Continuous real time Pari-Mutuel method

• US 5,984,779 A
• Filed: 09/19/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Bridgeman, Jerry Bridgeman, Lance Bridgeman, Nancy Bridgeman, Robert Bridgeman, Stephanie Bridgeman
• Original Assignee: James Bridgeman, Jerry Bridgeman, Lance Bridgeman, Nancy Bridgeman, Robert Bridgeman, Stephanie Bridgeman
• Inventors: Bridgeman, James, Bridgeman, Nancy, Bridgeman, Jerry, Bridgeman, Lance, Bridgeman, Robert, Bridgeman, Stephanie
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US08/938,024
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/26, 463/27, 463/28, 463/12, 463/13, 463/20, 273/143 R, 273/292, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/274
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

This present invention provides a Pari-Mutuel method for table games (Blackjack, Pai-Gow, etc.), and real time electronic gaming (slots, draw poker, keno, bingo and others). Players compete only against other players for non-banked prizes, which are paid from accrued player pools. In the preferred embodiment, players must pay rent for apparatus use before they can wager. The house does not seed the pool, nor take money from it. Rapid build-up of a player pool occurs without seeding. The player pool receives one hundred percent (100%) of player bets, less winnings, not just a fractions of bets. Paylines are not posted (or paid) at full odds, when the pool is small. The pool rises with bets, and falls with wins. A Top-prize feature prevents the pool from dropping to zero. One overall system pool has many money pots, having individual accrual rates. The apparatus operates in a stand-alone mode, or in a network (including Internet) of linked machines controlled by a management system. It provides for local or remote control. Centralized pools give large jackpots. But when the network is disabled, stand-alone machines continue to operate independently with an (invention formalized) pre-established allocation of the central pool. The network can degrade completely, while individual machines continue play, although with smaller pool sizes.

Claims

1. A method for creating shared pools initially containing zero credits and for managing at least one shared pool associated with at least one shared pot from a pot group including a paypot, a zeropot, a sidepot and a symbolpot, said pot being a subset of said pool, said method comprising:

a. pot creation means for creating said pot initially containing zero credits and a pot remainder accumulator with a value of zero, then associating said pot with said pool and designating said pot as one from said pot group including said paypot, said zeropot, said sidepot and said symbolpot;

b. pool creation means for creating said pool initially containing zero credits, then operating said pot creation means as many times as necessary to create at least one said pot associated with said pool;

c. pot percentage means for establishing a pot percentage for each said pot associated with said pool by acquiring predetermined pot factors, then setting a numerator pot multiplier parameter and a denominator pot divisor parameter greater than zero with the values of said predetermined pot factors;

d. pool-change means for adding a pool-change temporary variable to said pool, then evaluating said pool and if said pool is negative subtracting said pool from said pool-change and setting said pool to zero;

e. pot calculation means for setting a pot change equal to said pool-change, then setting said pot-change equal to said pot-change multiplied by said pot multiplier and divided by said pot divisor, storing any remainder from the division into a pot remainder temporary variable;

f. pot accumulator means for adding said pot remainder to said pot remainder accumulator and evaluating said pot remainder accumulator, then if said pot remainder accumulator is negative repeatedly subtracting one from said pot change and adding said pot divisor to said pot remainder accumulator until said pot remainder accumulator becomes positive;

g. pot remainder means for comparing said pot remainder accumulator to said pot divisor and if said pot remainder accumulator is greater than said pot divisor, repeatedly adding one to said pot change and subtracting said pot divisor from said pot remainder accumulator until said pot remainder accumulator is less than said pot divisor;

h. pot additive means for adding said pot change to said pot and if new value in said pot is a negative value, repeatedly adding one to said pot and subtracting said pot divisor from said pot remainder accumulator until said pot is positive;

i. pot zero means for determining that said paypot is associated with an active said zeropot and that said paypot has insufficient said credits according to a threshold paypot parameter, then adding a portion of said zeropot to said paypot and reducing said zeropot by same said portion of said zeropot;

j. pot change means for determining that an associated pot is active for said pool and that said pool-change is other than zero, then processing said pool-change for said associated pot by operating said pot percentage means, said pot calculation means, said pot accumulator means, said pot remainder means, said pot additive means and said pot zero means;

k. format means for acquiring a plurality of data according to prespecified requirements, then formatting said data into a data packet;

l. data means for detecting any changes to said data, then calling said format means to format said pool, said pot, said pot multiplier, said pot divisor and said pot remainder accumulator;

m. display means for calling said data means, then displaying said data packet;

n. pot final means for repeatedly operating said pot change means until all active said pot associated with said pool have been processed, then operating said display means;

o. pool process means for operating said pot final means and setting a pool-return temporary variable equal to said pool-change which may have changed, then setting said pool-change to zero; and

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p. pool control means for initially operating said pool creation means and setting said pool-return to zero, then operating said pool process means any time said pool-change is other than zero and returning said pool-return;

whereby said pool is increased and decreased by said pool-change, and said pot is increased and decreased by said pot fraction of said pool-change, and said data packet includes said pool and said pot, and the contents of said data packet is displayed to all interested persons.

