US6869362B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for providing insurance policies for gambling losses
Assignee: International Game Technology
•
Filing: 2003-02-11
•
Granted: 2005-03-22
•
Expires: 2023-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A method according to some embodiments of the present invention provides for a game server to receive policy requirements of a user for a gambling loss insurance policy from a terminal. The game server determines a premium amount based on the policy requirements of the user and transmits information concerning the premium amount to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay S. Walker
- 👤 James A. Jorasch
- 👤 Stephen C. Tulley
- 👤 Michael D. Downs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:23
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3244; G06; G06Q; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/08; G07F17/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 87
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method comprising: receiving at a gaming machine from a user a user identifier that identifies the user; receiving at the gaming machine from the user policy requirements for a gambling loss insurance policy to provide protection against gambling losses; transmitting the policy requirements from the gaming machine to a game server; receiving at the gaming machine from the game server information concerning a premium amount, in which the premium amount is based on the policy requirements; and displaying at the gaming machine the information concerning the premium amount.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method comprising: receiving at a gaming machine from a user a user identifier that identifies the user; receiving at the gaming machine from the user policy requirements for a gambling loss insurance policy to provide protection against gambling losses; transmitting the policy requirements from the gaming machine to a game server; receiving at the gaming machine from the game server information concerning a premium amount, in which the premium amount is based on the policy requirements; and displaying at the gaming machine the information concerning the premium amount.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving from the user a confirmation to purchase the gambling loss insurance policy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1 , in which receiving the policy requirements comprises: receiving from the user an indication of at least one of: a type of coverage, an amount of coverage, a type of gaming machine, a period of coverage, a coverage start time, a coverage end time, a number of handle pulls, and an amount to be bet by the user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving the premium amount from the user at the gaming machine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a credit card number that is associated with a credit card account, and charging the premium amount to the credit card account.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: executing a game.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising: determining information that is associated with the game.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising displaying information that is associated with the game.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 6 , further comprising: determining a result of the game.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 9 , further comprising: transmitting an indication of the result of the game to the game server.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
54 words
A method comprising: receiving at a game server from a terminal policy requirements of a user for a gambling loss insurance policy to provide protection against gambling losses; determining at the game server a premium amount based on the policy requirements of the user; and transmitting information concerning the premium amount to the user.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
54 words
A method comprising: receiving at a game server from a terminal policy requirements of a user for a gambling loss insurance policy to provide protection against gambling losses; determining at the game server a premium amount based on the policy requirements of the user; and transmitting information concerning the premium amount to the user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 , in which transmitting the information comprises: transmitting the information concerning the premium amount to the terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 11 , in which receiving the policy requirements comprises: receiving from the terminal an indication of at least one of: a type of coverage, an amount of coverage, a type of gaming machine, a period of coverage, a coverage start time, a coverage end time, a number of handle pulls, and an amount to be bet by the user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising: determining a game result.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 , in which determining the game result comprises: receiving an indication of the game result from a gaming machine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising: determining an insurance payout based on the game result.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising: storing an indication of the gambling loss insurance policy in a database.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
41 words
A method comprising: determining at least one policy requirement of a user for a gambling loss insurance policy; determining a premium amount based on the at least one policy requirement; and transmitting an indication of the premium amount to the user.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
41 words
A method comprising: determining at least one policy requirement of a user for a gambling loss insurance policy; determining a premium amount based on the at least one policy requirement; and transmitting an indication of the premium amount to the user.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 18 , in which determining the at least one policy requirement comprises: determining user history data that is associated with the user; and determining the at least one policy requirement based on the user history data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 19 , in which the user history data includes an average bet amount, and in which determining the at least one policy requirement comprises: determining an amount to be bet by the user under the gambling loss insurance policy based on the average bet amount.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 18 , in which determining the at least one policy requirement comprises: determining a first set of policy requirements that is associated with the user; user history data that is associated with the user; and determining the at least one policy requirement based on the user history data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18 , in which the at least one policy requirement includes a plurality of policy requirements established by the user.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: receiving a user identifier.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: transmitting the user identifier to a game server.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 18 , in which determining the at least one policy requirement comprises: receiving the at least one policy requirement at a gaming machine.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 25 , in which the gaming machine is operable as a slot machine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 25 , in which the gaming machine is operable as a poker gaming machine.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 25 , in which the gaming machine is operable as a keno gaming machine.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 25 , in which the gaming machine is operable as a blackjack gaming machine.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 25 , in which the gaming machine is operable as a lottery gaming machine.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 25 , in which the gaming machine is operable as a bingo gaming machine.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 18 , in which determining the at least one policy requirement comprises: receiving the at least one policy requirement at a game server.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 , in which determining the at least one policy requirement comprises: receiving the at least one policy requirement from a user.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: transmitting the at least one policy requirement to a game server.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 , in which determining the premium amount comprises: determining the premium amount based on the policy requirements at a game server.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 , in which determining the premium amount comprises: determining the premium amount based on the policy requirements at a gaming machine.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 , in which transmitting the indication of the premium amount comprises: transmitting an indication of the premium amount to the user.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 18 , in which transmitting the indication of the premium amount comprises: transmitting an indication of the premium amount to a gaming machine.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 18 , in which transmitting the indication of the premium amount comprises: transmitting an indication of the premium amount from a game server.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: receiving an indication of a confirmation by the user to purchase the gambling loss insurance policy.