Computerized lottery wagering system

• US 5,910,047 A
• Filed: 11/18/1996
• Issued: 06/08/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lottotron Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lottotron Incorporated
• Inventors: Scagnelli, John B., Fiscella, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/751,902
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/16-18, 463/25, 463/29, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 364/410, 364/412, 364/410.1, 364/412.1, 379/90-93, 379/95, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/237, 273/269
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/086 played via telephone, e.g. using a modem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/305 using wired telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/00 Generating random numbers; Lottery apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A wagering system for accepting wagers over communications systems comprising: (a) automatic call director means (ACD) for receiving incoming messages from subscribers who wish to wager on the system; b) message means (wagering VRU) connected thereto for receiving the incoming messages routed from the ACD, and for playing a series of recorded audio messages requesting subscriber wager information to be input via telecommunications means; and (c) host processor means having storage means and being connected to the wagering VRU for receiving the subscriber wager information, storing it in a master subscriber wager file in the storage means, and assigning an associated ticket number to the wager.

Claims

1. A wagering system for accepting a plurality of different wagering formats over a telephone comprising:

a) automatic call director means for receiving incoming messages from subscribers and routing each of said messages according to which one of said plurality of different wagering formats is requested by a caller;

b) message responsive means connected thereto for receiving the incoming messages routed from said automatic call director means, for generating a series of messages requesting subscriber wager information to be input, for playing an associated series of audio messages requesting confirmation of the subscriber wager information, and for playing a confirmation message with an associated ticket number assigned to a wager; and

c) host processor means having storage means connected to said message response means for receiving said subscriber wager information, comparing said subscriber wager information to a master subscriber enrollment file for validation, storing said subscriber wager information in a master subscriber wager file in the storage means, and assigning an associated ticket number to the wager.

2. The wagering system of claim 1, wherein the subscriber wager information includes a personal account number, a personal identification number, a particular wagering format chosen from a plurality of wagering formats available, at least one wager and a wagering amount corresponding to the particular wagering format chosen.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the particular wagering formats include 6-digit lotto, 3-digit lotto, 4-digit lotto and keno.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the particular wagering formats include intrastate wagering and interstate wagering.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the particular wagering formats include a quick pick option.

6. A wagering system for automatically accepting a plurality of different wagering formats over a telephone comprising:

a) automatic call director means for receiving incoming calls from subscribers and routing each of said calls according to which one of said plurality of different wagering formats is requested by a caller;

b) message means connected to said automatic call director means for receiving the incoming calls routed from said automatic call director means and for providing a series of prerecorded messages requesting subscriber wagering information particular to said one of the plurality of wagering formats; and

c) computer means having storage means connected to said message means for receiving and storing said subscriber wagering information.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the different wagering formats include 3-digit lotto, 4-digit lotto, 6-digit lotto and keno.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the different wagering formats include intrastate wagering and interstate wagering.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the different wagering formats include a quick pick option.

10. A wagering system for automatically accepting wagers over a telephone comprising:

a) automatic call director means for receiving incoming subscriber enrollment calls from prospective subscribers for enrolling with said system and incoming subscriber wager calls from subscribers for making a wager;

b) subscriber enrollment message means connected to said automatic call director means for receiving the incoming subscriber enrollment calls routed from said automatic call director means and for providing a series of prerecorded messages requesting subscriber enrollment information;

c) subscriber wager message means connected to said automatic call director means for receiving the incoming subscriber wager calls routed from said automatic call director means and for providing a series of prerecorded messages requesting subscriber wagering information; and

d) computer means having storage means connected to said subscriber enrollment means and said subscriber wager message means for receiving said subscriber enrollment information from said subscriber enrollment message means and storing said subscriber enrollment information in a master subscriber enrollment file in said storage means, and for receiving said subscriber wager information from said subscriber wager message means routed from said subscriber wager message means, storing said subscriber wager information in a master subscriber wager file.

11. A computer wagering system for automatically accepting a plurality of different wagering formats comprising:

a) communication means for receiving incoming communications from subscribers and routing each of said communications according to which one of said plurality of different wagering formats is requested by a subscriber;

b) message means connected to said communication means for receiving the incoming communications routed from said communication means and for providing a series of messages requesting subscriber wagering information particular to said one of the plurality of wagering formats; and

c) storage means connected to said message means for receiving and storing said subscriber wagering information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the different wagering formats include 3-digit lotto, 4-digit lotto, 6-digit lotto and keno.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the different wagering formats include intrastate wagering and interstate wagering.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the different wagering formats include a quick pick option.

15. A computer wagering system for automatically accepting wagers comprising:

a) communication means for receiving incoming subscriber enrollment communications from prospective subscribers for enrolling with said system and incoming subscriber wager communications from subscribers for making a wager;

b) subscriber enrollment message means connected to said communication means for receiving the incoming subscriber enrollment communications routed from said communication means and for providing a series of messages requesting subscriber enrollment information;

c) subscriber wager message means connected to said communication means for receiving the incoming subscriber wager communications routed from said communication means and for providing a series of messages requesting subscriber wagering information; and

d) storage means connected to said subscriber enrollment means and said subscriber wager message means for receiving said subscriber enrollment information from said subscriber enrollment message means and storing said subscriber enrollment information in a master subscriber enrollment file in said storage means, and for receiving said subscriber wager information from said subscriber wager message means routed from said subscriber wager message means, storing said subscriber wager information in a master subscriber wager file.