U.S. patent application number 12/605846 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-28 for supplemental wager methods and apparatus.
Invention is credited to William J. Ryan.
Application Number | 20110098105 12/605846 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43898903 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110098105 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ryan; William J. |
April 28, 2011 |
SUPPLEMENTAL WAGER METHODS AND APPARATUS
Abstract
Described herein are various principles relating to a method for
betting comprising offering a base bet having a line associated
with an outcome of an event, receiving indication that a bettor has
placed the base bet on a side of the line, and offering a
supplemental bet to the bettor that the outcome of the event will
equal the line if the line is an integer line, or that the outcome
of the event will equal the nearest integer value on the side of
the line on which the bettor placed the base bet if the line is a
non-integer line.
Inventors: |
Ryan; William J.; (Concord,
MA) |
Family ID: |
43898903 |
Appl. No.: |
12/605846 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3288 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101; G07F 17/3262 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/25 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method for betting comprising: offering a base bet having a
line associated with an outcome of an event; receiving indication
that a bettor has placed the base bet on a side of the line; and
offering a supplemental bet to the bettor that the outcome of the
event will equal the line if the line is an integer line, or that
the outcome of the event will equal the nearest integer value on
the side of the line on which the bettor placed the base bet if the
line is a non-integer line.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bettor, via the base bet,
wagers that the outcome of the event will be greater than the line
and wherein offering the supplemental bet comprises offering a
supplemental bet to the bettor that the outcome of the event will
fall on the nearest integer value greater than the line.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bettor, via the base bet,
wagers that the outcome of the event will be less than the line and
wherein offering the supplemental bet comprises offering a
supplemental bet to the bettor that the outcome of the event will
fall on the nearest integer value less than the line.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental bet is offered
with odds.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the outcome of the event is a
score differential in a game between a first competitor and a
second competitor and the line is a corresponding spread.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the outcome of the event is a
number of occurrences during the event and the line is an
over/under line for the number of occurrences that will result.
7. At least one computer readable medium having instruction stored
thereon, the instructions, when executed on at least one processor,
performing a betting method comprising: offering a base bet having
a line associated with an outcome of an event; receiving indication
that a bettor has placed the base bet on a side of the line; and
offering a supplemental bet to the bettor that the outcome of the
event will equal the line if the line is an integer line, or that
the outcome of the event will equal the nearest integer value on
the side of the line on which the bettor placed the base bet if the
line is a non-integer line.
8. The at least one computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein
the bettor, via the base bet, wagers that the outcome of the event
will be greater than the line and wherein offering the supplemental
bet comprises offering a supplemental bet to the bettor that the
outcome of the event will fall on the nearest integer value greater
than the line.
9. The at least one computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein
the bettor, via the base bet, wagers that the outcome of the event
will be less than the line and wherein offering the supplemental
bet comprises offering a supplemental bet to the bettor that the
outcome of the event will fall on the nearest integer value less
than the line.
10. The at least one computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein
the supplemental bet is offered with odds.
11. The at least one computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein
the outcome of the event is a score differential in a game between
a first competitor and a second competitor and the line is a
corresponding spread.
12. The at least one computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein
the outcome of the event is a number of occurrences during the
event and the line is an over/under line for the number of
occurrences that will result.
13. A computer system for placing bets comprising: at least one
input to receive an indication that a bettor has placed a bet; at
least one computer readable medium to store at least one bet having
an associated line; and at least one processor coupled to the at
least one input and the at least one computer readable medium, the
processor configured to offer a base bet having a line associated
with an outcome of an event, receive indication from the at least
one input that a bettor has placed the base bet on a side of the
line, and offer a supplemental bet to the bettor that the outcome
of the event will equal the line if the line is an integer line, or
that the outcome of the event will equal the nearest integer value
on the side of the line on which the bettor placed the base bet if
the line is a non-integer line.
14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the bettor, via the
base bet, wagers that the outcome of the event will be greater than
the line and wherein the at least one processor is configured to
offer a supplemental bet to the bettor that the outcome of the
event will fall on the nearest integer value greater than the
line.
15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the bettor, via the
base bet, wagers that the outcome of the event will be less than
the line and wherein the at least one processor is configured to
offer a supplemental bet to the bettor that the outcome of the
event will fall on the nearest integer value less than the
line.
16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the supplemental bet
is offered with odds.
17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the outcome of the
event is a score differential in a game between a first competitor
and a second competitor and the line is a spread.
18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the outcome of the
event is a number of occurrences during the event and the line is
an over/under line for the number of occurrences that will result.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The gambling industry provides numerous ways by which bets
can be placed on a wide variety of events. For example, betting on
the outcome of horse races has been a popular form of gambling for
centuries. More recently, comprehensive sports betting has
developed into a sophisticated and lucrative industry popular
amongst sports fans and gambling enthusiasts alike. Betting has
expanded to include everything from familiar sports betting to more
esoteric bets such as dead pools and the outcome of political
elections.
