System and method of communication with authenticated wagering participation

• US 5,283,734 A
• Filed: 09/19/1991
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quest NetTech Corporation (Quest Patent Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Henry Von Kohorn
• Inventors: Von Kohorn, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US07/763,672
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 364/412, 235/375, 235/381, 273/138 A, 273/DIG. 28, 358/84
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• 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: G09B 7/063 with hand-placed probe or plug
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/64 for providing detail information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/68 Systems specially adapted for using specific information, e.g. geographical or meteorological information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0806 the signals being two or more video signals H04N7/0803, H04N7/081 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection

Abstract

A system and method for wagering and for evaluating responses to broadcast programs, such as television programs, includes an instructional signal modulated onto a signal transmitted concurrently with the television program, or time-multiplexed with a television. At each of a plurality of remote receiving stations, one or more members of a remote audience has the opportunity to respond to a situation presented in the television program by entering a response on a keyboard. The system includes, at each remote receiving station, a memory responsive to the instructional signal for storing acceptable responses, a comparison circuit for comparing responses entered at the keyboard with those stored in the memory, circuitry for scoring responses in accordance with commands from the instructional signal, and a recording device for providing a permanent record of the audience score at the remote station. For playing a lottery, numbers are entered at the remote stations and are stored at a central facility for verification upon presentation of lottery tickets. The tickets having both a played number(s) and a winning number(s) are printed at the remote stations. The program may be presented live conducted by a host at a central station, or by a prerecorded message accessible by telephone from a remote station with regulation from a central station.

Claims

1. A system for conducting a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering by players at playing stations, said game being played with an entry including any one of a player'"'"'s selected entry, indicium, wager, lottery selection, and ticket number, said system comprising

a data facility having means for storing wagering data including individual players'"'"' wagers, a plurality of playing stations remote from said data facility, and communication means linking said playing stations with said data facility for communication of wagering data, there being a reference element to serve as a basis for judging a winning wager, there being a determination of a winning wager;

redemption means distant from said data facility and from said playing stations for presenting to one or more of said players a prize in response to a winning wager;

wherein said communication means communicates players'"'"' wagers from respective ones of said playing stations to said data facility;

said system further comprises comparing means connecting with said data facility for comparing players'"'"' wagers to the reference element to determine a winning wager;

each of said playing stations comprises means for outputting a record of data including a player'"'"'s wager; and

said system further comprises means at said redemption means and connecting with said data facility for authenticating records of the respective playing stations by comparing player'"'"'s data on a record with the winning wager and with the player'"'"'s data stored in said data facility, said authentication means being operated prior to presentation of said prize.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said communication means communicates a presentation of a wagering situation to the players.

3. A system according to claim 2 further comprising a central station connected to said communication means, a host at said central station providing said presentation;

wherein, under direction of the host, said communication means transmits the winning wager to each of said playing stations to appear upon said record at each of said playing stations.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said authenticating means enables forgery-resistant redemption of a record having a winning wager.

5. A system according to claim 2 wherein said presentation includes a sporting event.

6. A system according to claim 2 wherein said presentation includes a set of numbers, and said reference element is a set of numbers including at least one designated number.

7. A system according to claim 2 wherein said presentation includes a sporting event, and said reference element is the score of a winning team.

8. A system according to claim 2 wherein said presentation includes a contest among a plurality of contestants, and said reference element is a set of contestants including at least one winning contestant.

9. A system according to claim 2 wherein said presentation includes a dramatic or authored scenario, and said reference element is a possible outcome of said scenario.

10. A system according to claim 2 wherein each of said playing stations includes a television display, and said communication means communicates said presentation in the form of a television program to appear upon said television display.

