shows a personal station;

FIG. 2 shows a front view with (2A) or without (2B) the base, and a side view (2C) of an individual personal play station according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a single Class II casino network of systems, game stations and third party gaming machines according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a multi-site network of Class II gaming sites according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a Class II & III single casino network of systems, game stations and third party gaming machines according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a multi-site network of Class II and III gaming sites according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows the Gaming Standards Associations Connectivity Protocols according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a single tribe multi-site intranet network of gaming sites according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 shows a multi-tribe, multi-state and multi-site Internet network of Class II and III and Internet gaming sites according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.
Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a gaming network designed for intrastate and intratribal operation of casino games over a secure Intranet network operating on the Internet.
Herein is described a system, which may be called “Casino Gateway Network”, that is a gaming network designed for intrastate and intratribal operation of casino games over a secure intranet network operating on the Internet. The gaming network allows players to play casino games online from a central location or their homes within a specific state or tribal land boundary. The network is designed to block access from underage individuals or players from outside the state or tribal lands or reservations. This system is designed to accomplish several functions to allow game play of games of chance, skilled games, Class I, Class II, including poker, and Class III games as defined by federal, state and tribal laws.
The system has at least two versions. One is designed to link one Indian reservation to another Indian reservation, and Indian reservations to a legal international gaming jurisdiction using the Casino Gateway Network. The other is designed for the use by states within the United States. The system uses a central server with a random number generator that allows players to play Class II games such as bingo, lotto, pull tabs, poker, etc. that involve players competing against each other for jackpot prizes, and Class III games that allow a player to play all the traditional casino games, such as blackjack, roulette, craps and compete against the house that uses a random number generator to produce results.
Each version has several components:
Game Component: Allows players to play games of chance, skilled games, Class I, Class II, poker, and Class III games as defined by federal, state and tribal laws over the Internet on a secure intranet system. The Casino Gateway Network allows a player within the state to play casino games that are considered legal forms of gaming within the state. Intertribal allows players to play games from a reservation online as well as to compete for jackpots from players linked from other reservations to the Casino Gateway network.
Entertainment Component: Allows players to listen to music via the patent pending Jukebox Slots product (US 2008-0076575 A1) that allows players to select and listen to music while playing casino games, and listen and view entertainment that plays advertisements in between game play.
Security Component: Allows the casino operators to block minors and players from outside the state or tribal lands to play casino games available via the Casino Gateway Network. The security system checks several forms of identification. Items to make sure players are eligible to play on the network, use their credit card verification, voter registration, driver license information, onsite verification or certified notary.
Network Component: The system is connected by a central server network system that controls secure gaming transactions over a secure Intranet. That intranet is accessible via the internet by a password access code. The Casino Gateway Network allows numerous reservations to connect to the Casino Gateway Network and play simultaneous games for players playing against players or players competing against the house.
Credit Card Processing Component: The system uses a service that may be referred to as the Good-As-Gold ATM service (an ATIG product). This service allows a player to access cash from their bank accounts and use that cash at any gateway casino. This system will not break the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act, because it serves as an automatic teller machine (ATM) found in casinos all over the United States and it is being used for the purpose of gaming within areas that the new law considers legal (Intrastate Internet Gaming) if approved by the state and (Intratribal Internet Gaming) if approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC).
One aspect of the instant invention is a closed intranet system that includes casino games designed to be played over the Internet in a format that includes flexible, multi-player game-station electronic gaming device and system used to link together tribal casinos across the United States as described by the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act, but also having application in other gaming environments such as commercial casinos within States, poker networks and state lotteries worldwide.
Another aspect of the instant invention describes the network connectivity between the various systems and gaming devices on a closed Intranet network via the Internet.
The instant invention concludes that a game regardless of being Class II or III merely represents a software application, or content, that is performed on an electronic hardware platform, such as the non-limiting example of www(dot)amazon-casino(dot)com.
An embodiment of the instant invention provides for a multi-player gaming station hardware platform that is downloaded with multiple games, regardless of class, that gives the player at a given station a menu of available games. Further, the present invention provides for the Internet, either in an Intranet or Internet, to support (by giving players access to the network via a password on the Internet) the operation of the multi-player gaming station hardware, in several casino configurations including but not limited to: a single tribe single casino location, regardless of Class II or Class III; a single tribe with multiple casinos or gaming locations, regardless of Class II or Class III; multiple tribes and multiple casinos or gaming locations, regardless of Class II or Class III; on-reservation at home gaming, regardless of Class II or Class III; a single tribe single casino location, connecting to an international gaming jurisdiction, regardless of Class II or Class III; and multiple tribes casino locations connected to multiple international gaming jurisdictions, regardless of Class II or Class III.
Further, while the instant invention is a hardware platform for both Class II and III games, other gaming applications such as sport betting and lottery, and other entertainment applications such as pay-to-play non-gaming games, pay-to-view movies and digital video discs (DVDs) are envisioned as additional revenue generating content.
Each position of a standard gaming device, such as the Multi-Player Game-Station Electronic Gaming Device (MGGD) that is used in casinos worldwide, comprises at a minimum several components that are common to most electronic gaming devices including: processor, display, touch screen; sound card; graphics card. Each position of the MGGD optionally includes: a second display for display of Class II bingo, bonus games, pay tables, advertising, etc.; a printer for voucher printing; a card reader for player's club recognition and tracking; and a currency acceptor.
All of the component parts are packaged, in a compact design to minimize space, in the applicable MGGD configuration, see FIG. 1 for configuration examples. While FIG. 1 depicts up to an eight station MGGD of certain design shapes the number of stations and shape(s) is only limited to practical size limitations. Depending on the processor performance speed it may be that two or more of the positions share a single processor thus reducing the cost of the overall MGGD.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a multi-player gaming station hardware platform that is downloaded with multiple games that gives a player at a given station a menu of available games; and

