Pari-mutuel sports wagering system

• US 20030199315A1
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Downes P.E., David W.
• Original Assignee: Downes P.E., David W.
• Inventors: Downes P.E., David W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,910,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/28
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

This invention relates to sports and event wagering, particularly to a new sport and event wagering game and system. This game and supporting system allows pari-mutuel wagering with respect to new areas other than horse or dog racing, which will expand the sports wagering industry to encompass new areas of interest and enjoyment to bettors. Specifically, pari-mutuel wagering is enabled with respect to the performance statistics of individual sport or event participants, combinations of sport participants, combinations of event participants, and sport teams. This wagering game is supported by an electronic system, which allows interaction with the game via various communications methods, remotely or in-person, which can allow or restrict wagering activity based upon bettor location.

Claims

1. A pari-mutuel wagering method comprising the steps of:

offering a plurality of wagering options relating to a human sporting event to a plurality of bettors;

taking wagers from the bettors to create a pool of wagers on the human sporting event;

allocating a portion of the pool of wagers as commission to an operator;

allocating the remainder of the pool of wagers as a common pari-mutuel fund for paying winning wagers;

determining whether each wager is a winning wager; and

paying each bettor an amount from the common pari-mutuel fund for each winning wager respectively made by the bettor.

2. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wagering options includes wagering on individual performance statistics of sports players participating in the human sporting event.

3. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wagering options includes wagering on performance statistics of groups of sports players participating in the human sporting event.

4. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wagering options includes wagering on performance statistics of sports teams participating in the human sporting event.

5. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is football.

6. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is baseball.

7. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is basketball.

8. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is hockey.

9. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is golf.

10. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is tennis.

11. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is soccer.

12. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is auto racing.

13. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is rugby.

14. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is cricket players.

15. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is jai-alai.

16. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is hurling.

17. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the human sporting event is lacrosse.

18. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the step of taking wagers from the bettors is performed over the internet.

19. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the step of taking wagers from the bettors is performed over the telephone.

20. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1, wherein the operator is a casino sportsbook.

21. A pari-mutuel wagering method comprising the steps of:

offering a plurality of wagering options to bettors relating to performance statistics for participants in a human contest;

taking wagers from the bettors to create a pool of wagers on the human contest;

allocating a portion of the pool of wagers as commission to an operator;

allocating the remainder of the pool of wagers as a common pari-mutuel fund for paying winning wagers;

determining whether each wager is a winning wager; and

paying each bettor an amount from the common pari-mutuel fund for each winning wager respectively made by the bettor.

22. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 21 wherein the human contest is a political election.

23. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 21 wherein the human contest is a beauty pageant.

24. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 21 wherein the wagers relate to performance statistics of groups of participants.

25. A system for pari-mutuel sports wagering comprising:

at least one processing element which is adapted to receive wagers on human sporting events, to calculate odds relating to the wagers based on a pari-mutuel wagering strategy, to determine whether the received wagers are winning wagers, and to determine a payout amount for the winning wagers based on the pari-mutuel wagering strategy;

a plurality of linking elements which are communicatively coupled to the at least one processing element and which are adapted to allow for communication with the at least one processing element; and

a plurality of input elements which are communicatively coupled to the plurality of linking elements and which allow bettors to communicate with the at least one processing element in order to place wagers.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the wagers relate to individual performance statistics of sports players participating in a human sporting event.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the wagers relate to performance statistics of groups of sports players participating in a human sporting event.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the wagers relate to performance statistics of sports teams participating in a human sporting event.

29. The system of claim 25 wherein the input elements comprise elements selected from the group consisting of wireless phones, pagers, computers, voice-over-IP phones, and landline phones.

30. The system of claim 25 wherein the linking elements comprise elements selected from the group consisting of wireless networking elements, wired networking elements, gateway elements, and portals.

31. The system of claim 25 wherein said at least one processing element comprises a host server.