Collective Gaming Fund

Abstract

We provide collective gaming funds related to games, other types of games, and / or sports events and live sports events based on player behavior in other types of games and / or betting. [Solution] A gaming entity may establish a fund of money that is open to the gaming market in an attempt to win money from betting on the fund of money. A gaming operator may use a pool or fund to generate liquidity in the gaming market. Various gamers may enter the game with the gaming entity by being matched with various parts of the pool or fund.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Some embodiments may relate to sports events, live sports events based on player actions in games, other types of games, and / or other types of games and / or wagers.

Background Art

[0002] Gaming may include wagering and / or participating in games related to events where money is won if an event occurs or does not occur. Fantasy sports may include one or more games related to events occurring in actual sports games.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0003] [Figure 1] A diagram showing an example of a method that can be used in some embodiments. [Figure 2] A diagram showing an example of a system that can be used in some embodiments.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0004] Overview It should be understood that the following are embodiments, not claims.

[0005] A. A device comprising a processor and a non-temporary medium having a plurality of stored instructions, which, when an instruction is executed by the processor, causes the device to: receive an instruction from a gaming entity for an amount of money; determine one or more portions of the amount of money to be made public on behalf of the gaming entity in the gaming market; make the one or more portions public in the gaming market; match at least one portion of the publicly made amount with at least one opponent to form at least one game between the entity and at least one opponent; determine one or more additional portions of the amount to be made public in the gaming market based on the matching of the at least one portion, and make the one or more additional portions of the amount public in the gaming market in response to the matching of the at least one portion; set characteristics for the at least one game between the entity and the at least one opponent; and determine the at least one game.

[0006] A. The apparatus of claim A, wherein the one or more parts include a plurality of parts that, when totaled, are less than the amount of money. A.2. The apparatus of claim A, wherein determining the one or more parts includes determining the one or more parts based on past requests for a game, such that the parts are expected to match the expected requests. A.3. The apparatus of claim A, wherein the gaming entity includes at least one of an algorithmic gaming entity, a hedge fund, and a mutual fund. A.4. The apparatus of claim A, wherein the counterparty includes an ordinary gamer.

[0007] A.5. The apparatus of claim A, wherein disclosing one or more parts includes creating a new fantasy sports league in which other gamers can participate. A.5.1. The apparatus of claim A.5, wherein matching the at least one part includes receiving a request from the other party to join a first league of the fantasy sports league and placing the other party in the league to form the game. A.6. The apparatus of claim A, wherein the apparatus includes the gaming operator's apparatus for forming a game in the fantasy league that involves users. A.7. The apparatus of claim A, wherein determining one or more additional parts includes determining one or more replacement parts for the at least one part. A7.1. The apparatus of claim A.7, wherein the one or more replacement parts are determined on a basis of requirements for gaming such that changing requirements are expected to be met by the replacement parts.

[0008] A.8. The apparatus of claim A, wherein the game includes a fantasy sports game, and the feature includes teams for the opponent and the gaming entity, respectively. A.8.1. The apparatus of claim A.8, wherein the instruction causes the apparatus to receive a first team from the gamers and a second team from the gaming entity, and to set the feature to match the first team and the second team. A.8.1.1. The apparatus of claim A.8.1, wherein the feature includes a spread between the first team and the second team, and the instruction causes the apparatus to determine a first sum of expected points to be earned by the members of the first team and a second sum of expected points to be earned by the members of the second team, and to determine the difference between the first sum and the second sum. A.8.1.1.1. The apparatus of claim A.8.1.1, wherein each expected point for each member is tilted downward from the true expected value.

[0009] A.9. The apparatus of claim A, wherein determining the game comprises determining the outcome of the game based on one or more events and adjusting one or more accounts of money in correspondence. A.10. The apparatus of claim A, wherein the at least one part comprises a plurality of parts that are matched to each of the interests of each opponent from each of the multiple players in order to form each game, such that the gaming entity is put into each of the plurality of games with each of the plurality of players. A.10.1. The apparatus of claim A.10, wherein setting the characteristics for the at least one game comprises setting the characteristics for each of the plurality of games. A.10.1.1. The apparatus of claim A.10.1, wherein each of the plurality of games comprises a fantasy sports game, the command causes the apparatus to receive a fantasy team from the gaming entity to be used for all of the plurality of games, the fantasy team is received as a single command from the entity to assign the team to all of the plurality of games.

[0010] A.ll. The apparatus of claim A, wherein the instruction causes the apparatus to receive an instruction from the gaming entity for a second amount of money and to make at least one second portion of the second amount of money public in the gaming market. A.11.1. The apparatus of claim A.ll, wherein the instruction causes the apparatus to prevent matching between the portion of the money and the portion of the second amount of money. A.11.2. The apparatus of claim A.ll, wherein the instruction causes the apparatus to allocate the at least one portion of the money to the amount of money based on a relationship defined by the gaming entity between the amount of money and the second amount of money. A.11.2.1. The apparatus of claim A.ll.2, wherein the relationship defines a ratio for matching a gamer to the amount and the second amount. A.11.2.2. The apparatus of claim A.11.2, wherein the instruction causes the apparatus to match the second portion and set characteristics to make the second game different from the first game in order to form a game between a second gamer and the gaming entity. A.11.3. The apparatus of claim A.ll, wherein the amount is based on a first algorithm performed by the gaming entity, and the second amount is based on a second algorithm performed by the gaming entity. A.12. The apparatus of claim A, wherein determining the one or more portions includes determining the portions in order to simulate a Dutch auction in which a larger portion is revealed before a smaller portion.

[0011] B. A method comprising: a computing device of a gaming operator receiving instructions from a gaming entity for an amount of money; the computing device determining one or more portions of the amount of money to be made public on behalf of the gaming entity in the gaming market; the computing device making the one or more portions public in the gaming market; the computing device matching at least one portion of the publicly made amount with at least one opponent to form at least one game between the entity and at least one opponent; the computing device determining one or more additional portions of the amount to be made public in the gaming market based on the matching of the at least one portion; the computing device making the one or more additional portions of the amount public in the gaming market in response to the matching of the at least one portion; the computing device setting characteristics for the at least one game between the entity and the at least one opponent; and the computing device determining the at least one game.

[0012] I. Example of an Embodiment Some embodiments facilitate the investment of large blocks of funds into gaming markets by gaming entities. For example, hedge funds, mutual funds, certain fund managers, and / or some other entities may wish to wager relatively large sums of money in gaming markets based on the occurrence of one or more events. For example, such entities may wish to participate in fantasy gaming markets, sports gaming environments, casino betting markets, and / or other types of gaming markets. Such entities may function as professional managers or investors of funds, block gamers, liquidity providers, and / or other participants in gaming markets.

[0013] Colloquially, gaming may be called betting, but its embodiments may not be limited to statutory betting which is limited to games of chance, but rather may include games requiring skill, fantasy games, betting and / or other types of games, and it should be understood that the term gaming is used rather than the term making bets when describing certain embodiments. Gaming may include bets of monetary amounts on the occurrence of several events. Such bets may be skill and / or bet-based, booked and / or pari-mutuel, and / or take any desired form. Gaming may include paying an entrance fee to enter a contest based on the occurrence of an event. Winners of such contests may be awarded prize money (e.g., money based on the total entrance fees for the contest). Making bets may be used herein to refer to such skill or bet-based gaming in some examples and should not be understood as being limited to one or other types of gaming unless otherwise noted. Gaming may include placing bets, wagering, staking money, paying entry fees to contests, and / or other forms of gaming as desired. Various embodiments may apply to several types of gaming in several combinations and / or pairings.

