Method of playing a knowledge based wagering game

• US 6,394,899 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen Tobin Walker
• Original Assignee: Stephen Tobin Walker
• Inventors: Walker, Stephen Tobin
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/430,812
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9,42 273/460 434/323,332,336
• US Class Current: 463/9
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3295 Games involving skill, e.g. dexterity, memory, thinking

Abstract

A knowledge based wagering game affords a plurality of players an opportunity to place a wager on the game. A sequential series of questions is displayed to each player who must select a correct answer from a plurality of possible answers within a predetermined period of time. The answers selected by each player are recorded and the players are ranked with respect to all of the other players based on the number of correct answers selected and the amount of time taken to select the answers. Under a pari-mutuel betting system payouts are made in accordance with the players'"'"' relative scores.

Claims

1. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game comprising:

identifying a knowledge based game to a plurality of individuals;

enrolling a plurality of the individuals as active players for the game whose subsequent scores form a universe of competing players;

affording each player an opportunity to place a wager on the game;

accepting the wager from each player to form a wager pool;

displaying to each player a sequential series of inquiries and providing a plurality of possible responses to each inquiry;

affording each player a predetermined period of time in which to select a response from the plurality of possible responses for each sequentially displayed inquiry;

recording the responses selected by each player and the time taken by each player to select each response to each inquiry;

determining each player'"'"'s ranking with respect to the universe of players;

displaying to all of the players each player'"'"'s ranking and any amount won by each player; and

paying out the amount won by each player.

2. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of:

setting a minimum and maximum wager before any of the players place a wager.

3. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the payout is commensurate to each of the players ranking with respect to each of the other players.

4. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the players are ranked by a point system assigned to each inquiry based on the amount of time required by each player to give a correct response to each inquiry.

5. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as set forth in claim 1, comprising the further step of:

advising each of the players when the game will begin.

6. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as set forth in claim 1, comprising the further step of:

advising each of the players of the total time required to play the game.

7. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of:

varying the length of time between inquiries.

8. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, including the further steps of:

assigning point values to each inquiry;

assigning points to players selecting the correct response in descending values based on the elapsed time taken to select the correct response;

totaling the points for each player at the end of the game;

ranking the players against the universe of active players; and

paying the players with the most points a proportionate share of the wager pool.

9. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 8, including the further step of:

penalizing players a predetermined number of points for selection of an incorrect response.

10. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of:

determining profile information for each player.

11. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

the profile information is demographic information.

12. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 10, including the further steps of:

creating different player skill levels based on the profile information; and

moving the players from one skill level to another based on each individual player'"'"'s skill level.

13. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of:

affording the plurality of players an opportunity to select a game category by a majority vote.

14. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, including the further steps of:

allowing at least some of the plurality of players to play as a team; and

requiring each team to place a separate wager for each member of that team.

15. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of:

providing wager options for each of the players.

16. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of:

identifying the number of players in each game to all of the other players enrolled in the game.

17. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering, game, as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of:

permitting each of the players to change one or more responses before the time period expires.

18. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, including the further steps of:

setting up a pari-mutuel handle from the aggregate wagers placed on each game by all of the players; and

determining the game operator'"'"'s share of the handle prior to payout to the players.

19. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 18, including the further step of:

adding sponsor fees to the handle before determining the payout to the operator and the players.

20. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 18, including the further step of:

adding advertising fees to the handle before determining the payout to the operator and the players.

21. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the inquiry is a question;

the plurality of possible responses is a plurality of possible answers; and

the response selected by each of the players is an answer selected from the plurality of possible answers.

22. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the inquiry is an answer to a question;

the plurality of possible responses is a plurality of possible questions; and

the response selected by each of the players is a question selected from the plurality of possible questions.

23. A method of playing a knowledge based wagering game, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the inquiry is a partial word, phrase or symbol;

the plurality of possible responses is a plurality of possible letters and/or symbols for completing the partial word, phrase or symbol; and

the response selected by each of the players is one of the plurality of possible letters and/or symbols selected from the plurality of possible letters and/or symbols.