Roulette game based on results from a sporting event

• US 7,566,268 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Lutnick, Howard W., Asher, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pierce; Damon J.
• Application Number:
  US11/623,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20070184888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/1, 463/6, 463/17, 463/22, 463/25, 463/28, 463 40- 41, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

An input, such as a result of a roulette spin, to a roulette game is determined from one or more event results from a sporting event. A result of the roulette game is based at least on the determined input.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user a bet on a roulette game;

receiving at least one event result of a sporting event that comprises a total number of participants;

a computing apparatus selecting from a memory device a set of rules, from a plurality of sets of rules, based at least in part on the total number of participants in the sporting event;

wherein the plurality of sets of rules are used for determining, based on event results of sporting events, outcomes that represent simulated roulette spins, the outcomes comprising at least one of;

numerical values, and

colors,

wherein at least a first set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules are used for determining outcomes based on sporting events that have a first total number of participants;

wherein at least a second set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules are used for determining outcomes based on sporting events that have a second total number of participants, and

wherein the first total number of participants is different from the second total number of participants;

the computing apparatus using the selected set of rules to determine, based at least in part on the at least one event result, at least one outcome that represents a simulated roulette spin; and

determining a result of the bet on the roulette game based at least in part on the at least one outcome.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sporting event comprises at least one of:

a race event,

a horse race,

a dog race,

an automobile race,

a baseball game,

a basketball game,

a football game,

a soccer game,

a hockey game,

a jai alia game, and

a cricket match.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the sporting event comprises a race event having the total number of participants, each participant comprising a numerical identifier;

and

wherein the at least one event result comprises the numerical identifier of the participant that is in first place at a certain point during the race event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the set of rules comprises selecting the set of rules after receiving the one or more event results.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein the sporting event is one of a plurality of sporting events;

and

wherein the method further comprises the steps of;

the computing apparatus determining the one sporting event from the plurality of sporting events; and

in response to receiving the bet from the user, the computing apparatus assigning the bet to the one sporting event such that the result of the bet is based at least in part on the event results of the one sporting event.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein each of the plurality of sporting events has a respective scheduled start time;

and

wherein determining the one sporting event and assigning the bet comprises;

determining that the scheduled start time of the one sporting event as compared to the plurality of sporting events is next in time relative to a time that the bet is placed; and

assigning the bet to the one sporting event based at least in part on determining that the scheduled start time of the one sporting event as compared to the plurality of sporting events is next in time relative to the time that the bet is placed.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the one sporting event comprises determining the one sporting event from the plurality of sporting events based at least in part on at least one of:

a type of the one sporting event,

the total number of participants in the one sporting event,

a completion time of the one sporting event,

an approximate duration of the one sporting event, and

when official results of the one sporting event are posted.

8. The method of claim 5,

wherein each of the plurality of sporting events has a respective total number of participants;

and

wherein determining the one sporting event and assigning the bet comprises;

determining, from among the plurality of sporting events, that the total number of participants of the one sporting event is of at least a predetermined amount; and

assigning the bet to the one sporting event based at least in part on determining that the total number of participants of the one sporting event is of at least the predetermined amount.

9. The method of claim 5,

wherein each of the plurality of sporting events has a respective scheduled start time and a respective total number of participants;

and

wherein determining the one sporting event and assigning the bet comprises;

determining, from among the plurality of sporting events, that the one sporting event, relative to a time that the bet is placed, is a next sporting event scheduled to start that has a respective total number of participants of at least a predetermined amount; and

assigning the bet to the one sporting event based at least in part on the determination.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of displaying to the user via a client device an indication that the user'"'"'s bet is assigned to the determined sporting event.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the sporting event comprises a race event having the total number of participants and a plurality of finishing positions;

each of the participants in the race event comprises a numerical identifier; and

the at least one event result comprises;

(a) the numerical identifier of at least one participant, and

(b) the finishing position of the at least one participant in the race event.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining a payout for the bet when the result of the bet on the roulette game comprises a win.