2. The method of claim 1 further including a possible requirement for a payment of a rent in order to access said pool and said pot, said payment being entered as a rent-credits into said rent from a rent group including a system rent, a game rent and a paytable rent, where a rent-sidepot may contain said rent, and said pool control means may fill said rent-sidepot with a percentage of a wager, comprising:

a. rent creation means for creating said rent having a balance of zero said rent-credits and a rent remainder accumulator having an initial balance of zero, then associating said rent with said rent-sidepot if said rent-sidepot is being used to contain said rent-credits;

b. rent-wager means for determining the source of said payment of said rent, then selectively setting a rentwager from a rentwager group including a winnings consisting of a win credits, a winning wager, said wager and a separate contribution of rent independent of other operations;

c. rent-slot creation means for creating a renttime temporary variable set to zero for play time remaining, and a rentgames temporary variable set to zero for number of game plays remaining, and a minrent temporary variable equal to the minimum said rent-credits which are required before allowing access to said pool and said pot;

d. rent-slot definition means for creating a renttime-converter temporary variable and a rentgames-converter temporary variable, then setting said renttime-converter to amount of time allowed for each said rent-credit and setting said rentgames-converter to number of said games for each said rent-credit;

e. rent-slot initializing means for operating said rent-slot creation means to create said rent-sidepot, then calling said rent-slot definition means to establish the values for said renttime-converter and said rentgames-converter;

f. rent-slot conversion means for using said renttime-converter and said rentgames-converter to convert said rent-credits to said renttime-units and said rentgames-units, then adding said renttime-units to said renttime and said rentgames-units to said rentgames;

g. rent-slot reversal means for using said renttime-converter and said rentgames-converter to convert said renttime and said rentgames to said rent-credits, then cause paying of said rent-credits to said player and setting zero into said rent-credits, said renttime and said rentgames;

h. rent-slot accept means for accepting said credits into said rent-credits, then calling said rent-slot conversion means and setting said rent-credits to zero;

i. rent-slot diminishing means for reducing said renttime exceeding zero as time expires, and for reducing said rentgames exceeding zero upon completion of said play of said game;

j. rent-slot final means for operating said rent-slot diminishing means, then if said renttimes and said rentgames are both zero, repeatedly operating said rent-slot accept means at least until one of said renttime and said rentgames is other than zero;

k. rent-percentage initializing means for creating said rent-sidepot with a value of zero, then associating said rent-sidepot with said pool if said rent is taken from said pool;

l. rent-percentage final means for operating said rent-wager means, setting said pool-change equal to said rentwager and if said pool-change is other than zero, calling said pot change means to change said rent-sidepot;

m. rent-range creation means for determining that portions of a accumulated wager goes to said rent rather than said pool, then defining a range of said credits for said accumulated wager when said wager will be added to said rent-credits rather than to said pool, said range established by setting a renthigh temporary variable to the highest value of said range and setting a rentlow temporary variable to the lowest value of said range and setting a rentmax temporary variable to the maximum accumulative wager which causes a rentcount temporary variable to be reset to zero;

n. rent-range initializing means for operating said rent-range creation means, then setting said rentcount and said rentwager to zero;

o. rent-range wager means for decreasing said rentwager by one and increasing said rentcount by one, then setting said rentcount to zero when said rentcount is greater than said rentmax;

p. rent-range bump means for bumping said rent-credits by one if said rentcount is in said range from said rentlow through said renthigh inclusive, otherwise for bumping said pool-change by one;

q. rent-range accumulate means for calling said rent-range wager means, then calling said rent-range bump means;

r. rent-range final means for calling said rent-wager means and repeatedly calling said rent-range accumulate means while said rentwager is other than zero, then calling said pool control means to process any accumulated said pool-change and then calling said display means;

s. said data means of claim 1, further including said rent, said rent multiplier, said rent divisor, said rent remainder accumulator, said rentlow, said renthigh, said rentcount, said rentwager, said minrent, said rentgames and said renttime in said data packet;

t. rent selection means for determining the source of said payment of said rent, then selectively choosing the appropriate means to collect said rent-credits from a rent collection group including said rent-range final means, said rent-percentage final means and said rent-slot final means, then begin operating the appropriate rent collection means;

u. rent acquire means for collecting said rent-credits from said player by calling said rent selection means and said display means, then allowing the use of said pool and said pot after required said rent-credits have been collected;

v. rent initializing means for determining that said rent is required for utilization of said pool and said pot, then initializing parameters for said rent by operating said rent-percentage initializing means, said rent-range initializing means and said rent-slot initializing means;

w. rent control means for initially operating said rent initializing means, then calling said rent acquire means whenever said rent-credits must be collected;

whereby said rent-credits may be collected for the use of said pools and said pots in said system.

3. The method of claim 2 further providing for a play of a game requiring said pool, said pot and a paytable to determine winnings, where a player makes a wager of player credits to try for said winnings consisting of said win credits, where an amount equal to a maxwin is the largest allowed said winnings, comprising:

a. game selection means for selecting said game and said paytable to form a game-paytable combination from a plurality of said games and a plurality of said paytables, then setting said wager and said win credits to zero values;

b. game switch means for detecting that said player wants to select a new game-paytable combination or start a new said play of said game, then operating said game selection means;

c. player credits means for detecting that said player wants to contribute said credits towards said play of said game, then receiving said credits from said player into said player credits;

d. action means for accepting an input of an action from said player, then causing a game event to occur;

e. said data means of claim 2 further including said game-paytable combination, said maxwin, said game, said paytable, said player credits, said wager, said win credits and said game event in said data packet;

f. said display means of claim 2 further including additional information in said display showing all information in said data packet needed for said play of said game;

g. wager-rent means for detecting that said rent-credits is taken from said range of said accumulated credits of said wager, then setting said rent-wager equal to said pool-change and calling said rent-range final means;

h. wager means for deducting said credits from said player credits and setting said pool-change equal to the deducted said credits and adding said pool-change to said wager, then calling said wager-rent means if said rent is collected over said range of said credits of said wager, otherwise increasing said pool by calling said pool control means;

i. maxwin threshhold means for testing a change in said maxwin from the time said player selected said game-paytable combination and determining if new said maxwin is less than old said maxwin by an amount exceeding a maxwin threshhold value, then causing a display of excessive said change relative to said maxwin threshhold and then calling said game selection means if said player selects a different said game-paytable combination;

j. betting means for repeatedly operating said player credits means at least until said player credits exceed the minimum said player credits required for the initiation of said action means, then calling said maxwin threshhold means and then operating said wager means for the desired said wager;

k. play-rent means for determining that said rent is separately collected before said play of said game and then repeatedly calling said rent-slot final means to collect said rent until either said renttime or said rentgames exceeds zero, otherwise said collection of said rent is ignored;