11. A system according to claim 2 wherein

said presentation includes a game show establishing a task requiring a response by each of said players, a portion of said presentation including a scenario, said reference element being a possible outcome of said scenario, said wager being made in response to said scenario;

each of said playing stations includes a modem and a response unit enabling a player to response to a wagering situation and to said task, the response unit comprising a data entry device for entering a wager and a response to said task, the modem outputting a wager of said entry device to said communication means for transmission to said data facility, said record-outputting means being a part of said response unit.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein

said communication means comprises a telephone system for communication of signals from the modem at each of said playing stations to said data facility;

said communication means communicates a response criteria signal and a scoring criteria signal to the response unit in each of said playing stations;

the response unit in each of said playing stations comprises memory and logic means connected to said entry device and operative with said response criteria and said scoring criteria signals for scoring a player'"'"'s response to said task entered via said entry device; and

said record-outputting means outputs a score of said player upon said record in conjunction with the data of said wager.

13. A system according to claim 12 further comprising a central station connected to said communication means, said central station having recording apparatus for playing-back a previously recorded version of said game show and said scenario.

14. A system according to claim 12 further comprising a central station connected to said communication means, a host at said central station providing said presentation;

wherein each of said playing stations includes a television display, and said communication means communicates said presentation from said central station in the form of a television program to appear upon said television display;

under direction of the host, said communication means transmits the winning wager to each of said playing stations to appear upon said record at each of said playing stations; and

said authenticating means enables forgery-resistant redemption of a record having a winning wager.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein a subject of said wagering is a sporting event, and said reference element is a measure of performance of participants in the sporting event.

16. A system according to claim 1 wherein a subject of said wagering is a set of numbers, and said reference element is a set of numbers including at least one designated number.

17. A system according to claim 1 wherein a subject of said wagering is a sporting event, and said reference element is the score of a winning team.

18. A system according to claim 1 wherein a subject of said wagering is a contest among a plurality of contestants, and said reference element is a set of contestants including at least one winning contestant.

19. A system according to claim 1 wherein a subject of said wagering is a dramatic or authored scenario, and said reference element is a possible outcome of said scenario.

20. A system according to claim 1 wherein each of said playing stations includes a data entry device for entering a wager, and a modem for outputting a wager entered on said entry device to said communication means, and wherein said communication means includes a telephone system connected to said data facility.

21. A system according to claim 20 further comprising billing means coupled to said telephone system for billing a player for the amount of a wager.

22. A system according to claim 21 wherein a wager includes an estimate of the reference element and a monetary amount, said data entry device providing for entry of both said estimate and said monetary amount.

23. A system according to claim 1 wherein said authenticating means enables forgery-resistant redemption of a record having a winning wager.

24. A system according to claim 1 wherein said winning wager is stored in said storing means of said data facility.

25. A system according to claim 1 wherein said communication means communicates a presentation of a wagering situation to the players, said presentation includes a sporting event, and said reference element is an amount of points scored by a player.

26. A system according to claim 1 wherein said communication means communicates a presentation of a wagering situation to the players, said presentation includes a sporting event, and said reference element is the score of a winning team at a specified point in time or stage of the event.

27. A system according to claim 1 wherein a subject of said wagering is a sporting event, and said reference element is the score of a winning team at a specified point in time or stage of the event

28. A system according to claim 1 wherein said communication means communicates to the players a presentation of a wagering situation in the form of a radio program.

29. A system according to claim 1 wherein said communication means communicates a presentation of a wagering situation by telephone to the players.

30. A system according to claim 1 wherein each of said playing stations includes a data entry device for entering a wager, and a modem for outputting a wager entered on said entry device to said communication means, and wherein said communication means includes a telephone system connected to said data facility, and said system further comprises a billing facility connected to said telephone system for billing a player for the amount of a wager.

