Methods and systems for betting with pari-mutuel payouts

Abstract

A server for facilitating real-time betting, wherein the server communicates with clients via a distributed computing network. The server includes a memory storing an operating system, an instruction set, event data related to a sporting event, gambler data related to gamblers participating in a competition based upon the sporting event and site data related to electronic pages associated with the real-time para-mutuel betting. A processor runs the instruction set and communicates with the memory and the distributed computing network. The processor is operative to enroll the gamblers by presenting betting rules associated with the sporting event, collect wagering from the gamblers, accept predictions for discrete events within the sporting event from each gambler and determine a first winner of the competition based upon the predictions.

1 . A server for facilitating real-time betting, wherein the server communicates with clients via a distributed computing network, and wherein the server comprises: 
 (a) a memory storing an operating system, an instruction set, event data related to a sporting event, gambler data related to gamblers participating in a competition based upon the sporting event and site data related to electronic pages associated with the real-time para-mutuel betting; and    (b) a processor for running the instruction set, the processor being in communication with the memory and the distributed computing network, wherein the processor is operative to: 
 (i) enroll the gamblers by presenting betting rules associated with the sporting event;  
 (ii) collect wagering from the gamblers;  
 (iii) accept predictions for discrete events within the sporting event from each gambler;  
 (iv) assign point values for each discrete event;  
 (v) credit and total the corresonding point value to gamblers for each correct prediction; and  
 (vi) determine a first winner of the competition based upon the point totals.  
   
   
   
       2 . A server as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the betting rules award predetermined amounts of points by comparing the predictions to outcomes of the discrete events and the first winner has the most points.  
   
   
       3 . A server as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the discrete events are: plays for American football; pitches, at-bats or innings for baseball; rounds for boxing; shots, holes and rounds for golf; goals for soccer; and points awarded by judges.  
   
   
       4 . A server as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the discrete events are player statistics in a plurality of categories such as points, rebounds, blocks and assists in basketball.  
   
   
       5 . A server as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the server is further operative to determine a plurality of winners based upon the predictions and distribute a pool created from the wagering to the plurality of winners on a pari-mutuel basis.  
   
   
       6 . A server as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the distributed computing network is the Internet.  
   
   
       7 . A server as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the distributed computing network is a local area network.  
   
   
       8 . A server as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first winner takes the pool created from the wagering.  
   
   
       9 . A method for pari-mutuel betting, wherein a server communicates with clients via a distributed computing network, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) enrolling gamblers by presenting betting rules associated with a sporting event;    (b) assigning point awards to categories associated with the sporting event;    (c) collecting wagers from the gamblers;    (d) forming a pool from the wagers, the pool being less than a total of the wagers;    (e) accepting predictions from each gambler for discrete events within the categories for the sporting event;    (f) allocating points to the gamblers based upon the predictions;    (g) determining rankings of the gamblers based upon the points allocated thereto; and    (h) distributing the pool according to the rankings.    
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein varying the point awards for a category in inverse proportion to a time remaining in the sporting event.  
   
   
       11 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the sporting event is a card game.  
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the sporting event is a game between two teams.  
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein wagers are collected after commencement of the sporting event.  
   
   
       14 . A method for pari-mutuel betting on American football, wherein a server communicates with clients via a distributed computing network, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) assigning point awards for categories of i) predicting a winner, ii) predicting a next play, iii) predicting a next player to score, iv) predicting a margin of victory, v) predicting rushing yardage, and vi) predicting passing yardage associated with an American football game;    (b) collecting a wager from a plurality of gamblers;    (c) forming a pool from the wagers, the pool being less than a total of the wagers;    (d) accepting predictions from each gambler for the categories during the American football game;    (e) allocating points to the gamblers based upon the predictions and point awards;    (f) determining rankings of the gamblers based upon the points allocated thereto; and    (g) distributing the pool according to the rankings.    
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the point awards vary according to importance of the associated category.