[0014] To encourage monetary investment in the gaming market, gaming operators may offer monetary portions to the gaming market for events. Other parties may enter the game together with the entities for these portions. Additional portions may be offered to the market as games when they are formed, thereby bringing the entire amount to the market through such subgames. Some embodiments may include various methods for promoting gaming of such large blocks. Some embodiments may include various methods that enable the pooling of funds by gamers and / or the allocation of funds for professional management.

[0015] Examples of fantasy games In some embodiments, the game may be a fantasy game. While embodiments are not limited to fantasy games, it should be understood that examples are given in a non-limiting manner regarding fantasy games. Furthermore, examples of fantasy games and operations are given in a non-limiting manner, and other embodiments may include several fantasy or non-fantasy games or events in which betting takes place as desired. U.S. Patent Applications 61 / 479,539, 12 / 605,826, 13 / 160,746 and / or 61 / 668,245 are incorporated herein by reference. Some examples of fantasy games and / or betting that may be used in some embodiments are described in those references.

[0016] Various examples are given with respect to a popular variation of fantasy events, namely fantasy sports, but it should be understood that various embodiments may include several fantasy events. In some embodiments, fantasy sports may provide forms for participants to perform roles similar to coach and / or general manager. In some embodiments, participants may be given the ability to draft, create, trade, fire and / or otherwise manage a fantasy team.

[0017] Events, participants, and / or players that may be involved in a fantasy event may include several desired events, participants, and / or players. For example, some events may include political events (e.g., elections), sporting events (e.g., football, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, rugby, golf, tennis, car racing, animal racing), competitions (poker, test taking, rock throwing, tree growing), and other events. For example, some participants and / or players may include politicians, human players, animal participants, robots, natural phenomena, plants, physical matters, etc. It should be understood that competitions in fantasy events may be structured around some activity. For example, a fantasy competition may be structured around an activity, and participants in a fantasy competition may compete indirectly based on observations or statistics related to some underlying activity (e.g., wind speed, elections, tree growth, baseball, etc.).

[0018] A team should be understood to include a club (e.g., a football club), an individual in one or more sports, an individual in one or more events, and / or other variations of a similar concept. A fantasy team for an activity may include one or more members, each of which corresponds to one or more real and / or in-activity participants in the activity. For example, a fantasy team for a sport may include one or more players in the sport. A player may include an in-activity player in a real league for the sport. A player may include an in-activity league player from one or more real sports leagues.

[0019] In some embodiments, team members may include parts of a real team. For example, in some embodiments, parts of a team may be selected for a fantasy team as an addition to and / or replacement for specific members of the team selected for the fantasy team. For example, the defensive team of a football team may be selected for a fantasy team regardless of the actual members of the defensive team. Thus, scoring for such a fantasy team may relate to the actions and / or performance of the entire defensive team rather than to a single member of the team.

[0020] In some embodiments, participants in a fantasy sports game may select members to form a fantasy team for the sport. In some embodiments, participants may select or "draft" players who are currently active in reality to form a fantasy team. Thus, a fantasy team for a sport may include multiple members, each corresponding to a player in the sport. In some embodiments, the selected members for a fantasy team may include groups of players (for example, the defense of a particular football team may be a member of the fantasy team, or the outfielders of a particular baseball team may be a member of the fantasy team, etc.).

[0021] In some embodiments, multiple participants may form a fantasy league and select players within the fantasy league. Each player in the league may pay a fee to join the league. The fees may be pooled by the gaming operator for use in prize payouts, booked by the gaming operator as stakes, and / or paid to the gaming operator as fees. The fantasy league may be referred to as a fantasy game, and participants who win in the league may receive some prize money (e.g., from the gaming operator, from a pooled fund handled by the gaming operator, based on the fees paid to join the league, etc.). As an example, in a fantasy football league, multiple league participants (e.g., two) may each select one or more (e.g., five) professional football players for their fantasy team and may pay a fee (e.g., $10) to become part of the league. Based on the performance of these selected players in real-world sporting events, participants may earn points in a fantasy sports league, a winner may be determined, and prize money may be paid (e.g., $20 minus some betting fees (rake) taken by the gaming operator).

[0022] It should be understood that the form of betting and / or the form of inter- and / or inter-party relationships to such games and / or gaming operators may take several forms. The term "forming a game" is used in a broad sense to refer to several such forms. For example, bets may be established directly between two participants, contractual obligations may be established separately between the gaming operator and each participant, a pari-mutuel pool into which money may be invested may be established, a book of bets into which money may be formed, and / or any desired method of forming a game may be used. In some embodiments, in order to form a game, each participant in the game may pay an entry fee to enter the contest. Such fees may be pooled together and used to pay the winner. The data structure may store information about the game being formed, and / or other information about the gamers and / or the game.

[0023] In some embodiments, a central authority (e.g., a gaming operator) may establish and / or enforce the rules for fantasy sports games. Such a central authority may include casinos, servers, houses, bookmakers, websites, and / or other desired gaming operators. Such a central authority may be referred to as a commissioner and / or a revenue officer. In some embodiments, multiple entities may operate as separate parts, such as a central authority (e.g., one revenue officer and one commissioner). In some embodiments, the central authority may be configured to determine the outcome of games, accept bets, adjust balances, accept money, determine whether game conditions are satisfactory, establish leagues, maintain accounts, pay out prizes, and perform methods to facilitate the functions described herein, etc. The central authority may include one or more computing devices (e.g., servers, processors, mobile devices, etc.) configured to perform one or more activities in order to facilitate gaming.

[0024] One example of a game used in some embodiments may include a Cantor 5 (or Cantor Any Number) game, which may be provided by Cantor Gaming and / or Cantor Data Services. In such a game, leagues may be opened (e.g., by players and / or operators). Some non-limiting examples are given for a two-player league, but a league may consist of several users (e.g., two, five, ten, etc.). When a league is full (e.g., when the maximum number of players have joined), the league may be closed and the game may be formed among / within the players who have joined the league. For example, a user may want to play a $50 Cantor 5 game and therefore may form a two-player Cantor league with a $50 buy-in (e.g., the amount wagered, the entry fee for the contest) by entering information via the website. A second user may view the formed league via the website and join the league. In this regard, players may enter into a $50 game with each other. The counter may take a cut of the purchases to provide fantasy services and use the remainder to pay out prizes to the winners of the game. The counter may pool the purchases into a pool that may be used to provide some prize money to the winners.

[0025] At some point before the start of the game and / or other deadline triggers, each player may be required to select members for a fantasy team. The members may be selected in several ways (e.g., round robin, individually, etc.). In some embodiments, each player may select a team independently, so that one player's team may have some or all of the same players as another player's team without affecting the other player's team. A gaming operator (e.g., a canta) may set an expected total score for each team (e.g., based on the past performance of each player on the team). To set such an expected total score, the canta may deliberately skew towards a lower number to encourage players to select players who perform better. Based on the assigned expected values for each team, a spread between the teams may be created. For example, if Team A is expected to earn 95 points and Team B is expected to earn 97 points, then a 2-point spread between the teams may be formed. Based on the actual play of the game, a winner may be determined for the game, so that if Team B wins by, for example, more than 2 points, Team B wins the spread and becomes the winning team.

[0026] It should be understood that this example is merely a non-limiting example and that fantasy gaming and / or other gaming / betting formats may be used as desired.