13. The method of claim 1,

wherein the selected set of rules define how to determine the result of the bet on the roulette game given the at least one outcome;

and

wherein determining the result of the bet on the roulette game comprises

14. The method of claim 1, wherein using the selected set of rules to determine the at least one outcome comprises using the selected set of rules and at least one parameter associated with the bet to determine the at least one outcome.

15. The method of claim 14,

wherein the at least one parameter associated with the bet comprises at least one finishing position in a race;

and

wherein the at least one finishing position is selected by the user.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one parameter associated with the bet comprises at least one finishing position in a race;

and

wherein the at least one finishing position is determined randomly by the computing apparatus.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the sporting event comprises a race event having the total number of participants and a plurality of finishing positions, each participant comprising a numerical identifier;

the at least one parameter associated with the bet comprises an indication of at least one finishing position; and

using the selected set of rules to determine the at least one outcome comprises using the selected set of rules to determine the at least one outcome based at least in part on the numerical identifier of the participant that finished the race event in the at least one finishing position indicated by the at least one parameter associated with the bet.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein:

at least one parameter is associated with the bet;

the sporting event comprises a race event having the total number of participants and a plurality of finishing positions, each participant comprising a numerical identifier;

the at least one parameter associated with the bet comprises an indication of at least one finishing position;

the selected set of rules comprises a set of relationships, each relationship comprising a correlation between a possible outcome that represents a simulated roulette spin and at least one numerical identifier of a participant in the race event; and

using the selected set of rules to determine the at least one outcome comprises;

based at least in part on the at least one finishing position indicated by the at least one parameter associated with the bet, determining the at least one numerical identifier that corresponds to the at least one participant that finished the race event in the at least one finishing position; and

determining, based at least in part on the set of relationships and the at least one determined numerical identifier, the at least one outcome.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one outcome comprises at least one color.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the least one outcome comprises at least one numerical value.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the result of the bet comprises one of:

a win, and

a loss.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the bet on the roulette game comprises at least one of:

a bet that the at least one outcome will be a specific color as specified by the user,

a bet that the at least one outcome will be a specific number as specified by the user, and

a bet that the at least one outcome will be one of a plurality of numbers as specified by the user, wherein the plurality of numbers are non-consecutive numbers.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the bet on the roulette game comprises at least one of:

a bet that the at least one outcome will be a specific color as specified by the user,

a bet that the at least one outcome will be a specific number as specified by the user,

a bet that the at least one outcome will be one of two numbers as specified by the user,

a bet that the at least one outcome will be one of three numbers as specified by the user,

a bet that the at least one outcome will be one of four numbers as specified by the user,

a bet that the at least one outcome will be one of twelve numbers as specified by the user, and

a bet that the at least one outcome will be one of an odd number and an even number, as specified by the user.

24. The method of claim 1,

wherein the bet on the roulette game comprises a type of bet;

and

wherein the type of bet comprises at least one of;

a column bet, and

a dozen bet.

25. The method of claim 1,

wherein the bet from the user comprises a first bet from a first user;

wherein the at least one outcome comprises at least one first outcome; and

wherein the method further comprises the steps of;

receiving from a second user a second bet on a roulette game;

the computing apparatus using the selected set of rules to determine, based at least in part on the at least one event result, at least one second outcome that represents a simulated roulette spin; and

determining a result of the second bet based at least in part on the at least one second outcome.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the result of the first bet is the same as the result of the second bet.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the result of the first bet is different from the result of the second bet.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the one first outcome and the one second outcome are the same.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the one first outcome and the one second outcome are different.

30. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device electronically coupled to the at least one processor, in which the memory device stores instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to at least;

receive from a user a bet on a roulette game;

receive at least one event result of a sporting event that comprises a total number of participants;

select a set of rules, from a plurality of sets of rules, based at least in part on the total number of participants in the sporting event,

wherein the plurality of sets of rules are used for determining, based on event results of sporting events, outcomes that represent simulated roulette spins, the outcomes comprising at least one of;

numerical values, and

colors,

wherein at least a first set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules are used for determining outcomes based on sporting events that have a first total number of participants,

wherein at least a second set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules are used for determining outcomes based on sporting events that have a second total number of participants, and

wherein the first total number of participants is different from the second total number of participants;

use the selected set of rules to determine, based at least in part on the at least one event result, at least one outcome that represents a simulated roulette spin; and

determine a result of the bet on the roulette game based at least in part on the at least one outcome.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to at least determine a payout for the bet when the result of the bet on the roulette game comprises a win.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the bet on the roulette game comprises at least one of:

a bet that the at least one outcome will be a specific color as specified by the user,

a bet that the at least one outcome will be a specific number as specified by the user, and

a bet that the at least one outcome will be one of a plurality of numbers as specified by the user, wherein the plurality of numbers are non-consecutive numbers.

