CPC G07F 17/3237 (2013.01) [G06F 3/048 (2013.01); G06Q 50/34 (2013.01); G07F 17/32 (2013.01); G07F 17/3211 (2013.01); G07F 17/3223 (2013.01); G07F 17/3227 (2013.01); G07F 17/3239 (2013.01); G07F 17/3269 (2013.01); G07F 17/3272 (2013.01); G07F 17/3288 (2013.01); A63F 2003/086 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one sensor for detecting location;
a display for displaying graphical information at the apparatus; and
at least one processor configured to control:
responsive at least in part to an action by a user of the apparatus, requesting, via a communications network, a server to initiate a gaming session, wherein the gaming session enables the user to play one or more of a plurality of game activities;
in connection with initiating the gaming session, obtaining location data from the at least one sensor and communicating the location data to the server via the communications network, wherein the server uses the location data to determine whether the apparatus is located within a predefined area from which gaming is permitted or is located in a predefined area from which gaming is not permitted;
when the server determines that the apparatus is located within the predefined area from which gaming is not permitted, configuring the apparatus such that the game activities are not selectable for play via the apparatus; and
when the server determines that the apparatus is located within the predefined area from which gaming is permitted, configuring the apparatus to present a gaming environment via the display that enables selection from the game activities for play, wherein configuring the apparatus to present the gaming environment includes:
determining whether there is a stored indication of a last one of the game activities accessed by the user during a prior gaming session;
when there is no stored indication, presenting via the display the gaming environment to the user;
when there is a stored indication, modifying the gaming environment to obtain a modified gaming environment indicating the last one of the game activities accessed by the user; and
presenting via the display the modified gaming environment to the user.
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