Methods and systems for conducting a competition within a gaming environment

• US 9,811,976 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micro-Gaming Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: Micro-Gaming Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Shore, Michael W., Chan, Alfonso G., Ortiz, Luis M., Lopez, Kermit D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US15/269,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20170069173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25, 463 29, 463 40
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• 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 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

Methods and systems for conducting a competition within a gaming environment. Two or more players can be enabled to electronically access a gaming environment over a communication network. The players can be registered to allow access to a competition within the gaming environment. Each player can be enabled to compete against one or more other players by selecting from macro events displayed in the gaming environment one or more micro event outcomes to future micro events, the micro event outcomes randomized to prevent cheating. A selection of the micro outcomes utilizes a number of points or credits, wherein each selection of a micro outcome increases a selecting player'"'"'s points or credit balance if the micro outcome occurs or decreases the points or credit balance if the micro outcome selected does not occur.

Claims

1. A method of conducting an eSports competition, said method comprising:

enabling at least two players to electronically access a gaming environment over a communication network, said gaming environment comprising at least one multiple display screen system having at least one processor operably connected to at least one micro-betting graphical user interface and at least one display area for displaying at least one macro-event;

registering said at least two players via said at least one multiple display screen system to allow access by said at least two players to a competition within said gaming environment, said competition comprising an eSports competition;

enabling each player among said at least two players to compete against at least one other player utilizing said micro-betting graphical user interface of at least one multiple display screen system by selecting from within at least two macro events displayed in said at least one multiple display screen system of said gaming environment one or more micro event outcomes to future micro events, the one or more future outcomes from which the players choose being randomized to prevent cheating, wherein at least one macro event among said at least two macro events is displayed in said at least one display area of said at least one multiple display screen system;

wherein a selection of at least two micro outcomes in said at least two macro events facilitated by said at least one micro-betting graphical user interface utilizes a number of points or credits, wherein each selection of a micro outcome facilitated by said at least one micro-betting graphical user interface increases points of a selecting player or a credit balance of said selecting player if said micro outcome occurs or decreases said points or said credit balance of said selecting player if said micro outcome selected does not occur; and

determining by said at least one processor at a conclusion of said competition at least one winner based on an accumulation of points or credits by said at least two players during said competition.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising authorizing at least one player among said at least two players access to said gaming environment upon an electronic payment of a fee by said at least one player and confirmation of an identity of said at least one player.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said at least one player is provided with points or credits following said electronic payment of said fee.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a running total of points of participating players of said competition over a course of said competition as textual information in said at least one micro-betting graphical user interface.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a number of said points or credits utilized in said selection is determined by at least one player among said at least two players or wherein a number of said points or credits utilized in said selection is determined by an administrator of said competition.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said competition comprises a dynamic parimutuel game.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said competition comprises a dynamic non-parimutuel game.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one multiple display screen system includes at least one remote computing device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said at least one remote computing device comprises at least one of a laptop computer, a set-top box, a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a tablet computing device.

10. A system for conducting an eSports competition, said system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a non-transitory computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, said computer-usable medium capable of communicating with said at least one processor, said computer program code comprising instructions executable by said at least one processor and configured for;

enabling at least two players to electronically access over a communication network a gaming environment comprising at least one multiple display screen system having at least one processor operably connected to at least one micro-betting graphical user interface and at least one display area for displaying at least one macro-event;

registering said at least two players via said multiple display screen system to allow access to a competition within said gaming environment, said competition comprising an eSports competition;

enabling each player among said at least two players to compete against at least one other player utilizing said multiple display screen system by selecting from within at least two macro events displayed in said multiple display screen system of said gaming environment one or more micro event outcomes to future micro events, the one or more future outcomes from which the players choose being randomized to prevent cheating, wherein at least one macro event among said at least two macro events is displayed in at least one display area of said multiple display screen system;

wherein a selection of at least two micro outcomes in said at least two macro events facilitated by said at least one micro-betting graphical user interface utilizes a number of points or credits, wherein each selection of a micro outcome facilitated by said at least one micro-betting graphical user interface increases points of a selecting player or a credit balance of said selecting player if said micro outcome occurs or decreases said points or said credit balance of said selecting player if said micro outcome selected does not occur; and

determining at a conclusion of said competition at least one winner based on an accumulation of points or credits by said at least two players during said competition.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said instructions are further configured for authorizing at least one player among said at least two players access to said gaming environment upon an electronic payment of a fee by said at least one player and confirmation of an identity of said at least one player.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said instructions are further configured for displaying a running total of points of participating players over a course of said competition as textual information in said at least one micro-betting graphical user interface and wherein said at least one player is provided with points or credits following said electronic payment of said fee.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein a number of said points or credits utilized in said selection is determined by at least one player among said at least two players or wherein a number of said points or credits utilized in said selection is determined by an administrator of said competition.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said competition comprises a dynamic parimutuel game.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said competition comprises a dynamic non parimutuel game.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein said gaming environment comprises a fantasy sports gaming environment.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein said number of points or credits is electronically managed by an electronic credit manager.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein said number of points or credits is electronically managed by an electronic coupon manager.

19. The system of claim 10 wherein said number of points or credits is electronically managed by an electronic coupon manager in association with electronic credit manager.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein said at least one multiple display screen system includes at least one remote computing device that comprises at least one of a laptop computer, a set-top box, a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a tablet computing device.