System and method for generating and placing combination bets

• US 8,337,294 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Entain Marketing Limited
• Original Assignee: PartyGaming IA Limited (Entain Plc)
• Inventors: Sharkov, Alexander, Uzunova, Rumyana, Maerz, Michael, Barnard, Damon
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US12/884,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20120071223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A method and system for generating and receiving a combination bet may include presenting a plurality of betting events in a display resembling a slot machine. In one embodiment, the user may place a total wager for a combination bet prior to knowing what the betting events are. Placing the bet may “spin” the reels to randomly generate a plurality of betting events, and success in the combination bet may require that each individual bet is a winner. In another embodiment, the user may be able to “spin” the reels prior to placing the bet. Betting events still may be randomly generated, but the user may have the ability to select the events on which to wager. Events may comprise in-live sporting events, and the user may have the ability to select various event features, such as the type of events displayed and the odds for each event, in order to customize the betting experience to the user'"'"'s interests and risk tolerance.

Claims

1. A method for generating and receiving a combination bet, the method implemented on one or more computer including one or more processors, the method comprising:

establishing a plurality of betting events;

receiving, via a user interface operatively coupled to the one or more computers, a total wager amount;

randomly selecting a subset of said plurality of betting events;

verifying, via at least one of said processors, that each event in said subset has not occurred;

accepting said combination bet; and

determining, via at least one of said processors, whether said combination bet is a winner.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying said subset to a user as entries in a plurality of slot machine-type reels.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said determining step comprises:

determining whether each event in said subset is a winner.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said establishing step comprises:

receiving a user-defined list of betting event categories;

cross-checking available betting events with said categories; and

selecting available betting events matching said categories.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said establishing step comprises:

receiving a user-defined range of acceptable odds for each event;

cross-checking odds for each available betting event with said range; and

selecting available betting events falling within said range.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

updating odds for each available betting event;

cross-checking said updated odds for each available betting event with said range; and

updating said plurality of betting events to include events with updated odds falling within said range and to remove events with update odds falling outside said range.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

indicating a status of each event in said subset; and

displaying an update to said status when said status changes.

8. A method operable on one or more computers, each computer including a processor, for generating and receiving a combination bet, comprising:

establishing a plurality of betting events;

randomly selecting, via a processor, a first subset of events from said plurality of betting events;

displaying said first subset of events to a user on a screen operatively coupled to a computer;

processing, via a processor, a request from said user to keep or discard one or more events within said subset;

randomly selecting, via a processor, a second subset of events from said plurality of betting events;

replacing discarded events with said second subset of events;

establishing a combination bet comprising kept events from said first subset and said second subset; and

receiving a wager for said combination bet.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said displaying step comprises:

displaying a plurality of slot-machine-like reels; and

inserting a separate event from said first subset in each of said reels.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said selecting steps comprise:

cycling between potential betting events to imitate spinning slot machine reels.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

calculating odds for said combination bet;

calculating a possible payout for said combination bet; and

displaying said wager, said odds, and said possible payout.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein said selecting steps comprise:

verifying that each event in said subsets does not conflict with any other event in said subsets.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein said selecting steps comprise:

verifying that each event in said subsets is not a duplicate of any other event in said subsets.

14. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

displaying odds for each event in said first subset and said second subset; and

updating said odds substantially in real time.

15. A method according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of betting events are ongoing sporting events.

16. A system for generating and receiving a combination bet, comprising:

a user interface for displaying a plurality of betting events, wherein said events are arranged to resemble a plurality of slot machine reels, and a combination bet comprises combining a bet from each reel such that the system is configured for a combination bet to be successful if each bet for each of said events is successful;

said user interface further comprising;

a toggle for adjusting a bet amount and status indicators for each displayed betting event; and

a database for storing information relating to said plurality of betting events.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein, for each event, said information comprises:

an event identifier, an event-type identifier, event participants, and odds for said event.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said system is configured to update said odds substantially in real time.

19. A system according to claim 16, said user interface further comprising:

a user-selectable list of event types, wherein said displayed plurality of betting events have an event type matching a user-selected event type.

20. A system according to claim 16, wherein said system is configured to update said status identifiers to reflect a win or a loss as each betting event is resolved.