324 results about "Odds" patented technology

The present invention provides a gaming device, wherein the game requires the same average investment from a player to win an award, including a jackpot award, regardless of the amount that the player bets at any one time. The award can be unchanging, e.g., $10,000, each time a player plays the gaming device. The award can also vary such as with a progressive jackpot, i.e., the jackpot builds until a player “hits” the jackpot. The game enables the average investment necessary to win the jackpot to be uniform by varying the odds of winning the jackpot as the player's bet varies. That is, a player betting less money needs to play the game more times, on average, to win the jackpot. Likewise, a player betting more money needs to play the game less times, on average, to win the jackpot. The average overall bet or investment thus remains constant despite the player's betting habits or betting ability.

The present invention provides a system that creates virtual events within a virtual world. A virtual event may be akin to a real event, but is completely computer generated within a computer-generated world and is based on statistical measures, either real world or created. Numerous characteristics about the competitors and the competition location parameters are available before a competition event. Based on the known parameters about the location of an event and the characteristics of the participants and their historical past performances in similar events enable bettors to make informed wagers on an event that greatly enhances the satisfaction and involvement in a competition event. As such, Histories of virtual events are maintained on actual virtual performance data of competitors in the virtual world. The histories can include all relevant virtual data about a competitor and the past events the competitor competed.The virtual event may be created by an event engine, scheduled, and broadcast or simulcast in real-time through-out the real-world using existing and conventional video transport media, such as web, TV, satellite, telephone network, and cable. A video delivery system is used that will allow high quality high definition video to be broadcast worldwide with very low bandwidth requirements (<20 kb / s).Individuals throughout the real-world may place wagers (e.g., bets) on the outcome of either a pari-mutuel event or a fixed odds event, utilizing either pari-mutuel, exchange wagering or fixed odds wagering systems. The virtual event may be any type of sport, or skill based game that is usually between competitors.

A multitier video poker game that is played by a single player which displays a first tier compulsory base poker hand and optional tiered bonus poker hands. The base poker hand is a traditionally played five card draw video poker hand, where the player makes a wager prior to the hand being dealt to him, and his final hand is evaluated against a prior stipulated pay schedule. After playing this hand the player is provided with an option to wager on additional tiers of bonus poker hands which are dealt face up from independent standard decks. The game dynamically calculates or searches in a pre-calculated and statically stored lookup table the probability of all possible hands in respect to the bonus poker hands and assigns awards to the set of predefined winning hand categories so that all possible hold strategies are available and converge to a desired hold percentage. The payout schedule and the optimal payback percentage are displayed to the player to facilitate his decision whether to wager or not on a bonus poker hand. Every subsequent bonus poker hand offers better odds to the player than the previously played hand.

A bonus controller for generating a competitive bonus game in a gaming system, the bonus controller having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The bonus controller being programmed to: receive wagering data corresponding to a casino game, enter a first player associated with a first gaming apparatus into the competitive bonus game when the first player obtains a qualifying win at the casino game, determine odds for the first player to win the competitive bonus game, vary odds of winning the competitive bonus game for at least a second player after entering the first player into the competitive bonus game, the second player having been previously entered into the competitive bonus game, determine an outcome of the competitive bonus game, and transmit data corresponding to the outcome of the competitive bonus game to a display unit.

The method of choosing and distributing enhanced odds includes 1) linking numerous electronic gaming devices, such as electronic Poker machines, on a local network, 2) gathering in a progressive amount a percentage of all the bets placed on those devices such as for progressive jackpots, 3) using a process based on a combination of randomness and criteria to distribute for at least one game to one randomly selected device, a set of enhanced odds and 4) using the progressive amount gathered to pay prizes awarded with the set of enhanced odds. In a local network of electronic Poker machines (2), five percent (5%) of the bets are gathered by the network. When a predetermined amount is gathered, one electronic Poker machine randomly selected, presents to a player one game with a set of enhanced odds. When a win occurs corresponding to one of the four (4) highest hands, the prize is paid in regards to the enhanced odds.

A interactive wagering system is provided in which a user at user equipment may place electronic wagers with an interactive wagering application. The wagers may be horse race wagers. The interactive wagering application may handle wagers placed at multiple totalizators. The user may be provided with an opportunity to select a desired totalizator at which to place wagers or the interactive wagering application may automatically apply tote selection criteria to determine which of the multiple totalizators wagers are to be placed with. The user may review information on available odds and other information for each of the different totalizators. Automatic totalizator selection may be based on odds, tax consequences, licensing status, pool values, bulk benefits, user preference, available wager types, or other suitable criteria.