l. play means for operating said play-rent means and said betting means, initiating said action means and calling said display means;

m. award-rent means for determining that said rent is collected from winning said players, then setting said rent-wager to the total said win credits if said rent comes from said winnings, otherwise setting said rent-wager to the total said wagers from said players owed said win credits, then calling said rent-percentage final means to compute a rent amount which is added to said rent-credits, and finally setting said rent-wager to zero;

n. award means for determining that said game event is a win event as established by said paytable, then setting said winnings equal to said win credits for said win event and if said rent-credits is collected from said winning said players calling said award-rent means and reducing said win credits by said rent amount;

o. pay means for operating said award means, then setting said win credits to said pool if said win credits exceeds said pool;

p. win means for operating said pay means, setting said pool-change to the negative value of said win credits and operating said pool control means, then resetting said win credits to the absolute value of said pool-return;

q. win final means for operating said win means, then adding said win credits to said player credits and calling said display means;

r. cashout means for detecting that said player wants to collect said player credits, then disbursing said player credits to said player and subtracting the disbursed said player credits from said player credits and then calling said display means;

s. game play means for detecting the start of new said game, then setting said wager and said win credits to zero and repeatedly operating said play means until said game event is a final event and then operating said win final means; and

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t. game control means for detecting that said player has initiated said play, then until said player discontinues said play, repeatedly operating said game switch means, said game play means and said cashout means;

whereby there is at least one said paytable for each said game, where said paytables are available for display and said player is able to select the desired said game-paytable combination, and said play of said game results in said win credits based upon settings in said paytable.

4. The method of claim 3 further including a committed option for causing the immediate committment of said credits to said pool before said player makes said wager of said credits, the committed credits being added to said pool, said player credits and a player-stash variable which maintains the count of said committed credits belonging to said player, said player-stash decreasing towards zero when said player makes said wager, comprising:

a. player credits means of claim 3 further adding said credits to said player-stash and said pool-change, then immediately increasing said pool by calling said pool control means;

b. wager means of claim 3 further setting said pool-change equal to said player-stash minus said deducted credits, then if said pool-change is negative setting said pool-change to absolute value of said pool-change and operating said pool-change means, thereby increasing said pool when said player-stash is equal to zero;

c. cashout means of claim 3 further disbursing said player credits less said player-stash to said player, then setting said player credits equal to said player-stash and calling said display means;

d. stash collect means for detecting that said player can collect said committed credits, then disbursing said committed credits in said player-stash to said player and reducing said player-stash by the disbursed said committed credits;

e. stash escrow means for determining that said committed credits can be cashed out and said player wants to cash out, then calling said stash collect means, otherwise detecting that said committed credits can be escrowed for later play, then creating a stash escrow account equal to said player-stash and setting said player-stash to zero, otherwise disallowing collection of said committed credits;

f. stash retrieval means for setting said player-stash equal to said stash escrow account of said player, then setting said stash escrow account equal to zero; and

g. stash control means for calling said stash escrow means when said player discontinues said play of said game, and for calling said player-stash retrieval means when said player returns to said play at a later time;

whereby said pool is increased rapidly by said committed credits with immediate inclusion of said player credits into said pool before said player makes said wager, and said pool can maintain larger balances when said committed credits are not collected.

5. The method of claim 4 further including said win credits returned by said pay means cannot exceed a top-prize from a top-prize group including a system top-prize, a game top-prize and a paytable top-prize, said top-prize being associated with at least one said pool and said pot, comprising:

a. top-prize absolute means for determining that said top-prize is a positive predetermined number and that said win credits cannot exceed said predetermined number, then setting said top-prize to said predetermined number;

b. top-prize percentage means for determining that said top-prize is a value which is a percentage of said pool or said pot, then acquiring predetermined top-prize factors and setting a numerator top-prize multiplier and a denominator top-prize divisor which is greater than zero with values from said predetermined top-prize factors;

c. top-prize calculation means for operating said top-prize percentage means, then setting said top-prize equal to said top-prize multiplied by said top-prize multiplier and divided by said top-prize divisor, leaving a top-prize remainder with an absolute value less than said top-prize divisor;

d. top-prize selection means for setting said top-prize to the largest value of zero and said top-prize, then selectively operating said top-prize absolute means if said top-prize is an absolute value, otherwise calling said top-prize calculation means;

e. system top-prize means for setting said top-prize to said credits in said pool or said pot associated with a system, then operating said top-prize selection means and setting said system top-prize equal to said top-prize;

f. game top-prize means for setting said top-prize to said credits in said pool or said pot associated with said game, then operating said top-prize selection means and setting said game top-prize to said top-prize;

g. paytable top-prize means for setting said top-prize to said credits in said pool or said pot associated with said paytable, then operating said top-prize selection means and setting said paytable top-prize to said top-prize;

h. top-prize least means for operating said system top-prize means, said game top-prize means and said paytable top-prize means, then setting said top-prize to the least value of said system top-prize, said game top-prize and said paytable top-prize;

i. payline top-prize means for setting a payline top-prize equal to some combination of a predetermined number, a predetermined percentage of said pool and a predetermined percentage of said pot, then operating said top-prize least means and setting said payline top-prize to the lesser of said payline top-prize and said top-prize;

j. said award means of claim 4 further comprising a calling of said payline top-prize means for said payline;

k. said data means of claim 4 further comprising said top-prize, said system top-prize, said game top-prize, said paytable top-prize and said payline top-prize in said data packet; and

l. said display means of claim 4 further including the displaying of said system top-prize, said game top-prize and said paytable top-prize;

whereby said win credits paid to said player at end of said play of said game cannot exceed said top-prize, which is selectable from a top-prize group including said predetermined number, said percentage of said pool and said percentage of said pot.

