Method and system for localized mobile gaming

1. A method for facilitating mobile gaming, the method comprising:

determining whether a patron identification (ID) tag, or a portable gaming device, associated with a patron is within a gaming zone based on whether one or more transceivers, of a plurality of transceivers of the gaming zone, detect one or both of the patron ID tag or the portable gaming device;

in response to determining the patron ID tag, or the portable gaming device, is within the gaming zone, permitting the portable gaming device to place monetary wagers on a game of chance if the portable gaming device attempts to make monetary wagers on the game of chance;

re-determining whether the patron ID tag, or the portable gaming device, is within the gaming zone based on whether the one or more transceivers detect one or both of the patron ID tag or the portable gaming device; and

in response to determining the patron ID tag, or the portable gaming device, is no longer within the gaming zone, prohibiting the portable gaming device from placing monetary wagers on the game of chance, and permitting the portable gaming device to place non-monetary wagers on the game of chance if the portable gaming device attempts to make non-monetary wagers on the game of chance.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining, or re-determining, whether the patron is within the gaming zone is based on whether the one or more transceivers detect both the patron ID tag and the portable gaming device.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising pairing the patron ID tag with the portable gaming device using a transceiver of the plurality of transceivers.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a camera associated with the gaming zone to determine the portable gaming device is associated with the patron.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the patron, or the portable gaming device associated with the patron, is authorized to place monetary wagers on the game of chance, the portable gaming device only being permitted to place monetary wagers on the game of chance if the patron, or the portable gaming device associated with the patron, is authorized to place monetary wagers and the portable gaming device, or the patron ID tag, is within the gaming zone.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-monetary wagers comprise wagers made using loyalty points or virtual currency.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more transceivers are configured to detect the patron ID tag or portable electronic device using radio frequency identification, ultra-high radio frequency communication, or near field communication.

8. A mobile gaming system, the system comprising:

a gaming controller configured to:

receive first transceiver data from one or more transceivers of a mobile gaming zone,

determine whether a patron identification (ID) tag, or a mobile gaming device, associated with a patron is within the mobile gaming zone based on the first transceiver data,

based on determining the patron ID tag, or the mobile gaming device, is within the mobile gaming zone, provide instructions to configure the portable gaming device to permit placing monetary wagers on a game of chance;

receive second transceiver data from the one or more transceivers of the mobile gaming zone,

re-determine whether the patron ID tag, or the mobile gaming device, is within the mobile gaming zone based on the second transceiver data, and

based on determining the patron ID tag, or the mobile gaming device, is no longer within the mobile gaming zone, provide instructions to configure the portable gaming device to no longer permit placing monetary wagers on the game of chance, and permit the portable gaming device to place non-monetary wagers on the game of chance.

9. The mobile gaming system of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of transceivers forming the mobile gaming zone, the plurality of transceivers comprising the one or more transceivers.

10. The mobile gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the first transceiver data is representative of a detection by the one or more transceivers of one or both of the patron ID tag or the mobile gaming device.

11. The mobile gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the game of chance is conducted through communications between the mobile gaming device and the gaming controller.

12. The mobile gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the gaming controller is further configured to determine whether the patron, or the mobile gaming device associated with the patron, is authorized to place monetary wagers on the game of chance, the gaming controller being configured to only provide instructions to configure the mobile gaming device to permit placing monetary wagers on the game of chance when the patron, or the mobile gaming device, is authorized to place monetary wagers and the mobile gaming device, or the patron ID tag, is within the mobile gaming zone.

13. The mobile gaming system of claim 12 , wherein determining whether the patron or the mobile gaming device is authorized to place monetary wagers comprises determining whether the patron has sufficient funds to play the game of chance, or whether the mobile gaming device has proper software.

14. The mobile gaming system of claim 12 , wherein a camera associated with the mobile gaming zone is used to determine whether the patron or the mobile gaming device is authorized to place monetary wagers.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising machine readable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine whether a patron identification (ID) tag, or a portable gaming device, associated with a patron is within a gaming zone based on whether one or more transceivers, of a plurality of transceivers forming the gaming zone, detect at least one of the patron ID tag or the portable gaming device during a first time period;

in response to determining the patron ID tag, or the portable gaming device, is within the gaming zone, permit the portable gaming device to place monetary wagers on a game of chance if the portable gaming device attempts to make monetary wagers on the game of chance;

re-determine whether the patron ID tag, or the portable gaming device, is within the gaming zone based on whether the one or more transceivers detect at least one of the patron ID tag or the portable gaming device during a second time period; and

in response to determining the patron ID tag, or the portable gaming device, is no longer within the gaming zone, prohibit the portable gaming device from placing monetary wagers on the game of chance, and permit the portable gaming device to place non-monetary wagers on the game of chance if the portable gaming device attempts to make non-monetary wagers on the game of chance.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein determining, or re-determining, whether the patron ID tag, or the portable gaming device, is within the gaming zone is based on whether the one or more transceivers detect both the patron ID tag and the portable gaming device.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising machine readable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to determine whether the patron, or the portable gaming device, is authorized to place monetary wagers on the game of chance, the portable gaming device only being enabled to place monetary wagers on the game of chance if the patron, or the portable gaming device, is authorized to place monetary wagers and the portable gaming device, or the patron ID tag, is within the gaming zone.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein determining whether the patron or the portable gaming device is authorized to place monetary wagers comprises determining whether the patron has sufficient funds to play the game of chance, or whether the portable gaming device has proper software.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the non-monetary wagers comprise wagers made using loyalty points or virtual currency.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising machine readable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to prohibit the portable gaming device from placing monetary wagers on the game of chance in response to determining the patron ID tag, or the portable gaming device, is not within the gaming zone.