Remote sports wagering system

Abstract

At a wagering terminal that is remote from a central site, a person makes a wagering choice on a sporting event and posts an amount of a wager. The wagering choice and the amount of the wager are downloaded from the remote site to the central site. A ticket dispensed to the person has printed thereon the wagering choice, the amount of the wager and the name and location of a casino. When the person wins the wager, a payout is made at the casino upon presentation of the ticket.

We claim:  
     
         1 . In the method of wagering on a sporting event at a terminal that is remote from a central site, comprising the steps of: 
 determining a wagering choice of a person on an outcome of the sporting event;    posting an amount of a wager on said wagering choice at the terminal;    transmitting said wagering choice and said amount from the terminal to the central site;    dispensing a betting ticket at the terminal whereon said amount, said wagering choice and a payout site are printed;    making a payout at said payout site upon presentation of said betting ticket when the person wins said wager.    
     
     
         2 . In the method of  claim 1  wherein the step of posting comprises the step of depositing money into a bill validator.  
     
     
         3 . In the method of  claim 1  wherein the step of posting comprises the step of using a credit card to create a credit transaction.  
     
     
         4 . In the method of  claim 1  wherein said payout site is a casino.  
     
     
         5 . In the method of  claim 1 , comprising the additional steps of: 
 providing a communication link between the terminal and the central site;    transmitting data related to the sporting event from the central site to the terminal via said communication link; and    displaying said data at the terminal.    
     
     
         6 . In the method of  claim 5 , comprising the additional step of transmitting said wagering choice and said amount to the central site from the terminal via said communication link.  
     
     
         7 . In the method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining comprises the steps of: 
 displaying on a touch screen of a video display a start button in an initial image; and  
 displaying an event type image on said touch screen in response to a touching of said start button, said event type image including a plurality of pushbuttons that have a name of a type of sporting event thereon.  
 
     
     
         8 . In the method of  claim 7  wherein a message of general interest is included in said initial image.  
     
     
         9 . In the method of  claim 7  wherein said step of determining comprises the step of displaying on said touch screen a roster of sporting events of a given type in response to the person touching one of said pushbuttons.  
     
     
         10 . In the method of  claim 9  wherein the step of determining comprises the additional step of selecting a sporting event of said given type in response to a touching said touch screen.  
     
     
         11 . In the method of  claim 10  wherein the step of determining comprises the additional step of displaying on said touch screen wagering choices for said selected event.  
     
     
         12 . In the method of  claim 11  wherein the step of determining comprises the additional step of making said wagering choice by touching said touch screen.  
     
     
         13 . In the method of  claim 13  comprising the additional step of canceling said wagering choice in response to a touching of said touch screen.  
     
     
         14 . In the method of  claim 12 , comprising the additional steps of: 
 providing a display on said touch screen that is touched to indicate that the person does not desire to make an additional wagering choice; and    providing a display of a summary of wagering activity on said touch screen in response to said indication that the person does not desire to make said additional wagering choice.    
     
     
         15 . In the method of  claim 14  wherein said step of providing said summary display includes the steps of: 
 displaying a listing of wagered upon sporting events;  
 displaying a list of wagers made by the person and an amount wagered on each of the listed wagers;  
 displaying a total amount that is wagered; and  
 displaying a total amount of money posted.  
 
     
     
         16 . In the method of  claim 15 , comprising the additional steps of: 
 including a cancellation box in said summary display;    touching said cancellation box to cancel said listed wagers;    dispensing a cancellation ticket in response to said touching of said cancellation box, said cancellation ticket having printed thereon said total amount of money posted and said payout site; and    making a payout at said payout site upon presentation of said cancellation ticket.    
     
     
         17 . In the method of  claim 15 , comprising the additional steps of: 
 providing an accept box in said summary display; and    dispensing said betting ticket in response to a touching of said touch box.    
     
     
         18 . In the method of  claim 17  comprising the additional steps of: 
 providing a time remaining counter in said summary display, said time remaining counter showing of a starting number prior to a posting of money at least equal to said total amount wagered;  
 decrementing said starting number by one each second after said posting of money at least equal to said total amount wagered; and  
 canceling said listed wagers when said accept box is not touched prior to said starting number being decremented to zero.