6. The method of claim 5 further including said award means using a paytable to compute said win credits for said final event, said paytable having at least one said payline that specifies a predetermined win for said final event, said paytable being associated with at least one said pool and one said pot, comprising:

a. paytable paypot means for specifying which said paypot contains said win credits for payment of said predetermined win, then attaching said paypot to said paytable;

b. paytable zeropot means for specifying which said zeropot will refill said paypot when said paypot has insufficient said credits according to said threshold paypot parameter, then attaching said zeropot to said paytable and said paypot;

c. paytable sidepot means for specifying said sidepot that contains said win credits for jackpots and other special pays to be paid from other than said paypot, and specifying said sidepot for holding said rent and other fees, then attaching said sidepot to said paytable;

d. paytable means for creating said paytable, then associating said paytable with at least one said win event from a win group which includes a system win, a game win, a paytable win, a payline win and a sidepot win;

e. payline win means for detecting said payline win is a predetermined number and setting said payline win credits equal to said predetermined number, otherwise for setting said payline win to a computed value equal to said payline percentage multiplied by said pool or said pot;

f. payline means for creating said payline in said paytable, then associating said payline with said win event and said paylinie credits to be paid from said pot or said pool;

g. payline calculation means for multiplying said wager by said payline predetermined number if said payline win is an absolute number, otherwise for multiplying said pool or said pot by said payline percentage, thereby computing a payline win;

h. payline maximum means for operating said payline top-prize means, then setting said payline win equal to said associated pot if said payline win exceeds said associated pot;

i. payline retrieval means for retrieving said payline in said paytable where said win event satisfies said final event, then calling said payline calculation means and said payline maximum means to process said payline;

j. payline final means for operating said payline retrieval means, then setting said payline win credits to said payline win;

k. paytable retrieval means for determining if said final event matches said win event of said payline, then operating said payline final means for said final event and adding said payline win credits to said total win;

l. paytable accumulation means for determining said paytable to be used to compute said win credits, then repeatedly operating said paytable retrieval means to process said paylines in said paytable which satisfy said final event;

m. paytable final means for setting said total win to zero and operating said paytable accumulation means for said paytable, then operating said top-prize least means and setting said total win to said top-prize if said total win exceeds said top-prize;

n. said award means of claim 5 further incorporating said paytable;

o. said win means of claim 5 further incorporating said paytable; and

p. said data means of claim 5 further comprising said paytable and said payline in said data packet;

whereby said paytable with said predetermined win for said final event allows said win credits to be calculated by using predetermined values or predetermined percentages, and said win credits cannot exceed the least value of said pool, said pot and said top-prize.

7. The method of claim 6 further imposing a pari-mutuel scheme on a system of pools with a hierarchy having at least one node, at least one said pool and at least one said pot, where said data packet is passed from a lower node to a higher node, using communication schemes that may include an internet or TCP/IP protocol, resulting in said data packet being combined with other said data packets into a combined data packet and a total data packet, comprising:

a. data means of claim 6 further including the identity for both a sending node and a receiving node, said identity may come from an internet identifier group including an internet protocol address, an internet call sign and an internet location;

b. uplink means for determining that said data packet has changed, then operating said data means and transferring said data packet from said lower node to an existing said higher node;

c. combine means for said higher node receiving said data packet from at least one said lower node and combining said data packet with other said data packets to form said combined data packet, then calling said display means to display said combined data packet at said higher node;

d. upload means for operating said uplink means on said combined data packet, and a total node at the highest hierarchy level computes totals for all said combined data packets received at said total node and then creates said total data packet;

e. equal means for said lower node receiving said total data packet from from said higher node, then storing said total data packet in an area reserved for said total data packet, said total data packet being kept separate from said data packet and said combined data packet, then operating said display means;

f. downlink means for operating said data means on said total data packet, then sending said total data packet to an existing said lower node;

g. download means for operating said equal means, then operating said downlink means to refresh said lower nodes with the latest said total data packet and the lowest node in said hierarchy will be refreshed with said latest said total data packet;

h. up means for operating said uplink means when said data packet changes, and for operating said upload means when said combined data packet changes;

i. down means for detecting that said total data packet has changed, then operating said download means to transfer said total data packet to said lower nodes; and

j. hierarchy means for detecting changes in said data packet, said combined data packet and said total data packet, then selectively operating said up means and said down means;

whereby said total data packet is continuously refreshed at all levels of said hierarchy so that all said nodes have the same said pool and said pot for purposes of computing said win credits.

8. The method of claim 7 further including that said win credits may be computed using a local paytable and a central computer paytable, at time of computation said paytable is to reside in either a local node or a central computer where said win credits are computed, and said central computer may compute said win credits for a plurality of said local nodes, comprising:

a. paytable locate means for determining in which node said win credits is to be computed, then setting a pay-location temporary variable to local when said win credits is to be computed in said local node, otherwise setting said pay-location to central;

b. said data means of claim 7 further comprising said paytable, said win event, said win credits and said pay-location in said data packet;

c. paytable connect means for connecting said local node with said central computer, then providing for the transfer of said central paytable from said central computer to said local node, otherwise providing for the transfer of said win event from said local node to said central computer and the return transfer of said win credits from said central computer to said local node after said central computer finishes computing said win credits using said central paytable;

d. paytable send means for operating said paytable connect means, then causing said central computer to transmit said central paytable to said local node for the storing of said central paytable in an area reserved for said local paytable;

e. event send means for operating said paytable connect means, then causing said local node to send said win event to said central computer for the computing of said win credits using said central paytable in said central computer;

f. paytable local means for determining that said win credits is to be computed in said local node, then operating said paytable final means in said local node with said local paytable being used to compute said win credits;

g. paytable central means for detecting that said win credits is to be computed in said central computer and operating said event send means, then causing said central computer to operate said paytable final means using said central paytable to compute said win credits for said win event received from said local node, then having said central computer transfer the computed said win credits to said local node after the win computation is complete;

h. paytable selection means for detecting that said win credits is to be computed, then cause the computation of said win credits by operating said paytable local means when said pay-location is equal to local, otherwise operating said paytable central means when said pay-location is equal to central;

i. paytable difference means for operating said paytable locate means, then calling said paytable send means if said pay-location indicates that said central paytable must be transferred to said local node; and

j. paytable location means for operating said paytable difference means, then detecting that said win credits is to be computed and operating said paytable selection means;

whereby said win credits may be computed for said final event in said local node and said central computer, using said paytable located in said local node and said central computer.

