Pari-mutuel sports wagering system

• US 7,775,880 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Downes P.E., David W.
• Original Assignee: Downes P.E., David W.
• Inventors: Downes, David W. P.E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US11/478,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20060246990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25- 26, 463 28- 29, 463 40- 42, 700 91- 92
• US Class Current: 463/28
• 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

Abstract

This invention relates to sports and event wagering, particularly to a new sport and event wagering game and system. This game and supporting system allows pari-mutuel wagering with respect to new areas other than horse or dog racing, which will expand the sports wagering industry to encompass new areas of interest and enjoyment to bettors. Specifically, pari-mutuel wagering is enabled with respect to the performance statistics of individual sport or event participants, combinations of sport participants, combinations of event participants, and sport teams. This wagering game is supported by an electronic system, which allows interaction with the game via various communications methods, remotely or in-person, which can allow or restrict wagering activity based upon bettor location.

Claims

1. A method for operating a pari-mutuel wagering game, comprising:

receiving funds from a plurality of bettors to create a pool of wagers;

allocating a portion of the pool of wagers as commission to an operator by use of a host computer system;

allocating the remainder of the pool of wagers as a common pari-mutuel fund for paying one or more winning bettors by use of the host computer system;

offering the betters a plurality of betting options by use of an electronic interface, including bets relating to participants involved in a non-athletic human contest, wherein the participants are ranked according to performance statistics;

receiving bets from the bettors by use of the electronic interface;

determining which of the bettors win based on the bets by use of the host computer system; and

determining a payout for each winning bettor according to a pari-mutuel strategy by use of the host computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing payouts to bettors from the common pari-mutuel fund.

3. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1 wherein the human contest is a political election.

4. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 1 wherein the human contest is a beauty pageant.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the human contest is a beauty pageant.

5. A pari-mutuel wagering method comprising the steps of:

receiving funds from a plurality of bettors to create a pool of wagers;

allocating a portion of the pool of wagers as commission to an operator by use of a host computer system;

allocating the remainder of the pool of wagers as a common pari-mutuel fund for paying winning bettors by use of the host computer system;

offering the bettors a plurality of bets by use of an electronic interface, including bets related to players in a fantasy sports game, wherein players are ranked against other players based on their performance statistics;

taking bets from the bettors by use of the electronic interface, wherein the bets are based on the rankings of players in the fantasy sports game;

determining which bettors win based on the bets by use of the host computer system; and

determining a payout for each winning bettor according to a pari-mutuel strategy by use of the host computer system.

6. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing payouts to bettors from the common pari-mutuel fund.

7. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 5, wherein the fantasy sports game is a fantasy football game, fantasy baseball game, fantasy basketball, fantasy hockey game, fantasy golf game, fantasy cricket game, fantasy soccer game, or fantasy auto racing game.

8. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 5, wherein the fantasy sports game is football and wherein the players include quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, or kickers.

9. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 5, wherein the step of taking bets from the bettors is performed over the internet.

10. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 5, wherein the step of taking bets from the bettors is performed over the telephone.

11. The pari-mutuel wagering method of claim 5, wherein the operator is a casino sportsbook.

12. A system for pari-mutuel sports wagering comprising:

a host computer system configured to offer a plurality of bets including bets related to players in a fantasy sports game, wherein players are ranked against other players based on their performance statistics, wherein the host computer system receives funds from bettors to create at least one pool of wagers, and receives bets from the bettors based on the rankings of players in the fantasy sports game, and wherein the host computer system further allocates a portion of the at least one pool of wagers as commission to an operator, determines which bettors win based on the bets, and calculates payouts for the winning bettors based on a pari-mutuel wagering strategy; and

an interface which allows bettors to communicate with the host computer system to input funds and bets and to receive payout information.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

one or more input devices which are communicatively coupled to the host computer system and which allow bettors to communicate with the host computer system to input bets remotely.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the input devices include wireless phones, pagers, computers, voice-over-IP phones, or landline phones.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the fantasy sports game is a fantasy football game, fantasy baseball game, fantasy basketball, fantasy hockey game, fantasy golf game, fantasy cricket game, fantasy soccer game, or fantasy auto racing game.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the fantasy sports game is football and wherein the players include quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, or kickers.

17. A system for pari-mutuel wagering on non-athletic human contests comprising:

a host computer system configured to offer a plurality of bets including bets related to participants in a non-athletic human contest, wherein participants are ranked against other participants based on their performance statistics, wherein the host computer system receives funds from bettors to create at least one pool of wagers, and receives bets from the bettors based on the rankings of participants in the non-athletic human contest, and wherein the host computer system further allocates a portion of the at least one pool of wagers as commission to an operator, determines which bettors win based on the bets, and calculates payouts for the winning bettors based on a pari-mutuel wagering strategy; and

an interface which allows bettors to communicate with the host computer system to input funds and bets and to receive payout information.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the human contest is a political election.