Electronic fund transfer for mobile gaming
In one embodiment, a system and method to transfer money may include a mobile device associated with a player, a location server designed to: track a device position of the mobile device and track a vessel position, and a mobile gaming management server designed to: receive a fund transfer request from a gaming server for the mobile device, the fund transfer request including a fund amount; determine if the fund amount can be transferred to the mobile device based on the device position and the vessel position; and transfer the fund amount to the mobile device if it is determined that the fund amount can be transferred to the mobile device.
1. A mobile gaming management device configured to transfer funds for passengers on a vessel, the mobile gaming management device comprising:
at least one memory configured to store at least one passenger gaming account; and
a processor configured to track gaming funds for use by at least one user of a mobile device, the processor configured to:
receive a vessel position and a mobile device position;
receive a fund request including a fund amount;
obtain the fund amount, the fund amount used to play an on-board game of chance on the mobile device;
transfer the fund amount to the mobile device based upon the vessel position and the mobile device position, wherein the mobile device position is a position of the mobile device relative to the vessel, and wherein the vessel position is a global position of the vessel;
separately manage usage of the fund amount in the at least one passenger gaming account, the at least one passenger gaming account associated with the user playing the on-board game of chance;
accumulate any gaming wins from the on-board game of chance in the at least one passenger gaming account associated with the user; and
close the at least one passenger gaming account associated with the user at the conclusion of a vessel route for the vessel.
2. The mobile gaming management device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
deny transfer of the fund amount to the mobile device if the fund amount cannot be transferred to the mobile device based upon the vessel position and the mobile device position.
3. The mobile gaming management device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate with a vessel management device, the vessel management device having a main account including credit or debit account information for the at least one user of the mobile device from which the funds can be obtained.
4. The mobile gaming management device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine when the on-board game of chance is completed; and
determine whether there are any gaming wins from playing the on-board game of chance.
5. A mobile gaming management apparatus configured to provide funds for patrons of bet-based gaming, the mobile gaming management apparatus comprising:
at least one memory configured to store at least one patron gaming account; and
a processor configured to track gaming funds for use by at least one patron of a mobile device, the processor configured to:
receive a fund request including a fund amount;
obtain the fund amount, the fund amount used to play a bet-based game on the mobile device;
render the fund amount available for use by the at least one patron on the mobile device based at least on a vessel position and a device position, wherein the device position is a position of the mobile device relative to the vessel, and wherein the vessel position is a global position of the vessel;
manage usage of the fund amount in the patron gaming account, the patron gaming account associated with the at least one patron playing the bet-based game;
accumulate any gaming wins from the bet-based game in the patron gaming account; and
subsequently close the gaming account for the patron after the bet-based game is no longer available to the patron on the mobile device.
6. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the mobile gaming management apparatus is provided for a vessel, and wherein the at least one patron is a passenger of the vessel.
7. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the vessel travels to a destination, and wherein the processor is configured to close the gaming account for the patron at the conclusion when the vessel is at the destination.
8. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the bet-based game is a game of chance.
9. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the bet-based game is a sports bet.
10. A mobile gaming management apparatus configured to provide funds for patrons of bet-based gaming, the mobile gaming management apparatus comprising:
at least one memory configured to store at least one patron gaming account; and
a processor configured to track gaming funds for use by at least one patron of a mobile device, the processor configured to:
identify a fund amount used for playing a bet-based game on the mobile device;
render the fund amount available for use by the at least one patron on the mobile device based at least on a vehicle position and a device position, wherein the device position is a position of the mobile device relative to the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle position is a position of the vehicle;
manage usage of the fund amount in the patron gaming account, the patron gaming account associated with the at least one patron playing the bet-based game; and
track game play of the at least one patron in the patron gaming account.
11. The mobile gaming management device of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle position is a global position of the vehicle.
12. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the bet-based game is a game of chance.
13. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the bet-based game is a sports bet.
14. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to close the patron gaming account for the at least one patron after the bet- based game is no longer available to the patron on the mobile device.
15. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 10 ,
wherein the vehicle departs from a departure location and travels to a destination location, and
wherein the processor is configured to close the patron gaming account after the vehicle has reached the destination location.
16. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor, in operating to render the fund amount available for use by the at least one patron on the mobile device, is configured to:
obtain at least one vehicle gaming rule from a rules database; and
determine whether the fund amount is available for use by the at least one patron based on at least the at least one vehicle gaming rule.
17. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 10 ,
wherein the bet-based game is a game of chance, and
wherein the processor, in operating to render the fund amount available for use by the at least one patron on the mobile device, is configured to: obtain at least one vehicle gaming rule, and determine whether the fund amount is available for use by the at least one patron based on at least the at least one vehicle gaming rule.
18. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the at least one vehicle gaming rule is a predefined time rule permitting play of the bet-based game.
19. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the at least one vehicle gaming rule includes at least one predefined geographic region.
20. The mobile gaming management apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the at least one vehicle gaming rule includes at least one predetermined gaming region and at least one control parameter associated with the at least one predetermined gaming region.