9. The method of claim 8 further including a random generator to generate random numbers used to affect an outcome of an event, and at time of generating said random numbers said random generator is to reside in said local node or said central computer where said random numbers are generated, and said central computer may compute said random numbers for a plurality of said local nodes, comprising:

a. random initializing means for clearing said random area for said random numbers, then setting to zero a randcount temporary variable which contains the count of said random numbers in said random area;

b. random setup means for setting a randmin temporary variable to the minimum random number, a randmax temporary variable to the maximum random number, and a randmany temporary variable to the number of unique random numbers to be generated and stored in said random area;

c. random locate means for determining the location where said random numbers are to be generated, then setting a random-location temporary variable to local when said random numbers are to be generated in said local node, otherwise setting said random-location to central when said random numbers are to be generated in said central computer;

d. said data means of claim 8 further comprising said random numbers, said random-location, said randcount, said randmin, said randmax and said randmany in said data packet;

e. random connect means for connecting said local node with said central computer, then providing for the generation of said random numbers in said central computer by facilitating the transfer of said randmin, said rendmax and said randmany to said central computer for the generation of said random numbers in said central computer and then facilitating the return transfer of the resultant said random numbers to said local node from said central computer, otherwise providing for the transfer of said random numbers generated in said local node to said central computer so that said central computer can apply said central paytable against said random numbers in order to compute said win credits in accordance with said central paytable;

f. random receive means for operating said random connect means, then causing said central computer to operate said random number generator to create said random numbers in said central computer followed by said central computer transferring said random numbers to said local node for storing in an area reserved for local random numbers;

g. random send means for operating said random connect means after operating said random generator to generate said local random numbers, then sending said local random numbers to said central computer for storing in a area reserved for said central random numbers;

h. random local means for determining that said random generator is to operate in said local node, then operating said random generator in said local node and returning said random numbers;

i. random central means for operating said random connect means and having said local node request the operating of said random generator in said central computer, then causing said local node to receive said random numbers from said central computer after said random generator completes operating in said central computer;

j. random selection means for detecting where said random generator is to operate, then operating said random local means if said random-location is set to local, otherwise calling said random central means;

k. random unique means for repeatedly operating said random selection means until a returned random number falls in a range from said randmin through randmax inclusive and is unlike any said random numbers currently stored in said random area, then cause the storing of said random number in said random area;

l. random fill means for operating said random unique means, then causing said randcount to be increased by one;

m. random plural means for operating said random locate means, said random initialize means and said random setup means, then repeatedly operating said random fill means until said randcount is equal to said randmany; and

n. said action means of claim 8 further comprising the operating of said random plural means, and using at least one said random number to influence said outcome of said final event;

whereby said random numbers may be generated in said local node and said central computer, and said random numbers may be used to affect said play of said game.

10. The method of claim 9 further providing that said system network can operate as a plurality of separate networks independent of said central computer, with said central computer continuing to operate in a reduced network with said nodes still communicating with said central computer, comprising:

a. top node means for declaring a designated node as a top node for said separate network, said top node operating in place of said central computer for processing communications from said lower nodes in said separate network, with said central computer continuing to operate with fewer said nodes in said reduced network that excludes said nodes operationally belonging to said separate network;

b. separate means for said top node totaling a separate total data packet for said lower nodes reporting to said top node which is the highest said node in said separate network, then having said top node send said separate total data packet to said lower nodes in said separate network,

c. reduced means for said central computer totaling a reduced total data packet for said lower nodes still reporting to said central computer in said reduced network, then having said central computer send said reduced total data packet to said lower nodes in said reduced network,

d. data means of claim 9 further including said nodes comprising said separate network and said reduced network, and

e. display means of claim 9 further including the displaying of said nodes belonging to said separate network and said reduced network,

whereby said network can continue operating with a subset of said nodes, said pool and said pots when communication lines are reconfigured.

11. The method of claim 10 further allowing said system operator to change system parameters that are used to manage and control the operation of the system facilities which include said pool, said pot, said paypot, said zeropot, said sidepot, said top-prize, said system, said game, said paytable, said payline, said random generator, said player-stash, said separate network, said reduced network and other network controls, comprising:

a. game control means for detecting said system operator wants to change the status of said games, then allowing said system operator to make changes to said system including adding, deleting, activating and deactivating said game and associating said game with said paytable and at least one said pool and said pot;

b. pool number means for detecting said system operator wants to change the status of said pools, then allowing said system operator to make changes to said system including adding, deleting, activating and deactivating said pool and causing the reallocation of said credits in said pool to other said pools as directed by said system operator;

c. pot number means for detecting said system operator wants to change the status of said pots, then allowing said system operator to make changes to said system including adding, deleting, activating and deactivating said pot and causing the reallocation of said credits in said pot to other said pots as directed by said system operator;

d. pot control means for detecting said system operator wants to change the pot parameters for said pots, then allowing said system operator to make changes to said system including changing said pot multiplier and said pot divisor;

e. paytable selection means for detecting said system operator wants to change the status of said paytables, then allowing said system operator to make changes to said system including changing the selection of said paytables which are available for said games, and said pools and said pots which are available for said paytables;

f. paytable control means for detecting said system operator wants to change parameters for said paytables, then allowing said system operator to make changes to said system including changing paytable parameters for said predetermined win, said win event, attached said pools, attached said pots, and said pay-location designating location where said paytable is to be used for win computations;