31. A system for conducting a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering by players at playing stations, said game being played with an entry including any one of a player'"'"'s selected entry, indicium, wager, lottery selection, and ticket number, said system comprising

a data facility having means for storing wagering data including individual player'"'"'s wagers, a plurality of playing stations remote from said data facility, and communication means linking said playing stations with said data facility for communication of wagering data, there being a reference element to serve as a basis for judging a winning wager, there being a determination of a winning wager;

wherein said communication means communicates players'"'"' wagers from respective ones of said playing stations to said data facility;

said system further comprises comparing means connecting with said data facility for comparing players'"'"' wagers to the reference element to determine a winning wager;

each of said playing stations comprises means for outputting a record of data including a player'"'"'s wager;

said system further comprises means connecting with said data facility for authenticating records of the respective playing stations by comparing player'"'"'s data on a record with the winning wager and with the player'"'"'s data stored in said data facility;

said communication means communicates a presentation of a wagering situation to the players;

said presentation includes a game show establishing a task requiring a response by each of said players, a portion of said presentation including a scenario, said reference element being a possible outcome of said scenario, said wager being made in response to said scenario;

each of said playing stations includes a modem and a response unit enabling a player to response to a wagering situation and to said task, the response unit comprising a data entry device for entering a wager and a response to said task, the modem outputting a wager of said entry device to said communication means for transmission to said data facility, said record-outputting means being a part of said response unit;

said communication means comprises a telephone system for communication of signals from the modem at each of said playing stations to said data facility;

said communication means communicates a response criteria signal and a scoring criteria signal to the response unit in each of said playing stations;

the response unit in each of said playing stations comprises memory and logic means connected to said entry device and operative with said response criteria and said scoring criteria signals for scoring a player'"'"'s response to said task entered via said entry device; and

said record-outputting means outputs a score of said player upon said record in conjunction with the data of said wager;

said system further comprises a central station connected to said communication means, said central station having a studio providing said scenario and said game show, said scenario including an advertisement for a producer of the game show;

wherein, under direction of a host at the central station, a winning wager is transmitted via said communication means to each of said playing stations to appear upon said record at each of said playing stations; and

said authenticating means enables forgery-resistant redemption of a record having a winning wager.

32. A method for conducting a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering among players at playing stations remote from a data facility, said game being played with an entry including any one of a player'"'"'s selected entry, indicium, wager, lottery selection, and ticket number, the method employing the data facility for storing wagering data and a communication system linking the playing stations with the data facility for communication of wagering data, the method comprising

entering wagers by individual ones of the players, in response to a wagering opportunity, via response units at respective ones of the playing stations;

communicating the wagers to the data facility;

by means of the response unit at each of the playing stations, outputting a record of data including a player'"'"'s entered wager;

establishing a reference element to serve as a basis for judging a winning wager;

storing players'"'"' individual wagers at the data facility;

comparing each wager with the reference element to determine a player'"'"'s winning wager;

establishing a redemption facility distant from said playing stations and from said data facility; and

validating a record at said redemption facility, said validating including a step of authenticating the record by comparing data of a winning player on the record with corresponding data of the winning player in the data facility.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein said wagering opportunity includes a sporting event, and said reference element is a measure of the performance of participants in the sporting event.

34. A method according to claim 32 wherein a subject of said wagering opportunity includes a set of numbers, and said reference element is a set of numbers including at least one designated number.

35. A method according to claim 32 wherein a subject of said wagering opportunity includes a sporting event, and said reference element is the score of a team.

36. A method according to claim 32 wherein a subject of said wagering opportunity includes a contest among a plurality of contestants, and said reference element is a set of contestants.

37. A method according to claim 32 wherein a subject of said wagering opportunity includes a dramatic or authored scenario, and said reference element is a possible outcome of said scenario.

38. A method according to claim 32 wherein said step of storing the wagers includes a storing of the reference element at the data facility.

39. A method according to claim 32 wherein there is a central station connected to the communication system, the method further comprising a step of transmitting a presentation of a wagering situation from the central station to players at the playing stations.

40. A method according to claim 32 wherein there is a central station connected to the communication system, the method further comprising a step of communicating the winning wager from the central station to each of the playing stations.

41. A method according to claim 40 wherein, in addition to said step of communicating the winning wager to each of the playing stations, there is a step of announcing a winner.