Systems and methods for real-time interactive wagering on event outcomes are presented. Clients are first qualified and given wagering limits before being allowed to interactively wager on event outcomes. Event outcomes may be based on, for example, financial markets and indices, sporting and entertainment events, casino games, casino performances, and natural phenomena such as weather and earthquakes. Events on which wagers can be placed include both those with known and unknown outcome probabilities, and wagers can be a fixed-odds type or a spread-bet type. Wager transactions, including acceptances and confirmations, are executed in real time. Clients can customize displays of events on which they are authorized to wager. Real-time client credit management, automatic dealer hedging, automatic price-spread adjustments, and automatic client and dealer defined wagering limits are also provided.

A bonus controller for generating a competitive bonus game in a gaming system, the bonus controller having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The bonus controller being programmed to: receive wagering data corresponding to a casino game, enter a first player associated with a first gaming apparatus into the competitive bonus game when the first player obtains a qualifying win at the casino game, determine odds for the first player to win the competitive bonus game, vary odds of winning the competitive bonus game for at least a second player after entering the first player into the competitive bonus game, the second player having been previously entered into the competitive bonus game, determine an outcome of the competitive bonus game, and transmit data corresponding to the outcome of the competitive bonus game to a display unit.

Systems and methods are disclosed that include display systems located at player sites, a server system for generating a television channel comprising real-time live off-shore odds, fantasy betting sports games, standard fantasy sports games, and sports prognosticator predictions, and a communication link for transmitting the television channel to the display systems. The television channel may comprise standard and enhanced fantasy sports games and standard and enhanced fantasy betting sports games with real-time live off-shore odds derived from the one or more off-shore sports books, and sports predictions from sports prognosticators using real-time live off-shore odds from one or more off-shore sports books. Exemplary communication links include cable and satellite providers, telephones, other wireless and wired devices and the Internet. Content may be transmitted by way of cable and satellite providers, telephones, other wired and wireless devices and the Internet. Exemplary display systems include digital non-interactive television systems, digital interactive television systems and web-enabled computer devices. Exemplary programming formats include a linear video channel, a linear interactive television (iTV) channel, an Internet protocol television (IP-TV) channel, and a website channel. The present invention permits interactive fantasy betting on and playing of fantasy betting sports games and fantasy sports games using real-time off-shore betting odds displayed on a television or computer device. The present invention delivers real-time off-shore odds, fantasy betting sports games, fantasy sports games, sports prognosticator predictions, fantasy betting casino games and fantasy casino games for display on television systems and computer devices that implement interactive TV, IP-TV and non-interactive TV.

A parimutuel betting game featuring in-game wagers and payoffs, and real time parimutuel style odds, based on events unfolding during a live event, a principal objective being to acquire the largest number of betting tokens by the end of the event. An administrator oversees a plurality of betting lines associated with betting events. Players are allowed to bet tokens on an open betting line until it is closed by the administrator. The line will close at or before the time the situation in the live event changes appreciably, so the posted odds on the betting lines are in synch with the live event. When a line is closed, a new line may open. When a termination event occurs for a given betting event, the betting event is terminated and all lines that opened since the previous termination are paid off simultaneously in parimutuel style. The betting lines preferably have a hierarchical structure. The game may be played over the Internet.

A game of chance includes steps of accepting at least one of a wager and a selection of a predicted outcome of a competitive activity; randomly selecting an actual outcome of the competitive activity according to predetermined odds; accessing one of a plurality of video sequence that shows the randomly selected actual outcome of the competitive activity, and showing the accessed one of the plurality of video sequence on a display. A step may be carried out to pay a sum determined by the wager and the predetermined odds when the predicted outcome matches the randomly selected actual outcome.

Systems and processes for interactive wagering are provided. A cellular telephone or handheld computing device may be used to access an interactive wagering service. Television equipment and computer equipment may be used to access the service. A user may view information on wagers such as current odds and other racing data for horses or other runners on the cellular telephone or other device. The user may create a corresponding off-track wager with the cellular telephone or other device that may be sent to a transaction processing and subscription management system. The transaction processing and subscription management system may handle the wager transaction and adjust the user's account balance.