[0027] Method Example Figure 1 shows an example of a method that may be performed in some embodiments to facilitate block gaming and / or some pooled gaming functions, such as those described herein. The example method may be performed by a gaming operator, a gaming entity, an opponent of the gaming entity, a third party, other entities, and / or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, such a method may be performed by a computing device (e.g., a server of the gaming operator). Such a computing device may communicate with other computing devices (e.g., user devices, devices for placing algorithmic bets, etc.) via, for example, a user interface and / or an API that enables the input of gaming information and / or the communication of information about the game.

[0028] As shown at 101, some embodiments may include receiving an indication of an amount of money for gaming from a gaming entity. Receiving such an indication may include receiving an indication of the amount wagered in the gaming market, along with the ability to have a hidden amount (e.g., the size of a hidden order for the gaming market). Receiving such an indication may include receiving an indication of an amount that is a large block of trading orders and may be treated similarly to orders where each part of the order operates separately to fill all of the orders. Such an indication may be received by the gaming operator via an API from an algorithmic gaming device. Receiving may include receiving various characteristics that define the total amount of money wagered in one or more desired games and / or such games (e.g., bets, fantasy games, sports bets). For example, an amount of money, how the money is presented, teams for one or more games, how amounts are used in relation to other amounts, and / or desired information may be received.

[0029] As shown in 103, some embodiments may include determining one or more portions of a monetary amount for release to the gaming market. For example, a gaming operator may determine the expected demand for one or more game sizes and, in response, release the corresponding monetary amounts to the game market (e.g., by offering one or more such tiers of games). The demand may be based on past demand, current demand and / or other information. Some desired information may be used to determine the amount and / or composition of games that, when totaled, make up that amount (e.g., demand, instructions from gaming entities, requests from players, etc.). Release to the market may include offering one or more games for that monetary amount and / or for the total amount of that monetary amount, which consists of several combinations of tiers (e.g., open fantasy leagues and / or fantasy leagues in which such purchase amounts are being participated in). The released amount may include the sum of amounts or sub-amounts that may be received by other users to form a game. In some embodiments, multiple sub-amounts may be determined, thereby making a variety of games available to the public. For example, a large amount may be too much for some people, while a small amount may be too little for others; therefore, a number of amounts may be revealed to give other gamers budget-dependent options. In some embodiments, the sum of the number of amounts offered may be less than or equal to the amount of money (and / or the sum of various amounts of money in embodiments where the number of blocks work together) so that the gaming entity is not overly revealed beyond the amount of money that people wish to bet in the event.

[0030] Some embodiments may include disclosing monetary amounts in some combination of one or more games. Disclosure may include taking part in an already existing game and / or offering the game to other players. For example, a league may be started and / or created using the amounts of each portion, bills of exchange for bets may be placed, bets may be placed in a casino, bets may be placed, and / or some other actions may be taken to disclose monetary amounts to the gaming market.

[0031] As shown in 105, some embodiments may include matching at least a portion of the publicly disclosed amount with the other party in order to form a game between the subject and the other party. For example, an instruction may be received from the other party that they wish to join a league based on at least a portion (e.g., another gamer wishing to join a fantasy league, starting a bet together with the subject). Receiving such an instruction may include receiving an instruction that the other party wishes to join the league being formed via the website interface. This example is not limiting, and it should be understood that other methods of matching or determining a match may be used (e.g., bet exchange, other non-league offerings of gaming options such as directly presenting interface bets).

[0032] As shown in 107, some embodiments may include disclosing additional portions of the amount to the gaming market in response to matching portions of the amount. For example, portions may be replaced with newly disclosed portions each time a portion is matched. This matching and / or disclosing may continue until the amount of money is reached and / or until the end time for participating in the game at the event is reached. The total of the disclosing may be kept below the sum of the amount of money and / or the sum of the amounts of money in embodiments where separate pools of money are working together. In some embodiments, the portions to be disclosed may be adjusted outside of the time to suit perceived needs or desires. For example, high rollers may enter the market as the event approaches, and larger portions may be disclosed outside of the time to attract such high rollers. In some embodiments, portions may be disclosed to simulate gaming market activity for the event, thereby making people more interested in the event as it approaches (e.g., by disclosing and dedisclosing portions, and / or increasing and decreasing the amount disclosed to simulate activity in the market). At the end of such activities, a number of games may be formed, involving the subject and various opponents, totaling the amount of money or less (or, in embodiments where multiple pools operate together as described in other parts of this specification, larger).

[0033] Forming such a game may take several forms, as described in other sections. For example, a contractual agreement (e.g., contract, stakes, etc.) may be concluded between each party and / or entity. Such an agreement may impose an obligation to pay the loser and allow the winner to receive a certain amount of money (e.g., buy, bet) in each game. As another example, a contractual agreement may be concluded between each party and the gaming operator and the gaming entity and the gaming operator. Such an agreement may impose an obligation on the gaming operator to pay a certain amount of money (e.g., buy, bet) to the winning entity in each game. The gaming operator may receive a fee (e.g., from buy or bet) to facilitate such a service. As yet another example, a contest entry fee may be paid to form a game (e.g., moved from account to pool). Entries in one or more data structures may be generated to direct the formation of a game, thereby tracking information about the game. It should be understood that several forms of games (whether gambling or other types of games on which money may be wagered) may be used in various embodiments, and that various methods of doing so are known in the art.

[0034] As shown in 109, some embodiments involve setting characteristics for each of multiple games based on various matched parts. In some embodiments, the games may be fantasy games and / or other types of games or bets requiring some elements to be set. For example, teams for each opponent and / or gaming entities in each fantasy game may be required to be set after the league is formed. The gaming operator may allow parties to each game to join a team at some point between the event and the formation of the league (e.g., from the start to the end of the event on which the game is based).

[0035] In some embodiments, a gaming entity may set up all teams for various games together as a single team by issuing a single command, based on different parts of the forehead. A gaming operator may receive the command and, in response, set up all teams for multiple games. The ability for a gaming entity to issue a single command to set up all such teams minimizes transmission time and / or latency compared to a conventional environment where each game may be required to have separate team settings. This type of single command works well in embodiments where team overlap is permitted, as the entity's team does not have to depend on the opposing team. Thus, such a single team can provide the gaming entity with more time (e.g., less latency or other transmission delay) to retrieve information and decide on a team. In other embodiments, where such overlap is not permitted, the entity may be required to select a team for each game, which may depend on how other players in the league choose their teams, and may be done individually or by some algorithm based on the actions of other players.

[0036] As shown in 111, some embodiments involve determining multiple games based on one or more events. For example, the results of one or more games, the performance of one or more players, etc., may be determined by the gaming operator. According to the definition of fantasy games or other games / bets, information may be used to determine the results of each game. Winners of each bet may be paid according to the rules of the game. Various examples of games are known in the art and / or described herein, and those skilled in the art will understand how winners of such games are determined and / or how such games are determined.

[0037] In some embodiments, an entity presenting amounts for gaming, such as block 101, may include an algorithmic gaming entity. Such an entity may use sophisticated data processing techniques to determine the amount of money to be wagered and / or one or more characteristics of the game (e.g., teams in a fantasy game). Such an entity may include a hedge fund or a quantitative / high frequency trading entity. The algorithm may interact with the gaming operator's API to present information about the game and / or the amount. The algorithm may run on a computer system and communicate via a network with a computer system run by the gaming operator.

[0038] In some embodiments, a number of algorithms may be presented to the gaming operator. Such algorithms can compete with each other in a trading environment where multiple algorithmic traders conduct transactions with one another. In some embodiments, a single entity can present game information through multiple algorithms, thereby preventing them from competing with one another.