[0002] In a typical betting scenario, one entity offers up a bet
associated with a particular event and another entity places a
desired amount of money on the bet in the hopes that a particular
outcome will result from the event to which the bet is associated.
An event may be anything that has an unknown outcome at the time
the bet is established and/or placed and that will have some
unambiguous outcome thereafter, some examples of which are
described below. The entity offering a bet is referred to herein as
the bookmaker or "bookie," and may include an individual, an online
gambling service, a casino, or any other source capable of offering
a bet. The entity that places the bet is referred to herein as the
bettor. There are a variety of methods by which a bookie can offer
a bet, including, but not limited to, odds betting, line betting
(including spreads) and straight betting. The type of bet that is
used may depend on the type of event to which the bet is
associated.
[0003] Odds betting is often used when one side of a wager is more
likely to occur than the other, sometimes significantly so, or when
an outcome of an event upon which a bet is established is
relatively unlikely (or likely) to occur. Odds are typically set
proportional to the degree of difference in the likelihood of one
side of a wager occurring over the other and/or proportional to the
degree of unlikelihood (or likelihood) that an outcome of an event
on which a bet is placed will occur. In odds betting, the payout
(i.e., the amount owed when a bettor wins) is typically the stake
(i.e., the amount bet) multiplied by the odds. For example, when a
bet is placed on a particular outcome with 100-to-1 odds, a 10
dollar stake will result in a 1000 dollar payout should the bet
come in for the bettor. A bookie may be willing to risk the
relatively high payout due to the correspondingly small chance that
the bet will come in for the bettor and the correspondingly high
likelihood that the bettor will lose and the bookmaker will pocket
the stake along with (typically) the vigorish (often referred to
simply as the "vig," the "juice" or the "take"). The vig refers to
an additional amount of money that a bookie charges for providing
his/her services. Odds betting may be appealing to the gambler or
bettor due to the potential of a large payout at relatively low
stakes.
[0004] Sports betting often involves betting on the outcome between
individual players, multiple players or teams. The term
"competitor" is used herein to describe both singular and plural
parties participating in a sporting event or game, whether the
parties involved are single individuals, multiple players or teams.
Sporting events or games often take place between unequally matched
competitors. Thus, a straight bet on which competitor will win and
which competitor will lose may not be attractive to a bookie. To
facilitate betting in view of unequally matched competitors, sports
betting often relies on spreads that handicap a stronger competitor
by assigning the weaker competitor a designated number of points
to, in a sense, level the playing field.
[0005] Spreads may be particularly well suited for sporting events
or games that are scored such that the winner is the competitor
with the highest or lowest score at the end of the game. The spread
is assigned by the bookie and is his/her assessment of how dominant
the stronger competitor is over the weaker competitor. Initially,
the spread may be indicative of the bookie's guess as to how many
points the weaker team will lose by. A bettor may then bet against
the spread by choosing one side of the spread or the other
depending on how accurately the bettor feels the line defines the
actual outcome of the event/game.
[0006] As example of spread betting, a bookie considering a game
between Competitor A and Competitor B may believe that Competitor A
will win by N points and therefore establish a spread of N points,
wherein N may be an integer or a non-integer value as discussed in
further detail below. The bettor can then either take Competitor A
(meaning the bettor believes that Competitor A will win by more
than N points) or take Competitor B (meaning that the bettor
believes that Competitor B will lose by less than N points, or win
the game) in the wager offered by the bookie. Typically, spread
betting is conducted without odds (although this is not a
limitation). That is, the payout is the same as the stakes should
the bettor win. Should the bettor lose, the bettor forfeits the
stakes and usually pays an associated vig.
[0007] Line betting is a more general concept that includes spreads
(i.e., a spread is one form in which a line can take). A line
refers herein to one or more values characteristic of or predicting
an outcome of an event that a bettor can choose to place a bet on
one side of the line or the other, depending on how well the bettor
believes the line predicts the outcome of the event. For example, a
spread is a line characteristic of or predicting the score
differential between competitors at the end of a game or at some
other designated time or interval.
[0008] Lines may also refer to a number of occurrences of an event
during a game (e.g., fumbles, touch down passes, interceptions,
three point field goals, blocked shots, statistics of a particular
player, etc.) or the total accumulated scores of one or both
competitors at the end of the game or some other designated time or
interval. The latter type of bet is often referred to as an
over/under bet as a bettor decides whether he/she believes the
outcome will be over or under the established line. The number of
lines that can be (and often are) set and offered as wagers are
virtually limitless.
[0009] Lines (including spreads) are often used to allow a
bookmaker to manage wins and losses. Ideally, the bookmaker would
have the same amount of money placed on both sides of a bet. Under
such circumstances, whatever the outcome of the event/game, the
bookmaker's wins and losses cancel each other out and the bookmaker
profits the vig summed over all of the bettors who lost the wager.
