Detection of Improper Bets in Real-Time Wagering Systems

Abstract

Methods, systems, and software for accepting bets on contests, such as sporting events, with wagering terms that change in real-time with the progress of the contests are disclosed. The disclosed methods, systems, and software may include security features that check the time at which bets are placed to ensure that they are not being placed in the interval between when an event occurred in the contest and when the wagering terms were changed to reflect that the event occurred.

1 . A method for accepting wagers on a contest in which the wagering terms change in real time with the progress of the contest, comprising:
 accepting bets on one or more wagering terms from one or more bettors while the contest is in progress using a server communicating with the one or more bettors over a communications network;   monitoring the progress of the contest;   determining whether the one or more wagering terms have changed as a result of one or more events during the progress of the contest;   determining whether or not the bets were placed during an improper interval between a time that one of the events occurred and a time that the one or more wagering terms were changed to reflect the event; and   rejecting any of the bets that were placed during the improper interval.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the duration of the improper interval is calculated by adding at least an amount of time necessary for the server to be notified of events during the contest to an amount of time necessary for the one or more bettors to be notified of the new set of wagering terms. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the amount of time necessary for the server to be notified of events and the amount of time necessary for the one or more bettors to be notified of the new set of wagering terms are averages or running averages. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the amount of time necessary for the one or more bettors to be notified of the new set of wagering terms is calculated for each one of the one or more bettors. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the amount of time necessary for one of the one or more bettors to be notified of the new set of wagering terms is calculated by a method comprising:
 transmitting a first packet of data to the bettor; and   receiving a second packet of data from the bettor, the second packet of data indicating the time at which the first packet of data was received by the bettor.   
     
     
         6 . A method for accepting wagers on a contest, comprising:
 accepting bets on one or more wagering terms from one or more bettors while the contest is in progress using a server communicating with the one or more bettors over a communications network;   if an event occurs in the contest, determining projected wagering terms based on the event;   comparing a difference between the one or more wagering terms and the projected wagering terms with a change threshold; and   changing the one or more wagering terms to the projected wagering terms if the difference is greater than the change threshold.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more wagering terms include an outcome value and an odds value. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the comparing comprises comparing the difference between the outcome value and a projected outcome value with the change threshold. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein changing the one or more wagering terms comprises changing the outcome value to the projected outcome value if the difference is greater than the change threshold. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein if the difference is less than the change threshold, the method further comprises:
 changing the odds value by an amount based on the difference.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining whether or not the bets were placed during an improper interval between a time that one of the events occurred and a time that the one or more wagering terms were changed to reflect the event; and   rejecting any of the bets that were placed during the improper interval.   
     
     
         12 . A wagering system, comprising:
 a bookmaking server in communication with one or more bettors through a communications network, the bookmaking server being configured and adapted (1) to accept bets on one or more wagering terms from the one or more bettors on contests while the contests are in progress, (2) to monitor the contests and change the one or more wagering terms based on events in the contest, (3) to determine whether or not the bets were placed during an improper interval between a time that one of the events occurred and a time that the one or more wagering terms were changed to reflect the event and to reject any of the bets that were placed during the improper interval, and (4) to calculate the improper interval for each one of the one or more bettors based at least in part upon an amount of time it takes for data to reach each one of the one or more bettors.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a feed server in communication with the bookmaking server over the communications network, the feed server being adapted to notify the bookmaking server of the events in the contests. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the bookmaking server is adapted to calculate the improper interval based at least in part upon the amount of time it takes for data to reach each one of the one or more bettors and the amount of time it takes for data to be transmitted from the feed server to the bookmaking server.