[0039] In some embodiments, an algorithmic gaming entity can only enable, or be used for, forming a new league or otherwise offering a new game (e.g., offering bets). Thus, by not entering an existing game, an algorithmic gaming entity will not enter a game on its own. In some embodiments, an algorithmic gaming entity can form a new game and can also enter an existing game. In such embodiments, the entity may be prevented from entering a game with itself by a gaming operator that monitors the game's originator / members, and such entity may also be prevented from entering a game that is being formed and / or is already participating in.

[0040] In some embodiments, a single entity may use multiple algorithms for gaming, and a ratio of disclosure or filling between algorithms may be established. For example, the first and second algorithms may be proportional in a 3:1 ratio and may be filled and disclosed in a first-in, first-out (FIFO) manner, etc. For example, disclosure may occur, and the amount of money disclosed from each algorithm may follow the desired disclosure method. In other examples, filling may occur in a desired manner regardless of disclosure (for example, the disclosed portion may not be tied to an algorithm until it is matched). For example, if a 1:1 ratio is to be disclosed, then 500 may be disclosed in one algorithm and 500 in the other. In the example where filling is desired in a 1:1 ratio, two 500s may be disclosed (simultaneously or sequentially), and a first match may be made and then allocated to algorithm 1, and then a second match may be made and matched to algorithm 2 based on the ratio. The determination of which algorithm to allocate to may be made based on the ratio of each amount and the match based on the current state of filling.

[0041] In some embodiments, the gaming operator may be responsible for and / or influence which parts to release to the market. In other embodiments, the entity may provide commands on how the parts should be released, and the gaming operator may follow such instructions. In yet another embodiment, the gaming entity may be responsible for presenting each new part separately rather than as a block.

[0042] For example, in some embodiments, a gaming operator may indicate a preference for matching and / or revealing a larger portion of a block of bets than a smaller portion of the block. Thus, the larger portion may be revealed first, over the smaller portion. In some embodiments, if both the larger portion and / or the smaller portion are matched, the smaller portion may be ignored, thereby allowing the larger portion to be matched. As another example, a subject may decide not to receive matches from a particular gamer at a particular time of day that are less than a certain size, more than a certain size, or more than a certain number of times from the same subject. As yet another example, an auction system may be used to adjust the rank of the game (e.g., the amount or portion to be revealed) outside of the time frame (e.g., earlier) so that certain gamers have the opportunity to enter the game earlier than other gamers (e.g., high-stakes bettors over average gamers). Thus, the portion to be revealed may be chosen to simulate a Dutch auction where the larger portion is revealed before the smaller portion. It should be understood that several style-giving preferences may be used in various embodiments to form and / or publish a game of a particular type or size.

[0043] In some embodiments, the full size may be revealed and / or a larger size than described above, rather than a hidden size type of feature as described with respect to some embodiments. For example, a large amount of money may be revealed to the market but not tied to a specific part of a game. For example, $10,000 may be revealed so that it is valid for gaming in a particular type of game. The type of gaming does not have to be limited to a tier (other than $10,000). Such revealed amounts may be displayed to the gamer via a user interface. The gamer may respond by entering a request for a game (e.g., to join a league) with respect to the revealed amount. As part of the request for the amount, the gamer may enter the part in which they wish to form a game. For example, a first user may form a league with a subject for $1,000, and a second user may form a league for $500. In response to the information entered by the gamer about those desired games, the revealed amounts may be reduced as appropriate until they run out (e.g., on a first-come, first-served basis). Such embodiments may allow the user to input a customized desired size for the forehead, rather than responding to a preset size as in some embodiments described herein.

[0044] In some embodiments, a gaming subject may influence the manner in which parts are matched for such monetary amounts. For example, a gaming subject may accept a first-come, first-served (or known as FIFO) method of matching given in some embodiments. In other embodiments, a gaming subject may establish a different matching algorithm. For example, such a different algorithm may include an algorithm that describes the size of the parts, the identity of the user, and / or other characteristics. For example, a subject may indicate a preference for having more parts than fewer parts, and thus the preference may be given to the more parts even if the smaller parts are first clarified. This may constitute unconventional matching but may provide a better ability for high-stakes bettors to enter the desired game and may also provide more opportunities to find a match for the full amount. In some embodiments, an auction method may be used to match gaming subjects with other parties (e.g., a Dutch auction). As another example, an entity may decide not to receive matches from a particular gamer at a specific time of day that are less than a certain size, more than a certain size, or more than a certain number of times from the same entity.

[0045] It should be understood that certain forms of orders or preferences given to those who match beyond others may be used in the various embodiments described herein, as desired in the concealed or unconcealed order embodiments. It should also be understood that while some embodiments are described as gaming entities influencing the manner of such matching, other embodiments may include gaming operators who selectively perform such matching functions.

[0046] In some embodiments, the entity entering the game through a gaming operator (e.g., an entity offering a monetary amount to act as a block, a gamer, etc.) may be a fund through which users can invest money in gaming activities. For example, such an entity may include mutual funds, hedge funds, etc., which allow users to put money into the fund and obtain possible returns from the fund's gaming activities. Such funds may be private funds and / or public funds. Such funds may be listed on exchange rates and / or controlled by securities regulators. In some embodiments, the fund may accept money from fund participants. The fund may invest money in gaming activities (e.g., according to rules and / or algorithms). The fund may also invest money in non-gaming activities such as securities. In some embodiments, the fund may publicly sell its shares. In some embodiments, the public may be able to redeem a share of the fund for increases or decreases in value that depend on the results of activities performed by the fund (e.g., games such as fantasy games and / or betting games). In some embodiments, the share may total to the portion of the fund to which ownership belongs or to a pool of money managed by the fund. In some embodiments, a user may trade a share of some exchange rate to another user in a second transaction. Various embodiments may include several desired types of funds, share trading, investment redemption, exchange, and / or other desired functions in combination.

[0047] In some embodiments, the entity entering the game through a gaming operator (e.g., an entity that presents a monetary amount to act as a block, a gamer, etc.) may be a professional fund manager. Such a manager may be a celebrity (e.g., a former sports player). Users may provide money to the fund manager for the purpose of entering the game. In exchange for entering the game, the fund manager may provide a return to the user (e.g., returning money with winnings added and / or losses deducted). Such a return may be made upon request from the user and / or after a certain period of time. The money may be pooled together with the money of other users and / or managed separately for each user.

[0048] In some embodiments, rather than investing money in a professional manager, the gamer may “apply” to a curated selection of such professional managers. The gamer may clarify that celebrity A has a gaming style that he or she wishes to emulate. The gamer may enter one or more games (e.g., a fantasy league) according to that style of gaming. The components of the style to be emulated may include several desired characteristics of celebrity A’s gaming style (e.g., the amount bet, team selection, taunting, adjustment of the amount of previous teams that a team must be set up, the time to enter the game, etc.). The gamer may clarify the characteristics, and / or the gaming operator may assign the characteristics in accordance with the gamer’s clarification that they wish to emulate celebrity A. For example, in some embodiments, the gamer may then enter a fantasy league or other game, which is based on a bet amount from several amounts of money (e.g., an amount selected by the gamer, and / or an amount selected to emulate celebrity A). The teams of gamers in such leagues may be selected for them to match the teams selected by Celebrity A. Thus, a gamer may give up on selecting one of their components and outsource it to Celebrity A. In some embodiments, a gamer may adjust their team despite having applied to Celebrity A, thereby allowing their team to deviate from Celebrity A's team if they so desire. Games assigned to emulate Celebrity A, in response to receiving team selection from Celebrity A (for example, for a period of fantasy such as a weekend, a week, or a season), may be assigned to have the same team. Changes may be made by Celebrity A to correspond to the team assigned to the emulating gamer. Celebrity A may change the application fee for such services.