a secure intranet network operating on the Internet to support via password-protected access the operation of the multi-player gaming station hardware platform.

2. A system comprising:

a multi-player game-station electronic gaming device; and

a closed intranet connection that links together a configuration of casinos where the device is used to effect the operation and processing of Class II and Class III games that are downloaded to the device and displayed in a menu format for player selection and play.

3. The system of claim 2, where the configuration is selected from the group consisting of a single tribe single casino location, a single tribe with multiple casinos or gaming locations, multiple tribes and multiple casinos or gaming locations, on-reservation at home gaming, a single tribe single casino location connecting to an international gaming jurisdiction, and multiple tribes casino locations connected to multiple international gaming jurisdictions.

4. The system of claim 2, where the Class II and Class III games are lottery games, pari-mutuel betting, sports betting, poker, or non-gaming games.

5. The system of claim 2, additionally comprising the operation and processing of pay-to-view movies or DVDs.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the system is networked through the Internet using Internet Protocol, either in an intranet or Internet configuration.

7. A distributed casino comprising;

various gaming sites on Indian lands, within a state, or in an international gaming jurisdiction linked to a primary gaming site through the Internet to form a network for game operation and processing and for linking various games and sites for progressive jackpots.

8. A distributed casino as in claim 7 also comprising a plurality of multi-player game-station electronic gaming devices where each device can be signed on the network through the Internet, and thereby become a node in a Virtual Private Network for system security and integrity.

9. The distributed casino of claim 8 where a player can purchase a cash voucher, said voucher including assess codes;

such that when the codes are entered into a personal computer device located on tribal lands, the device is included in the Virtual Private Network; and

such that a player is permitted full gaming activity to the extent of credit available on the voucher plus any winnings from the games played.

10. The distributed casino of claim 9 wherein at the end of a gaming session any remaining credit is recorded in a second cash voucher and said second cash voucher can be cashed at any casino location within the network, or can be used for gaming at a casino site or from an on-reservation personal computing device.