System and method for mapping results from sporting events to game inputs

• US 7,637,807 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• 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): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed; Masud
• Application Number:
  US10/836,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20050245306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,070 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 463/25
• US Class Current: 463/19
• 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

A method of mapping sporting event results to inputs for a game is provided. One or more event results of a particular sporting event having a particular number of participants are received, and a set of rules is selected from a plurality of sets of rules based on the particular number of participants in the particular sporting event. For each of a plurality of bets, one or more inputs for a game are determined by applying the selected set of rules to the received one or more event results of the particular sporting event. The result of the game is then determined for each of the plurality of bets based at least on the one or more determined inputs for that bet.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving by a computing system from a plurality users via client devices in use by the users a plurality of bets on a game, wherein the computing system and client devices are communicatively coupled via a communications network;

receiving by the computing system one or more event results of a particular sporting event;

selecting by the computing system, based on a total number of participants in the particular sporting event, a set of rules from a plurality of sets of rules stored in a memory,

in which the plurality of sets of rules are used for mapping event results of sporting events to inputs for the game,

in which at least a first set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules is used for mapping event results of sporting events having a first total number of participants,

in which at least a second set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules is used for mapping event results of sporting events having a second total number of participants, and

in which the first total number of participants is different from the second total number of participants;

for the plurality of bets, using by the computing system the selected set of rules to map the received one or more event results of the particular sporting event to one or more inputs for the respective games,

in which the one or more inputs for the respective games are not the received one or more event results of the particular sporting event; and

for each of the plurality of bets, determining by the computing system a result of the game based at least on the one or more inputs for the game for that bet.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the game comprises one of the following casino games:

craps;

blackjack;

roulette;

slots;

keno;

baccarat;

war;

money wheel; and

poker.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the particular sporting event comprises a plurality of finishing positions;

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

the one or more event results comprise the numerical identifier of a participant finishing in a respective one of the finishing positions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular sporting event is one of a plurality of sporting events;

wherein at least two of the plurality of sporting events comprise a different total number of participants; and

wherein the method further comprises determining by the computing system the particular sporting event from the plurality of sporting events such that the result of the game for each bet is based on the particular sporting event.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the particular sporting event from the plurality of sporting events comprises determining by the computing system the particular sporting event based at least on times that the plurality of bets were placed.

6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising determining by the computing system for each of the plurality of bets whether the result of the game comprises a winning bet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more inputs for the game are the same for each of the plurality of bets.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein using the selected set of rules comprises using by the computing system for each bet the selected set of rules and one or more bet parameters associated with that bet to map the received one or more event results of the particular sporting event to the one or more inputs for the game.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more bet parameters associated with a particular bet comprise at least one parameter selected by the user who placed the bet.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more bet parameters associated with a particular bet comprise at least one parameter determined randomly.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the particular sporting event comprises a plurality of finishing positions;

each of the participants in the particular sporting event comprises a numerical identifier;

the one or more bet parameters associated with each bet comprise an indication of one or more finishing positions in the particular sporting event;

the one or more event results comprise the numerical identifier of the participant finishing in a respective one or more of the finishing positions in the particular sporting event; and

for each bet using the selected set of rules comprises;

determining by the computing system based on the one or more event results the numerical identifier of the participant that finished in each of the one or more finishing positions indicated by the one or more bet parameters associated with that bet; and

using by the computing system the selected set of rules to map the determined one or more numerical identifiers to the one or more inputs for the game.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more event results of the particular sporting event are neither random nor predictable.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more event results comprise at least one of:

a result corresponding to a completion of the particular sporting event, and

a result corresponding to an event during a duration of the particular sporting event.

26. The method of claim 1,

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

and

wherein the method further comprises;

determining by the computing system the particular sporting event from the plurality of sporting events such that the result of the game for each bet is based on the determined sporting event.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the particular sporting event from the plurality of sporting events comprises determining by the computing system the particular sporting event based on a type of the particular sporting event.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the type comprises at least one of:

a team type sport, and

a race type sport.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the type comprises at least one of:

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 alai game, and

a cricket match.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the particular sporting event from the plurality of sporting events comprises determining by the computing system the particular sporting event based on the total number of participants in the particular sporting event.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the particular sporting event from the plurality of sporting events comprises determining by the computing system the particular sporting event based on at least one of:

a scheduled start time of the particular sporting event,

a completion time of the particular sporting event, and

when official results of the particular sporting event will be posted.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the particular sporting event from the plurality of sporting events comprises determining by the computing system the particular sporting event based on a type of the game.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein determining the particular sporting event comprises determining by the computing system, after receiving the plurality of bets, the particular sporting event from the plurality of sporting events.