Systems and methods for real-time interactive wagering on event outcomes are presented. Clients are first qualified and given wagering limits before being allowed to interactively wager on event outcomes. Event outcomes may be based on, for example, financial markets and indices, sporting and entertainment events, casino performances, and natural phenomena such as weather and earthquakes. Events on which wagers can be placed include both those with known and unknown outcome probabilities, and wagers can be a fixed-odds type or a spread-bet type. Wager transactions, including acceptances and confirmations, are executed in real time. Clients can customize displays of events on which they are authorized to wager. Real-time client credit management, automatic dealer hedging, automatic price-spread adjustments, and automatic client and dealer defined wagering limits are also provided.

An integrated environment for sports watching, sports wagering, and fantasy league play is provided. Odds, spread, or money line information may be displayed for any available sporting contest. Wagers may be accepted and payout information may be automatically calculated. The desired wager amount may be deducted from a wagering account bank balance associated with the user. Data relating to the sporting contest may be received from a supplemental data feed or data source in real-time, and the user's wagering account bank balance may be automatically updated based on the received data and the placed wager. The integrated fantasy league feature allows a user to create or join a public or private fantasy league, create new teams, view player or team statistics, and send messages between other users. Fantasy league point totals may be automatically computed and displayed to the user.

A multi-opportunity, risk vs. reward, playfield-style gaming platform grants players the ability to evaluate gaming situations and decide whether to risk current assets for greater rewards throughout the course of a game. Players have multiple opportunities to make risk versus reward decisions that ultimately affect the financial outcome of game play. Positive impact squares, negative impact squares and indifferent impact squares are assigned to the game playfield though the software platform based upon manufacturer and casino specified odds for each “Coin-In” credit level and value of game play. A status and information area legend is updated through the software platform and reports important game play information to players, allowing them to make more informed decisions throughout the course of their gaming experience.

A video game allows a player to improve odds of success in a bonus game by winning an advantage outcome in association with play of a primary or base game. An exemplary bonus game is the game of Pong where the player can use advantage credits won in play of the primary or base game to provide himself with an advantage such as lengthening his paddle, shortening his opponent's paddle, or slowing the shrinkage rate of his paddle during the course of the bonus game. Alternatively, he may also purchase one or more advantages for use in the bonus game through monetary payment.

A process provides a first price category and a second price category in which a scratch-off lottery ticket can be purchased for a scratch-off lottery game. In addition, the process randomly selects an extracted lot of scratch-off lottery tickets from the aggregate lot, the extracted lot having (i) an extracted lottery prize structure that has identical odds to the initial lottery prize structure without being limited to the predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and the predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, and (ii) an extracted lot size that is less than the aggregate lot size.

A interactive wagering system is provided in which a user at user equipment may place electronic wagers with an interactive wagering application. The wagers may be horse race wagers. The interactive wagering application may handle wagers placed at multiple totalisators. The user may be provided with an opportunity to select a desired totalisator at which to place wagers or the interactive wagering application may automatically apply tote selection criteria to determine which of the multiple totalisators wagers are to be placed with. The user may review information on available odds and other information for each of the different totalisators. Automatic totalisator selection may be based on odds, tax consequences, licensing status, pool values, bulk benefits, user preference, available wager types, or other suitable criteria.

A plurality of horse racing game machines (1a, 1b, . . . 1n) and a control unit (2) for controlling game execution states of the horse racing game machines (1a, 1b, . . . 1n) are connected via a communication line (L). The control unit (2) provides the horse racing game machines for performing the race with part or the entirety of game-related data required for executing the game. The race is simultaneously held at the horse racing game machines (1a, 1b, . . . 1n). Execution states of the race and betting odds generated at all the horse racing game machines (1a, 1b, . . . 1n) are collected by the control unit (2). At the same time, the collected race execution states and integrated betting odds are presented in real time to the players surrounding all the horse racing game machines (1a, 1b, . . . 1n) using synthesized speech.

A system for establishing a wager comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores a value of a prize for a wager, and a risk value for the wager. The processor is coupled to the memory and determines odds for the wager, wherein the odds are based at least in part upon the value of the prize and the risk value. The processor further determines whether the wager is won as a function of the determined odds.

A method of determining odds of a possible outcome of an event which occurs during a contest is disclosed. The contest may be a sporting contest such as a football game. The method includes accepting a set of one or more current parameter values (such as score or field position) which influence the likelihood of the possible event outcome (such as the likelihood of a running play). The set of current parameter values is used to retrieve situation-specific likelihood data from a data store. Odds associated with the possible outcome are set based at least in part on the likelihood data. The odds may be adjusted using one or more non-situation-specific factors indicating an average likelihood of the event outcome (such as an average likelihood of a running play for a team regardless of situation). The method may expedite odds determination. An associated system and machine readable medium are also disclosed.