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 18 , in which determining the at least one policy requirement comprises: determining at least one of: a type of coverage, an amount of coverage, a type of gaming machine, a period of coverage, a coverage start time, a coverage end time, a number of handle pulls, and an amount to be bet by the user.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 18 , in which determining the at least one policy requirement comprises: receiving from the user an indication of at least one of: a type of coverage, an amount of coverage, a type of gaming machine, a period of coverage, a coverage start time, a coverage end time, a number of handle pulls, and an amount to be bet by the user.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 18 , in which determining the at least one policy requirement comprises: receiving from a gaming machine an indication of at least one of: a type of coverage, an amount of coverage, a type of gaming machine, a period of coverage, a coverage start time, a coverage end time, a number of handle pulls, and an amount to be bet by the user.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 18 , in which the gambling loss insurance policy contains a period of coverage, and further comprising: determining whether the period of coverage has expired.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 44 , in which the period of coverage is not less than one day.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 44 , in which the period of coverage is not less than one month.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 44 , in which the period of coverage is not less than one year.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 44 , further comprising: updating an expiration status of the gambling loss insurance policy.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: receiving the premium amount from the user at a gaming machine.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: receiving a credit card number that is associated with a credit card account, and charging the premium amount to the credit card account.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: storing a user identifier and corresponding user information in a database; receiving the user identifier; determining whether the database contains the user identifier; and authenticating the identity of the user if the database contains the user identifier.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising: executing a game at a gaming machine.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
57 words
A method comprising: receiving a user identifier that identifies a user; executing a game for the user; determining a game result of the game; determining a gambling loss insurance policy that is associated with the user based on the user identifier; and determining an insurance payout based on the gambling loss insurance policy and the game result.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
57 words
A method comprising: receiving a user identifier that identifies a user; executing a game for the user; determining a game result of the game; determining a gambling loss insurance policy that is associated with the user based on the user identifier; and determining an insurance payout based on the gambling loss insurance policy and the game result.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 53 , further comprising: transmitting the game result to a game server; and transmitting the user identifier to the game server, in which receiving the user identifier comprises: receiving the user identifier at a gaming machine, and in which determining the insurance payout comprises: receiving an indication of the insurance payout from the game server.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 53 , further comprising: storing an indication of the gambling loss insurance policy in a database at a gaming machine.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 53 , further comprising: storing an indication of the gambling loss insurance policy in a database at a game server.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 53 , in which the game result includes an amount of loss incurred by the user during the game.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 57 , further comprising: determining an amount of coverage that is associated with the gambling loss insurance policy; and updating the amount of coverage based on the amount of loss.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 57 , further comprising: determining an amount of coverage that is associated with the gambling loss insurance policy; and in which the determining the insurance payout comprises: determining whether the amount of loss exceeds the amount of coverage.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 53 , further comprising: determining information about a user account that is associated with the user.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 60 , further comprising: updating the information about the user account based on the insurance payout.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 60 , in which the information about the user account includes a credit card number that identifies a credit card account, and further comprising: crediting the insurance payout to the credit card account.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 53 , further comprising: transmitting an indication of the insurance payout to a gaming machine, dispensing currency corresponding to the amount of the insurance payout at the gaming machine.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 53 , in which executing the game comprises: executing the game at a gaming machine.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 64 , in which the gaming machine is operable as a slot machine.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 64 , in which the gaming machine is operable as a video poker machine.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 64 , in which the gaming machine is operable as a video keno machine.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 64 , in which the gaming machine is operable as a video blackjack machine.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 64 , in which the gaming machine is operable as a video lottery machine.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 64 , in which the gaming machine is operable as a bingo machine.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 53 , in which the gambling loss insurance policy was established by the user at a first gaming machine, and in which executing the game comprises: executing the game at a second gaming machine.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 71 , further comprising: transmitting an indication of the insurance payout to the second gaming machine.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 53 , in which the gambling loss insurance policy contains a period of coverage, and further comprising: determining whether the period of coverage has expired.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 73 , in which the period of coverage is not less than one day.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 73 , in which the period of coverage is not less than one month.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 73 , in which the period of coverage is not less than one year.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 73 , further comprising: updating an expiration status of the gambling loss insurance policy.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 77 , in which the insurance payout is zero if the period of coverage has expired.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 77 , further comprising: receiving a player tracking card at a gaming machine; and preventing withdrawal of the player tracking card if the period of coverage has not expired.
Claim 84
Independent Claim
112 words
A method comprising: receiving a player identifier that identifies a player at a gaming machine; receiving information about the gaming machine, the information including an indication of at least one of: a game provided at the gaming machine, a maximum payout amount available at the gaming machine, and a maximum wager amount allowed at the gaming machine; determining a gambling loss insurance policy that is associated with the player, the gambling loss insurance policy being associated with at least one policy requirement; determining a premium amount based on the information about the gaming machine and the at least one policy requirement; and transmitting an indication of the premium amount to the player.
Claim 85
Independent Claim
112 words
A method comprising: receiving a player identifier that identifies a player at a gaming machine; receiving information about the gaming machine, the information including an indication of at least one of: a game provided at the gaming machine, a maximum payout amount available at the gaming machine, and a maximum wager amount allowed at the gaming machine; determining a gambling loss insurance policy that is associated with the player, the gambling loss insurance policy being associated with at least one policy requirement; determining a premium amount based on the information about the gaming machine and the at least one policy requirement; and transmitting an indication of the premium amount to the player.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 80 , in which the gambling loss insurance policy was established by the player at a first gaming machine, and in which receiving the player identifier comprises: receiving the player identifier at a second gaming machine.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 80 , further comprising: updating the at least one policy requirement based on the information about the gaming machine.
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