System and method for providing side wagering in multi-player wager-based games

• US 20060073882A1
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rational Intellectual Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Cryptologic Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Bourenkov, Serge, Rozkin, Sergiy, Dunaevsky, Vladimir, FitzGerald, John Kennedy
• Granted Patent: US 7,429,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A system and method for providing side wagering in a wager-based game. Side wagers made by an observer of the wager-based game are accepted, where the side wager is associated with an event that is uncertain at the time the side wager is made. The event is associated with at least one player of the wager-based game. A payout based on the side wager is calculated and provided to the observer if the event occurs. In one embodiment of the invention, player ratings may also be provided to facilitate the making of side wagers.

Claims

1. A method for providing side wagering in a wager-based game comprising the steps of:

a) accepting a side wager made by an observer of a wager-based game playable by a plurality of players, wherein the side wager is associated with an event in the wager-based game that is uncertain at the time the side wager is made, wherein the event is associated with at least one of the plurality of players;

b) determining whether the event with which the side wager is associated has occurred;

c) calculating a payout based on the side wager if the event associated with the side wager has occurred; and

d) providing the payout to the observer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wager-based game playable by the plurality of players is playable online.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of offering odds for the side wager, wherein the payout is calculated based on the offered odds.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a player rating for each of at least one of the plurality of players to the observer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the player rating for each player is computed based on historical data associated with past play of the wager-based game by the respective player, in accordance with a pre-determined algorithm.

6. A software program for execution on a computing device, the program comprising a plurality of instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, wherein the instructions, when executed, perform the steps of the method as claimed in claim 1.

7. A system for providing side wagering in a wager-based game, the system comprising at least one processor, a memory coupled to the at least one processor, and a network interface coupled to the at least one processor, the system accessible over a communication network by a plurality of players through the network interface, wherein the processor executes a plurality of instructions for performing the steps of the method as claimed in claim 1.

8. A method of providing player ratings for a wager-based game comprising the steps of:

a) computing a player rating for each of a plurality of players of the wager-based game, based on historical data associated with past play of the wager-based game by the respective player, in accordance with a pre-determined algorithm; and

b) displaying the player rating for each of at least a first player of the plurality of players to each of at least a second player of the plurality of players.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the player rating for each of the plurality of players is displayed in the displaying step at the option of the respective player.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the wager-based game is playable online.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the player rating for at least one player is displayed to an observer of the wager-based game.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the player ratings displayed to the observer are used to facilitate the making of a side wager by the observer in the wager-based game.

13. A software program for execution on a computing device, the program comprising a plurality of instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, wherein the instructions, when executed, perform the steps of the method as claimed in claim 8.

14. A system for providing player ratings in a wager-based game, the system comprising at least one processor, a memory coupled to the at least one processor, and a network interface coupled to the at least one processor, the system accessible over a communication network by a plurality of players through the network interface, wherein the processor executes a plurality of instructions for performing the steps of the method as claimed in claim 8.