[0049] In some embodiments, the publicly available amounts pooled and / or provided by a professional fund / manager may be made clear when presented to a counterparty (e.g., another gamer) that they are invested by a special entity through an interface. Some gamers may not feel comfortable entering a game with such an entity and may avoid that type of game, instead choosing to play against ordinary gamers (e.g., non-professional gamers, natural persons rather than funds). In some embodiments, when an ordinary gamer enters a bet with such an unusual gamer, a payout or other incentive may be offered. For example, an ordinary gamer (or, in other embodiments, an unusual gamer) may be given a payout, a bettering of odds, and / or a percentage of other incentives for entering the bet. Such payouts may be given depending on whether the game decides to involve one or more ordinary gamers and / or one or more unusual gamers.

[0050] While various examples of embodiments have been given, it should be understood that such embodiments are given only as non-limiting examples. Other embodiments may include, or do not include, some of such functions, or may combine in some way several other desired functions or functions described herein. For example, while some embodiments describe fantasy gaming, it should be understood that other embodiments may include several types of gaming, such as fantasy, sports betting, certain casino betting, gambling, or other forms of exchange.

[0051] System Example Figure 2 shows examples of one or more systems that may be used to facilitate the functionality of one or more embodiments. As shown in Figure 2, some embodiments may include a gaming operator 201, a fund / professional entity 203, and multiple gamers 205A to C.

[0052] The gaming operator 201 may include entities that enable gaming functionality. For example, Counter Gaming and / or Counter Data Services may be gaming entities. The gaming entity may perform methods such as the method shown in Figure 1. The gaming entity may include one or more computing devices capable of performing such methods. For example, such computing devices may include a server that accepts game requests, forms games, determines games, manages games, manages accounts, and / or provides some desired gaming-related functionality. The gaming entity may include a provider of cloud services (e.g., gaming services, pooling services, etc., to a cloud computing environment). The gaming operator 201 may provide some desired services, such as APIs, interfaces, accounting services, odds setting services, result determination services, etc. One or more data structures may be maintained by the gaming operator to store information related to games, fees, players, odds, past results, accounts, etc.

[0053] Fund / Pro Entity 203 may include entities that manage money for gaming and provide professional gaming services. For example, such entities may include hedge funds or high-frequency trading companies, which include gaming as a component of their investment strategies. Fund / Pro Entity may include one or more computing devices which may operate to conduct gaming through gaming operators. For example, such computing devices may include a server which determines gaming algorithms and communicates gaming preferences to gaming operators. Fund / Pro Entity may provide several desired services, such as accounting services, money acceptance services, stock buyback services, stock exchange services, etc.

[0054] Gamers 205A to C may include entities that play games through a gaming operator (e.g., ordinary gamers such as ordinary people, other fund / professional entities, etc.). For example, such gamers may include people who access a website or gaming application to input gaming information to the gaming operator. A gamer may include one or more computing devices that operate to conduct gaming through a gaming operator. For example, such computing devices may include mobile devices or other client devices that provide an interface through which the gamer inputs gaming information to the gaming operator (e.g., the amount of money wagered on the game, the characteristics of the game).

[0055] As shown, some embodiments may include one or more communication networks that enable gamers, gaming operators, and / or fund / professional entities to communicate with one another. Such networks may include the Internet, one or more LANs, etc., and these may be combined in several combinations as desired. Information relating to the game may be communicated through such networks to facilitate functions such as those described herein.

[0056] It should be understood that the system illustrated in Figure 2 is given only as an example without limitation. Various embodiments may include several desired systems and / or components in several combinations. For example, other embodiments may include a single gaming entity and fund / pro entities that work together rather than as separate entities; other embodiments may include additional entities that provide some of the described functions and / or additional functions (e.g., inspection, accounting, data collection, result determination, data source, etc.). Other embodiments may include a gaming operator and / or fund / pro entity as part of a cloud gaming service that provides functions to gamers for engaging in gaming. Separate accounts may be maintained elsewhere in such a cloud and / or specifically for the gaming operator. Thus, users accessing the cloud may use funds from an account provider in some embodiments and / or may be limited to using funds associated with the gaming operator depending on the combination of such embodiments. For illustrative purposes, the fund in the account provider may be a fund associated with a portal, through which the user accesses a cloud (e.g., a casino), and the cloud may enable the fund for multiple cloud-based gaming services. Some embodiments may include one or more components of such cloud services that can operate to provide gaming functionality.

[0057] Various examples are given relating to specific entities (e.g., funds or professionals) that operate block gaming, but it should be understood that the embodiments are not so limited. Some gaming participants may operate such gaming in some embodiments. For example, such capabilities may be offered to all gamers in the gaming market in some embodiments. Such capabilities may be offered with a minimum amount of money to be entered, or with a certain amount of money.

[0058] Examples of Counter Fantasy Pooling As a concrete example of one implementation, the Counter Five game is used. The fund makes it clear to the gaming operator that $10,000 is valid for gaming in the first algorithmic form and $5,000 is valid for gaming in the second algorithmic form, and that a 2:1 ratio should be used for the algorithmic forms. The gaming operator may publish four leagues based on the valid fund: a league for $1,000, a league for $500, a league for $250, and / or a league for $125. Gamers may enter into each of these, and replacements may be published as they do. For this example, only these four published leagues may be matched until the gaming window ends (e.g., an event starts and / or the time before the event runs out). To generate a 2:1 ratio that operates as closely as possible, $1250 may be allocated to a first algorithm and $625 to a second algorithm (e.g., by the gaming operator and / or gaming entity). Allocations may be made at several times and / or in several ways (e.g., at window closing, when each amount is revealed, when teams are assigned to algorithms, etc.). Each gamer may choose a team (e.g., until window closing). Funds may assign teams for each algorithm (e.g., by the end of the window). When games are assigned to algorithms, before and / or after time, teams may be assigned by time size. The gaming operator may receive information clarifying the players' performance in live games and, in response, determine the league results. Money may then be allocated to the league winners. It should be understood that this example is given only as a non-exclusive example.

[0059] The following sections provide guidance for interpreting this application.

[0060] II. Terminology The term "product" means any machine, manufactured product, and / or composition unless expressly defined otherwise.

[0061] The term "process" refers to any process, algorithm, method, etc., unless explicitly defined otherwise.

[0062] Each process (whether called a method, algorithm, or otherwise) inherently contains one or more steps, and therefore every reference to a “step” or “steps” of a process has its own antecedent in mere description of the term “process” or similar terms. Thus, any reference to a “step” or “steps” of a process in a claim has a sufficient antecedent.

[0063] Unless otherwise explicitly stated, the term "invention," etc., means "one or more inventions disclosed in this application."

[0064] The terms "one embodiment," "embodiment," "the embodiment," "one or more embodiments," "some embodiments," "a specific embodiment," "a certain embodiment," and "another embodiment" all mean "one or more embodiments (but not all) of the disclosed invention," unless explicitly specified otherwise.

[0065] The term "modified form" of the invention means one embodiment of the invention unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0066] References to "other embodiments" when describing a particular embodiment do not, unless explicitly stated otherwise, indicate that the referred embodiment is mutually exclusive with other embodiments (for example, embodiments described before the referred embodiment).

[0067] The terms "include," "equip," and their variations mean "include, but not necessarily limited to," unless explicitly stated otherwise. Therefore, for example, the sentence "This portfolio includes red widgets and blue widgets" means that the portfolio includes red widgets and blue widgets, but may also include other things.

[0068] The term "consists of," and its variations, means "includes and is limited to," unless explicitly stated otherwise. Therefore, for example, the sentence "This portfolio consists of red widgets and blue widgets" means that the portfolio includes red widgets and blue widgets, but does not include anything else.

