Wagering game based on ranking order of game participants

• US 5,957,775 A
• Filed: 07/01/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Horse Sense Corporation
• Original Assignee: Horse Sense Corporation
• Inventors: Cherry, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US08/886,193
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 436/1, 436/6, 436/16, 436/20, 436/25, 436/28, 273/139, 273/143 R, 273/237, 273/256
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A wagering game played by a player includes a set of game participants, an identification number assigned to each of the game participants, and a game number. The player places a wager based on the game number, and a ranking order of the game participants is determined, such as by a race. The sum of the identification numbers of a subset of the game participants is calculated, the subset of game participants having a predetermined number of game participants selected on the basis of the ranking order of the game participants. Whether the player'"'"'s wager is a winning wager is determined by comparing the sum to the game number. The wagering game may be implemented as an electronic game.

Claims

1. A method of playing a wagering game by a player, comprising:

selecting a set of game participants;

assigning an identification number to each of the game participants;

selecting a game number;

the player placing a wager based on the game number;

determining a ranking order of the game participants;

calculating the sum of the identification numbers of a subset of the game participants, the subset of game participants comprising a predetermined number of game participants selected on the basis of the ranking order of the game participants; and

determining whether the player'"'"'s wager is a winning wager by comparing the sum to the game number.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a payout for a winning wager.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the payout is determined on a parimutuel basis.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the payout is based on predetermined odds.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the player guessing the ranking order of the game participants to place the wager.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the ranking order is determined by a race.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the race is a horserace, the game participants are racing horses, and identification numbers are post numbers of the racing horses.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the ranking order is determined by a series of sporting events and the game participants are sports teams.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the wager is that the sum is equal to the game number.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the wager is that the sum is less than the game number.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the wager is that the sum is greater than the game number.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined number is three.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the game number is selected by a wagering authority.

14. A method of playing a wagering horserace game by a player, comprising:

selecting a set of racing horses;

assigning a post number to each of the racing horses;

selecting a game number;

by the player, placing a wager based on the game number;

determining a finishing order of the racing horses by a horserace;

calculating the sum of the post numbers of the first three racing horses to finish the horserace;

determining whether the player'"'"'s wager is a winning wager by comparing the sum to the game number; and

providing a payout for a winning wager.

15. An electronic gaming device for playing a wagering game by a player, comprising:

a screen displaying a game number and a set of game participants, each game participant being assigned an identification number;

an input device by which the player places a wager relating to the game number;

a processor connected to the screen and the input device for determining a ranking order of the game participants and calculating the sum of the identification numbers of a subset of the game participants, the subset of game participants comprising a predetermined number of game participants selected on the basis of the ranking order; and

wherein the processor determines whether the wager is a winning wager by comparing the sum to the game number.

16. The electronic gaming device according to claim 15 wherein the processor calculates a payout to the player for a winning wager and provides the payout.

17. The electronic gaming device according to claim 16 wherein the payout is determined on a parimutuel basis.

18. The electronic gaming device according to claim 16 wherein the payout is based on predetermined odds.

19. The electronic gaming device according to claim 15 wherein the player guesses the ranking order of the game participants to place the wager.

20. The electronic gaming device according to claim 15 wherein the ranking order is determined by a race.

21. The electronic gaming device according to claim 15 wherein the wager is that the sum is equal to the game number.

22. The electronic gaming device according to claim 15 wherein the wager is that the sum is less than the game number.

23. The electronic gaming device according to claim 15 wherein the wager is that the sum is greater than the game number.

24. The electronic gaming device according to claim 15 wherein the input device comprises buttons.

25. The electronic gaming device according to claim 15 wherein the input device comprises a touch sensitive screen.

26. The electronic gaming device according to claim 15 wherein the gaming device is connected to other gaming devices for parimutuel wagering.

27. A method of presenting a wagering game for play by a player, comprising:

selecting a set of game participants;

assigning an identification number to each of the game participants;

selecting a game number;

the player placing a wager relating to the game number;

determining a ranking order of the game participants;

calculating the sum of the identification numbers of a subset of the game participants selected on the basis of the ranking order of the game participants; and

determining whether the player'"'"'s wager is a winning wager by comparing the sum to the game number.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the subset includes at least two of the game participants.

29. A wagering game method for use by one or more players, comprising:

presenting a set of game participants each having a predetermined identification number;

presenting a game number;

inviting one or more players to place a wager relating to the game number;

calculating a sum of the identification numbers of a subset of the game participants selected on the basis of a ranking order of the game participants; and

determining whether any wager is a winning wager by comparing the game number to the sum.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising providing a payout for a winning wager.