Abstract:
A system and method for allowing wagers to be made on a game and awarding a payout as a function of an outcome of the game is provided. The game may played by a game server, located at a gaming facility, which is located at a predefined geographic location. A remote device may be provided at a location outside of the predefined geographic location. An agent, in communication with the game server and the remote device, may receive instructions from a patron via the remote device to place a wager on a game and for instructing the server to place the wager in response to receiving the instructions from the patron.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/188,672, filed Jul. 22, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/112,168, filed May 20, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/347,288, filed May 21, 2010, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA) regulates all Indian gaming today and provides the framework for the agreements that tribes and states negotiate to facilitate gaming. Meant to achieve “a principal goal of Federal Indian policy [which] is to promote tribal economic development, tribal self-sufficiency, and strong tribal government,” the IGRA mirrors the Supreme Court&#39;s holding in  California v. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians  in stating that “Indian tribes have the exclusive right to regulate gaming activity on Indian lands if the gaming activity is not specifically prohibited by federal law and is conducted within a State which does not, as a matter of criminal law and public policy, prohibit such gaming activity.” 
         [0003]    The intention of IGRA was to provide the framework for gaming regulation on Indian reservations (or on certain tribal lands that are characterized as something other than a “reservation” such as restricted fee lands owned by tribes in New York or tribal jurisdictional areas in Oklahoma). To that end, Congress established an independent regulatory agency, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), with oversight authority to define and enforce national standards. Part of that standardization involved the classification of gaming operations:
       1. Class I gaming encompasses traditional games used in ceremonial and social settings that are completely outside the scope of any but tribal regulation and control.   2. Class II gaming includes “the game of chance commonly known as bingo . . . including (if played in the same location) pull-tabs, lotto, punch boards, tip jars, instant bingo, and other games similar to bingo.” Importantly, such games may still be defined as Class II even if they are played using a computer, an electronic device, or other technologic aid. Also included in Class II are card games “not explicitly prohibited” by the State, provided they are otherwise in conformity with all other State laws and regulations. Excluded from Class II are “banking card games” (e.g. baccarat, blackjack) and “electronic facsimiles of any game of chance or slot machines of any kind.”   3. Class III gaming consists of all gaming that is not class I or II. This class includes so-called ‘Vegas-style’ games, such as house-banked card games, roulette, slot machines, and the like.       
 
         [0007]    Class III gaming operations also must be “conducted in conformance with a Tribal-State compact.” 
         [0008]    The laws of agency play a crucial role in discussion of remote gaming. NIGC General Counsel Kevin Washburn summarized the applicability of agency law to tribal gaming interests in a 2000 NIGC opinion. Mr. Washburn summarized the applicability of the law of agency under the IGRA when he stated “IGRA contains no statutory prohibition on the use of agents to play the game of bingo. The bingo definition contained in IGRA requires only that the “holder of the card” cover the numbers. 25 U.S.C. §2703(7)(A)(i)(II). The “holder” is not defined. The holder in [this instance] is either the player or the player&#39;s designated agent. Although the bingo definition in the NIGC regulations replaces the word “holder” with the word “player,” this is a distinction without a difference when the law of agency is applied to the analysis. It is a fundamental tenet of the law of agency that the acts of the agent are deemed to be the acts of the principal. See 3 Am. Jur. 2D Agency §2 (1986); See also  Lubbock Feed Lots, Inc. v. Iowa Beef Processors, Inc ., 630 F2d 250, 272 (5th Cir. 1980);  U.S. v. Sylvanus , 192 F.2d 96, 108 (7th Cir. 1951); and  Lux Art Van Service, Inc. v. Pollard , 344 F.2d 883, 887 (9th Cir. 1965). When the agent plays [the bingo game] for the player, the act of playing the card is deemed to be the act of the player/principal. The legal effect is that the agent is the player. Therefore, the use of agents violates neither IGRA&#39;s provision regarding the holder nor NIGC&#39;s regulations that discuss the player.” 
         [0009]    The present invention is aimed at one or more of the problems set forth above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    In a first aspect of the present invention, an agent computer system (which may include one or more servers, processors, memory devices, etc.) is installed on tribal land within the state of operation which will act as an agent on behalf of each individual patron/principal who wishes to engage in Class II gaming without being physically present on the tribal land; 
         [0011]    In a second aspect of the present invention, a gaming computer system may be installed on tribal land for providing Class II gaming which is accessible to the agent and allows the agent to play on behalf of the patron/principal; 
         [0012]    In a third aspect of the present invention, a financial institution or bank on tribal land in which the patron/principal will maintain an account accessible to the agent playing on behalf of the patron/principal, is provided. The agent may have access to withdraw money to place a wager in a game on the tribal land and deposit money to the patron/principal account all at the direction of the patron/principal; and 
         [0013]    In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a communication system on the tribal land which is capable of forming a communication link between the agent and gaming computer systems and a patron/principal&#39;s mobile or smartphone to enable an intrastate patron/principal (i.e., within Oklahoma) to receive or otherwise have access to a Class II game, and provide directions to an agent to facilitate play of the game on the patron/principal&#39;s behalf. 