A bookmaker can attempt to artificially create this equilibrium by
changing the line during the interval between the time the wager is
first offered and the time the game or event begins. By monitoring
how much money is at stake on both sides of the bet, the bookmaker
can change the line to make the side having less at stake more
attractive to bettors to coax bettors in a desired direction to
even out the stakes on both sides of the bet.
[0010] Bookmakers and bettors alike typically do not profit from a
tie and therefore such situations are typically unattractive to
both parties. For example, if a bookmaker establishes a line at
Team A by N points and Team A wins by exactly N points, the wager
is a push and neither the bookmaker nor the bettor wins. To avoid
pushes, bookmakers often use non-integer or fractional lines set at
an impossible outcome. Take for example the circumstance in which
the line is a spread and the game/event on which the bet is
established is scored using integer values. As a result, the score
differential between the competitors in the game/event will also be
an integer value and a non-integer or fractional difference will
never occur. Thus, bookmakers will set the line at a non-integer
value such that the actual difference in the scores cannot exactly
match the spread. For example, rather than establishing a spread at
Team A by 7, the bookmaker will set the spread at Team A by 6.5,
thereby avoiding the possibility of a push. The same principle
applies to any line in which the outcome will necessarily take an
integer value.
SUMMARY
[0011] Described herein are various principles relating to offering
a supplemental bet in connection with a base bet placed on a
line.
[0012] Some embodiments include a method for betting comprising
offering a base bet having a line associated with an outcome of an
event, receiving indication that a bettor has placed the base bet
on a side of the line, and offering a supplemental bet to the
bettor that the outcome of the event will equal the line if the
line is an integer line, or that the outcome of the event will
equal the nearest integer value on the side of the line on which
the bettor placed the base bet if the line is a non-integer
line.
[0013] Some embodiments include at least one computer readable
medium having instruction stored thereon, the instructions, when
executed on at least one processor, performing a betting method
comprising offering a base bet having a line associated with an
outcome of an event, receiving indication that a bettor has placed
the base bet on a side of the line, and offering a supplemental bet
to the bettor that the outcome of the event will equal the line if
the line is an integer line, or that the outcome of the event will
equal the nearest integer value on the side of the line on which
the bettor placed the base bet if the line is a non-integer
line.
[0014] A computer system for placing bets comprising at least one
input to receive an indication that a bettor has placed a bet, at
least one computer readable medium to store at least one bet having
an associated line, and at least one processor coupled to the at
least one input and the at least one computer readable medium, the
processor configured to offer a base bet having a line associated
with an outcome of an event, receive indication from the at least
one input that a bettor has placed the base bet on a side of the
line, and offer a supplemental bet to the bettor that the outcome
of the event will equal the line if the line is an integer line, or
that the outcome of the event will equal the nearest integer value
on the side of the line on which the bettor placed the base bet if
the line is a non-integer line.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to
scale. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled
in every drawing. In the drawings:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a betting method, in
accordance with some embodiments of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an online betting environment in
which one or more embodiments of the present invention may be
implemented;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a computer that may be used to
implement one or more embodiments of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 4A is a betting environment by which one or more
embodiments of the invention may be implemented;
[0020] FIG. 4B is a flowchart of a method of implementing one or
more embodiments of the present invention in the betting
environment illustrated in FIG. 4A;
[0021] FIG. 5A is a diagram of an automatic betting device on which
one or more embodiments of the invention may be implemented;
and
[0022] FIG. 5B is a flowchart of a method of implementing one or
more embodiments of the present invention on the automatic betting
system illustrated in FIG. 5A;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Gamblers are often attracted to betting systems that allow
for a variety of bets, both in complexity and in kind. For example,
win, place, show, each way, perfecta, trifecta and superfecta are
just a few of the hundreds of bets that can be placed on horse
racing or dog racing and that have intrigued casual bettors and
gambling enthusiasts alike. In more modern sports betting, parlays,
teasers, birdcages, A&R box, over/under betting, etc., provide
a variety of bets and combinations of bets that may interest a
bettor. Variety in betting allows bettors to attempt to hedge and
also may provide the illusion that the bettor can design a winning
betting system. It is typically to the bookmakers advantage to
offer a bettor as many betting opportunities as possible. Thus,
offering a variety of bets may be attractive to both bookmakers and
bettors.
[0024] Applicant has appreciated that offering a supplemental bet
to a base bet may be attractive to bettors and therefore beneficial
to bookmakers. Applicant has recognized that combining line betting
and odds betting may be particularly attractive to sports bettors.
For example, offering a supplemental odds bet to a line bet may be
attractive to bettors because of the relatively high payout
potential for relatively low stakes. Similarly, such an offering
may be attractive to bookmakers in that they can set the odds of
the supplemental bet to favor the bookmaker.
[0025] According to some embodiments, a supplemental odds-based bet
is offered in connection with placing a base bet having an
associated line. In some embodiments, the supplemental bet may be a
wager that the outcome of an event on which the base bet was placed
will equal the line established by the bookmaker for the bet. In
other embodiments involving non-integer lines, the supplemental bet
may be a wager that an outcome will fall on the nearest integer
value on the side of the line on which the bettor placed the base
bet. In some embodiments, the line is a spread. In some
embodiments, the supplemental bet is offered with odds.