The present invention is a dice game based on the sport of baseball. The game described permits a player to participate by wagering on the combined sum of three rolled dice. Each combined sum of the dice equates to a common baseball outcome such as a home run, error or strikeout. Players make wagers dependent on each at-bat, each half-inning or game result. The game played with three dice follows realistically the outcomes associated with a professional baseball game. The game is designed for player v. player, team v. player or team v. team. In the preferred embodiment the game is played on a table including a pit area similar to a craps table. The table layout displays the outcomes, various odds associated with the various wagers and sections for players to place their wagers. The table design also permits dealers, stickmen and / or croupiers to orchestrate the game.

A method of operating a PND or navigation system is described, together with a PND or navigation system for performing such a method. The PND or navigation system includes memory storing map data consisting of base map data files, a display, GPS signal reception and processing device, such together forming a basis for navigation, route guidance, and map information display. In at least one embodiment, the method includes correlating the current location with the map data to derive map-specific parameters for that location and comparing the map-specific parameters with a motion-specific parameter, a vehicle-specific parameter, or the current location to determine whether the current location, motion or vehicle-related characteristic is permissible or appropriate therefore; and in the event that the current location, motion, or vehicle-related characteristic and derived map-specific parameter are seemingly at odds with one another, performing at least one secondary action. The secondary action may include but is not limited to the issuing of an approve / reject prompt to the user, or the automatic creation, modification or deletion of a new or pre-existing correction.

A video gaming system provides a game of video draw poker or a variation thereof in which a player may withdraw exactly 40% or exactly 60% of any wager on any hand (surrendering 60% or 40% of the initial wager, respectively). The game may end upon the surrender, or the odds within the pay table may change with continued play of the game with the residual of the wager. In another variant, the player may withdraw a percentage of the original wager, have the initial pay table altered, and the game is allowed to continue.

The present invention is a dice game based on the sport of baseball. The game described permits a player to participate by wagering on the combined sum of three rolled dice. Each combined sum of the dice equates to a common baseball outcome such as a home run, error or strikeout. Players make wagers dependent on each at-bat, each half-inning or game result. The game played with three dice follows realistically the outcomes associated with a professional baseball game. The game is designed for player v. player, team v. player or team v. team. In the preferred embodiment the game is played on a table including a pit area similar to a craps table. The table layout displays the outcomes, various odds associated with the various wagers and sections for players to place their wagers. The table design also permits dealers, stickmen and / or croupiers to orchestrate the game.

Methods and systems for engaging in enhanced parimutuel wagering and gaming. In one embodiment, different types of bets can be offered and processed in the same betting pool on an underlying event, such as a horse or dog race, a sporting event or a lottery, and the premiums and payouts of these different types of bets can be determined in the same betting pool, by configuring an equivalent combination of fundamental bets for each type of bet, and performing a demand-based valuation of each of the fundamental bets in the equivalent combination. In another embodiment, bettors can place bets in the betting pool with limit odds on the selected outcome of the underlying event. The bets with limit odds are not filled in whole or in part, unless the final odds on the selected outcome of the underlying event are equal to or greater than the limit odds.

A handheld gaming machine including one or more actuators for providing vibrational cues or feedback during play of a wagering game to indicate the occurrence of a wagering-game event, such as a change in game rules, an input of a wager, and the like. The change in game rules may include a change in the odds of winning an award during the wagering game, a change in the type of award that can be awarded during the wagering game, eligibility for bonus play, or eligibility to accumulate one or more game elements associated with the wagering game. The vibration can be consistent with a wagering-game theme and can accompany or be a substitute for concurrently played audio sounds. The actuator(s) may include a haptic device such as a haptic touchscreen that overlays the display or an electromagnetic coil acting upon an unbalanced mass.

A game of chance includes steps of accepting at least one of a wager and a selection of a predicted outcome of a competitive activity; randomly selecting an actual outcome of the competitive activity according to predetermined odds; accessing one of a plurality of video sequence that shows the randomly selected actual outcome of the competitive activity, and showing the accessed one of the plurality of video sequence on a display. A step may be carried out to pay a sum determined by the wager and the predetermined odds when the predicted outcome matches the randomly selected actual outcome.