Method, apparatus and article for hierarchical wagering

• US 20020198052A1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital Table Systems LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: MindPlay LLC (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Soltys, Richard, Huizinga, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 6,991,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Abstract

A primary wager is placed by a primary player regarding an outcome of a gaming event, and a secondary wager is placed by a secondary player regarding an outcome of the primary wager. Tertiary wagers may also be placed regarding an outcome of the secondary wager. The outcome of the gaming event is determined. The outcome of the primary wager is determined based on the determined outcome of the gaming event. The outcome of the secondary wager is determined based on the determined outcome of the primary wager. The outcome of the tertiary wager is determined based on the outcome of the secondary wager. Winnings and losses are paid and collected, respectively. Wagering can be local or remote. Statistics and/or odds can be generated and displayed.

Claims

1. A method of wagering, comprising:

receiving a primary wager from a primary player regarding an outcome of a gaming event; and

receiving a secondary wager from a secondary player regarding an outcome of the primary wager of the primary player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event; and

determining the outcome of the secondary wager based on the determined outcome of the primary wager.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event;

paying winnings to the primary player if the outcome of the primary wager is successful; and

collecting the wager from the primary player if the outcome of the primary wager is unsuccessful.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event;

paying winnings to the primary player if the outcome of the primary wager is successful;

collecting the wager from the primary player if the outcome of the primary wager is unsuccessful.

determining the outcome of the secondary wager based on the determined outcome of the primary wager;

paying winnings to the secondary player if the outcome of the secondary wager is successful; and

collecting the wager from the secondary player if the outcome of the secondary wager is unsuccessful.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining statistics for the primary player based the success of primary wagers placed by the primary player; and

displaying the determined statistics for the primary player to at least the second player.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining odds for the secondary wager based at least in part on the success of a number of previous primary wagers placed by the primary player; and

displaying the determined odds to at least the secondary player.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining odds for the secondary wager based at least in part on the success of a number of previous primary wagers placed by the primary player; and

determining an amount to pay the secondary player if the secondary wager is successful based on the determined odds for the secondary wager.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a tertiary wager from a tertiary player regarding an outcome of the secondary wager of the secondary player.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a primary wager from a primary player regarding an outcome of a gaming event includes receiving at least one wagering piece from the primary wager at a gaming event site at which an occurrence of the gaming event takes place.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a primary wager from a primary player regarding an outcome of a gaming event includes receiving at least one wagering piece from the primary wager at a remote site, the remote site being remote with respect to a gaming event site at which an occurrence of the gaming event takes place.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a primary wager from a primary player regarding an outcome of a gaming event, includes, receiving at least one wagering piece at a gaming table.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a primary wager from a primary player regarding an outcome of a gaming event, includes, receiving at least one of cash and a wagering piece at a gaming machine.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a secondary wager from a secondary player regarding an outcome of the primary wager of the primary player, includes receiving a communication from a remote site, the remote site being remote with respect to a site of an occurrence of the gaming event.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a secondary wager from a secondary player regarding an outcome of the primary wager of the primary player, includes receiving at least one wagering piece from the secondary wager at a gaming event site at which an occurrence of the gaming event takes place.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving primary wager information regarding a primary wager placed by a primary player regarding an outcome of a gaming event, includes automatically detecting at least one wagering piece placed on a gaming table by the primary player before an occurrence of the gaming event.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving primary wager information regarding a primary wager placed by a primary player regarding an outcome of a gaming event, includes automatically imaging at least one wagering piece placed on a gaming table by the primary player before an occurrence of the gaming event.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving primary wager information regarding a primary wager placed by a primary player regarding an outcome of a gaming event, includes automatically detecting at least one wagering piece placed received by a gaming machine before an occurrence of the gaming event.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving secondary wager information regarding a secondary wager placed by a secondary player regarding an outcome of the primary wager of the primary player, includes automatically detecting at least one wagering piece placed on a gaming table by the secondary player before an occurrence of the gaming event.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving secondary wager information regarding a secondary wager placed by a secondary player regarding an outcome of the primary wager of the primary player, includes receiving a communications signal from an electronically operated communications device operated by the secondary player before an occurrence of the gaming event.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event; and

determining the outcome of the secondary wager based on the determined outcome of the primary wager.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event;

paying winnings to the primary player if the outcome of the primary wager is successful; and