42. A method according to claim 40 further comprising a step of inserting the winning wager in the data record outputted at each of said playing stations.

43. A method according to claim 40 further comprising

transmitting a presentation of a wagering situation from the central station to players at the playing stations.

44. A method according to claim 43 wherein

the presentation includes a game show establishing a task requiring a response by each of said players, a portion of said presentation including a scenario, said reference element being a possible outcome of said scenario, said wager being made in response to said scenario;

each of the response units comprising memory and logic means connected to an entry device and operative with said response criteria and said scoring criteria signals for scoring a player'"'"'s response to said task entered via the entry device; and

the method further comprises a step of transmitting a response criteria signal and a scoring criteria signal to the response unit in each of said playing stations.

45. A method according to claim 44 further comprising a step of outputting a score of said player upon said record in conjunction with data of a wager.

46. A method according to claim 32 further comprising a step of presenting wagering information at a playing station.

47. A method for conducting a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering among players at playing stations remote from a data facility, said game being played with an entry including any one of a player'"'"'s selected entry, indicium, wager, lottery selection, and ticket number, the method employing the data facility for storing wagering data and a communication system linking the playing stations with the data facility for communication of wagering data, the method comprising

entering wagers by individual ones of the players, in response to a wagering opportunity, via response units the respective ones of the playing stations;

communicating the wagers to the data facility;

by means of the response unit at each of the playing stations, outputting a record of data including a player'"'"'s entered wager;

establishing a reference element to serve as a basis for judging a winning wager;

storing players'"'"' individual wagers at the data facility;

comparing each wager with the reference element to determine a player'"'"'s winning wager;

validating a record, said validating including a step of authenticating the record by comparing data of a winning player on the record with corresponding data of the winning player in the data facility;

wherein there is a central station connected to the communication system, the method further comprising a step of communicating the winning wager from the central station to each of the playing stations;

transmitting a presentation of a wagering situation from the central station to players at the playing stations;

the presentation includes a game show establishing a task requiring a response by each of said players, a portion of said presentation including a scenario, said reference element being a possible outcome of said scenario, said wager being made in response to said scenario;

said of the response units comprising memory and logic means connected to an entry device and operative with said response criteria and said scoring criteria signals for scoring a player'"'"'s response to said task entered via the entry device; and

the method further comprises a steps of transmitting a response criteria signal and a scoring criteria signal to the response unit in each of said playing stations; and

outputting a score of said player upon said record in conjunction with data of a wager; and

wherein the central station includes a studio providing the dramatic scenario and the game show, there being a host at the central station providing the response and the scoring criteria, the method including a step of employing the scenario as an advertisement for a producer of the game show.

48. A method for conducting a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering, on an outcome of an event by players at playing stations remote from a central station at which a winning wager becomes known following the event, said game being played with an entry including any one of a player'"'"'s selected entry, indicium, wager, lottery selection, and ticket number, the method including a comparing of a player'"'"'s wager with a winning wager, the method further comprising steps of

communicating, by a player, wagering data selected by or for said player to a central data storage facility;

entering said wagering data in said storage facility, said storage facility having means for associating individual wagering data with an individual player;

storing said wagering data in said storage facility at least until a winning wager has become known following the event;

providing at said storage facility forgery-resistant means to prevent an altering of said stored wagering data until a winning wager has become known;

following the event, making a winning wager known at said central station;

disseminating a winning wager data to remote playing stations;

comparing a player'"'"'s stored wagering data with a winning wager;

identifying a player whose stored wagering data have a predetermined relationship to a winning wager;

establishing a redemption facility distant from said playing stations and from said data facility; and

validating a record at said redemption facility, said validating including a step of authenticating the record by comparing data of a winning player on the record with corresponding data of the winning player in the data facility.

49. A method according to claim 48 wherein a wager is a bet on a participant in a race.

50. A method according to claim 48 wherein said wagering is of the off-track betting type.

51. A method according to claim 48 wherein a player'"'"'s wagering data includes a monetary value of the wager.

52. A method according to claim 48 wherein said disseminating step is based on activity in said central station, said central station including a gaming or lottery operating facility.

