Wagering on event outcomes during the event

• US 9,076,305 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CG Technology Development, LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Garrood, Anthony Storm, Foster Barton, Heather Parks, Lee Amaitis, Mike Colbert, Thomas D. Bradshaw
• Inventors: Storm, Anthony, Bradshaw, Thomas D., Parks, Heather, Barton, Foster, Colbert, Mike, Garrood, Andrew, Amaitis, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan, James S
• Application Number:
  US13/612,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20130157735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 463/21, 463/25, 463/29, 463/30, 463/31, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• 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 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for managing a wagering system. In one exemplary embodiment, state information of a live event such as a sports game may be received in real time. During the event, a plurality of possible future states of the event and their associated probabilities (and odds) may be determined based on the state information, historical information, and current in-game information. A betting market is created for betting on the possible future states at determined odds. The betting market is closed, and winning and losing bets are resolved based on updated state information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving by at least one processor state information of a live event in substantially real time, in which the live event comprises a sporting event played by human players according to predetermined rules that are used to determine at least one winner of the sporting event;

after a start of the sporting event, determining by the at least one processor a plurality of possible future states of the sporting event based on the state information, the possible future states occurring before an end of the sporting event;

after a start of the sporting event, creating by the processor a first betting market for betting on at least one of the plurality of possible future states, in which the plurality of users comprises a first user, and in which the act of creating a first betting market comprises;

determining by the processor a probability for each of the plurality of possible future states based on probability information, in which the act of determining a probability comprises determining a probability for at least one of the plurality of possible future states based on probability information and reliability information associated with the probability information;

based at least in part on the probabilities, determining by the processor odds for betting on at least one of the plurality of possible future states; and

causing information about the plurality of possible future states and the odds to be displayed to the plurality of users;

after creating the first betting market, receiving by the processor from a first of a plurality of users a first bet comprising a selection of one of the plurality of possible future states;

after receiving the first bet, closing by the processor the first betting market;

sending from the at least one processor an instruction signal to close the first betting market;

determining by the at least one processor that the possible future state selected by the first user has occurred; and

causing, by the at least one processor, a payout to be paid to the first user based on the first bet and the act of determining that the possible future state selected by the first user has occurred.

2. The method of claim 1, the plurality of users comprises a second user and a third user, further comprising:

receiving from the second user a request to make a bet mutually exclusive to a bet of a third user, in which the request comprises a request to bet against a bet of the third user;

based on the request to bet against the third user, transmitting to the third user a request to make a bet mutually exclusive to a bet of the second user; and

receiving from the third user an acceptance of the request to make a bet mutually exclusive to a bet of the second user, in which the acceptance comprises a selection by the third user of a possible future state that is contrary to a possible future state selected by the second user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining injury information relating to at least one injured player associated with the sporting event,

in which the act of determining the probability of each of the plurality of possible future states comprises determining the probability of each possible future state based at least in part on the injury information.

4. The method of claim 1, in which at least one of the probabilities is determined based on a player'"'"'s performance prior to the sporting event in at least one of the following performance categories:

batting average, points scored, yards run, number of carries, runs batted in (RBIs), bases stolen, home runs, pass completion percentage, on base percentage, total bases per at bat, number of errors, number of aces, double fault percentage, free throw percentage, number of rebounds, handicap, number of golf strokes, and number of strike-outs.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the probability information is determined based on a player'"'"'s performance during the sporting event, further comprising

determining updated odds for the possible future state selected by the first user,

in which the updated odds are determined according to pari mutual betting rules, and

in which the payout is paid in an amount determined based on the updated odds.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the sporting event occurs during an event time duration such that the sporting event begins at the beginning of the event time duration and ends at the end of the event time duration, the sporting event comprising a plurality of portions of the event occurring during sequential portions of the event time duration, in which a plurality of possible future states comprises a possible future state occurring at the end of one of the sequential time periods, and in which at least one betting market is created for each of the sequential time periods.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the sporting event comprises a competition in at least one of tennis, squash, badminton, baseball, softball, cricket, surfing, football, soccer, basketball, hockey, gymnastics, skating, golf, running, swimming, skiing, biking, rugby, polo, water polo, bowling, dancing, billiards, shooting, a track and field competition, horse racing, dog racing, automobile racing, motorcycle racing, boat racing, fishing, boxing, a martial art competition, a mixed martial arts competition, a casino game, a card game, and chess.

8. The method of claim 7, in which the sporting event comprises a game of baseball, and the plurality of possible states comprise mutually exclusive outcomes of at least one of a specific player'"'"'s at-bat, a top of an inning, a bottom of an inning, a whole inning, and multiple innings.

9. The method of claim 7, in which the sporting event comprises a game of football, and the plurality of possible states comprise mutually exclusive outcomes of at least one of a play, a set of plays before a first down, a quarter, a half, and a two minute drill.

10. The method of claim 7, in which the possible future state selected by the first user comprises at least one of:

a score, a number of points, a number of yards, a type of play, a number of runs in an inning, a number of runs in a game, a number of home runs, a number of base hits, a number of doubles, a number of triples, a number of errors, a number of aces, a number of golf strokes by a player on a hole, a number of golf strokes by a player on a plurality of holes, a number of three-pointers, and a number of rebounds.

