Wagering system and method of wagering

• US 5,888,136 A
• Filed: 03/13/1997
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard A. Herbert
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Herbert
• Inventors: Herbert, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Application Number:
  US08/816,872
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 463/22, 463/25, 463/16, 463/17, 463/18, 463/19, 463/20, 463/40, 463/28, 273/143 R
• US Class Current: 463/22
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A method of wagering, including the steps of providing a random number generator that has a wagering base which is randomly accessed by an input wager, using as at least a part of the wagering base the outcome of at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game, pre-assigning a probability value to the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game and programming the random number generator so that the probability of accessing the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game in the random number generator through an input wager is correlated to the probability value, directing an input wager identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game to the random number generator and paying a return for an input wager identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game that accesses the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game through the random number generator.

Claims

1. A method of wagering comprising the steps of:

providing a random number generator that has a wagering base which is randomly accessed through an input wager;

using as at least a part of the wagering base the outcome of at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game;

pre-assigning a probability value to the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game and programming the random number generator so that the probability of accessing the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game in the random number generator through an input wager is correlated to the probability value;

directing an input wager identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game to the random number generator; and

paying a return for an input wager identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game that accesses the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game through the random number generator.

2. The method of wagering according to claim 1 including the steps of providing multiple locations from which input wagers are directed to the random number generator and directing input wagers to the random number generator from each of the multiple locations.

3. The method of wagering according to claim 2 wherein the step of paying a return comprises the step of paying a return that is determined by the number of input wagers identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game that access the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game through the random number generator.

4. The method of wagering according to claim 2 including the step of identifying a predetermined wager period, the step of directing an input wager comprises the step of directing an input wager to the random number generator only during the predetermined wager period, and further including the step of paying a preliminary return amount for an input wager identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game that accesses the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game through the random number generator before the expiration of the predetermined wager period.

5. The method of wagering according to claim 4 including the step of paying a final return amount for each input wager identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game that accesses the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game through the random number generator during the predetermined wager period at the expiration of the predetermined wager period based upon the total number of input wagers identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game from each of the multiple locations that access the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game through the random number generator during the predetermined wager period.

6. The method of wagering according to claim 1 including the steps of providing additional information to define another part of the wagering base, pre-assigning a second probability value to the additional information and programming the random number generator so that the probability of accessing the additional information in the random number generator through an input wager identifying the additional information is correlated to the second probability value, providing an input wagering terminal with a selector to allow an input wager to be selectively identified as one of a) the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game and b) the additional information, directing an input wager identifying the additional information to the random number generator, and paying a return for an input wager identifying the additional information that accesses the additional information through the random number generator.

7. The method of wagering according to claim 1 including the steps of providing an input wagering terminal and processing a discrete object that is inserted into the input wagering terminal to cause an input wager identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game to be directed to the random number generator.

8. The method of wagering according to claim 7 wherein the input wagering terminal has a repositionable element that is accessible to an operator, and the step of processing a discrete object comprises the step of repositioning the repositionable element after the discrete object is inserted into the input wagering terminal.

9. The method of wagering according to claim 2 including the steps of identifying a money value for each input wager and determining a cumulative money pool value for the total input wagers made from the multiple locations identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game that access the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game through the random access generator, and the step of paying a return comprises the step of paying a return to each input wager identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game that accesses the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game based on the cumulative money pool value.

10. The method of wagering according to claim 1 including the steps of providing an input wagering terminal and at the input wagering terminal producing at least one of an audio and visual signal to at least one of a) simulate an equestrian event, b) simulate a live race environment, c) assist placement of input wagers, d) identify the beginning of a wagering period, e) identify the end of a wagering period, and f) simulate a live game environment.

11. The method of wagering according to claim 1 including the steps of providing additional information to define another part of the wagering base, pre-assigning a second probability value to the additional information, programing the random number generator so that the probability of accessing the additional information in the random number generator is correlated to the second probability value, and providing an input wagering terminal that causes an input wager directed to the random number generator to randomly be identified as at least one of a) the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game, and b) the additional information.

12. A wagering system comprising:

a random number generator that has a wagering base which is randomly accessed by an input wager,

said wagering base comprising the outcome of at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game with a preassigned probability of accessing the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game through each input wager; and

a first input wagering terminal for directing an input wager identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game to the random number generator.

13. The wagering system according to claim 12 including a second input wagering terminal for directing an input wager identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game to the random number generator.

14. The wagering system according to claim 13 including a processor for deterring the number of input wagers identifying the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game directed from the first and second input wagering terminals to the random number generator s the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game in the random number generator.

15. The wagering system according to claim 12 wherein the first input wagering terminal includes an actuator switch for causing an input wager to be directed to the random number generator.

16. The wagering system according to claim 12 wherein the wagering base comprises additional information that defines another part of the wagering base with there being a preassigned probability of accessing the additional information through each input wager identifying the additional information, the first input wagering terminal comprises a selector that can be set in first and second states, said selector in the first state causing an input wager identifying the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game to be directed to the random number generator, said selector in the second state causing the input wager to cause an input wager identifying the additional information to be directed to the random number generator.

17. The wagering system according to claim 12 wherein the wagering base comprises additional information that defines another part of the wagering base with a preassigned probability of accessing the additional information through each input wager identifying the additional information, and the first input wagering terminal comprises a selector for causing an input wager directed to the random number generator to be randomly identified as the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game and the additional information.

18. The wagering system according to claim 12 wherein there are means at the terminal for producing at least one of an audio and visual signal to at least one of a) simulate an equestrian event, b) simulate a live race environment, c) assist placement of input wagers, d) identify the beginning of a wagering period, e) identify the end of a wagering period, and f) simulate a live game environment.

19. The wagering system according to claim 12 wherein the wagering base comprises additional information that defines another part of the wagering base with a pre-assigned probability of accessing the additional information through each input wager identifying the additional information, and the additional information comprises information on the outcome of a horse/dog race or jai alai game.

20. The wagering system according to claim 19 wherein at least one of the preassigned probabilities is substantially the same as the probability of the outcome of the horse/dog race or jai alai game to which it relates.

21. The wagering system according to claim 12 wherein the first input wagering terminal comprises means responsive to the insertion of a discrete object by an operator to direct and input wager to the random number generator.