Method and apparatus for conducting event betting

• US 20060172803A1
• Filed: 01/09/2006
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Inventors: Herrmann, Mark E., Kane, Steven N., Sabet, Bijan, Hardy, Dow, LaRocca, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,465,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

The field of the invention relates generally to sports and event betting, and more specifically to the use of the Internet in land-based casino sports and event betting. A bettor signs onto an Internet website to find what bets are being accepted and the bettor then places and registers a bet. The player then goes and places pays for the bet at a land-based casino prior to the start of the event. Further, follow-up rounds of making a wager may then be performed over a network such as, for example, the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for conducting event betting comprising acts of:

registering one or more bets by a bettor off-site from a casino; and

accepting a payment made by the bettor for the one or more registered bets at a land-based casino.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of registering includes an act of registering the one or more bets using interactive television.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of registering includes an act of registering the one or more bets using at least one of the Internet and a website.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of permitting the bettor to view at least one of the one or more registered bets.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of providing, to the bettor, a registration number for the one or more registered bets.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the act of providing is performed by a website operator.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of permitting the bettor to pay for the one or more bets within the casino using at least one of a cashier, a kiosk, and a wireless interface.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising acts of accepting, by the casino, a registration number from the bettor and confirming the registration number for the one or more bets.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bettor is permitted to pay for the one or more registered bets with at least one of money and loyalty points.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the bettor is permitted to pay for the one or more registered bets by at least one of cash, a debit card, a credit card, an account credit, and a loyalty program credit.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining a payout for at least one of the one or more registered bets.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the payout for winning may include at least one of money, a credit, merchandise, and loyalty points.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the determined payout includes money, and the method further comprises an act of paying out money including providing at least one of cash, a check, a debit card, and an account credit.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the determined payout includes loyalty points, and the method further comprises an act of paying out loyalty points including providing at least one of a loyalty program credit and an account credit.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a website operator and a computer system automatically determines if the one or more registered bets is a winning bet.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the website operator and computer system automatically notifies the bettor of the winning bet.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the bettor is automatically notified of a win in an electronic manner, including by an e-mail message, by the Internet, by a telephone, and by a text message.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein odds for the one or more bets are set when the one or more bets are registered.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein odds for the one or more bets are set when the one or more bets are paid for.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein odds for the one or more bets change as the event approaches.

21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of requiring the bettor to return to the land-based casino to receive winnings.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the event is a sports event.