[0026] Following below are more detailed descriptions of various
concepts related to, and embodiments of, methods and apparatus
according to the present invention. It should be appreciated that
various aspects of the invention described herein may be
implemented in any of numerous ways. Examples of specific
implementations are provided herein for illustrative purposes only.
In addition, the various aspects of the invention described in the
embodiments below may be used alone or in any combination, and are
not limited to the combinations explicitly described herein.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method of offering a
supplemental bet in connection with a base bet placed against a
line, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
A base bet placed against a line refers to any bet placed on one
side or the other of a line, for example, a line established by a
bookmaker. The line may be a spread, an over/under line or any
other line established in connection with any type of outcome of
any type of event. In some embodiments, the supplemental bet may be
one or more additional bets related to the accuracy of the line in
predicting the outcome of the event, as discussed in further detail
below.
[0028] In act 110, one or more bets are offered to any number of
bettors, at least one of the bets having a line, for example,
established by a bookmaker. The term "offer" in connection to a bet
refers to the act of displaying and/or presenting bets to a bettor
such that the bettor can ascertain the parameters of the bet.
Accordingly, a bet can be offered by an individual, a computer or
any other entity capable of conveying a bet and its parameters. As
discussed above, a bookmaker may be an individual, a casino, an
online gambling service or one or more computers associated with
any of the above entities, as the aspects of the invention are not
limited in this respect.
[0029] In act 120, an indication is received that a bettor has
placed a bet against the line of a base bet having an associated
line by indicating which side of the line the bettor believes the
outcome of the event will result. By placing the bet, the bettor
agrees to the parameters and payout arrangement established by the
bet. It should be appreciated that the stake need not be rendered
to the bookmaker at the time the bet is taken, but in some
embodiments the stake will be transferred upon placing the bet, or
the stake may reside in a designated account or held in escrow, as
discussed in further detail below. In some embodiments, the bettor
may receive confirmation that the bet was placed such as a ticket
or receipt, although this is not a limitation on the invention
(e.g., in telephone betting, the transaction may consist of the
bettor indicating, via a telephone call with a bookie or agent,
which bet the bettor wants to take, stating which side of the line
the bettor would like to wager on, and indicating how much the
bettor would like to stake).
[0030] In act 130, a supplemental bet may be offered to the bettor
in connection with the base bet placed by the bettor. The
supplemental bet may be a wager related to the accuracy of the line
established for the base bet. There are at least two forms in which
the supplemental bet may take depending on whether the line set for
the base bet is an integer line (e.g., a line indicating a possible
outcome of the event from which a push can arise) or a non-integer
line (e.g., a line indicating an impossible outcome of the event
from which a push cannot arise). In the case where the line is a
possible outcome of the event, the supplemental bet may be a wager
that the outcome will fall exactly on the line (e.g., the bettor
can bet that a push will arise). As a general matter, when the line
reflects a possible outcome of the event, only one or the other of
the base bet and the supplemental bet will come in for the bettor.
For example, if the supplemental bet comes in, a push occurs in the
base bet. In the case in which the bettor's base bet comes in, the
bettor will necessarily lose the supplemental bet. If the bettor
loses the base bet, the supplemental bet will also not come in for
the bettor. Accordingly, in the instance of a line reflecting an
actual outcome (e.g., an integer bet), the supplemental bet may be
attractive as a hedge against a push in the base bet.
[0031] In the case of a non-integer line (e.g., a line having a
fractional component that reflects an impossible outcome), the
supplemental bet may be a wager wherein the bettor bets that the
actual outcome of the event will fall on the nearest integer value
on the side of the line on which the bettor placed his/her base
bet. For example, if the bettor placed a base bet wherein the
bettor wagered that the outcome would be over the established line,
the supplemental bet offered may be a bet that the actual outcome
of the event will fall on the nearest integer value greater than
the line. Similarly, if the bettor placed a base bet wherein the
bettor wagered that the outcome would be under the established
line, the supplemental bet offered may be a bet that the actual
outcome of the event will fall on the nearest integer value less
than the line.
[0032] With supplemental bets placed on non-integer lines, the
bettor will either lose both bets (i.e., the outcome occurs on the
opposite side of the line from the bettor's base bet), the bettor
will win both bets (i.e., the outcome falls on the nearest integer
value on the side of the line the bettor placed the base bet), or
the bettor will win the base bet and lose the supplemental bet
(i.e., the outcome falls on the side of the line on which the
bettor placed the base bet but not on the nearest integer value
from the line.)