33. The apparatus of claim 30,

wherein the bet on the roulette game comprises a type of bet;

and

wherein the type of bet comprises at least one of;

a column bet, and

a dozen bet.

34. The apparatus of claim 30,

wherein the sporting event is one of a plurality of sporting events;

and

wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to at least;

determine the one sporting event from the plurality of sporting events; and

in response to receiving the bet from the user, assign the bet to the one sporting event such that the result of the bet is based at least in part on the event results of the one sporting event.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to at least display to the user via a client device an indication that the user'"'"'s bet is assigned to the determined sporting event.

36. The apparatus of claim 34,

wherein each of the plurality of sporting events has a respective scheduled start time;

and

wherein to determine the one sporting event and assign the bet comprises to;

determine that the scheduled start time of the one sporting event as compared to the plurality of sporting events is next in time relative to a time that the bet is placed; and

assign the bet to the one sporting event based at least in part on determining that the scheduled start time of the one sporting event as compared to the plurality of sporting events is next in time relative to the time that the bet is placed.

37. The apparatus of claim 34,

wherein each of the plurality of sporting events has a respective total number of participants;

and

wherein to determine the one sporting event and assign the bet comprises to;

determine, from among the plurality of sporting events, that the total number of participants of the one sporting event is of at least a predetermined amount; and

assign the bet to the one sporting event based at least in part on determining that the total number of participants of the one sporting event is of at least the predetermined amount.

38. The apparatus of claim 34,

wherein each of the plurality of sporting events has a respective scheduled start time and a respective total number of participants;

and

wherein to determine the one sporting event and assign the bet comprises to;

determine, from among the plurality of sporting events, that the one sporting event, relative to a time that the bet is placed, is a next sporting event scheduled to start that has a respective total number of participants of at least a predetermined amount; and

assign the bet to the one sporting event based at least in part on the determination.

39. A method, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a user a bet on a roulette game;

a computing apparatus determining a one sporting event from a plurality of sporting events;

in response to receiving from the user the bet on the roulette game, the computing apparatus assigning the bet to the determined sporting event such that a result of the bet on the roulette game is based at least in part on event results of the determined sporting event;

receiving at least one event result of the determined sporting event;

the computing apparatus obtaining from a memory device a set of rules, from a plurality of sets of rules,

wherein the plurality of sets of rules are used for determining, based on event results of sporting events, outcomes that represent simulated roulette spins, the outcomes comprising at least one of;

numerical values, and

colors,

wherein at least a first set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules are used for determining outcomes based on sporting events that have a first total number of participants,

wherein at least a second set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules are used for determining outcomes based on sporting events that have a second total number of participants, and

wherein the first total number of participants is different from the second total number of participants;

the computing apparatus using the obtained set of rules to determine, based at least in part on the at least one event result, at least one outcome that represents a simulated roulette spin; and

determining the result of the bet on the roulette game based at least in part on the at least one outcome.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of determining a payout for the bet when the result of the bet on the roulette game comprises a win.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the bet on the roulette game comprises at least one of:

a bet that the at least one outcome will be a specific color as specified by the user,

a bet that the at least one outcome will be a specific number as specified by the user, and

a bet that the at least one outcome will be one of a plurality of numbers as specified by the user, wherein the plurality of numbers are non-consecutive numbers.

42. The method of claim 39,

wherein the bet on the roulette game comprises a type of bet;

and

wherein the type of bet comprises at least one of;

a column bet, and

a dozen bet.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of displaying to the user via a client device an indication that the user'"'"'s bet is assigned to the determined sporting event.

