Systems and methods for accessing, manipulating and using funds associated with pari-mutuel wagering

• US 20050227760A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Tote Co. (Churchill Downs Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Tote Co. (Churchill Downs Incorporated)
• Inventors: Harrison, Victor I., Vlazny, Kenneth A., Burgess, Brendan
• Granted Patent: US 7,749,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0866 by active credit-cards adapted therefor G07F7/1008 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods of pari-mutuel wagering are disclosed. One method utilizes a credit instrument associated with an account set up by a patron at a pari-mutuel gaming establishment, such as a horse or dog racing track. The credit instrument may be used to place wagers at a gaming terminal and, additionally, for the purchase of goods and/or services, accessing additional informational displays, or accessing secure special areas at the pari-mutuel gaming establishment. The credit instrument acts a cash substitute wherein the patron'"'"'s account may be automatically updated with all of the patron'"'"'s wins, losses, and purchases via a network system or updated on the credit instrument. In other methods, pari-mutuel wagers are placed with an anonymous account such that an identity of a player is not known to the pari-mutuel gaming establishment.

Claims

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

providing a gaming terminal configured for a player to place a pari-mutuel wager;

providing a player an opportunity to place funds in an anonymous account;

enabling the player to access at least a portion of the funds of the anonymous account for use at the gaming terminal; and

enabling the player to place a pari-mutuel wager at the gaming terminal on a pari-mutuel event using the at least a portion of the funds of the anonymous account.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the player with an opportunity to associate the anonymous account with a credit instrument.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising using the credit instrument to access an informational display at a pari-mutuel gaming establishment.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the player with an opportunity to add additional funds to the anonymous account.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the player accessing the at least a portion of the funds comprises sending a request for allocation of the at least a portion of the funds to a remote computer in communication with the gaming terminal.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the player accessing the at least a portion of the funds further comprises receiving the at least a portion of the funds requested from an authorization sent to the gaming terminal from the remote computer.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising updating the anonymous account with winnings from a result of the pari-mutuel wager.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the credit instrument is selected from the group consisting of a house card, a credit card, a smart card, a debit card, a bank card, a token card of a tote system, an anonymous token card, a pari-mutuel gaming venue issued card, a voucher, an ATM card, a smart card account, a combination house card/credit/debit card, a token/debit card, a stored value card, a pre-owned instrument, a gift card, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, and combinations of any thereof.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting the credit instrument to have a predenominated amount of funds.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the player accessing the at least a portion of the funds comprises placing the credit instrument in the gaming terminal; and

further comprising removing the credit instrument from the gaming terminal prior to placing the pari-mutuel wager.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the player accessing the at least a portion of the funds for use at the gaming terminal further comprises requesting a specific amount of funds as determined by the player.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the credit instrument to be associated with a second monetary account associated with a debit card account or a credit card account;

transferring funds from the second monetary account to the anonymous account; and

using the at least a portion of the funds from the monetary account to place the pari-mutuel wager.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting the pari-mutuel event to be a horse race or a dog race.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising enabling the player to purchase goods or services with a portion of the funds of the anonymous account.

15. A method of conducting a pari-mutuel gaming activity, the method comprising:

providing a gaming terminal associated with a device for reading a credit instrument;

providing a player an opportunity to associate an anonymous account having a monetary value with the credit instrument, wherein the credit instrument is readable by the device for reading the credit instrument; and

providing the player a second opportunity to place a pari-mutuel wager on a pari-mutuel gaming activity using the credit instrument and the gaming terminal.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising providing the player a third opportunity to access at least a portion of the monetary value with the device for reading the credit instrument of the gaming terminal.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising updating the monetary value with winnings from a result of the pari-mutuel wager.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

providing the player a third opportunity to place the credit instrument in the device for reading the credit instrument of the gaming terminal to access the monetary value; and

allowing the player to remove the credit instrument from the device for reading the credit instrument prior to placing the pari-mutuel wager.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

selecting the credit instrument to be associated with the monetary value and with a second monetary account associated with a debit card account or a credit card account; and

enabling the player to transfer a portion of funds from the second monetary account to the monetary value.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising enabling the player to purchase goods or services with the monetary value of the credit instrument.

21. A system for conducting a pari-mutuel gaming activity, comprising:

a gaming terminal associated with a device for reading a credit instrument;

at least one credit instrument associated with a monetary value, wherein the at least one credit instrument is readable by the device for reading the credit instrument;

a network interface apparatus with associated software, wherein the software is operatively configured to enable the gaming terminal to;

enable a player to set up an anonymous account associated with a monetary value; and

enable the player to place a pari-mutuel wager on a pari-mutuel gaming activity using the credit instrument and the gaming terminal.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the pari-mutuel gaming activity is a horse race or a dog race.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the software is further operatively configured to enable the player to purchase goods or services using the monetary value of the credit instrument.

24. A method of conducting a pari-mutuel gaming activity, the method comprising:

enabling a player to associate a credit instrument with an account of a financial institution and with an account of a pari-mutuel gaming system;

enabling the player to transfer funds between the account of the financial institution and the account of the pari-mutuel gaming system; and

subsequent to a transfer of such funds, enabling the player to place a pari-mutuel wager with funds associated with the account of the pari-mutuel gaming system using the credit instrument.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein enabling the player to transfer funds comprises providing an input device operatively connected to the pari-mutuel gaming system, wherein the input device is configured to read the credit instrument.

26. The method according to claim 24, further comprising, responsive to the player making a purchase with the account of the financial institution, adding funds to the account of the pari-mutuel gaming system.

27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising selecting the credit instrument from the group consisting of a house card, a credit card, a smart card, a debit card, a bank card, a token card of a tote system, an anonymous token card, a pari-mutuel gaming venue issued card, a voucher, an ATM card, a smart card account, a combination house card/credit/debit card, a token/debit card, a stored value card, a pre-owned instrument, a gift card, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, and combinations of any thereof.

28. The method according to claim 24, further comprising associating the credit instrument with a marketing program such that, upon participation in the marketing program by the player, funds are credited to the account of the pari-mutuel gaming system.

29. The method according to claim 24, further comprising enabling the player to purchase goods or services with the funds associated with the account of the pari-mutuel gaming system using the credit instrument.

30. A system for conducting a pari-mutuel gaming activity, comprising:

at least one gaming terminal having a credit instrument reader associated therewith;

at least one credit instrument configured for both association with an account of a financial institution and an account of a pari-mutuel gaming system, wherein the at least one credit instrument is readable by the credit instrument reader;

a network interface apparatus with associated software, wherein the software is operatively configured to enable the gaming terminal to;

enable a player to transfer funds between the account of the financial institution and the account of the pari-mutuel gaming system; and

enable the player to place a pari-mutuel wager on a pari-mutuel gaming activity on the gaming terminal with funds from the account of the pari-mutuel gaming system using the at least one credit instrument.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the credit instrument is selected from the group consisting of a house card, a credit card, a smart card, a debit card, a bank card, a token card of a tote system, an anonymous token card, a pari-mutuel gaming venue issued card, a voucher, an ATM card, a smart card account, a combination house card/credit/debit card, a token/debit card, a stored value card, a pre-owned instrument, a gift card, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, and combinations of any thereof.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the software is further configured to associate the credit instrument with a marketing program such that funds may be credited to the account of the pari-mutuel gaming system.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the software is configured to add funds to the account of the pari-mutuel gaming system in response to the player making a purchase with funds of the account of the financial institution.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the software is further configured to enable the player to purchase goods or services with the at least one credit instrument.