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

35. The method of claim 1, wherein for at least two of the plurality of bets at least one of the one or more inputs between the at least two bets is different.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of bets at least one of the one or more inputs for the game for that bet comprises at least one of:

a simulated dice roll,

a simulated selection of a playing card,

a simulated roulette spin,

a simulated spin of a slot machine reel,

a simulated spin of a money wheel, and

a simulated selection of a numbered ball from a hopper.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of bets the result of the game comprises at least one of:

a win,

a loss,

a push, and

no action.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the selected set of rules comprises an indication of how to determine one or more results of the game, and wherein for at least one of the plurality of bets determining the result of the game comprises using by the computing system the selected set of rules to determine the result of the game.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein for each of the plurality of bets the result of the game is the same.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein for at least two of the plurality of bets the result of the game is different.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising for each of the plurality of bets, determining by the computing system a payout when the result of the game for that bet comprises a win.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the selected set of rules further comprises an indication of how to determine one or more payouts for the game, and wherein for at least one of the plurality of bets determining the payout comprises using by the computing system the selected set of rules to determine the payout.

43. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving by the computing system a second plurality of bets on a second game;

for the second plurality of bets, using by the computing system another set of rules to map the received one or more event results of the particular sporting event to one or more inputs for the respective second games; and

for each of the second plurality of bets, determining by the computing system a result of the second game based at least on the one or more inputs for the second game for that bet.

63. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining by the computing system for each of the plurality of bets a payout when the result of the game for that bet comprises a win.

12. A system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory electronically coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the memory stores;

a plurality of sets of rules,

in which the plurality of sets of rules are used for mapping event results of sporting events to inputs for a game,

in which at least a first set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules is used for mapping event results of sporting events having a first total number of participants,

in which at least a second set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules is used for mapping event results of sporting events having a second total number of participants, and

in which the first total number of participants is different from the second total number of participants; and

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

receive a plurality of bets on the game;

receive one or more event results of a particular sporting event;

select from the memory a set of rules from the plurality of sets of rules based on a total number of participants in the particular sporting event;

for the plurality of bets, use the selected set of rules to map the received one or more event results of the particular sporting event to one or more inputs for the respective games,

in which the one or more inputs for the respective games are not the received one or more event results of the particular sporting event; and

for each of the plurality of bets, determine a result of the game based at least on the one or more inputs for the game for that bet.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the game comprises one of the following casino games:

craps;

blackjack;

roulette;

slots;

keno;

baccarat;

war;

money wheel; and

poker.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the particular sporting event comprises a plurality of finishing positions;

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

the one or more event results comprise the numerical identifier of a participant finishing in a respective one of the finishing positions.

15. The system of claim 12,

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

wherein at least two of the plurality of sporting events comprise a different total number of participants; and

wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to determine the particular sporting event from the plurality of sporting events such that the result of the game for each bet is based on the particular sporting event.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein to determine the particular sporting event from the plurality of sporting events comprises to determine the particular sporting event based at least on times that the plurality of bets were placed.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to determine for each of the plurality of bets whether the result of the game comprises a winning bet.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more inputs for the game are the same for each of the plurality of bets.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein to use the selected set of rules comprises to use for each bet the selected set of rules and one or more bet parameters associated with that bet to map the received one or more results of the particular sporting event to the one or more inputs for the game.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more bet parameters associated with a particular bet comprise at least one parameter selected by a user who placed the bet.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the one or more bet parameters associated with a particular bet comprise at least one parameter determined randomly.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the particular sporting event comprises a race event having a plurality of finishing positions;

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

the one or more bet parameters associated with each bet comprise an indication of one or more finishing positions in the race event;

the one or more event results comprise the numerical identifier of the participant finishing in a respective one or more finishing positions in the race event; and

for each bet to use the selected set of rules comprises;

to determine based on the one or more event results the numerical identifier of the participant that finished in each of the one or more finishing positions indicated by the one or more bet parameters associated with that bet; and

to use the selected set of rules to map the determined one or more numerical identifiers to the one or more inputs for the game.

24. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more event results of the particular sporting event are neither random nor predictable.