[0069] The term "constitutes," and its variations thereof, means "to make up a component, part, or part" unless explicitly stated otherwise. Therefore, for example, the sentence "The red widget and the blue widget constitute the portfolio" means that the portfolio includes the red widget and the blue widget.

[0070] The term "exclusively constitutes" and its variations mean "exclusively making up a component, being the only component, or being the only member," unless explicitly stated otherwise. Therefore, for example, the sentence "The red widget and the blue widget exclusively constitute the portfolio" means that the portfolio consists only of the red widget and the blue widget, and nothing else.

[0071] The terms "a, an" and "the" mean "one or more" unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0072] The term "plural" means "two or more" unless explicitly defined otherwise.

[0073] The term "in this specification" means "in this application, including everything that can be invoked by reference," unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0074] When modifying multiple items (such as a list of enumerated items), the phrase "at least one of" means one or any combination of those items unless explicitly stated otherwise. For example, the phrase "at least one of widgets, cars, and wheels" means (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car, (v) a widget and wheels, (vi) a car and wheels, or (vii) a widget, a car, and wheels. When modifying multiple items, the phrase "at least one of" does not mean "one of each of" the multiple items.

[0075] When used as a cardinal number to indicate a quantity (for example, "one widget," "two widgets"), numerical terms such as "one," "two," etc., mean the quantity indicated by that term and do not mean more than the quantity indicated by that term. For example, the phrase "one widget" does not mean "at least one widget," and therefore the phrase "one widget" does not include, for example, two widgets in its scope.

[0076] The phrase "based on" does not mean "based solely on" unless explicitly stated otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" can mean both "based solely on" and "based at least on." The phrase "based at least on" is equivalent to the phrase "based at least partially on."

[0077] The terms "correspond" and similar terms are not mutually exclusive unless explicitly defined otherwise. For example, the term "correspond" does not mean "correspond only" unless explicitly defined otherwise. In other words, the phrase "This data corresponds to a credit card number" can mean both "This data corresponds only to a credit card number" and "This data corresponds to a credit card number and also to something else."

[0078] In this specification, the term "therefore" is used exclusively to precede a clause or set of other words that express only the intended result, purpose, or outcome of something previously and clearly described. Accordingly, when the term "therefore" is used in a claim, the clause or other words it modifies do not impose any further specific limitations on the claim, nor do they otherwise limit the meaning or scope of the claim.

[0079] The term "e.g." and similar terms mean "for example" and therefore do not limit the term or phrase they describe. For example, in the sentence "Computers send data (e.g., instructions, data structures) over the internet," the term "e.g." explains that "instructions" are an example of "data" that a computer can send over the internet, and that "data structures" are also an example of "data" that a computer can send over the internet. However, "instructions" and "data structures" are merely examples of "data," and other things besides "instructions" and "data structures" can also be "data."

[0080] The terms “each” and similar terms mean “to look at individually.” Therefore, when two or more things have “each” characteristics, each such thing has its own characteristics, and these characteristics may be different from each other but may also be the same. For example, the phrase “Each of the two machines has its own function” means that the first such machine has a certain function, and the second such machine also has a certain function. The function of the first machine may or may not be the same as the function of the second machine.

[0081] The term "that is" and similar terms mean "in other words," and thus limit the term or phrase they describe. For example, in the sentence "Computers send data (i.e., instructions) over the internet," the term "that is" explains that the "data" that computers send over the internet is "instructions."

[0082] A given numerical range shall include both integers and decimals within that range. For example, the range "1 to 10" should be interpreted to explicitly include integers between 1 and 10 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, ..., 9) and non-integers (e.g., 1.1, 1.2, ..., 1.9).

[0083] If two or more terms or phrases are synonymous (for example, by a clear statement that they are synonymous), then an example of one such term / phrase does not mean that another example of such term / phrase must have a different meaning. For example, if a statement makes the meaning of “includes” synonymous with “includes but not limited to,” then simply using the phrase “includes but not limited to” does not mean that the term “includes” means anything other than “includes but not limited to.”

[0084] III.Decision The term "to decide" and its grammatical variations (e.g., to decide a price, to determine a value, to decide an object that meets certain criteria) are used in an extremely broad sense. The term "to decide" encompasses a wide range of actions and therefore can include calculation, operation, processing, derivation, investigation, exploration (e.g., exploring tables, databases, or other data structures), confirmation, etc. It can also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), etc. Furthermore, it can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, etc.

[0085] The term "determine" does not imply certainty or absolute accuracy, and therefore "determine" can include estimation, inference, prediction, estimation, etc.

[0086] The term "determine" does not mean that mathematical operations must be performed, that numerical methods must be used, or that algorithms or processes must be employed.

[0087] The term "to decide" does not necessarily mean that a specific device must be used. For example, a computer does not necessarily have to make the decision.

[0088] IV. Sentence Forms If a limitation of the first claim includes one or more features (for example, a limitation such as "at least one widget" includes not just one but multiple widgets), and a second claim dependent on the first claim uses the definite article "the" to refer to its limitation (for example, "the widget"), this does not mean that the first claim includes only one feature, nor does it mean that the second claim includes only one feature (for example, "the widget" can include both one and multiple widgets).

[0089] When ordinal numbers (such as "first," "second," "third," etc.) are used as adjectives preceding a term, they are used simply to indicate a specific characteristic, such as to distinguish it from another characteristic described by the same or similar terminology, unless explicitly stated otherwise. For example, "first widget" can be named so simply to distinguish it from, for example, "second widget." Therefore, simply using the ordinal numbers "first" and "second" before the term "widget" does not indicate any other relationship between the two widgets, nor does it indicate any other characteristic of one or both widgets. For example, simply using the ordinal numbers "first" and "second" before the term "widget" does not mean (1) in terms of order or position that one widget comes before or after the other widget, (2) in terms of time that one widget occurs or operates before or after the other widget, or (3) in terms of importance or quality that one widget ranks above or below the other widget. Furthermore, simply using ordinal numbers does not impose a numerical limitation on the features they identify. For example, simply using the ordinal numbers "first" and "second" before the term "widget" does not mean that there can be no more than three widgets.

[0090] Where this specification describes a single device, object, or other product, two or more devices / objects (whether working together or not) may be used instead of the single device / object described. Thus, the functions described as being held by one device can be held by two or more devices / objects (whether working together or not).

[0091] Similarly, where this specification describes two or more devices, objects, or other products (whether they operate together or not), a single device / object may be used instead of the two or more devices or objects described. For example, multiple computer-based devices can be replaced by a single computer-based device. Thus, various functions described as being held by two or more devices or objects can be substituted by a single device / object.

[0092] The functions and / or features of a single device described may be instead carried out by one or more other devices that are described but not explicitly stated to have such functions / features. Therefore, other embodiments do not have to include the described device itself, but instead may include one or more other devices that have such functions / features in those other embodiments.

[0093] V. The examples and terms disclosed are not limiting. Neither the title (located at the beginning of the first page of this application) nor the abstract (located at the end of this application) should ever be interpreted restrictively as the scope of the disclosed invention, nor should they be used to interpret the meaning of any claim, nor should they be used to limit the scope of any claim. The abstract is included in this application simply because it is required under 37C.FR §1.72(b).

[0094] The title and section headings of this application are provided solely for convenience and should not be interpreted as limiting this disclosure.

