Sports wagering based on player verses player matchups

Abstract

A sports wagering contest having where contestants make player selections from one or more player match-ups set up by a contest operator, such as a gaming establishment, is disclosed. Player selections are deemed winning selections based on the points players within a match-up earn based on their performance in a game. A primary contest having one or more rounds and requiring an entry fee may be provided. Each round may comprise a set of player match-ups and a prize which is winnable based on the number of winning selections a contestant makes. A secondary or bonus contest may be provided for contestants who do well in the primary contest. The secondary contest may have one or more rounds and a larger prize. In one embodiment, the primary contest utilizes players from the regular season and the secondary contest uses players in the post season of a sport.

1 . A method for a sports wagering contest comprising:
 providing a primary contest having one or more primary rounds, the one or more primary rounds comprising:
 setting up one or more player match-ups by presenting at least two players for player versus player comparison; 
 presenting the one or more player match-ups to one or more contestants to allow the one or more contestants to make one or more player selections; 
 receiving the one or more player selections from the one or more contestants; 
 determining which of the one or more player selections are winning player selections based on the achievements of the at least two players; 
 ranking the one or more contestants from highest to lowest based on the number of winning player selections received from the one or more contestants during at least one of the one or more rounds; and 
 awarding a prize to one or more of the one or more contestants having a highest ranking in the at least one of the one or more rounds; and 
   providing a secondary contest having one or more secondary rounds, the one or more secondary rounds comprising:
 setting up one or more player match-ups by presenting at least two players for player versus player comparison; 
 presenting the one or more player match-ups to one or more contestants to allow the one or more contestants to make one or more player selections; 
 receiving the one or more player selections from the one or more contestants; and 
 determining which of the one or more player selections are winning player selections based on the achievements of the at least two players; 
   qualifying one or more of the one or more contestants for the secondary contest;   ranking the one or more of the one or more contestants in the secondary contest from highest to lowest based on the number of winning player selections received from the one or more contestants during the secondary contest; and   awarding a secondary contest prize to one or more of the one or more contestants having a highest ranking in the secondary contest.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising collecting an entry fee from the one or more contestants to allow the one or more contestants to enter the primary contest. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more player match-ups are set up by a gaming establishment without a draft by the one or more contestants. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing one or more contest cards, wherein the one or more player match-ups are presented on one or more contest cards. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more player match-ups in the one or more primary rounds are set up using one or more players from the regular season of a sport. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more player match-ups in the one or more secondary rounds are set up using one or more players from the post season of a sport. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising awarding an end of contest prize to one or more of the one or more contestants having the highest total number of winning player selections at the end of the primary contest. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising aggregating the secondary contest prize among one or more of the one or more contestants having the highest ranking in the secondary contest prior to awarding the secondary contest prize. 
   
   
       9 . A method for a sports wagering contest comprising:
 collecting an entry fee from one or more contestants to allow the one or more contestants to participate in the sports wagering contest; and   providing one or more rounds comprising:
 setting up one or more player match-ups by presenting at least two players from one or more upcoming sporting events for comparison; 
 presenting the one or more player match-ups to the one or more contestants to allow the one or more contestants to make one or more player selections; 
 receiving the one or more player selections from the one or more contestants; 
 determining which of the one or more player selections are winning player selections based on the achievements of the at least two players; 
 ranking the one or more contestants based on the number of winning player selections received from the one or more contestants during at least one of the one or more rounds; and 
 awarding a prize to one or more of the one or more contestants having achieved a highest ranking in at least one of the one or more rounds. 
   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising awarding an end of contest prize to one or more of the one or more contestants having the highest total number of winning player selections at the end of the sports wagering contest. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more upcoming sporting events are one or more regular season football games; 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising providing one or more contest cards, wherein the one or more player selections are received on the one or more contest cards. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more contestants are ranked from highest to lowest based on the number of winning player selections with the one or more contestants having more winning player selections being ranked higher than the one or more contestants having less winning player selections. 
   
   
       14 . A method for a sports wagering secondary contest comprising:
 qualifying one or more contestants for the secondary contest;   providing one or more rounds comprising:
 setting up one or more player match-ups by presenting at least two players from one or more upcoming sporting events for comparison; 
 presenting the one or more player match-ups to the one or more contestants to allow the one or more contestants to make one or more player selections; 
 receiving the one or more player selections from the one or more contestants; and 
 determining which of the one or more player selections are winning player selections based on the achievements of the at least two players; 
   ranking the one or more contestants based on the number of winning player selections received from the one or more contestants during the secondary contest; and   awarding a prize to one or more of the one or more contestants having achieved a highest ranking in the secondary contest.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more upcoming sporting events are one or more post season football games; 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising providing one or more contest cards, wherein the one or more player selections are received on the one or more contest cards. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising aggregating the prize among the one or more of the one or more contestants having achieved the highest ranking in the secondary contest prior to awarding the prize. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more contestants are qualified for the secondary contest by winning at least one round of a primary contest. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more contestants are qualified for the secondary contest if the one or more contestants have a primary contest ranking of at least a predetermined rank, and if the one or more contestants have not won any rounds of the primary contest. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more contestants are ranked from highest to lowest based on the number of winning player selections with the one or more contestants having more winning player selections being ranked higher than the one or more contestants having less winning player selections.