[0033] To illustrate an example of a supplemental bet in connection
with a base bet in which the line is a spread, consider the
situation in which a bookmaker offers a bet on a game/event between
Competitor A and Competitor B (e.g., Competitor A and Competitor B
may be opposing teams in a football game, basketball game, etc.)
wherein the bookmaker sets the spread at Team A by 6.5. The bettor
may then choose to take Team A (meaning that the bettor believes
that Team A will win by more than 6.5 points) or take Team B
(meaning that the bettor believes that Team B will lose by less
than 6.5 points or that Team B will win).
[0034] Once the bettor places the base bet by choosing which side
of the line the bettor believes the score differential will occur,
the bookmaker may offer a supplemental bet by which the bettor can
wager that the outcome of the game/event will result in a score
differential at the nearest integer value on the side of the line
taken by the bettor (i.e., that Team A will win by exactly 7 if the
bettor took Team A or that Team A will win by exactly 6 points if
the bettor took Team B). It should be appreciated that this
supplemental bet may be offered regardless of what the line
represents. That is, the supplemental bet described in the
foregoing may be offered on over/under bets corresponding to any
outcome of any event or any other type of bet offered on a line, as
the aspects of the invention are not limited in this respect.
[0035] As an example of a supplemental bet placed against an
integer line, consider the above game/event between Competitor A
and Competitor B wherein the bookmaker sets the spread at
Competitor A by 9. The bettor may then choose to take Team A
(meaning that the bettor believes that Team A will win by more than
9 points) or take Team B (meaning that the bettor believes that
Team B will lose by less than 9 points or that Team B will win).
Once the bettor takes the base bet by choosing which side of the
line the bettor believes the score differential will occur, the
bookmaker may offer a supplemental bet by which the bettor can
wager that the outcome of the game/event will result in a score
differential equal to the spread (e.g., 9 points). With integer
lines, whether the supplemental bet comes in for the bettor is the
same regardless of which side of the line the bettor places the
base bet.
[0036] According to some embodiments, the supplemental bet may be
referred to as a Halfecta.TM. as it relates to fractional lines
(which are often established as half-point lines). However, the
trademark Halfecta.TM. may refer to bets placed on any fractional
line. The name Halfecta.TM. may provide a shorthand way for a
bookmaker to refer to at least some of the embodiments of
supplemental bets described herein. For example, after a bettor has
placed a base bet, the bookmaker may ask the bettor if the bettor
would like a Halfecta.TM. on the base bet. However, the
supplemental bets described herein may be referred to in any
suitable way that conveys the supplemental bet and its parameters,
as the aspects of the invention are not limited this respect.
[0037] According to some embodiments, the supplemental bet is
offered as an odds bet. Because the likelihood of an outcome
occurring precisely on the line or a nearest integer value
associated with a non-integer line may be relatively small, a
bookmaker may offer the supplemental bet with odds to make the bet
more attractive to the bettor. Because the bettor is thereby given
the opportunity of a relatively large payout in comparison with a
relatively small additional stake, the bettor may find
supplementing their base bet an attractive opportunity. From the
bookmaker's perspective, the bookmaker may set the odds such that
they are attractive to the bettor but still favor the bookmaker
(e.g., the bookmaker may have statistics on the likelihood of the
supplemental bet coming in for the bettor and set the odds
accordingly). In this way, the bookmaker profits from the
supplemental bet and the bettor is provided the opportunity to
place an odds based bet to supplement an associated base bet.
[0038] The supplemental bets described herein can be employed in
any type of betting environment in connection with any type of
bookmaker including, but not limited to, telephone bookmaking,
online gambling services, casino gambling such as sportsbooks,
etc., as discussed in further detail below.
[0039] FIG. 2 illustrates an online betting system on which aspects
of the invention may be implemented. System 200 includes a network
220 interconnecting network enabled devices 210 and/or betting
server 230. Network 220 may include one or more networks of any
type that allow for remote communications between devices. Network
220 may include one or more local area networks (LANs), one or more
wide area networks (WANs) (e.g., the Internet) or may include any
other type of network. For example, network 220 may include the
Internet and/or may include one or more other networks attached to
the Internet. However, any network configuration may be used, as
the aspects of the invention are not limited to implementation on
any particular network type or configuration.
[0040] Network enabled devices 210 may be any device capable of
network communication. Non-limiting examples shown in FIG. 2
include personal computer 210a, personal digital assistant (PDA)
210b, laptop computer 210c and cellular telephone 210d. System 200
also includes a betting server 230 connected via the network. The
betting server may be any computing device capable of hosting a
gambling service. For example, betting server 230 may be a server
capable of providing an online gambling website that offers bets to
online bettors. Online bettors may access the gambling website
through any available network device 210.
