Amusement devices and games including means for processing electronic data where ultimate outcome of the game is dependent on relative odds of a card combination and/or where chance is a factor: expected biases such as long shot and favorite bias

• US 7,942,734 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Miller, Mark, Plott, Charles, Alderucci, Dean P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US12/367,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20100203940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 463 17- 22, 463 24- 29, 463/33, 463 42- 43, 463/16, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/141.A, 273/269, 273454-456, 273460-461
• US Class Current: 463/21
• 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 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

Games related to the provision of information are described. Games may be formulated to exploit biases such as long shot bias and favorite bias. Games related to the provision of information are described. Games may be formulated to exploit biases relating to the Monty Hall paradox. Games related to the provision of information are described. Games may include wagering on hands of cards, e.g., poker wagering games.

Claims

1. A method, the method comprising:

providing first information about a set of possible outcomes of an event to users of one or more gaming devices, wherein at least a part of the first information identifies a characteristic of a true outcome of the set of possible outcomes, wherein the true outcome comprises at least one of;

an outcome that has actually occurred, and

an outcome that will definitely occur;

receiving second information, the second information being based on at least first wagers placed by the users, the first wagers being placed following provision of the first information, wherein at least two of the first wagers are associated with at least one possible outcome of the set of possible outcomes;

determining, by one or more processors of one or more servers, a first set of likelihood values corresponding to the set of possible outcomes using the second information, wherein each likelihood value of the first set of likelihood values corresponds to a respective possible outcome of the set of possible outcomes, wherein the one or more servers are configured to communicate with the one or more gaming devices via a communications network;

determining, by the one or more processors, a second set of likelihood values based at least in part on the first set of likelihood values if one or more likelihood values of the first set of likelihood values are less than a first threshold value or greater than a second threshold value, wherein the first threshold value is different from the second threshold value, and wherein the first threshold value and the second threshold value are derived from user data regarding expected biases;

associating, by the one or more processors, the second set of likelihood values with at least two possible outcomes of the set of possible outcomes; and

providing third information based on the second set of likelihood values to at least two users of the users.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein providing the first information comprises:

providing, by the one or more processors, the first information; and

wherein receiving the second information comprises;

receiving, by the one or more processors, the second information; and

wherein providing the third information comprises;

providing, by the one or more processors, the third information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information is provided, and the third information is provided, by the one or more servers via the one or more gaming devices.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more gaming devices comprise one or more mobile gaming devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information comprises the first wagers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second information comprises:

accepting the first wagers from the users.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information comprises one or more pieces of information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more pieces of information respectively identify at least one of the characteristic of the true outcome, a second characteristic of the true outcome, or one or more other characteristics of one or more other true outcomes of the set of possible outcomes.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein providing the first information comprises:

providing at least one of the one or more pieces of information to the users.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein providing at least one of the one or more pieces of information comprises:

providing, by the one or more processors, a piece of information of the one or more pieces of information to at least one user of the users; and

providing, by the one or more processors, another piece of information of the one or more pieces of information to at least one other user;

wherein the piece of information is different from the another piece of information.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein providing at least one of the one or more pieces of information comprises:

providing the same piece of information of the one or more pieces of information to each user of the users.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein providing at least one of the one or more pieces of information comprises:

providing, by the one or more processors, a different piece of information of the one or more pieces of information to each user of the users.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first set of likelihood values corresponding to the set of possible outcomes using the second information comprises:

determining, by the one or more processors, total amounts of first wagers on possible outcomes of the set of possible outcomes from the second information; and

determining, by the one or more processors, the first set of likelihood values using the total amounts of first wagers.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the total amounts of first wagers comprise at least one of a number of first wagers or a currency amount of first wagers.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first set of likelihood values comprises at least one of a set of probabilities, a set of odds, a set of currency amounts, or a set of numbers of first wagers.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein each likelihood value of the first set of likelihood values comprises at least one of a probability, odds, a currency amount of first wagers placed on the respective possible outcome, or a number of first wagers placed on the respective possible outcome.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises a card game, and the first information comprises at least one of a number of a card, a suit of the card, or a color of the card.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the true outcome comprises information regarding whether one or more possible outcomes of the set of possible outcomes are not the true outcome.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the true outcome comprises information regarding whether one or more possible outcomes of the set of possible outcomes may be the true outcome.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the event comprises a card game, and the characteristic of the true outcome comprises at least one of a likelihood that a color is a color of a winning card of the card game, a likelihood that a suit is a suit of the winning card, a likelihood that a number is a number of the winning card, or a likelihood that a range of numbers comprises a number of the winning card.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after providing the first information, providing a reward to the users in return for the users placing the first wagers.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein providing the reward comprises:

providing, by the one or more processors, the reward.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein providing a reward comprises:

waiving a penalty for not placing the first wagers.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein providing a reward comprises:

reducing a premium of a future wager.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after providing the first information, assessing a premium to any user that does not place the first wager.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein assessing the premium comprises:

assessing, by the one or more processors, the premium.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein generating the additional first wagers comprises:

generating, by the one or more processors, the additional first wagers.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the premium comprises a price of one of the first wagers.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating additional first wagers; and

wherein the second information is based on the additional first wagers as well as on the first wagers placed by the users.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein generating the additional first wagers comprises:

generating the additional first wagers using at least one of computer programs or parameters input by one or more administrators.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein generating the additional first wagers comprises:

generating the additional first wagers using data about wagers previously accepted.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein generating the additional first wagers using data about wagers previously accepted comprises:

retrieving, by the one or more processors, a wager profile, the wager profile comprising a distribution of wagers accepted from one or more users in one or more previous rounds of wagering; and

generating, by the one or more processors, the additional first wagers using at least one of the wager profile, the distribution of wagers, wagers from the distribution of wagers, or trends observed from the wager profile.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein generating the additional first wagers comprises:

generating the additional first wagers using the first information.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the one or more processors, pseudo-wagers from internal processing;

using, by the one or more processors, the pseudo-wagers to supplement actual wagering by the users to create an appearance of wagering activity at variance with the actual wagering.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the at least two users with an opportunity to wager based on the third information, the opportunity to wager being provided at a premium relative to another opportunity to wager based on the second information and the first set of likelihood values.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein providing the at least two users with the opportunity to wager comprises:

providing, by the one or more processors, the at least two users with the opportunity to wager.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the third information comprises the second set of likelihood values.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises an event related to at least one of a card game, a slot game, a lottery game, a casino game, a race, or a sporting event.

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

games of chance;

a card game;

a slot game;

a dice game;

craps;

a lottery game;

a casino game;

a race;

a political contest;

a sporting contest;

a lottery;

bingo;

or

keno.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the sporting contest comprises at least one of:

a baseball game;

a football game; and

a basketball game.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the political contest comprises a United States Presidential election.

42. The method of claim 1, wherein the users comprise users of a wagering system.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the wagering system comprises a pari-mutuel wagering system.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein at least some other users of the wagering system do not receive the first information, wherein the at least two other users use at least two gaming devices other than the one or more gaming devices, and wherein the one or more servers are configured to communicate with the at least two gaming devices via a communications network.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein providing the first information comprises:

making the first information available to all users of the wagering system.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises a pari-mutuel game.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the pari-mutuel game comprises at least one of a card game, a slot game, a lottery game, a casino game, a race, or a sporting event.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises a non-pari-mutuel game.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises an intermediate outcome of an otherwise broader event.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the otherwise broader event comprises at least one of a card game, a lottery game, or a race;

and wherein the event respectively comprises at least one of the next card to be drawn in the card game, the next ball to be drawn in the lottery game, or the race participant that is leading in the race at a point prior to an end of the race.

51. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information comprises one or more pieces of information.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein not every user to whom the first information is provided places a first wager of the first wagers.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein the event comprises a horse race, and the first information comprises at least one of a color of a horse, an age of the horse, a number of the horse, or a breed of the horse.

54. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the true outcome comprises a positive indication of the true outcome.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the event comprises a card game, and the characteristic of the true outcome comprises at least one of a color of a winning card of the card game, a suit of the winning card, a number of the winning card, a range of numbers comprising the number of the winning card, or an identity of the next card to be drawn.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the event comprises a horse race, and the characteristic of the true outcome comprises at least one of a color of a winning horse of the horse race, an age of the winning horse, a number of the winning horse, or a breed of the winning horse.

57. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the true outcome comprises a negative indication of the true outcome.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the event comprises a card game, and the characteristic of the true outcome comprises at least one of a color that is not a color of the winning card of the card game, a suit that is not a suit of the winning card, a number that is not a number of the winning card, a range of numbers that do not comprise the number of the winning card, or a number that is not a number of the next card to be drawn.

59. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to providing the first information, assessing a premium to the users as compensation for the first information.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the premium comprises a price of one of the first wagers.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the premium comprises a wager credit, the wager credit being redeemed by placing a future wager.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the wager credit expires if the wager credit has not been redeemed by an expiration date.

63. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to providing the first information, receiving one or more indications from the users, the one or more indications being indicative of an intent to place a first wager.

64. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after providing the first information, providing one or more users of the users with an option not to place the first wager.

65. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to providing the first information, providing one or more users of the users with an option of placing the first wager without receiving the first information.

66. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one user of the users comprises a non-human entity participating on behalf of at least one of a human individual or an organization.

67. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two possible outcomes of the set of possible outcomes comprise combinations of one or more other possible outcomes of the set of possible outcomes.

68. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of likelihood values is not equal to the second set of likelihood values.

69. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the first information comprises:

making the first information available to the public.

70. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the first information comprises:

outputting the first information as at least one of audio information or visual information.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein outputting the first information comprises:

outputting the visual information to at least one of a continuously updating ticker system, a user display interface, a portable device, or one or more sheets of paper.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein outputting the first information comprises:

outputting the audio information to at least one of a loudspeaker, or an audio speaker of a device.

73. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the third information comprises:

making the third information available to the public.

74. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the third information comprises:

outputting the third information as at least one of audio information or visual information.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein outputting the third information comprises:

outputting the visual information to at least one of a continuously updating ticker system, a user display interface, a portable device, or one or more sheets of paper.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein outputting the third information comprises:

outputting the audio information to at least one of a loudspeaker, or an audio speaker of a device.

77. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

one or more processors, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with one or more gaming devices via a communications network; and

memory, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed, cause at least one of the one or more processors to;

provide first information about a set of possible outcomes of an event to users of the one or more gaming devices, wherein at least a part of the first information identifies a characteristic of a true outcome of the set of possible outcomes, wherein the true outcome comprises at least one of;

an outcome that has actually occurred, and

an outcome that will definitely occur;

receive second information, the second information being based on at least first wagers placed by the users, the first wagers being placed following provision of the first information, wherein at least two of the first wagers are associated with at least one possible outcome of the set of possible outcomes;

determine a first set of likelihood values corresponding to the set of possible outcomes using the second information, wherein each likelihood value of the first set of likelihood values corresponds to a respective possible outcome of the set of possible outcomes;

determine a second set of likelihood values based at least in part on the first set of likelihood values if one or more likelihood values of the first set of likelihood values are less than a first threshold value or greater than a second threshold value, wherein the first threshold value is different from the second threshold value, and wherein the first threshold value and the second threshold value are derived from user data regarding expected biases;

associate the second set of likelihood values with at least two possible outcomes of the set of possible outcomes; and

provide third information based on the second set of likelihood values to at least two users of the users.

78. A non-transitory tangible computer readable, medium, the non-transitory tangible computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor of one or more processors to:

provide first information about a set of possible outcomes of an event to users of one or more gaming devices, wherein at least a part of the first information identifies a characteristic of a true outcome of the set of possible outcomes, wherein the true outcome comprises at least one of;

an outcome that has actually occurred, and

an outcome that will definitely occur;

receive second information, the second information being based on at least first wagers placed by the users, the first wagers being placed following provision of the first information, wherein at least two of the first wagers are associated with at least one possible outcome of the set of possible outcomes;

determine a first set of likelihood values corresponding to the set of possible outcomes using the second information, wherein each likelihood value of the first set of likelihood values corresponds to a respective possible outcome of the set of possible outcomes;

determine a second set of likelihood values based at least in part on the first set of likelihood values if one or more likelihood values of the first set of likelihood values are less than a first threshold value or greater than a second threshold value, wherein the first threshold value is different from the second threshold value, and wherein the first threshold value and the second threshold value are derived from user data regarding expected biases;

associate the second set of likelihood values with at least two possible outcomes of the set of possible outcomes; and

provide third information based on the second set of likelihood values to at least two users of the users; and

wherein the one or more processors are configured to communicate with the one more gaming devices via a communications network.