Tournament Manager for Casino Gaming Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Casino gaming machines face challenges in efficiently managing tournament game modes, requiring time-consuming customization of game code and retrofitting existing games, which hampers the ability to provide fresh content and secure against theft attempts.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a tournament manager system within gaming devices that includes a meter for controlling wager-based games, allowing for conditional updates and approvals to manage game initiation and prevent unauthorized execution, thereby enhancing security and reducing the complexity of updating game modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If customized game code is developed and deployed for tournament play, then tournament functionality is achieved, but development time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal tournament manager system that can be integrated into existing gaming machines without requiring customized game code for each tournament. The tournament manager provides a standardized interface and control mechanism that works across multiple game types and providers, eliminating the need for separate customization efforts for each tournament implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The tournament manager acts as an intermediary layer between the gaming machine's existing game code and the tournament functionality. It intercepts game events, manages tournament-specific logic, and coordinates with remote servers without requiring modifications to the underlying game code, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving tournament adaptability and maintaining code simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing games are retrofitted to support new tournament features, then tournament capabilities are enhanced, but retrofitting time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tournament manager is pre-configured with standardized tournament templates and feature sets that can be activated without retrofitting. New tournament features are implemented by updating the tournament manager's configuration and software, which then automatically integrates with existing games through standardized interfaces, eliminating the need for time-consuming retrofitting of each individual game.
3Reliability
If security measures are implemented to prevent theft attempts, then security is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tournament manager serves as a security intermediary that centralizes authentication and authorization functions. It communicates with remote servers to verify tournament eligibility, validate player credentials, and control game execution based on tournament rules. This centralized approach provides robust security without requiring complex security implementations in each individual gaming machine or game module.
Data Source
AI summary
Various techniques are disclosed for operating a gaming device of a casino gaming network. In at least one embodiment, the gaming device includes a tournament manager and a first meter. In at least one embodiment, the first meter is operable to: receive a first meter update request for changing meter state information and/or meter data associated with the first meter; determine whether at least one condition exists for denying the first meter update request; and/or prevent execution of the first meter update request in response to a determination that at least one condition exists for denying the first meter update request. In at least one embodiment, the gaming device is operable to: receive a request from an entity for initiating start of a first game at the gaming device; obtain approval from the tournament manager for starting the first game at the gaming device; and/or prevent the first game from starting at the gaming device in response to detecting that the tournament manager has not approved start of the first game at the gaming device.