[0041] As one example, a bettor may access betting server 200 by
entering the universal resource locator (URL) of the betting
server. The betting server may then provide one or more webpages to
the bettor that present the available bets that the service has to
offer. For example, the one or more web pages may present the one
or more events and associated lines to the bettor so that the
bettor can place desired bet(s). Should the bettor place a bet
having an associated line, the betting server may then query the
bettor as to whether the bettor would like to place a corresponding
supplemental bet using the supplemental betting method described in
the foregoing. A supplemental bet may be offered for each bet that
is placed in connection with a line, or offered to supplement only
designated bets as desired. In the gambling environment described
above, betting server 230 and/or the gambling service provided via
the network may be considered the bookmaker (with or without the
entity that establishes the line) even though the transaction
between the bettor and the gambling service may be conducted
without human interaction on the server side of the bet. However,
one or more persons may be involved in providing the online
gambling service, as the aspects of the invention are not limited
to any particular method by which the base bet and supplemental
bets are offered and/or provided.
[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates a computer system on which one or more
embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. For
example, the betting server 230 may be similar to computer 300. It
should be appreciated that the illustration in FIG. 3 is intended
neither to be a depiction of necessary components for a computing
device to operate in accordance with the principles described
herein, nor a comprehensive depiction. Computer 300 may comprise at
least one processor 302, at least one network adapter 304, and
computer-readable storage media 308. Computing device 300 may be,
for example, a desktop or laptop personal computer, a personal
digital assistant (PDA), a smart mobile phone, a server hosting a
web site or serving any other data, an automatic betting device
(e.g., a kiosk-style computing device), or any other suitable
computing device.
[0043] Network adapter 304 may be any suitable hardware and/or
software that enables the computer 300 to communicate wired and/or
wirelessly with any other suitable computing device over any
suitable network. The network may include a wireless access point
as well as any suitable wired and/or wireless communication medium
or media for exchanging data between two or more computers,
including the Internet. Computer-readable storage media 308 may be
adapted to store data to be processed and/or instructions to be
executed by processor 302. Processor 302 enables processing of data
and execution of instructions. The data and instructions may be
stored on the computer-readable storage media 308 and may, for
example, enable communication between components of the computing
device 300.
[0044] Computer-readable medium 308 may store information
reflecting the base bets being offered and any lines associated
with the bets, as indicated by storage locations 310.
Computer-readable medium 308 may also store information reflecting
supplemental bets and any odds associated with the supplemental
bets as indicated by storage locations 310.
[0045] The computer-readable storage media 308 may also include a
betting application 314 that implements one or more of the methods,
or portions of one or more of the methods described in the
foregoing. According to some embodiments, the betting application
314 comprises instructions that assist a human user in implementing
one or more of the methods, or portions of one or more of the
methods described in the foregoing. Betting application 314 may be
configured to access the base bets and any associated lines and the
supplemental bets and any associated odds to facilitate the
implementation of a betting system.
[0046] According to some embodiments, betting application 314
provides one or more user interfaces that present the available
base bets and any associated lines and the supplemental bets and
any associated odds to potential bettors. The betting application
314 may be configured to provide a prompt to query the bettor as to
whether the bettor would like to place a supplemental bet once a
base bet has been placed. The one or more user interfaces may
operate via a local display (see e.g., FIG. 4 below) or presented
on a remote device, e.g., such as via a web page to allow a bettor,
or an agent (who will in turn interact with or act on behalf of a
bettor), to place bets.
[0047] While not illustrated in FIG. 3, computer 300 may
additionally have one or more components and/or peripherals,
including input and output devices. These devices can be used,
among other things, to present the one or more user interfaces and
to receive input from a bettor and/or agent. Examples of output
devices that can be used to provide a user interface include
printers or display screens for visual presentation of output and
speakers or other sound generating devices for audible presentation
of output. Examples of input devices that can be used for a user
interface include keyboards, pointing devices, such as a mouse,
touch screens, etc. As another example, a microphone and speech
recognition may be used to take audible input from a bettor and/or
agent. It should be appreciated that any number and type of
input/output devices may be used, as the aspects of the invention
are not limited to implementation on any particular type or
configuration of computer system.
[0048] FIG. 4A illustrates a system in which an agent assists in
placing bets in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
System 400 includes a computer 430 and an agent 480. Computer 430
may include a computer readable medium such as a memory that stores
one or more bets that are being offered and are available for a
bettor to wager against. Computer 430 may also store lines
associated with the one more bets. The lines may be determined by a
bookmaker and input or transmitted to computer 430 such that the
stored lines are up-to-date with respect to the available bets
being offered. Computer 330 may be a stand-alone computer or may be
connected to one or more other devices over a network. For example,
computer 430 may be similar to embodiments of computer 300
described in connection with FIG. 3.
[0049] Agent 480 may be present to assist bettors in placing bets
via computer 430 and may or may not be the bookmaker that
established the lines stored on computer 430. The agent/computer is
a familiar format for placing bets at sportsbooks at casinos, at
horse and dog races and other facilities that provide
betting/gambling opportunities. FIG. 4B illustrates a method using
agent assistance to place bets, in accordance with some embodiments
of the present invention. Computer 430 may present or offer a
number of base bets, at least one of which is associated with a
line (act 405). A bettor places a bet with the agent who takes the
bet and inputs the bet which is received by computer 430 (act 415).
The computer may generate a ticket or receipt as proof that the
bettor has placed the bet.