53. A method for conducting a tamper-resistant wager for a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering, said game being played with an entry including any one of a player'"'"'s selected entry, indicium, wager, lottery selection, and ticket number, the method comprising steps of

recording by recording means of player'"'"'s selected wager data on players'"'"' individual tickets at players'"'"' locations remote from a central location;

transmitting players'"'"' selected data on an electronic communications link operable by a player to a central data storage facility, said storage facility being resistant to tampering;

storing players'"'"' data at said central storage facility;

determining a winning wager by an operator at said central location;

transmitting winning wager information to players'"'"' remote locations on an electronic communications link operable by an operator at said central location;

recording by recording means at players'"'"' remote locations said winning wager information on players'"'"' individual tickets; and

identifying a winning player by comparing players'"'"' wager data recorded on said tickets with the winning wager information recorded on each of said tickets;

establishing a redemption facility distant from said playing stations and from said data storage facility; and

validating a record at said redemption facility, said validating including a step of authenticating the record by comparing data of a winning player on the record with corresponding data of the winning player in the data storage facility.

54. A method according to claim 53 wherein, in said step of determining a winning wager, there is a relationship pertaining to one participant in a subject of said winning wager relative to a defined group of participants.

55. A method according to claim 54 wherein said relationship places a participant within a determined sequence of said participants.

56. A method for conducting a tamper-resistant wagering for a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering, said game being played with an entry including any one of a player'"'"'s selected entry, indicium, wager, lottery selection, and ticket number, the method comprising steps of

dispensing wagering tickets to individual players at locations remote from a central location, the wagering tickets being provided thereon with wagering data selected by or for each of said players;

determining a winning wager at a further location distant from locations of said players;

making known a winning wager at said central location by disseminating winning-wager information to players'"'"' locations from said central location;

wherein a ticket having provided thereon a player'"'"'s wagering data having a determined correlation to a winning wager serves as a ticket;

said method further comprises, subsequent to said step of dispensing a wagering ticket, the steps of

communicating players'"'"' wagering data from said remote locations to a tamper-resisting data storage facility prior to the determination of a winning wager; and

storing players'"'"' wagering data at said storage facility until a winning wager has been determined;

establishing a redemption facility distant from said playing stations and from said data storage facility; and

validating a record at said redemption facility, said validating including a step of authenticating the record by comparing data of a winning player on the record with corresponding data of the winning player in the data storage facility.

57. A method according to claim 56 wherein said wager is of the off-track betting type.

58. A method according to claim 56 wherein a player'"'"'s wagering data includes a monetary value of a wager.

59. A method according to claim 56 wherein said disseminating step is based on activity in said central station, said central location including a gaming or lottery operating facility.

60. A method according to claim 56 wherein said determining step is based on actions taken by officials at said central location, and said central location includes at least one official drawn from a group of officials consisting of judges, referees, handicappers, umpires, racing committee members, operators and other officials at or remote from the location of a contest, the contest being a subject of the wagering.

61. A system for conducting a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering by players at playing stations, said game being played with an entry including any one of a player'"'"'s selected entry, indicium, wager, lottery selection, and ticket number, the system comprising

a data facility having means for storing wagering data including individual players'"'"' wagers and a reference element, a plurality of playing stations remote from said data facility, and communication means linking said playing stations with said data facility for communication of wagering data, the reference element serving as a basis for judging a winning wager;

redemption means distant from said data facility and from said playing stations for presenting to one or more of said players a prize in response to a wining wager;

wherein said communication means communicates players'"'"' wagers from respective ones of said playing stations to said data facility;

each of said playing stations comprises means for outputting a record of data including a player'"'"'s wager; and

said system further comprises means at said redemption means and connecting with said data facility for authenticating records of the respective playing stations by comparing player'"'"'s data on a record with the player'"'"'s data stored in said data facility, said comparing including a comparing of a player'"'"'s wager to the reference element to ascertain a winning wager, said authentication means being operated prior to presentation of said prize.