g. payline control means for detecting said system operator wants to change said paylines in said paytables, then allowing said system operator to make changes to said system including changing payline parameters in said paytable for said predetermined win, said win event, attached said pots and attached said pools;

h. random control means for detecting said system operator wants to change parameters for said random number generator, then allowing said system operator to make changes to said system including changing parameters for said random-location designating location of said random generator where said random numbers will be generated;

i. rent control means for detecting said system operator wants to change parameters for said rent, then allowing said system operator to make changes to said system including changing parameters for said rent multiplier, said rent divisor and attached said sidepot designated to contain said rent;

j. top-prize control means for detecting said system operator wants to change parameters for said top-prize, then allowing said system operator to make changes to said system including changing top-prize parameters for said top-prize absolute value, said top-prize multiplier and said top-prize divisor and associating said top-prize to a system level from one of a system level group including said system, said game and said paytable and designating said pool and said pot to be used for said top-prize at said system level;

k. node control means for detecting said system operator wants to change the status of said nodes, then allowing said system operator to make changes to said system including adding, deleting, activating and deactivating said nodes and causing the reallocation of said credits among said nodes with respect to their said pools and said pots and causing the setup of said separate networks and said reduced networks as directed by said system operator;

l. said data means of claim 10 further including both an old data packet and a corresponding new data packet when said system operator makes any changes to said system network; and

,

m. said display means of claim 10 wherein said display highlights differences between said old data packet and said new data packet, said display showing the status of said system facilities, said pools, said pots, said maxwin, said system top-prize, said game top-prizes and said paytable top-prizes;

whereby said system operator is able to configure said system in a desired manner, reallocating said pools and said pots, reconfiguring said nodes to adjust to loss of communications, and to facilitate increased enjoyment by said players.

12. A method for playing any banked game as a pari-mutuel game where a player makes a contribution to a pool shared with a plurality of said players, said pool being created initially with a value of zero for a play of said game using a device, and said player can receive a prize from said pool to the extent of said pool, a total prize for said players cannot exceed said pool, and a prize possibility displayed as a posted prize cannot exceed said pool, comprising:

a. setting said total prize equal to zero, and setting a plurality of said prizes equal to zero for said players;

b. contributing to an existing said pool by said player from a contribution group including a money, a credit, a chip, a token, a coupon and a redemption of said prize;

c. changing said posted prize to reflect the increase in said pool;

d. playing said device by said player, said device being from a device group including a table, a dice, a ball, a electronic machine, a mechanical machine, a pull-tab, a lottery ticket and a card device, which includes a playing card, a bingo card, a keno card and a scratcher card;

e. having a end result for said play of said device;

f. determining said prize for a winning end result;

g. setting said prize equal to winnings for said winning end result;

h. adding said prize to said total prize;

i. playing said game for said plurality of said players by repeatedly calling supra b through h until all said players have reached said end result;

j. determining that said total prize exceeds said pool, then in a predetermined manner allocating said total prize among said players so that the total value of allocated said prizes to said players does not exceed said pool;

k. reducing said total prize by said prize after setting said prize equal to said total prize if said prize exceeds said total prize;

l. reducing said pool by said prize after setting said prize equal to said pool if said prize exceeds said pool;

m. changing said posted prize to reflect any decrease in said pool;

n. paying said prize exceeding zero to said player from a prize group including said contribution group, redemption pays and other pays equivalent in value to said contribution group; and

o. distributing said total prize among said players owed said prize exceeding zero while said total prize still exceeds zero by repeatedly calling supra k through n, until all said players receive their said prize in accordance with said predetermined manner;

whereby said players play for said prizes not to exceed said pool, and any said posted prize cannot exceed said pool.

13. The method of claim 12 further allocating said total prize in said predetermined manner, among a plurality of said players when said total prize exceeds said pool, by selecting a allocation method from a allocation group including:

a. allocating proportionally said prizes for said players by setting each said prize equal to the value of said prize multiplied by said total prize and divided by said pool if said pool exceeds zero;

b. allocating randomly said prizes for said players by setting a totprize temporary variable equal to said total prize, then repeatedly while said totprize exceeds zero, selecting at random the next said player to be paid not previously selected at random in the current round and setting said prize for said player to the lesser value of said prize and said totprize and then subtracting said prize from said totprize;

c. allocating clockwise said prizes for said players by setting said totprize equal to said total prize and selecting in a preestablished manner the first said player to be paid, then repeatedly while said totprize exceeds zero, setting said prize for said player to the lesser value of said prize and said totprize and subtracting said prize from said totprize and continuing in a clockwise direction from said player to the next said player to be paid;

whereby said total prize exceeding said pool is allocated in said predetermined manner among said players so that said pool remains positive.

14. The method of claim 12 further collecting payment of a rent for a use of said device by said player, using at least one rent collection method from a rent collection group including:

a. collecting said rent with a separate procedure before said use of said device with said rent being collected independently from said contribution,

b. collecting said rent with a separate procedure after said use of said device with said rent being collected independently from said contribution,

c. collecting said rent as a predetermined contribution percentage of said contribution with the remainder of said contribution being added to said pool,

d. collecting said rent as a predetermined prize percentage of said prize with said prize being reduced by said percentage of said prize,

e. collecting said rent as a predetermined winning percentage of said contribution made by a winning player, with said percentage of said contribution of said winning player being subtracted from said pool to account for said contribution already added to said pool at time of said contribution,

f. collecting said rent from a range of accumulated credits of said wagers with a range counter maintaining a running count of said accumulated credits of said wagers, said range having a predetermined minimum range, a predetermined maximum range and a predetermined range total, said range counter being reset when said range counter exceeds said range total, and said contribution is added to said rent when said range counter falls between said minimum range and said maximum range inclusive, otherwise said contribution is added to said pool; and

g. collecting a nullity of said rent, and adding all of said contribution to said pool,

whereby there are many collection methods for receiving said payment of said rent for said play of said game.