collecting the wager from the primary player if the outcome of the primary wager is unsuccessful.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event;

paying additional wagering pieces to the primary player if the outcome of the primary wager is successful; and

collecting the at least one wagering piece from the primary player if the outcome of the primary wager is unsuccessful.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event;

crediting winnings to a player account corresponding to the primary player if the outcome of the primary wager is successful; and

debiting the player account in an amount of the wager if the outcome of the primary wager is unsuccessful.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the secondary wager based on the determined outcome of the primary wager;

paying winnings to the secondary player if the outcome of the secondary wager is successful; and

collecting the wager from the secondary player if the outcome of the secondary wager is unsuccessful.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the secondary wager based on the determined outcome of the primary wager;

paying additional wagering pieces to the secondary player if the outcome of the secondary wager is successful; and

collecting the wagering piece from the secondary player if the outcome of the secondary wager is unsuccessful.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the secondary wager based on the determined outcome of the primary wager;

crediting winnings to a player account corresponding to the secondary player if the outcome of the secondary wager is successful; and

debiting the player account in an amount of the wager if the outcome of the secondary wager is unsuccessful.

29. The computer-readable media of claim 28 wherein the instructions further cause the computer to permit multiple levels of wagering, by:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event; and

determining the outcome of the secondary wager based on the determined outcome of the primary wager.

30. The computer-readable media of claim 28 wherein the instructions further cause the computer to permit multiple levels of wagering, by:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event;

crediting winnings to a player account corresponding to the primary player if the outcome of the primary wager is successful; and

debiting the player account in an amount of the wager if the outcome of the primary wager is unsuccessful.

etermining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event;

crediting winnings to a player account corresponding to the primary player if the outcome of the primary wager is successful; and

debiting the player account in an amount of the wager if the outcome of the primary wager is unsuccessful.

31. The computer-readable media of claim 28 wherein the instructions further cause the computer to permit multiple levels of wagering, by:

determining the outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event;

determining the outcome of the secondary wager based on the determined outcome of the primary wager;

crediting winnings to a player account corresponding to the secondary player if the outcome of the secondary wager is successful; and

debiting the player account in an amount of the wager if the outcome of the secondary wager is unsuccessful.

15. A method of operating a wagering system, comprising:

receiving primary wager information regarding a primary wager placed by a primary player regarding an outcome of a gaming event; and

receiving secondary wager information regarding a secondary wager placed by a secondary player regarding an outcome of the primary wager of the primary player.

28. A computer-readable media having instructions for causing a computer in a wagering system permit multiple levels of wagering, by:

receiving primary wager information regarding a primary wager placed by a primary player regarding an outcome of a gaming event; and

receiving secondary wager information regarding a secondary wager placed by a secondary player regarding an outcome of the primary wager of the primary player.

32. A wagering system, comprising:

a secondary wager input device to produce secondary wager information regarding a secondary wager placed on the outcome of a primary wager; and

a processor coupled to receive the secondary wager information and programmed to determine the outcome of the secondary wager based on an outcome of the primary wager.

33. The wagering system of claim 32 wherein the secondary wager input device comprises a handheld communications device.

34. The wagering system of claim 32 wherein the secondary wager input device comprises an imager positioned to image at least one wagering piece on a gaming table.

36. The wagering system of claim 35 wherein the primary wager input device comprises an imager positioned to image at least one wagering piece on a gaming table.

38. The wagering system of claim 37, further comprising:

a deck reader positioned to read at least one identifier from each of a plurality of playing cards.

35. A wagering system, comprising:

a primary wager input device to produce primary wager information regarding a primary wager placed on the outcome of a gaming event;

a secondary wager input device to produce secondary wager information regarding a secondary wager placed on the outcome of the primary wager; and

a processor coupled to receive the primary and the secondary wager information and programmed to determine the outcome of the primary wager based on the outcome of the gaming event and the outcome of the secondary wager based on the determined outcome of the primary wager.

37. A wagering system, comprising:

a table imager positioned to image at least one wager and at least one gaming event to produce wager information and gaming event information; and

a processor coupled to receive the wager information and the gaming event information from the table imager and programmed to determine the outcome of the gaming event based on the gaming event information, to determine the outcome of a primary wager based on the determined outcome of the gaming event and the wager information; and

to determine the outcome of a secondary wager based on the determined outcome of the primary wager and the wager information.