Method and apparatus for the playing of different forms of jackpot games based on sports

Abstract

A system and method which enable the operation of a lottery type of game based on sports, although there may also be applications in a number of team sports or racing events. The results of the game are determined from a selected parameter derived from the results of each of a number of sporting events.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to apparatus and methodology for the provision of a lottery type of game, whereby the game format will be appealing to a broad section of the general public, yet will hold special appeal to players who are interested in sports and, in particular, racing types of games. BACKGROUND [0002] For many years, most horseracing industries the world over have been in decline with most racing operations continually facing increasing competition for gaming revenue and there are many government budgets throughout the world, both federal and state, that derive a great deal of their revenue from legalized gambling. As the fiscal demands for individual governments increase, then so does each government's need or desire to expand upon gambling. Unfortunately, to the detriment of racing industries, for many decades the expansion of gambling has involved other forms of legalized gambling, mainly by increasing the amount of casinos, lotteries and slo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0044] A preferred feature of this invention is the “placings points score tally method” that permits a player to count the number of any successful placing points scored in one race and then add this points score to any successful placing points scored in another race, and another race and so on, so as to provide a “total placings points score”. The “placings points score tally method” allows players that may not have selected “all” or “any” of the required components of one or more nominated races, to still be in the running for a payout of a minor prize.

Problems solved by technology

For many years, most horseracing industries the world over have been in decline with most racing operations continually facing increasing competition for gaming revenue and there are many government budgets throughout the world, both federal and state, that derive a great deal of their revenue from legalized gambling.

Unfortunately, to the detriment of racing industries, for many decades the expansion of gambling has involved other forms of legalized gambling, mainly by increasing the amount of casinos, lotteries and slot machines, but with no expansion or growth for racing industries.

In addition, it could be argued quite strongly that slot machines would do very little to educate the public to the excitement of racing.

Racing also possesses a definite disadvantage when it is compared to almost all of its competitors, and that is the “skill factor”; for there is a lot to learn about racing in order to become confident in one's ability to play racing successfully, or at least to play racing confidently.

This involves the analysis of so many different variables that experienced racing players will take into consideration, that the novice player often feels intimidated.

Thus, most novices feel intimidated and reluctant to learn to play racing.

In addition to racing being a skill based gamble as opposed to its competitors being simple games of chance; the inventor also believes that racing seems to lack entertainment when compared to other forms of gambling.

For many, existing horse racing wagers lack the appealing features of slot machines and lotteries, in that racing wagers do not provide “lifestyle changing size Jackpots”, and if so, they are rarely as high in dollar value or on such a regular basis; as slot machines and lotteries are.

In addition, racing wagers do not provide multiple levels of minor prizes and as mentioned herein above, being skill based racing is not as simple to play as other forms of gambling.

For many years racing interests the world over have been trying to widen their audience and have endeavoured to attract the lottery-type of player to play racing; to date with very limited success.

In other words, there have been many attempts by racing interests and gaming developers alike to develop new types of exotic wagers for racing, but none that have come close to achieving the success desired and none that really resemble the features of a lottery game, that lottery game players are looking for.

A problem with the existing types of racing wagers available today is as aforementioned, race wagering is based on skill and knowledge and offers what many consider as either difficult or complex types of wagers, while other forms of gambling are true games of chance with simple play formats.

The inherent problem with all of the multi race wagers, is that to win the wager a player must be successful with their selections, be them either Win, Place or Show selections “in consecutive races”, which means that if a player misses their selections in any race they will lose.

In addition, there are two fundamental problem areas with all of the prior listed exotic parimutuel racing wagers presently available.

One is that the format whereby a player must predict “all of the required components” in each of the consecutive races, which does not allow for any mistakes or losses at any stage of the multi race wager right throughout any of the nominated consecutive races.

Another negative aspect of almost all exotic wagers, is that as a minimum, a player must in some manner, ultimately predict the winner of each consecutive race, which at times can be difficult enough for experienced race players, let alone novice players.

The invention in U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,060 really only expands on known formats; which results in extremely long probabilities that in reality are totally unrealistic.

This results in a wager that would be extremely difficult to win and, in line with the problems noted with existing exotic wagers using this type of play format of predicting “winners and exact finishing positions of horses”, is far to difficult for the majority of the general public.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,226 is a method of using dice to play a betting race game and uses game pieces to move around a track and would not apply to a successful commercial product for use by racing industries.