62. A system according to claim 61 wherein said communication means communicates a presentation of a wagering situation to the players.

63. A system according to claim 62 wherein

said presentation includes a game show establishing a task requiring a response by each of said players, a portion of said presentation including a scenario, said reference element being a possible outcome of said scenario, said wager being made in response to said scenario;

each of said playing stations includes a modem and a response unit enabling a player to respond to a wagering situation and to said task, the response unit comprising a data entry device for entering a wager and a response to said task, the modem outputting a wager of said entry device to said communication means for transmission to said data facility, said record-outputting means being a part of said response unit.

64. A system according to claim 63 wherein

said communication means comprises a telephone system for communication of signals from the modem at each of said playing stations to said data facility;

said communication means communicates a response criteria signal and a scoring criteria signal to the response unit in each of said playing stations;

the response unit in each of said playing stations comprises memory and logic means connected to said entry device and operative with said response criteria and said scoring criteria signals for scoring a player'"'"'s response to said task entered via said entry device; and

said record-outputting means outputs a score of said player upon said record in conjunction with the data of said wager.

65. A system according to claim 61 wherein each of said playing stations includes a data entry device for entering a wager, and a modem for outputting a wager entered on said entry device to said communication means, and wherein said communication means includes a telephone system connected to said data facility.

66. A system according to claim 65 further comprising billing means coupled to said telephone system for billing a player for the amount of a wager.

67. A system according to claim 66 wherein a wager includes an estimate of the reference element and a monetary amount, said data entry device providing for entry of both said estimate and said monetary amount.

68. A system for conducting a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering by players at playing stations, said game being played with an entry including any one of a player'"'"'s selected entry, indicium, wager, lottery selection, and ticket number, the system comprising

a data facility having means for storing wagering data including individual players'"'"' wagers and a reference element, a plurality of playing stations remote from said data facility, and communication means linking said playing stations with said data facility for communication of wagering data, the reference element serving as a basis for judging a winning wager;

wherein said communication means communicates players'"'"' wagers from respective ones of said playing stations to said data facility;

each of said playing stations comprises means for outputting a record of data including a player'"'"'s wager; and

said system further comprises means connecting with said data facility for authenticating records of the respective playing stations by comparing player'"'"'s data on a record with the player'"'"'s data stored in said data facility, said comparing including a comparing of a player'"'"'s wager to the reference element to ascertain a winning wager;

wherein said communication means communicates a presentation of a wagering situation to the players;

said presentation includes a game show establishing a task requiring a response by each of said players, a portion of said presentation including a scenario, said reference element being a possible outcome of said scenario, said wager being made in response to said scenario;

each of said playing stations includes a modem and a response unit enabling a player to respond to a wagering situation and to said task, the response unit comprising a data entry device for entering a wager and a response to said task, the modem outputting a wager of said entry device to said communication means for transmission to said data facility, said record-outputting means being a part of said response unit;

said communication means comprises a telephone system for communication of signals from the modem at each of said playing stations to said data facility;

said communication means communicates a response criteria signal and a scoring criteria signal to the response unit in each of said playing stations;

the response unit in each of said playing stations comprises memory and logic means connected to said entry device and operative with said response criteria and said scoring criteria signals for scoring a player'"'"'s response to said task entered via said entry device;

said record-outputting means outputs a score of said player upon said record in conjunction with the data of said wager;

a central station connected to said communication means, said central station having a studio providing said scenario and said game show, said scenario including an advertisement for a producer of the game show;

wherein, under direction of a host at the central station, a winning wager is transmitted via said communication means to each of said playing stations to appear upon said record at each of said playing stations; and

said authenticating means enables forgery-resistant redemption of a record having a winning wager.