[0050] If the bettor does not know the line for a particular bet or
is not certain whether a particular bet is being offered, the
bettor can inquire with the agent to ascertain whether a bet is
available and/or what the line is currently set at. The agent 480
may then query computer 430 as to what base bets are being offered
and what the line is set at for bets having an associated line.
This information may then be presented to the agent/bettor to
assist the bettor in understanding what betting options are
available and what are the parameters of the various bets.
[0051] As discussed above, once the bettor agrees to place a base
bet, the agent may input the bet into the computer. If the base bet
has an associated line corresponding to an outcome of an event, the
computer may then prompt the agent to query the bettor as to
whether the bettor would like to place a supplemental bet in
connection with the line associated with the base bet (act 425). If
the supplemental bet is odds-based, computer 430 may present the
odds to the agent who can communicate the odds to the bettor. As
with the base bet, if the bettor decides to place a supplemental
bet, the agent may input the supplemental bet into the computer and
a ticket or receipt may be given to the bettor
acknowledging/confirming the bet and indicating the amount staked
on the bet.
[0052] FIG. 5A illustrates an automatic betting device on which
embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. Automatic
betting device 500 may include a computer having any combination of
components and features described above in connection with computer
300. Automatic betting device 500 may include input and output
devices and a betting application that may eliminate the need for a
human agent to assist in placing bets. Automatic betting device 500
includes a display 540 (display 540 may be purely an output device
or an input/output device such as a touch screen), a keypad 550, a
slot 560 adapted to receive a bank card such as a credit card or
debit card, and slot 570 for dispensing tickets and/or
receipts.
[0053] Automatic betting device 500 may be connected to one or more
networks to communicate with other network devices. Automatic
betting device 500 may be connected to one or more bank networks
such that automatic betting device 500 can process banks cards
inserted by bettors. Automatic betting device 500 may be located
anywhere, for example, in a casino sportsbook, a horse racing or
dog racing facility, or in any suitable location to provide bettors
with an automated method of placing bets. Automatic betting device
500 may facilitate a relatively user friendly betting experience
for bettor's without the need for agent involvement in placing the
bets.
[0054] FIG. 5B is a flowchart illustrating one method of placing
bets with the automatic betting device 500. In act 510, the
automatic betting device 500 may present one or more available bets
to a bettor. For example, the bettor may browse through available
bets using the keypad and/or touch screen display (if available) in
connection with one or more user interfaces provided by a betting
application operating on automatic betting device 500. The
automatic betting device may present any lines associated with the
various bets being offered. The bettor may place a bet by
indicating via keypad/touch screen which bet the user would like to
wager on and the amount the bettor would like to stake.
[0055] In act 520, automatic betting device 500 receives the bet
and may present some acknowledgement/confirmation to the bettor
that the bet has been placed. After taking a base bet having an
associated line in connection with an outcome of an event,
automatic betting device 500 may display a prompt asking the bettor
if the bettor would like to place a supplemental bet in connection
with the line (530). For example, when the base bet has a
non-integer line, the automatic betting device 500 may ask the
bettor whether the bettor would like to place a supplemental bet
that the outcome will result in the nearest integer value on the
side of the line on which the bettor placed the base bet. When the
base bet has an integer line, the automatic betting device 500 may
ask the bettor whether the bettor would like to place a
supplemental bet that the outcome will equal the line.
[0056] In some embodiments, when the line is a non-integer line,
the automatic betting device may ask the bettor whether the bettor
would like to place a HALFECTA.TM. on the base bet. If the
supplemental bet is odds-based, the automatic betting device may
present the odds of the supplemental bet to the bettor (e.g., via
the display). The bettor may then indicate whether he/she would
like to take the supplemental bet.
[0057] The automatic betting device 500 may print a ticket or
receipt indicating the bets placed by the bettor and the amounts at
stake and provide the ticket/receipt via slot 570. At some point
during the transaction, automatic betting device may prompt the
user to insert a bank card (e.g., a credit or debit card) from
which the stake (and potentially the vig) may be subtracted. Should
one or more bets come in for the bettor, the bettor may use the
ticket/receipt to redeem the associated stakes (and any associated
vig that was taken) and the corresponding payout(s).
[0058] Techniques operating according to the principles described
herein may be implemented in any suitable manner. Included in the
discussion above are a series of flow charts showing the steps and
acts of various processes that operate a betting system. The
processing and decision blocks of the flow charts above represent
steps and acts that may be included in algorithms that carry out
these various processes. Algorithms derived from these processes
may be implemented as software integrated with and directing the
operation of one or more processors, may be implemented as
functionally-equivalent circuits such as a Digital Signal
Processing (DSP) circuit or an Application-Specific Integrated
Circuit (ASIC), or may be implemented in any other suitable
manner.
