SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVENIENCE GAMING
A convenience gaming system is provided. The convenience 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 features to ensure that users are not permitted to participate in gambling activities if users communicate with the system through parts of system infrastructure located close enough to pick up or send signals across state lines or beyond authorized areas.
1 . A method comprising:
responsive to a user using a device to access a gaming system to engage in at least one gaming activity, determining by at least one server whether the user's device is located within a pre-defined location, wherein determining whether the user's device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of geo-fencing; and
allowing by the at least one server the user to engage in the at least one gaming activity from the user's device based upon the determination that the user's device is located in the pre-defined location.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user owns the device,
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user's device comprises a mobile phone.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user's device is a PDA.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user's device is a computer.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one gaming activities include at least one wagering activity and at least one non-wagering activity.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one gaming activity is sports betting.
8 . The method of claim 1 , 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.
9 . The method of claim 8 , 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 allow the user to engage in the at least one gaming activity from the user's device based upon the determination that the user's device is still located in the pre-defined location.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-defined location comprises at least two geographically separate locations.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing to the user on the user's device real time odds.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing to the user on the user's device sports video.
14 . A method comprising:
responsive to a user using a device to access a gaming system to engage in at least one gaming activity, determining by at least one server whether the user's device is located within a pre-defined location, wherein determining whether the user's device is located within the pre-defined location includes making the determination through the use of triangulation; and
allowing by the at least one server the user to engage in the at least one gaming activity from the user's device based upon the determination that the user's device is located in the pre-defined location.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the user owns the device,
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the user's device comprises a mobile phone.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the user's device is a PDA.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the user's device is a computer.
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one gaming activities include at least one wagering activity and at least one non-wagering activity.
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one gaming activity is sports betting.
21 . The method of claim 14 , 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.
22 . The method of claim 22 , 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 allow the user to engage in the at least one gaming activity from the user's device based upon the determination that the user's device is still located in the pre-defined location.
23 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the pre-defined location comprises at least two geographically separate locations.
24 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing to the user on the user's device real time odds.
25 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising providing to the user on the user's device sports video.
26 . A method comprising:
responsive to a user using a device to access a gaming system to engage in at least one gaming activity, determining by at least one server whether the user's device is located within a pre-defined location, 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; and
allowing by the at least one server the user to engage in the at least one gaming activity from the user's device based upon the determination that the user's device is located in the pre-defined location.
27 . The method of claim 26 , 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.
28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the user owns the device,
29 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the user's device comprises a mobile phone.
30 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the user's device comprises at least one of a PDA and a computer.
31 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the at least one gaming activities include at least one wagering activity and at least one non-wagering activity.
32 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the at least one gaming activity is sports betting.