69. A system for conducting a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering by players at playing stations, said game being played with an entry including any one of a player'"'"'s selected entry, indicium, wager, lottery selection, and ticket number, each of said playing stations comprising means for entering a wager and means for outputting a record of data including a player'"'"'s entered wager, the system comprising

a data facility having means for storing wagering data including individual players'"'"' entered wagers, a plurality of said playing stations located remote from said data facility, and communication means linking said playing stations with said data facility for communication of wagering data, there being a reference element to serve as a basis for judging a winning wager, there being a determination of a player'"'"'s winning wager;

redemption means distant from said data facility and from said playing stations for presenting to one or more of said players a prize in response to a wining wager;

wherein said communication means communicates players'"'"' entered wagers from respective ones of said playing stations to said data facility;

said communication means includes means for announcing a winning wager to said playing stations; and

said system further comprises means at said redemption means for authenticating records of the respective playing stations by comparing player'"'"'s data on a record with the winning wager and with the player'"'"'s data stored in said data facility, said authentication means being operated prior to presentation of said prize.

70. A system according to claim 69 wherein said communication means communicates a presentation of a wagering situation to the players.

71. A system according to claim 70 wherein

said presentation includes a game show establishing a task requiring a response by each of said players, a portion of said presentation including a scenario, said reference element being a possible outcome of said scenario, said wager being made in response to said scenario;

each of said playing stations includes a modem and a response unit enabling a player to respond to a wagering situation and to said task, the modem outputting a player'"'"'s entered wager to said communication means for transmission to said data facility, said entering means and said record-outputting means being a part of said response unit.

72. A system according to claim 71 wherein

said communication means comprises a telephone system for communication of signals from the modem at each of said playing stations to said data facility;

said communication means communicates a response criteria signal and a scoring criteria signal to the response unit in each of said playing stations;

said entering means and said record-outputting means form a part of said response unit in each of said playing stations;

the response unit in each of said playing stations further comprises memory and logic means connected to said entering means and operative with said response criteria and said scoring criteria signals for scoring a player'"'"'s response to said task entered via said entering means; and

said record-outputting means outputs a score of said player upon said record in conjunction with the data of said wager.

73. A system according to claim 69 wherein each of said playing stations includes a modem for outputting a player'"'"'s entered wager to said communication means, and wherein said communication means includes a telephone system connected to said data facility.

74. A system according to claim 73 further comprising billing means coupled to said telephone system for billing a player for the amount of a wager.

75. A system according to claim 74 wherein a wager includes an estimate of the reference element and a monetary amount, said entering means providing for entry of both said estimate and said monetary amount.

76. A system according to claim 69 wherein the records outputted at players'"'"' stations include winning wager data.

77. A system for conducting a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering by players at playing stations, said game being played with an entry including any one of a player'"'"'s selected entry, indicium, wager, lottery selection, and ticket number, each of said playing stations comprising means for entering a wager and means for outputting a record of data including a player'"'"'s entered wager, the system comprising

a data facility having means for storing wagering data including individual player'"'"'s entered wagers, a plurality of said playing stations located remote from said data facility, and communication means linking said playing stations with said data facility for communication of wagering data, there being a reference element to serve as a basis for judging a winning wager, there being a determination of a player'"'"'s winning wager;

wherein said communication means communicates players'"'"' entered wagers from respective ones of said playing stations to said data facility;

said communication means includes means for announcing a winning wager to said playing stations;

said system further comprises means for authenticating records of the respective playing stations by comparing player'"'"'s data on a record with the winning wager and with the player'"'"'s data stored in said data facility;

wherein said communication means communicates a presentation of a wagering situation to the players;

said presentation includes a game show establishing a task requiring a response by each of said players, a portion of said presentation including a scenario, said reference element being a possible outcome of said scenario, said wager being made ion response to said scenario;

each of said playing stations includes a modem and a response unit enabling a player to respond to a wagering situation and to said task, the modem outputting a player'"'"'s entered wager to said communication means for transmission to said data facility, said entering means and said record-outputting means being a part of said response unit;