11. The method of claim 1, in which the betting market is opened at a beginning of a game time duration and the betting market is resolved at the end of the game time duration, in which the game time duration comprises at least one of:

an inning, a quarter, a half, a tennis set, a period, and a round.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating odds for at least one of the plurality of possible future events based on at least one of the number and amount of bets for and counter to at least one of the plurality of possible future states, and in which an updated payout is determined based on at least one of the number and amount of bets that are for and counter to the first bet.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining aggregate information about a plurality of bets on one or more of the plurality of possible future states, in which the act of determining aggregate information about the plurality of bets comprises determining information about the percentage of users who bet on a specific possible future state; and

displaying the information about the percentage of users who bet on a specific possible future state.

14. The method of claim 13, in which the probabilities for the plurality of possible future states are determined based on a plurality of sets of probability information and reliability information associated with each set of probability information, the reliability information comprising a determination of accuracy of a source of probability information, in which the determination of accuracy for each source is determined based on one or more accuracies of prior prediction information provided by each source.

15. The method of claim 14, in which at least one source comprises information available on a website.

16. The method of claim 14, in which the prior prediction information comprises a betting line for a prior game.

17. The method of claim 16, in which at least one source comprises a second one of the plurality of users, and in which an accuracy of the second one of the plurality of users is determined based on a success rate of prior bets made by the second user.

18. The method of claim 1, in which the act of determining a probability for at least one of the plurality of possible future states based on probability information and reliability information associated with the probability information comprises determining a probability for at least one of the plurality of possible future states based on probability information and reliability information associated with a source of the probability information.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a touch-sensitive display device comprising a user input device;

a processor operably connected to the display; and

a memory operably connected to the processor and the display, in which the memory stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to;

receive state information of a sporting event played by human players according to predetermined rules that are used to determine at least one winner of the sporting event;

determine an initial state and a possible future state of the sporting event based on the state information;

receive by the at least one processor probability information from a source;

determine by the at least one processor reliability information associated with the received probability information;

create a first betting market for betting on the possible future state, in which the plurality of users comprises a first user, in which the act of creating a first betting market comprises;

determining a probability for the possible future state; and

based on the probability, determining odds for betting on the possible future state based at least in part on the probability information and the reliability information;

after creating the first betting market, receive from a first of a plurality of users a first bet that the possible future state will occur;

after receiving the first bet, close the first betting market prior to an end time of the initial state;

send an instruction signal to close the first betting market;

determine that the possible future state occurred;

pay a payout to the first user based on the first bet and the act of determining that the possible future state occurred;

transmit a live video of the live event in real time to a touch-sensitive display device, the live video comprising an image of a player in the live event;

cause the touch-sensitive display device to display an image of the player;

receive from the display device an indication that a user touched the image of the player on the touch-sensitive display;

in response to receiving the indication, cause the touch-sensitive display device to output betting information related to the player;

cause the display device to display a betting menu overlay on the touch-sensitive display, the betting menu overlay comprising at least one image corresponding to a betting option;

receive a signal indicating that a user touched the at least one image; and

responsive to the signal, determine a selection of the betting option by the user;

in which the live video comprises an image of a player, and wherein the touch-sensitive display is operable to output betting information related to the player when the image of the player is touched by a user, and

in which the sporting event occurs during an event time duration such that the sporting event begins at the beginning of the event time duration and ends at the end of the event time duration, sporting event comprising a plurality of portions of the event occurring during sequential portions of the event time duration, in which the possible future state occurs at the end of one of the sequential time periods, and in which at least one betting market is created for each of the sequential time periods.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to;

receive state information of a live event in substantially real time, in which the live event comprises a sporting event played by human players according to predetermined rules that are used to determine at least one winner of the sporting event;

after a start of the sporting event, determine a plurality of possible future states of the sporting event based on the state information, the possible future states occurring before an end of the sporting event;

after a start of the sporting event, determine odds for betting on at least one of the plurality of possible future states based on probability information, in which the act of determining odds comprises determining a probability for the at least one of the plurality of possible future states based on probability information and reliability information associated with the probability information;

cause information about the at least one the plurality of possible future states and the odds to be displayed to the plurality of users;

after creating the first betting market, receive from a first of a plurality of users a first bet comprising a selection of one of the plurality of possible future states;

determine that the possible future state selected by the first user has occurred; and

cause a payout to be paid to the first user based on the first bet and the act of determining that the possible future state selected by the first user has occurred.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, in which the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further direct the at least one processor to:

determine updated odds for the possible future state selected by the first user,

in which the updated odds are determined according to pari mutual betting rules, and

in which the payout is paid in an amount determined based on the updated odds.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:

receive state information of a live event in substantially real time, in which the live event comprises a sporting event played by human players according to predetermined rules that are used to determine at least one winner of the sporting event;

after a start of the sporting event, determine a plurality of possible future states of the sporting event based on the state information, the possible future states occurring before an end of the sporting event;

after a start of the sporting event, determine odds for betting on at least one of the plurality of possible future states based on probability information, in which the act of determining odds comprises determining a probability for the at least one of the plurality of possible future states based on probability information and reliability information associated with the probability information;

cause information about the at least one the plurality of possible future states and the odds to be displayed to the plurality of users;

after creating the first betting market, receive from a first of a plurality of users a first bet comprising a selection of one of the plurality of possible future states;

determine that the possible future state selected by the first user has occurred; and

cause a payout to be paid to the first user based on the first bet and the act of determining that the possible future state selected by the first user has occurred.