IP Library Granted Patent US 8,956,221
Granted Patent B2
US 8,956,221 · App. 14/083,097 · Granted Feb 17, 2015

Authorizing and managing wagering agent accounts

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,956,221
App. No.
14/083,097
Granted
Feb 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described herein are processes and devices that authorize and manage wagering agents and associated accounts. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can detecting a request from a first player account to utilize a shared wagering fund to wager on a wagering game. The shared wagering fund can be funded by a second player account. The wagering game system can make the shared wagering fund available to the first player account to wager on a wagering game. The wagering game system can determine a game award produced by the wagering game. The system can then allocate a portion of the game award to the second player account.

Claims (49)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, in an electronic wagering game system, a request from a first player account to place a shadow bet on a second player account's wagering game activity within the electronic wagering game system;

presenting, on a display device of a wagering game machine to the first player account, a list of one or more player accounts on whose wagering game activity the first player account can place a shadow bet, wherein the list of one or more player accounts includes player criteria for each of the one or more player accounts;

receiving, at the wagering game machine, player input from the first player account selecting the second player account from the list of one or more player accounts; and

placing, within the electronic wagering game system, a shadow bet for the first player account on the second player account's wagering game activity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the player criteria includes one or more of past win patterns, past loss patterns, player account type, game type, machine type, time of day, past wins on a specific game, and past losses on a specific game.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining play history preferences of the first player account, wherein the list of one or more player accounts on whose wagering game activity the first player account can place a shadow bet includes player accounts having player criteria that match the play history preferences of the first player account.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shadow bet one or more of is a bet for an amount that is the same as a bet placed by the second player account, is a bet that is for an amount that is different than a bet placed by the second player account, is a bet that is for a wagering game outcome that is the same as a bet placed by the second player account, and is a bet for a wagering game outcome that is different than a bet placed by the second player account.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

notifying the second player account that the first player account is placing a shadow bet on the second player account's wagering game activity.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

presenting a message to the second player account detailing the shadow bet.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that all shadow bets have been placed on the second player account's wagering game activity; and

allowing the second player account to place a bet.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a result of the second player account's wagering game activity; and

determining a reward for the shadow bet, based at least in part, on the result of the second player account's wagering game activity.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, in an electronic wagering game system, a request from a first player account to place a bet on another player account's wagering game activity within the electronic wagering game system;

determining, based on an account store of an account server of the electronic wagering game system, play history preferences for the first player account, wherein the play history preferences indicate preferred play history for other player accounts' wagering game activity within the electronic wagering game system;

determining, by an account authorization unit of the electronic wagering game system, other player accounts meeting the play history preferences for the first player account; and

placing, by an agency funds controller of the electronic wagering game system, the bet on wagering game activity of one or more of the other player accounts on behalf of the first player account.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

presenting, to the first player account, a list of the other player accounts having player criteria that meet the play history preferences for the first player account; and

receiving, from the first player account, player input selecting one or more of the other player accounts from the list of the other player accounts.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the player criteria includes one or more of past win patterns, past loss patterns, player type, game type, machine type, time of day, past wins on a specific game, and past losses on a specific game.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving, from the first player account, an indication to make the shadow bet invisible to the one or more of the other player accounts.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bet on another player account's wagering game activity one or more of is a bet for an amount that is the same as a bet placed by the second player account, is a bet that is for an amount that is different than a bet placed by the second player account, is a bet that is for a wagering game outcome that is the same as a bet placed by the second player account, and is a bet for a wagering game outcome that is different than a bet placed by the second player account.

14. A method comprising:

determining, based on an account store of an account server, that a first player account allows other player accounts to place bets on the first player account's wagering game activity;

determining, by the account server, player account history preferences for the first player account, wherein the player account history preferences indicate one or more of preferred play history and preferred wagering history for other player accounts;

determining, by the account server, other player accounts meeting the player account history preferences for the first player account; and

allowing, by the account server, the other player accounts meeting the player account history preferences for the first player account to place bets on the first player account's wagering game activity.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the player account history preferences include one or more of past win patterns, past loss patterns, past bets placed on another player account's wagering game activity, player type, game type, machine type, time of day, past wins on a specific game, and past losses on a specific game.

16. One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, having instructions stored therein, which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:

receiving a request from a first player account to place a shadow bet on a second player account's wagering game activity;

presenting, to the first player account, a list of one or more player accounts on whose wagering game activity the first player account can place a shadow bet, wherein the list of one or more player accounts includes player criteria for each of the one or more player accounts;

receiving player input from the first player account selecting the second player account from the list of one or more player accounts; and

placing a shadow bet for the first player account on the second player account's wagering game activity.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 16 , wherein the player criteria includes one or more of past win patterns, past loss patterns, player account type, game type, machine type, time of day, past wins on a specific game, and past losses on a specific game.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 16 , the operations further comprising:

determining play history preferences of the first player account, wherein the list of one or more player accounts on whose wagering game activity the first player account can place a shadow bet includes player accounts having player criteria that match the play history preferences of the first player account.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 16 , the shadow bet one or more of is a bet for an amount that is the same as a bet placed by the second player account, is a bet that is for an amount that is different than a bet placed by the second player account, is a bet that is for a wagering game outcome that is the same as a bet placed by the second player account, and is a bet for a wagering game outcome that is different than a bet placed by the second player account.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 16 , the operations further comprising:

determining a result of the second player account's wagering game activity; and

determining a reward for the shadow bet, based at least in part, on the result of the second player account's wagering game activity.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2025
From: LNW GAMING, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071340/0404 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE NUMBERS 7963843, 8016666, 9076281, AND 9257001 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 051642 FRAME: 0910. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 21, 2023
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 063122/0307 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: SG GAMING, INC.
To: LNW GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 062669/0341 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2022
From: SG GAMING INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059793/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 19, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051642/0910 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045909/0513 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044889/0662 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 29, 2015
From: WMS GAMING INC.
To: BALLY GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 036225/0464 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2014
From: ALLEN, JEFFREY L.; ANDERSON, PETER R.; BARNEY, CHRISTOPHER R.; PACEY, LARRY J.; THOMAS, ALFRED
To: WMS GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 032089/0406 →