         [0014]    In a fifth aspect of the present invention, a remote gaming system leveraging off of a specific opinion from the National Indian Gaming Commission called National Indian Bingo. The system will provide off reservation participation in an on reservation gaming environment. The class II server is located within reservation boundaries. The Class II server will provide server-based gaming and so the patron/principal will basically be playing bingo via the agent. 
         [0015]    In a sixth aspect of the invention, the game machines that the patron/principal interacts with are essentially dumb terminals and contain no game logic. The game logic is located on one or more game servers. Generally, the game machines present to the player a simulated game screen. In one embodiment, the game machines may be embodied in off the shelf-devices, such as personal computers, laptops, netbooks, mobile phones, PDA&#39;s, tablet or convertible computers, e.g., the iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPAD available from Apple as well as Android-based mobile phones and Blackberry phones. 
         [0016]    In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the patron does not actually play the game. The patron engages an agent to play the game on their behalf. And they&#39;re not playing a slot machine. They&#39;re playing bingo. So the agent will be authorized to buy a bingo card, play the bingo card, deposit unused bingo cards in a virtual safe deposit box at the Tribal Financial Institution. The agent can either be an electronic agent, i.e., software, or a real person. In essence, the patron/principal instructs the agent to press the buttons to perform the desired actions, i.e. play the Class II game. 
         [0017]    In an eighth aspect of the present invention, a system or method for allowing wagers to be made on a game and awarding a payout as a function of an outcome of the game may be provided. The game may played by a game server, located at a gaming facility, which is located at a predefined geographic location. A remote device may be provided at a location outside of the predefined geographic location. An agent, in communication with the game server and the remote device, may receive instructions from a patron/principal via the remote device to place a wager on a game and for instructing the server to place the wager in response to receiving the instructions from the patron/principal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system which allows for off-site online gaming through an agent, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    With reference to the drawings, and in operation, a gaming system  10 , which may be played or used by a patron/principal  400  is provided. In one aspect, the gaming system  10  allows the patron/principal  400  to remotely direct an agent  201  to place a wager on a game  101 . The gaming system  10  plays the game and may award the patron  400  a payout based on the result of the game  101 . 
         [0021]    The gaming system  10  has three primary elements: a gaming server  100 , and agent server  200 , and a remote device  300  used by the patron/principal  400  to interact with the agent server  200 . 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the gaming server  100  will host the game  101 . In the illustrated embodiment, the game  101  is a Class II game based on the game of bingo. 
         [0023]    The actual player of the game will be the agent  201 . In the illustrated embodiment, the agent  201  is a software agent hosted on the agent server  200 . However, it should be noted that the agent/player  201  can be either a software agent or a human. 
         [0024]    The patron  400  will act as principal and will direct the agent/player  201  to play the class II game  101 , the agent/player  201  will play the game  101  on behalf of the patron/principal  400 , and then the agent/player  201  will report back to the patron/principal  400  the results of the game  101 . 
         [0025]    Each instantiation of a gaming operation will be on an intrastate basis only. For example, in each implementation, the gaming server  100 , agent server  200 , and the remote devices  300  (and thus, the patron(s)  400 ) are in the same state. 
         [0026]    It should also be noted that the system  10  may include multiple gaming servers  100  and/or agent servers  200  in each instantiation. 
         [0027]    There may also be multiple agent/players  201  per agent server  200 . There may be multiple instantiations in multiple states, and the gaming servers  100  may be linked, but all gameplay will be on an intrastate basis only. 
         [0028]    Technological safeguards may be in place to ensure that no activity happens across state borders. 
         [0029]    In one aspect of the present invention, the gaming infrastructure (hardware and software) will be located within each state within the boundary of tribal lands  900  eligible for tribal gaming in an appropriately secure facility. 
         [0030]    In operation, the patron/principal  400  will direct the placement of bets via the remote device  300 . 
         [0031]    In one aspect of the present invention, the remote device  300  could be any of a desktop, laptop, kiosk, mobile phone, or some other remote device. 
         [0032]    It should be noted, that the patron/principal  400  will not bet directly via the device  300 . Communication between the patron/principal  400  and the agent  201  and the agent server  200  will never be across state lines, as all communication will be on an intrastate basis only. 
         [0033]    Each gaming operation may feature a wide variety of games  101  hosted on the gaming server  100  such as instant “scratchies,” slot games, table games and/or other common forms of gambling activities. 
         [0034]    In one aspect of the present invention, the games  101 , despite their appearance, will conform to Class II requirements. Representations of those games may also appear on the remote devices  300  as a means of communicating with the agent  201  and agent server  200 , but all logic and gameplay will remain on the gaming server  100 . 