15. The method of claim 12 further establishing a top-prize as the maximum said prize for said play of said game, said top-prize being selected from a top-prize group including a predetermined top-prize value and a predetermined top-prize percentage of said pool, said top-prize being used in place of said pool when said pool is greater than said top-prize for all computations performed to determine said prize and said total prize,

whereby said winnings cannot exceed said top-prize and said pool will retain a larger value, which causes more interest and excitement among said players.

16. The method of claim 12 further distributing a jackpot when said end result satisfies a predetermined jackpot criteria, comprising:

a. said player contributing a sidebet from said contribution group, if said sidebet is required for said player to be eligible for said jackpot, said sidebet being added to said pool and a total sidebet;

b. setting said jackpot to a percentage of said total sidebet, if said jackpot is said percentage of said total sidebet;

c. setting said jackpot to a percentage of said pool, if said jackpot is said percentage of said pool;

d. setting said jackpot to a predetermined value, if said jackpot is said predetermined value;

e. setting said jackpot equal to said pool, if said jackpot exceeds said pool;

f. setting said jackpot to zero, then if said end result is a jackpot result and said sidebet having been made if required, calling supra b through e and adding said jackpot to said prize for said player and to said total prize;

g. reducing said pool by said jackpot; and

h. reducing said total sidebet by said jackpot, if said jackpot is said percentage of said total sidebet;

whereby said player can win said jackpot for at least one certain said end result, with an optional condition that said sidebet may be required to win said jackpot.

17. A method for making any banked game a non-seeded and non-banked game where a player shares a player'"'"'s pool with a plurality of players, said player'"'"'s pool being created initially with a value of zero, said player competing against said player'"'"'s pool rather than a house, said method comprising the steps of:

a. accepting a rent, if required for a play of said game, from said player to pay said house for hosting said game,

b. accepting a wager from said player and adding said wager to an existing said player'"'"'s pool, thereby causing said player'"'"'s pool to Ibe increased by said wager,

c. playing said game to a conclusion by said player resulting in a winnings if a predetermined end event occurs,

d. setting said winnings to the least of said player'"'"'s pool, a predetermined top-prize and said winnings,

e. paying said winnings to said player only from said player'"'"'s pool, and subtracting said winnings from said player'"'"'s pool

whereby any said game can operate in a pari-mutuel system with lottery payment rules.

18. Method of claim 17 further comprising:

a. defining a preset paytable with at least one preset payline event associated with a preset pay which is a preset number or a preset percentage of said player'"'"'s pool,

b. creating a maxwin paytable from a copy of said preset paytable with at least one maxwin payline event equal to the corresponding said preset payline event, where said maxwin payline event is associated with a maxwin pay equal to the corresponding said preset pay,

c. setting each of a plurality of said maxwin pays in said maxwin paytable to the least of said player'"'"'s pool, said predetermined top-prize and said maxwin pay,

d. displaying said maxwin paytable as a plurality of said maxwin payline events along with their associated said maxwin pays,

e. matching outcome of said game to said maxwin payline event which best fits said outcome,

f. calculating said winnings using said maxwin pay corresponding to the matching said maxwin payline event,

g. setting said winnings to the least of said player'"'"'s pool, said predetermined top-prize and said winnings,

h. paying said winnings to said player and subtracting said winnings from said player'"'"'s pool,

i. updating displays for changes to said player'"'"'s pool by calling supra c through d,

j. controlling a standalone said player'"'"'s pool and a linked plurality of said player'"'"'s pools and coordinating, combining and distributing said player'"'"'s pools from a central location,

k. displaying fluctuations in said player'"'"'s pools caused by events occurring in a plurality of locations, and

l. displaying a plurality of said maxwin paytables showing the dynamic changes to each said maxwin pay in said maxwin paytables based on changes to said player'"'"'s pools,

whereby display of said maxwin paytable for said game allows said player to determine potential and actual win amounts for each said outcome, for many possible combinations of said games, said paytables and said player'"'"'s pools.

19. The method of claim 18 further distributing said player'"'"'s pool into at least one pot from a pot group including a paypot, a zeropot, a sidepot and a symbolpot, said pot containing a pot fraction of said player'"'"'s pool, comprising,

a. distributing a paypot fraction of said wager to said paypot;

b. distributing a zeropot fraction of said wager to said zeropot;

c. distributing a sidepot fraction of said wager to said sidepot;

d. distributing a symbolpot fraction of said wager to said symbolpot;

e. changing said paypot fraction, said zeropot fraction, said sidepot fraction, said symbolpot fraction and other said pot fraction at the direction of a system operator;

f. changing said preset paytable, said preset payline and said preset pay at the direction of said system operator;

g. changing said maxwin paytable, said maxwin payline and said maxwin pay at the direction of said system operator;

h. associating at least one of said paypot, said zeropot, said sidepot and said symbolpot with at least one said maxwin payline in said maxwin paytable at the direction of said system operator; and

i. substituting at least one said pot in place of said player'"'"'s pool in said maxwin paytable for computation of said win amount;

whereby win computations use at least one said pot in place of said player'"'"'s pool for determining said win amount.

20. The method of claim 17 further utilizing an electronic gaming device with a display of a shared automated player'"'"'s pool having at least one instruction activator to allow a play of said game, comprising:

a. accepting a rent-amount from said player into a house account, if required for said play of said game;

b. accepting a play-amount from said player into a player'"'"'s account;

c. paying said wager from said player'"'"'s account into said automated player'"'"'s pool, simultaneously subtracting said wager from said player'"'"'s account and adding said wager to said automated player'"'"'s pool;

d. playing said game by said player repeatedly activating said at least one instruction activator until said game is concluded;

e. determining whether said player has a win;

f. determining said winnings when said player has said win;

g. setting said winnings to the least of said automated player'"'"'s pool, said predetermined top-prize and said winnings;

h. adding said winnings to said player'"'"'s account and subtracting said winnings from said automated player'"'"'s pool;

i. displaying said wager, said automated player'"'"'s pool and said winnings for the benefit of said player; and

j. allowing said player to cashout said player'"'"'s account;

whereby said electronic gaming device allows said player to operate a pari-mutuel machine and to potentially receive said winnings not to exceed said automated player'"'"'s pool, which contains the total prior said wagers less the total prior said winnings.