[0095] Numerous embodiments are described in this application and are provided solely for illustrative purposes. The embodiments described are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. As is readily apparent from this disclosure, the invention disclosed herein is broadly applicable to numerous embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed invention can be carried out with various modifications and alterations, such as structural modifications, logical modifications, software modifications, and electrical modifications. Certain features of the disclosed invention may be described in relation to one or more specific embodiments and / or drawings, but unless expressly otherwise specified, such features should be understood not to be limited to their use in the one or more specific embodiments or drawings to which such features are described.

[0096] While embodiments may be disclosed to include several features, other embodiments of the present invention may include fewer features than all of such features combined. Therefore, for example, a claim may cover fewer than all of the features of one set of features in a disclosed embodiment, and such a claim will not include any features beyond those explicitly described by that claim.

[0097] None of the embodiments of the method steps or product elements described herein constitute, are essential to, or refer to the same subject matter as the claimed invention herein, unless expressly stated herein or expressly described herein.

[0098] The attached preamble to the claims merely describes the purpose, benefits, and possible uses of the claimed invention and does not limit the claimed invention.

[0099] This disclosure is not a verbatim description of all embodiments of the invention. Nor is this disclosure a list of features of the invention that are required in all embodiments.

[0100] Not all disclosed embodiments (even including all pending, amended, published, and canceled claims) are necessarily protected by the claims. Furthermore, an embodiment may (but not necessarily) be protected by several claims. Therefore, if a claim (regardless of whether it is pending, amended, published, or canceled) covers a particular embodiment, that does not mean that the scope of other claims does not similarly protect that embodiment.

[0101] Devices described as communicating with each other do not need to communicate with each other continuously unless explicitly stated otherwise. Rather, such devices only need to transmit data to each other as needed or desired, and in practice, data exchange can be avoided for most of the time. For example, a machine communicating with another machine via the internet does not need to transmit data to the other machine over long periods (e.g., several weeks at a time). Furthermore, devices communicating with each other can communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

[0102] Descriptions of embodiments having several components or features do not imply that all or any of such components / features are necessary. Rather, various optional components are described to illustrate the wide range of possible embodiments of the invention. Unless expressly otherwise specified, no component / feature is essential or required.

[0103] Process steps, algorithms, etc., may be described or claimed in a specific order, but such processes may be configured to function in different orders. In other words, any order or sequence of steps that may be explicitly described or claimed does not necessarily indicate that the steps must be performed in that order. The steps of the processes described herein may be performed in any possible order. Furthermore, some steps may be performed simultaneously even if they are described or implied to occur non-simultaneously (for example, because one step is described after another). Moreover, the illustrative examples of processes in the drawings do not mean that the illustrated processes are excluded from other modifications and alterations to them, that any of the illustrated processes or their steps are necessary for the invention, or that the illustrated processes are preferred.

[0104] While a process may be described as involving multiple steps, this does not mean that any or all of those steps are preferred, essential, or necessary. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention include other processes that omit some or all of the steps described. Unless expressly otherwise specified, no step is essential or necessary.

[0105] While processes may be described independently or without reference to other products or methods, in one embodiment, a process may interact with other products or methods. For example, such interaction may include linking one business model to another. Such interactions may be provided to increase the flexibility or desirability of the process.

[0106] A product may be described as comprising multiple components, aspects, qualities, characteristics, and / or features, but this does not indicate that any or all of these are preferred, essential, or necessary. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention include other products that omit some or all of the described features.

[0107] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, a list of items (whether numbered or not) enumerates does not mean that any or all of those items are mutually exclusive. Similarly, unless explicitly stated otherwise, a list of items (whether numbered or not) enumerates does not mean that any or all of those items cover any category. For example, the enumerated list, "computers, laptops, PDAs," does not mean that any or all of the three items in that list are mutually exclusive, nor does it mean that any or all of the three items in that list cover any category.

[0108] The enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of those items are equivalent to or readily interchangeable with one another.

[0109] All embodiments are illustrative and do not imply that the present invention or any of its embodiments have been created or performed as applicable.

[0110] VI. Computing It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the various processes described herein can be carried out, for example, by a properly programmed general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, and a computing device. Typically, a processor (e.g., one or more microprocessors, one or more microcontrollers, one or more digital signal processors) receives instructions (e.g., from a device such as memory), executes those instructions, and thereby executes one or more processes defined by those instructions. Instructions can be embodied, for example, by one or more computer programs, one or more scripts.

[0111] "Processor" means one or more microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or any combination thereof, regardless of their architecture (e.g., chip-level multiprocessing / multicore, RISC, CISC, microprocessors with uninterlocked pipeline stages, pipeline configurations, simultaneous multithreading).

[0112] Therefore, a description of a process is similarly a description of the apparatus for executing that process. The apparatus for executing a process may include, for example, a processor, and input and output devices suitable for executing the process.

[0113] Furthermore, programs (and other types of data) that implement such methods can be stored and transmitted in numerous ways using a wide range of media (e.g., computer-readable media). In some embodiments, hardwired circuits or custom hardware can be used instead of, or in combination with, some or all of the software instructions capable of implementing the processes of various embodiments. Thus, not only software, but also various combinations of hardware and software can be used.

[0114] The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium, multiple media, or combinations of various media involved in providing data (e.g., instructions, data structures) that can be read by a computer, processor, or similar device. Such media can take many forms, but are not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media include dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes main memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wires, and optical fibers, including the lines that constitute a system bus coupled to a processor. Transmission media may include or transmit electromagnetic radiation, such as sound waves, light waves, and those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, floppy disks, flexible disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, any other magnetic media, CD-ROMs, DVDs, any other optical media, punch cards, paper tapes, any other physical media having a pattern of holes, RAM, PROMs, EPROMs, flash EEPROMs, any other memory chips or cartridges, carriers as described below, or any other media that a computer can read.

[0115] Various forms of computer-readable media can be used to transport data (e.g., a series of instructions) to a processor. For example, data can be (i) sent from RAM to the processor, (ii) transported via a wireless transmission medium, (iii) formatted and / or transmitted according to numerous forms, standards, or protocols such as Ethernet® (or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP, Bluetooth®, TCP / IP, TDMA, CDMA, 3G, etc., and / or (iv) encrypted in any of the various methods well known in the art to protect privacy or prevent tampering.

[0116] Therefore, a description of a process is similarly a description of a computer-readable medium that stores a program for performing that process. The computer-readable medium can store (in any suitable format) those program elements suitable for performing this method.

[0117] Just as a description of various steps within a process does not indicate that all of the steps described are necessary, an embodiment of the apparatus includes a computer / computing device capable of operating to perform some, but not all, of the described process.

[0118] Similarly, just as a description of various steps in a process does not indicate that all of the steps described are necessary, embodiments of computer-readable media for storing a program or data structure include computer-readable media for storing a program that, at runtime, causes a processor to execute (but not necessarily all) of the described process.

[0119] When describing a database, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that (i) alternative database structures can be readily used for the described database, and (ii) other memory structures other than databases can be readily used. Any examples or descriptions of any sample databases provided herein are illustrative configurations of the representation of stored information. Any number of other configurations can be used, for example, in addition to the tables shown in the drawings or those proposed elsewhere. Similarly, entries in any illustrative database represent only illustrative information, and those skilled in the art will understand that the number and content of entries may differ from those described herein. Furthermore, other forms (including relational databases, object-based models, and / or distributed databases) can be used to store and manipulate the types of data described herein, apart from any description of a database as a table. Similarly, object methods or database behaviors can be used to perform various processes, such as those described herein. Furthermore, databases can be stored locally or in a known manner, away from the devices that access the data in such databases.