         [0035]    Another aspect of the system may involve the use of an On-Reservation Financial Institution (“ORFI”)  500 . If allowed by law, the Financial Institution may also be off reservation. 
         [0036]    Each patron/principal  400  may maintain an account  501  at the ORFI  500  and will deposit and withdraw funds from that account  501  from time to time. 
         [0037]    Funds may be maintained in the form of cash or some sort of cash equivalent, including bingo cards. Each ORFI  500  will be able to handle multiple accounts  501  for multiple patron/principals  400 . 
         [0038]    The patron/principal  400  will direct the agent/player  201  to play a game on behalf of the patron/principal  400  using the remote device  300 . The agent  201  will access the funds in the account  501  belonging to the patron/principal  400  and direct those funds to the gaming server  100  in order to play a game  101 . The results of the game  101  and any winnings will be transferred from the gaming server to the agent/player  201  at the agent server  200 . The agent/player  201  will then either temporarily hold any winnings for subsequent play on behalf of the patron/principal  400  or transfer the winnings back to the account  501 . 
         [0039]    In an alternative embodiment, the funds to be transferred directly between the gaming server  100  and the account  501  under the direction of the agent/player  201 , as represented by the dashed line in  FIG. 1 . The agent/player  201  will send an indication of the result of the game  101  to the remote device  300 , either directly or via the agent server  200 . 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0040]    With respect to  FIG. 1 , and in operation, the system  10  will be a variant of an on-reservation Class II operation. The operator, i.e., the tribe, sets up a server or servers  100  to perform or play Class II and possibly Class III games  101 . The system  10  includes a number (X) of machines  300 . The machines  300  are remote terminals connected to an agent  201 , which interacts with the server  100  for the server based Class II and/or Class III games  101 . Winnings can be paid in bingo tickets, credits, cash, things of monetary value which can later be cashed in. 
         [0041]    An on-site or on-reservation financial institution  500 , e.g. (ORFI), analogous to a local community bank is established. A patron  400  may open an account at the ORFI/bank  500 , deposit money in the ORFI/bank  500  and direct the agent  201  to withdraw money from ORFI/bank  500  to then purchase bingo tickets. Alternatively, the patron  400  may purchase the bingo tickets and give the tickets to the agent  201 . 
         [0042]    A third possibility is to purchase the tickets, credits, cash, things of monetary value and place them in an actual and/or virtual safe deposit box, i.e., account  501 , at the ORFI/bank  500 . At the direction of the patron  400 , the agent  201  can then withdraw the bingo tickets, credits, cash, things of monetary value play them, and deposit unused bingo tickets and/or winnings back into the actual and/or virtual safe deposit box  501 . 
         [0043]    The patron  400 , using a remote terminal  300 , interacts with the agent  201  who then plays the bingo-based Class II games on the patron&#39;s behalf. 
         [0044]    Winnings may be paid rather than in bingo tickets, which would be deposited into the ORFI/bank  500 . 
         [0045]    In one aspect, winnings may be paid in (more) bingo cards. The (unused) bingo cards, which have value, may be deposited. 
         [0046]    For example, each bingo card might be worth a dollar. The patron  400  instructs the agent  201  to purchase ten bingo cards. The agent  201  buys the bingo cards on behalf of the patron  400 . Each patron  400  has a virtual safe deposit box, i.e., their account  501 , where they can store their unused bingo cards. The patron  400  may instruct the agent  201  to play their bingo card. 
         [0047]    If the patron  400  wins  10  bingo cards, the patron way instruct the agent  201  to put them in my virtual safe deposit box. When the patron  400  wants to play again, the patron  400  instructs the agent  201  to obtain a number of bingo cards from their account  501  and play them. 
         [0048]    Once the agent  201  plays the bingo cards on behalf of the patron  400 , the agent  201  informs the patron  400  how much the patron  400  won or lost. The agent  201  at a minimum is playing the game  101  and interacting with the safe deposit box  501 . The agent logic or software may be located at the terminal  300 , i.e., game machine, or on the game server  100 , or on some other server or computer  200 . However, the agent  400  will always be on the reservation. 
         [0049]    The agent  400  may be paid a fee. In one embodiment of the present invention, the agent&#39;s fee is taken out of the hold percentage or fee, e.g., 1% of the hold. 
         [0050]    In one embodiment the agent is an employee of the casino or tribe. The agent may alternatively be a third party or an employee of a third party. Alternatively, the agent may be a computer software agent which may reside or operate on a computer owned by the casino or tribe or a third party. 
         [0051]    The patron may sell their bingo cards. There&#39;s a market for bingo tickets on the reservation. The server operator will buy and sell bingo tickets. 
         [0052]    There may a transaction cost to the patron for selling their bingo cards.