44. The method of claim 39,

wherein each of the plurality of sporting events has a respective scheduled start time;

and

wherein determining the one sporting event and assigning the bet comprises;

determining that the scheduled start time of the one sporting event as compared to the plurality of sporting events is next in time relative to a time that the bet is placed; and

assigning the bet to the one sporting event based at least in part on determining that the scheduled start time of the one sporting event as compared to the plurality of sporting events is next in time relative to the time that the bet is placed.

45. The method of claim 39,

wherein each of the plurality of sporting events has a respective total number of participants;

and

wherein determining the one sporting event and assigning the bet comprises;

determining, from among the plurality of sporting events, that the total number of participants of the one sporting event is of at least a predetermined amount; and

assigning the bet to the one sporting event based at least in part on determining that the total number of participants of the one sporting event is of at least the predetermined amount.

46. The method of claim 39,

wherein each of the plurality of sporting events has a respective scheduled start time and a respective total number of participants;

and

wherein determining the one sporting event and assigning the bet comprise;

determining, from among the plurality of sporting events, that the one sporting event, relative to a time that the bet is placed, is a next sporting event scheduled to start that has a respective total number of participants of at least a predetermined amount; and

assigning the bet to the one sporting event based at least in part on the determination.

47. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device electronically coupled to the at least one processor, in which the memory device stores instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to at least;

receive from a user a bet on a roulette game;

determine a one sporting event from a plurality of sporting events;

in response to receiving from the user the bet on the roulette game, assign the bet to the determined sporting event such that a result of the bet on the roulette game is based at least in part on event results of the determined sporting event;

receive at least one event result of the determined sporting event;

obtain a set of rules, from a plurality of sets of rules,

wherein the plurality of sets of rules are used for determining, based on event results of sporting events, outcomes that represent simulated roulette spins, the outcomes comprising at least one of;

numerical values, and

colors,

wherein at least a first set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules are used for determining outcomes based on sporting events that have a first total number of participants,

wherein at least a second set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules are used for determining outcomes based on sporting events that have a second total number of participants, and

wherein the first total number of participants is different from the second total number of participants;

use the obtained set of rules to determine, based at least in part on the at least one event result, at least one outcome that represents a simulated roulette spin; and

determine a result of the bet on the roulette game based at least in part on the at least one outcome.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to at least determine a payout for the bet when the result of the bet on the roulette game comprises a win.

49. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the bet on the roulette game comprises at least one of:

a bet that the at least one outcome will be a specific color as specified by the user,

a bet that the at least one outcome will be a specific number as specified by the user, and

a bet that the at least one outcome will be one of a plurality of numbers as specified by the user, wherein the plurality of numbers are non-consecutive numbers.

50. The apparatus of claim 47,

wherein the bet on the roulette game comprises a type of bet;

and

wherein the type of bet comprises at least one of;

a column bet, and

a dozen bet.

51. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to at least display to the user via a client device an indication that the user'"'"'s bet is assigned to the determined sporting event.

52. The apparatus of claim 47,

wherein each of the plurality of sporting events has a respective scheduled start time;

and

wherein to determine the one sporting event and assign the bet comprises to;

determine that the scheduled start time of the one sporting event as compared to the plurality of sporting events is next in time relative to a time that the bet is placed; and

assign the bet to the one sporting event based at least in part on determining that the scheduled start time of the one sporting event as compared to the plurality of sporting events is next in time relative to the time that the bet is placed.

53. The apparatus of claim 47,

wherein each of the plurality of sporting events has a respective total number of participants;

and

wherein to determine the one sporting event and assign the bet comprises to;

determine, from among the plurality of sporting events, that the total number of participants of the one sporting event is of at least a predetermined amount; and

assign the bet to the one sporting event based at least in part on determining that the total number of participants of the one sporting event is of at least the predetermined amount.

54. The apparatus of claim 47,

wherein each of the plurality of sporting events has a respective scheduled start time and a respective total number of participants;

and

wherein to determine the one sporting event and assign the bet comprises to;

determine, from among the plurality of sporting events, that the one sporting event, relative to a time that the bet is placed, is a next sporting event scheduled to start that has a respective total number of participants of at least a predetermined amount; and

assign the bet to the one sporting event based at least in part on the determination.