System and method for wireless gaming with location determination

An apparatus comprising:

• a computing device;
• and
• a non-transitory medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that when executed by the computing device, causes the apparatus to:
• for each of a plurality of locations covered by a communications network, calculate a respective set of signal characteristics that describe signals between a calibration device at the location and a set of signal detection devices of the communication network;
• determine a first location of a mobile device by comparing the calculated sets of signal characteristics with a first set of signal characteristics measured between the signal detection devices and the mobile device;
• based on the first location, enable a set of wagering activities through the mobile device that are allowed at the first location if any are allowed at the first location;
• calculate a cumulative amount of time that a user of the mobile device engages in a wagering activity from a plurality of locations;
• and
• prevent the cumulative amount of time from exceeding a threshold amount of time.

A method comprising:

• before using a communication device to play games through a wireless communication network, associating, by a computing device, each of a plurality of sets of signal characteristics with a respective location, each set of signal characteristics including a respective plurality of signal characteristics and each signal characteristic of a respective plurality of signal characteristics corresponding to a signal between a device and a wireless network device;
• determining a location of the communication device by comparing, by the computing device, a set of signal characteristics involving the communication device and a plurality of wireless network devices to the prior associated sets of signal characteristics;
• wherein a gaming functionality of the communication device is enabled based upon the determined location;
• and
• disabling the wagering functionality in response to a period of non-use of the communication device.

A method comprising:

• before using a communication device to play games through a wireless communication network, associating, by a computing device, each of a plurality of sets of signal characteristics with a respective location, each set of signal characteristics including a respective plurality of signal characteristics and each signal characteristic of a respective plurality of signal characteristics corresponding to a signal between a device and a wireless network device;
• determining a location of the communication device by comparing, by the computing device, a set of signal characteristics involving the communication device and a plurality of wireless network devices to the prior associated sets of signal characteristics;
• wherein a gaming functionality of the communication device is enabled based upon the determined location;
• determining that the communication device is in another location where gaming functionality is not permitted;
• and allowing gaming functionality in the other location for up to a maximum amount of time;
• and
• suggesting a course adjustment to a user of the communication device in response to determining that the communication device has moved from the location.