Pari-mutuel wagering system

• US 20070087825A1
• Filed: 02/12/2003
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kim Hart, Laurel Hart
• Original Assignee: Kim Hart, Laurel Hart
• Inventors: Hart, Laurel, Hart, Kim
• Application Number:
  US10/545,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087825A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/28
• 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

A pari-mutuel system, and more particularly, a pari-mutuel system relating to a real time virtual horse racing game wherein the outcome of such race is determined by a random number generator such that each competitor of the race has a statistically equal chance of winning. Players make wagers on a specific wager type wherein each wager type is associated with a pool. A predetermined portion of all wagers made is retained by the house and another predetermined portion of wagers made for specific wager types is redistributed into a pool wherein the odds of winning such pool are lowest in comparison to the other pools.

Claims

1. A pari-mutuel system comprising:

(a) a virtual race wherein each competitor in said virtual race is associated with an indicia;

(b) a first and second group of players, each of said players in said first and second groups selecting a wager type comprising;

(i) selecting at least one of said indicia; and

(ii) selecting a position of finish of said competitor associated with said selected indicia; and

making a wager on said wager type;

(c) a first pool associated with a first wager type comprising a portion of said wagers made on said first wager type wherein each of said players in said first and second group contribute equal predetermined portions of said wagers to said first pool;

(d) a second pool associated with a second wager type comprising a portion of said wagers made on said second wager type wherein each of said players in said first group contribute a greater predetermined portion of said wagers to said second pool than each of said players in said second group and wherein the odds of winning said second pool are less than said first pool;

(e) wherein an order of indicia is determined based on an order of finish of said competitors of said virtual race wherein said order of finish is determined by a random number generator such that each of said competitors has an equal chance of winning said virtual race;

(f) wherein a share of said first pool proportionate to said wagers made on said first wager type is distributed to each of said players in said first and second group if said selected position of finish by said player in said first or second group is the same as said order of indicia; and

(g) wherein a share of said second pool proportionate to said wagers made on said second wager type is distributed to each of said players in said first and second group if said selected position of finish by said players in said first or second group is the same as said order of indicia.

2. The pari-mutuel system of claim 1 wherein said first pool carries over to a following race if none of said players in said first or second group wins said share of said first pool.

3. The pari-mutuel system of claim 2 wherein and second pool carries over to a following race if none of said players in said first or second group wins said share of said second pool.

4. The pari-mutuel system of claim 3 wherein said players in said first group use an off-track wagering means and said players in said second group use an on-track wagering means.

5. The pari-mutuel system of claim 4 wherein at least one of said players in said first or second group make said wager on said first wager type wherein said first wager type is a Pick 1 wager type.

6. The pari-mutuel system of claim 5 wherein at least one of said players in said first or second group make said wager on said second wager type wherein said second wager type is a Pick 6 wager type.

7. The pari-mutuel system of claim 6 wherein each of said players in said first group may make an additional wager on every possible combinations of said positions of finish for each indicia selected for said Pick 6 wager type.

8. The pari-mutuel system of claim 6 wherein at least one of said players in said first group:

(a) make said wager on a Pick 2 wager type;

(b) wherein a pool associated with said Pick 2 wager type comprises a portion of said wagers made on said Pick 2 wager type wherein each of said players in said first group contribute a predetermined portion of said wagers to said second pool; and

(c) win a share of said pool associated with said Pick 2 wager type proportionate to said wager made on said Pick 2 wager type if said selected positions of finish for said Pick 2 wager type is the same as said order of indicia.

9. The pari-mutuel system of claim 8 wherein each of said players in said first group may make an additional wager on every possible combinations of said positions of finish for each indicia selected for said Pick 2 wager type.

10. The pari-mutuel system of claim 8 wherein said pool associated with said Pick 2 wager type carries over to a following race if none of said players in said first group wins said share of said pool associated with said Pick 2 wager type.

11. The pari-mutuel system of claim 10 wherein at least one of said players in said first group:

(a), make said wager on a Pick 3 wager type;

(b) wherein a pool associated with said Pick 3 wager type comprises a portion of said wagers made on said Pick 3 wager type wherein each of said players in said first group contribute a predetermined portion of said wagers to said second pool; and

(c) win a share of said pool associated with said Pick 3 wager type proportionate to said wager made on said Pick 3 wager type if said selected positions of finish for said Pick 3 wager type is the same as said order of indicia.

12. The pari-mutuel system of claim 11 wherein each of said players in said first group may make an additional wager on every possible combinations of said positions of finish for each indicia selected for said Pick 3 wager type.

13. The pari-mutuel system of claim 11 wherein said pool associated with said Pick 3 wager type carries over to a following race if none of said players in said first group wins said share of said pool associated with said Pick 3 wager type.

14. The pari-mutuel system of claim 13 wherein at least one of said players in said first group:

(a) make said wager on a Pick 4 wager type;

(b) wherein a pool associated with said Pick 4 wager type comprises a portion of said wagers made on said Pick 4 wager type wherein each of said players in said first group contribute a predetermined portion of said wagers to said second pool; and

(c) win a share of said pool associated with said Pick 4 wager type proportionate to said wager made on said Pick 4 wager type if said selected positions of finish for said Pick 4 wager type is the same as said order of indicia.

15. The pari-mutuel system of claim 14 wherein each of said players in said first group may make an additional wager on every possible combinations of said positions of finish for each indicia selected for said Pick 4 wager type.

16. The pari-mutuel system of claim 14 wherein said pool associated with said Pick 4 wager type carries over to a following race if none of said players in said first group wins said share of said pool associated with said Pick 4 wager type.

17. The pari-mutuel system of claim 16 wherein at least one of said players in said first group:

(a) make said wager on a Pick 5 wager type;

(b) wherein a pool associated with said Pick 5 wager type comprises a portion of said wagers made on said Pick 5 wager type wherein each of said players in said first group contribute a predetermined portion of said wagers to said second pool; and

(c) win a share of said pool associated with said Pick 5 wager type proportionate to said wager made on said Pick 5 wager type if said selected positions of finish for said Pick 5 wager type is the same as said order of indicia.

18. The pari-mutuel system of claim 17 wherein each of said players in said first group may make an additional wager on every possible combinations of said positions of finish for each indicia selected for said Pick 5 wager type.

19. The pari-mutuel system of claim 17 wherein said pool associated with said Pick 5 wager type carries over to a following race if none of said players in said first group wins said share of said pool associated with said Pick 5 wager type.

20. The pari-mutuel system of claim 1 wherein the number of competitors in said virtual race is fourteen.

21. The pari-mutuel system of claim 1 wherein said predetermined portion of wagers contributed to said second pool is between 5%-10% of said wagers.

22. The pari-mutuel system of claim 1 wherein said pari-mutuel system is operated by a house.

23. The pari-mutuel system of claim 22 wherein a predetermined portion of all said wagers made on all said wager types is retained by said house.

24. The pari-mutuel system of claim 23 wherein said predetermined portion retained by said house is between 20%-30% of all said wagers.

25. The pari-mutuel system of claim 1 wherein each of said players in said first and second group may select any of said wager types and selection of said indicia and said positions of finish of said indicia may be randomly determined by an automated process.