said communication means comprises a telephone system for communication of signals from the modem at each of said playing stations to said data facility;

said communication means communicates a response criteria signal and a scoring criteria signal to the response unit in each of said playing stations;

said entering means and said record-outputting means form a part of said response unit in each of said playing stations;

the response unit in each of said playing stations further comprises memory and logic means connected to said entering means and operative with said response criteria and said scoring criteria signals for scoring a player'"'"'s response to said tank entered via said entering means;

said record-outputting means outputs a score of said player upon said record in conjunction with the data of said wager;

said system further comprises a central station connected to said communication means, said central station having a studio providing said scenario and said game show, said scenario including an advertisement for a producer of the game show;

wherein, under direction of a host at the central station, a winning wager is transmitted via said communication means to each of said playing stations to appear upon said record at each of said playing stations; and

said authenticating means enables forgery-resistant redemption of a record having a winning wager.

78. A method for conducting a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering among players at playing stations remote from a data facility, the method employing the data facility for storing wagering data, the method further employing a communication system linking the playing stations with the data facility for communication of wagering data, the method comprising steps of:

entering wagers by individual ones of the players, in response to a wagering opportunity, via response units at respective ones of the playing stations, said entering step including a step of selecting an expected outcome of the game;

communicating player data including identifications and expected outcomes of individual ones of the players to the data facility;

storing the player data at the data facility;

establishing a reference element to serve as a basis for judging a winning wager;

comparing each wager with the reference element to determine a player'"'"'s winning wager;

establishing a redemption facility distant from said playing stations and from said data facility;

claiming an award at the redemption facility with a presentation of the player data to the redemption facility;

authenticating the presentation of player data by comparison with corresponding player data stored in the data facility; and

tendering an award to a player having a winning wager and an authenticated presentation of the player data.

79. A system for conducting a forgery-resistant game, including a lottery and a wagering by players at playing stations, the game being played with an entry including an indication of a selected outcome of the game, the system comprising

a data facility having means for storing wagering data including individual players'"'"' wagers and a reference element, the reference element serving as a basis for judging a winning wager;

a plurality of playing stations remote from said data facility, and communication means linking said playing stations with said data facility for communication of wagering data;

redemption means distant from said data facility and from said playing stations for presenting to one or more of said players an award in response to a wining wager;

wherein said communication means communicates player data including identifications and wagers of individual ones of the players to said data facility;

said system further comprises means for comparing each wager with the reference element to determine a player'"'"'s winning wager, a claiming of an award being accomplished at the redemption facility with a presentation of the player data to the redemption facility; and

means at said redemption means and connecting with said data facility for authenticating the presentation of player data by comparison with corresponding player data stored in said data facility, said comparing including a comparing of a player'"'"'s wager to the reference element to ascertain a winning wager, the redemption means providing for the tendering of an award to a player having a winning wager and an authenticated presentation of the player data.

80. A method for conducting a wagering by players at playing stations remote from a central facility including a forgery-resistant information storage facility for the conduction of a wagering event, comprising:

entering wagers by players at said playing stations in a lottery form of wagering event wherein a series of numbers and or symbols is selected, each of said players selecting a desired outcome of the wagering event;

communicating, by individual ones of said players and via a mode of communication, information conveying the desired outcome of the wavering event to said forgery-resistant information storage facility, wherein said mode of communication provides for communication of player information including desired outcome and player identification in only one direction to said storage facility without transmission of such information in a reverse direction to said players;

preventing wagering following a first point in time;

conducting the wagering event at a central location to determine winning wager information including a winning player'"'"'s payoff;

determining a winning player at a second point in time subsequent to said first point in time;

presenting, by a winning player, a payoff claim at a paying station;

upon receipt of a payoff claim at a paying station from one of said players, authenticating the payoff claim of said one player by communicating between said paying station and said information storage facility via a mode of communication; and

paying the payoff claim.

81. A method according to claim 80 further comprising a step of locating said paying station distant from said information storage facility and from said playing stations.