21. A method of operating a pari-mutuel gaming system, comprising:

a. establishing at least one player'"'"'s account having a player'"'"'s account balance of zero, at least one shared player pool account having a player pool balance of zero and at least one shared paypot account having a paypot balance of zero, said paypot account being a subset of said player pool account, to facilitate the distribution of funds between said player'"'"'s account, said player pool account and said paypot account;

b. accepting an amount of player currency to increase a changing player'"'"'s account balance by said amount of player currency;

c. decreasing said changing player'"'"'s account balance by a wager amount, increasing at least one changing player pool balance by a predetermined player pool portion of said wager amount, and increasing said at least one changing paypot balance by a first predetermined paypot portion of said wager amount to said at least one changing pool balance to distribute said wager amount to said changing player pool account and said at least one changing paypot account, respectively;

d. determining a payout for at least one winning outcome of an individual game play during each game play time to allocate at least one award portion of said changing paypot balance corresponding to said winning outcome for enabling said player'"'"'s account balance to be increased by said award portion after a successful game play; and

e. detecting the occurrence of said at least one winning outcome to facilitate the transfer of said award portion corresponding to said at least one winning outcome from said at least one changing paypot account to said changing player'"'"'s account upon the occurrence of said successful game play, wherein said changing player'"'"'s account balance is increased by said award portion, said at least one changing player pool balance is decreased by said award portion and said at least one changing paypot balance is decreased by a second determined paypot portion of said award portion deducted from said at least one changing player pool balance.

22. A method according to claim 21, further including displaying said changing player'"'"'s account balance, said award portion, said changing pool balance and said at least one changing paypot balance to enable an exact determination thereof to be made.

23. A method according to claim 21, further including establishing at least one zeropot account corresponding to said paypot account having a zeropot balance of zero, allocating a predetermined zeropot portion of said wager amount to said zeropot balance, and increasing a changing zeropot balance by said zeropot portion of said wager amount to said changing player pool balance.

24. A method according to claim 23, further including establishing at least one paypot account as a jackpot account having a jackpot balance of zero, allocating said predetermined paypot portion as a jackpot portion of said wager amount to said jackpot balance, and increasing a changing jackpot balance by said jackpot portion of said wager amount to said changing player pool balance.

25. A method according to claim 24, further including establishing at least one paypot account as a symbolpot accouint having a symbolpot balance of zero, allocating said predetermined paypot portion as a symbolpot portion of said wager amount to said symbolpot balance, and increasing a changing symbolpot balance by said symbolpot portion of said wager amount to said changing player pool balance.

26. A method according to claim 25, further including establishing at least one sidepot account having a sidepot balance of zero, allocating a predetermined sidepot portion of said wager amount to said sidepot balance, and increasing a changing sidepot balance by said sidepot portion of said wager amount to said changing player pool balance.

27. A method according to claim 26, further including the display of a plurality of data including said player account balances, said award portions, said pool balances, said paypot balances, said zeropot balances, said jackpot balances, said symbolpot balances and said sidepot balances to enable an exact determination thereof to be made.

28. A method according to claim 27, further including accumulating all credits and debits charged to said player accounts, said player pool accounts, said paypot accounts, said zeropot accounts, said jackpot accounts, said symbolpot accounts and said sidepot accounts, determining a net total of said credits and debits for each said account, and displaying said credits, debits and net total thereon.

29. A summary display for all said accounts created according to the method of claim 28.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein said sidepot is a depository account for fees charged for the operating of said game including a house commission, rent and other fees which are not returned to said players in the form of said winnings.

31. A method according to claim 29, wherein said sidepot is a depository account to hold extraordinary winnings including special bonuses, jackpots and other special payouts which are to be paid to said players upon the occurrence of certain prespecified events.

32. A method of operating a pari-mutuel gaming system, comprising:

a. establishing a player'"'"'s account having a player'"'"'s account balance, a player pool account having a player pool balance and a rent account having a rent balance to facilitate the distribution of funds between said rent account;

b. accepting an amount of player currency to increase said player'"'"'s account balance by said player currency amount;

c. decreasing said player'"'"'s account balance by a wager amount, increasing said player pool balance by a player pool portion of said wager amount to a current player pool balance, and increasing said rent by a rent portion of said wager amount to said player pool account and said rent account, respectively;

d. determining a payout for winning outcomes of an individual game play during each game play time to allocate award portions of said current player pool balance to corresponding ones of said winning outcomes for enabling said player'"'"'s account balance to be increased by one of said award portions after a successful game play; and

e. detecting the occurrence of one of said winning outcomes to facilitate the transfer of said award portion corresponding to said one winning outcome from said player pool acount to said player'"'"'s account upon the occurrence of said successful game play, wherein said player'"'"'s account balance is increased by said award portion and said current player pool balance is decreased by said award portion.

33. A method according to claim 32 further including establishing a zeropot account having a zeropot balance, allocating a zeropot portion of said wager amount to said zeropot balance, and increasing said zeropot balance by said zeropot portion.

34. A method according to claim 33, further including establishing a jackpot pool account having a jackpot pool balance, and increasing said jackpot pool balance by a jackpot pool portion of said wager amount.

35. A method accoriding to claim 34, further incluing displaying said player'"'"'s account balance, said award portions and said player pool balance to enable an exact determination thereof to be made.

36. A method according to claim 35, further including accumulating all credits and debits charged to said player pool account, said zeropot account, said jackpot account and said rent account, determining a net total of said credits and debits, and creating a summary indicating said credits, debits and net total in currency form theron.