44. The system of claim 12,

wherein the particular 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 determine the particular sporting event from the plurality of sporting events such that the result of the game for each bet is based on the determined sporting event.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein to determine the particular sporting event comprises to determine, after receiving the plurality of bets, the particular sporting event from the plurality of sporting events.

46. The system of claim 12, wherein to select the set of rules comprises to select the set of rules after receiving the one or more event results.

64. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to determine for each of the plurality of bets a payout when the result of the game for that bet comprises a win.

47. A method, comprising:

receiving by a computing system from a user via a client device in use by the user a bet on a game, wherein the computing system and the client device are communicatively coupled via a communications network;

receiving by the computing system one or more event results of a sporting event;

selecting by the computing system, based on a total number of participants in the sporting event, a set of rules from a plurality of sets of rules stored in a memory,

in which the plurality of sets of rules are used for mapping event results of sporting events to inputs for the game,

in which at least a first set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules is used for mapping event results of sporting events having a first total number of participants;

in which at least a second set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules is used for mapping event results of sporting events having a second total number of participants, and

in which the first total number of participants is different from the second total number of participants;

using by the computing system the selected set of rules to map the received one or more event results of the sporting event to one or more inputs for the game,

in which the one or more inputs for the game are not the received one or more event results of the sporting event; and

determining by the computing system a result of the game for the bet based at least on the one or more inputs for the game.

48. The method of claim 47,

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

and

wherein the method further comprises determining by the computing system the sporting event from the plurality of sporting events such that the result of the game for the bet is based on the determined sporting event.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein determining the sporting event from the plurality of sporting events comprises determining by the computing system the sporting event based on a type of the sporting event.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein determining the sporting event from the plurality of sporting events comprises determining by the computing system the sporting event based on the total number of participants in the sporting event.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein determining the sporting event from the plurality of sporting events comprises determining by the computing system the sporting event based on at least one of:

a scheduled start time of the sporting event,

a completion time of the sporting event, and

when official results of the sporting event will be posted.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein determining the sporting event from the plurality of sporting events comprises determining by the computing system the sporting event based on a type of the game.

53. The method of claim 48,

wherein the bet comprises a type of bet;

and

wherein determining the sporting event from the plurality of sporting events comprises determining by the computing system the sporting event based on the type of bet.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the type of bet comprises a predicted outcome of the game.

55. The method of claim 48, wherein determining the sporting event comprises determining by the computing system, after receiving the bet, the sporting event from the plurality of sporting events.

56. The method of claim 47, wherein selecting the set of rules comprises selecting by the computing system the set of rules after receiving the one or more event results.

57. The method of claim 47, wherein the bet comprises one or more bet parameters, and wherein using the selected set of rules comprises using by the computing system the selected set of rules and the one or more bet parameters to map the received one or more event results to the one or more inputs for the game.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the one or more bet parameters comprise an indication of one or more finishing positions in the sporting event.

59. The method of claim 47, wherein the selected set of rules comprises an indication of how to determine one or more results of the game;

wherein the one or more results of the game comprise at least one of;

a win,

a loss,

a push, and

no action; and

wherein determining the result of the game for the bet comprises using by the computing system the selected set of rules to determine the result of the game.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the selected set of rules further comprises an indication of how to determine one or more payouts for the game, the method further comprising using by the computing system the selected set of rules to determine a payout for the bet when the result of the game for the bet comprises a win.

62. The method of claim 48, wherein determining the sporting event from the plurality of sporting events comprises determining by the computing system the sporting event based on a time that the bet was placed.

65. The method of claim 47, further comprising determining by the computing system a payout for the bet when the result of the game comprises a win.

61. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

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

receive a bet on a game;

receive one or more event results of a sporting event;

select, based on a total number of participants in the sporting event, a set of rules from a plurality of sets of rules stored in a memory,

in which the plurality of sets of rules are used for mapping event results of sporting events to inputs for the game,

in which at least a first set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules is used for mapping event results of sporting events having a first total number of participants;

in which at least a second set of rules of the plurality of sets of rules is used for mapping event results of sporting events having a second total number of participants, and

in which the first total number of participants is different from the second total number of participants;

use the selected set of rules to map the received one or more event results of the sporting event to one or more inputs for the game,

in which the one or more inputs for the game are not the received one or more event results of the sporting event;

determine a result of the game for the bet based at least on the one or more inputs for the game; and

determine a payout for the bet when the result of the game comprises a win.