[0059] It should be appreciated that the flow charts included
herein do not depict the syntax or operation of any particular
circuit, or of any particular programming language or type of
programming language. Rather, the flow charts illustrate the
functional information that may be used to fabricate circuits or to
implement computer software algorithms to perform the processing of
a particular apparatus carrying out the types of techniques
described herein. It should also be appreciated that, unless
otherwise indicated herein, the particular sequence of steps and
acts described in each flow chart is merely illustrative of the
algorithms that may be implemented and can be varied in
implementations and embodiments of the principles described herein
without departing from the invention.
[0060] Accordingly, in some embodiments, the techniques described
herein may be embodied in computer-executable instructions
implemented as software, including as application software,
firmware, or any other suitable type of software. Such
computer-executable instructions may be written using any of a
number of suitable programming languages and/or programming or
scripting tools, and also may be compiled as executable machine
language code or intermediate code that is executed on a framework
or virtual machine.
[0061] When techniques described herein are embodied as
computer-executable instructions, these computer-executable
instructions may be implemented in any suitable manner, including
as a number of functional modules, each providing one or more
operations needed to complete execution of algorithms operating
according to these techniques. A "functional module," however
instantiated, is a structural component of a computer system that,
when integrated with and executed by one or more computers, causes
the one or more computers to perform a specific operational role. A
functional module may be a portion of or an entire software
element. For example, a functional module may be implemented as a
function of a process, or as a discrete process, or as any other
suitable unit of processing. If techniques described herein are
implemented as multiple functional modules, each functional module
may be implemented in its own way; all need not be implemented the
same way. Additionally, these functional modules may be executed in
parallel or serially, as appropriate, and may pass information
between one another using a shared memory on the computer(s) on
which they are executing, using a message passing protocol, or in
any other suitable way.
[0062] Generally, functional modules include routines, programs,
objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular
tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically, the
functionality of the functional modules may be combined or
distributed as desired in the systems in which they operate. In
some implementations, one or more functional modules carrying out
techniques herein may together form a complete software package,
for example, as a software program application to carry out a
betting system in any suitable computing device or any suitable
computer system to permit bettors to place bets.
[0063] As discussed above, a betting system can be implemented at
least in part as: a web site through which bettors can place bets;
software executing on a computing device in the form of a kiosk
through which bettors can place bets; a computing device in the
form of a computer used by an agent that can assist in the taking
of bets; or any other suitable computing device or computer system.
Some examples of techniques for operating computing devices or
computer systems in which some embodiments may act are described
above, though it should be appreciated that others are possible.
Further, it should be appreciated that some embodiments are not
limited to being implemented in computing devices or computer
systems.
[0064] Computer-executable instructions implementing the techniques
described herein (when implemented as one or more functional
facilities or in any other manner) may, in some embodiments, be
encoded on one or more computer-readable storage media to provide
functionality to the storage media. These media include magnetic
media such as a hard disk drive, optical media such as a Compact
Disk (CD) or a Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), a persistent or
non-persistent solid-state memory (e.g., Flash memory, Magnetic
RAM, etc.), or any other suitable storage media. Such a
computer-readable storage medium may be implemented as
computer-readable storage media 308 of FIG. 3 described above
(i.e., as a portion of a computer 300) or as a stand-alone,
separate storage medium. It should be appreciated that, as used
herein, a "computer-readable media," including "computer-readable
storage media," refers to tangible storage media having at least
one physical property that may be altered in some way during a
process of recording data thereon.
[0065] In some, but not all, implementations in which the
techniques may be embodied as computer-executable instructions,
these instructions may be executed on one or more suitable
computing device(s) operating in any suitable computer system,
including the exemplary computer system of FIGS. 3, 4A and 5A.
Functional modules that comprise these computer-executable
instructions may be integrated with and direct the operation of a
single multi-purpose programmable digital computer apparatus, a
coordinated system of two or more multi-purpose computer
apparatuses sharing processing power and jointly carrying out the
techniques described herein, a single computer apparatus or
coordinated system of computer apparatuses (co-located or
geographically distributed) dedicated to executing the techniques
described herein, one or more Field-Programmable Gate Arrays
(FPGAs) for carrying out the techniques described herein, or any
other suitable system.
[0066] Embodiments of the invention have been described where the
techniques are implemented in circuitry and/or computer-executable
instructions. It should be appreciated that the invention may be
embodied as a method, of which an example has been provided. The
acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable
way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are
performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include
performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as
sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.
[0067] Various aspects of the present invention may be used alone,
in combination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically
discussed in the embodiments described in the foregoing and is
therefore not limited in its application to the details and
arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing description or
illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects described in one
embodiment may be combined in any manner with aspects described in
other embodiments.
[0068] Use of ordinal terms such as "first," "second," "third,"
etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself
connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element
over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are
performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim
element having a certain name from another element having a same
name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim
elements.
[0069] Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the
purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The
use of "including," "comprising," "having," "containing,"
"involving," and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass
the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as
additional items.
[0070] Having thus described several aspects of at least one
embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated that various
alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to
those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and
improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are
intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of
example only.
* * * * *