[0120] Various embodiments can be configured to function within a network environment, including a computer that communicates with one or more devices (e.g., via a communication network). The computer may communicate with those devices directly or indirectly via any wired or wireless medium (e.g., the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet®, Token Ring, telephone lines, cable lines, wireless channels, optical communication lines, commercial online service providers, bulletin board systems, satellite communication lines, or any combination thereof). Each of the devices may include other computing devices, such as a computer itself or one based on an Intel® Pentium® or Centrino® processor, configured to communicate with the computer. Any number and type of devices may communicate with the computer.

[0121] In one embodiment, a server computer or centralized authority may not be required or desirable. For example, in one embodiment, the present invention can be implemented on one or more devices without centralized authority. In such an embodiment, any function described herein as being performed by a server computer, and any data described as being stored on a server computer, can instead be performed by or stored on one or more such devices.

[0122] When describing a process, in one embodiment, the process may function without any user intervention. In another embodiment, the process may involve some human intervention (for example, a step may be performed by a human or performed with human assistance).

[0123] [Note 1] It is a device, Processor and Equipped with a non-temporary medium having multiple stored instructions, When the aforementioned instruction is executed by the processor, the device, I received instructions regarding the amount of money from the gaming company. To make available to the gaming market on behalf of the aforementioned gaming entity, one or more portions of the aforementioned amount of money shall be determined, Disclose one or more of the above parts to the gaming market, In order to form at least one game between the subject and at least one counterparty, at least one portion of the disclosed amount is matched with the at least one counterparty, Determine one or more additional portions of the amount in order to release to the gaming market based on matching at least one of the aforementioned portions, In accordance with matching the at least one portion, the one or more additional portions of the amount are made public to the gaming market. Receiving a first team from at least one of the aforementioned parties and a second team from the aforementioned gaming entity, A characteristic is set for the at least one game between the subject and the at least one opponent, the characteristic including a spread between the first team and the second team, the spread being determined by a) determining a first sum of expected points to be earned by the members of the first team and a second sum of expected points to be earned by the members of the second team, and b) determining the difference between the first sum and the second sum, where each expected point for each member is sloped downward from the true expected value, and Determine at least one of the aforementioned games, The game includes a fantasy sports game, and the characteristics include teams for the opponent and the gaming entity, respectively. Device. [Note 2] The at least one part includes a plurality of parts that are matched to each of the interests of each of the players in order to form each game, so that the gaming entity can be placed in each of the plurality of games together with each of the plurality of players. The apparatus described in Appendix 1. [Note 3] Setting the characteristics for at least one game includes setting the characteristics for each of the plurality of games. The apparatus described in Appendix 2. [Note 4] Each of the aforementioned games includes a fantasy sports game. The aforementioned instruction is given to the device, To receive a fantasy team from the gaming entity used for all of the aforementioned multiple games, The aforementioned fantasy team is received as a single command from the subject in order to assign the team to all of the aforementioned games. The apparatus described in Appendix 3. [Note 5] Determining one or more parts includes determining one or more parts based on past requirements for the game such that the parts are expected to meet anticipated requirements. The apparatus described in Appendix 1. [Note 6] The gaming entity includes at least one of an algorithmic gaming entity, a hedge fund, and a mutual fund. The apparatus described in Appendix 1. [Note 7] It is a device, Processor and Equipped with a non-temporary medium having multiple stored instructions, When the aforementioned instruction is executed by the processor, the device, I received instructions regarding the amount of money from the gaming company. To make available to the gaming market on behalf of the aforementioned gaming entity, one or more portions of the aforementioned amount of money shall be determined, Disclose one or more of the above parts to the gaming market, In order to form at least one game between the subject and at least one counterparty, at least one portion of the disclosed amount is matched with the at least one counterparty, Determine one or more additional portions of the amount in order to release to the gaming market based on matching at least one of the aforementioned portions, In accordance with matching the at least one portion, the one or more additional portions of the amount are made public to the gaming market. The characteristics for the at least one game between the subject and the at least one opponent are defined as follows: Determine at least one of the aforementioned games, The Gaming Entity receives a second monetary amount from the Gaming Entity, and discloses at least a portion of the second monetary amount to the Gaming Market. To prevent matching between the amount of the aforementioned money and the amount of the second money, Device. [Note 8] It is a device, Processor and Equipped with a non-temporary medium having multiple stored instructions, When the aforementioned instruction is executed by the processor, the device, I received instructions regarding the amount of money from the gaming company. To make available to the gaming market on behalf of the aforementioned gaming entity, one or more portions of the aforementioned amount of money shall be determined, Disclose one or more of the above parts to the gaming market, In order to form at least one game between the subject and at least one counterparty, at least one portion of the disclosed amount is matched with the at least one counterparty, Determine one or more additional portions of the amount in order to release to the gaming market based on matching at least one of the aforementioned portions, In accordance with matching the at least one portion, the one or more additional portions of the amount are made public to the gaming market. The characteristics for the at least one game between the subject and the at least one opponent are defined as follows: Determine at least one of the aforementioned games, The Gaming Entity receives a second monetary amount from the Gaming Entity, and discloses at least a portion of the second monetary amount to the Gaming Market. Based on the relationship defined by the gaming entity between the amount of money and the second amount of money, the at least one portion is allocated to the amount of money. Device. [Note 9] It is a device, Processor and Equipped with a non-temporary medium having multiple stored instructions, When the aforementioned instruction is executed by the processor, the device, I received instructions regarding the amount of money from the gaming company. To make available to the gaming market on behalf of the aforementioned gaming entity, one or more portions of the aforementioned amount of money shall be determined, Disclose one or more of the above parts to the gaming market, In order to form at least one game between the subject and at least one counterparty, at least one portion of the disclosed amount is matched with the at least one counterparty, Determine one or more additional portions of the amount in order to release to the gaming market based on matching at least one of the aforementioned portions, In accordance with matching the at least one portion, the one or more additional portions of the amount are made public to the gaming market. The characteristics for the at least one game between the subject and the at least one opponent are defined as follows: Determine at least one of the aforementioned games, The Gaming Entity receives a second monetary amount from the Gaming Entity, and discloses at least a portion of the second monetary amount to the Gaming Market. The aforementioned amount is the first to be performed by the gaming entity method The second amount is based on the second amount performed by the gaming entity. method It is based on Device. [Note 10] It is a device, Processor and Equipped with a non-temporary medium having multiple stored instructions, When the aforementioned instruction is executed by the processor, the device, I received instructions regarding the amount of money from the gaming company. To make available to the gaming market on behalf of the aforementioned gaming entity, one or more portions of the aforementioned amount of money shall be determined, Disclose one or more of the above parts to the gaming market, In order to form at least one game between the subject and at least one counterparty, at least one portion of the disclosed amount is matched with the at least one counterparty, Determine one or more additional portions of the amount in order to release to the gaming market based on matching at least one of the aforementioned portions, In accordance with matching the at least one portion, the one or more additional portions of the amount are made public to the gaming market. The characteristics for the at least one game between the subject and the at least one opponent are defined as follows: Determine at least one of the aforementioned games, Determining one or more of the aforementioned parts includes determining the parts in order to simulate a Dutch auction in which a larger part is revealed before a smaller part. Device.

Claims

[Claim 1] It is a device, Processor and A non-temporary medium having multiple stored instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by the processor, the device I received instructions regarding the amount of money from the gaming company. To make available to the gaming market on behalf of the aforementioned gaming entity, one or more portions of the aforementioned amount of money are determined, Disclose one or more of the above parts to the gaming market, In order to form at least one game between the subject and at least one counterparty, at least one portion of the disclosed amount is matched with the at least one counterparty. Device.

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