Game and Method for Linking Bingo to a Pari-Mutuel Race

Abstract

A method of linking a bingo style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events. Numbers may be assigned to each participant of a pari-mutuel race or event by respective starting position. Each participant may be assigned a plurality of numbers, and two of the starting positions of the race or event may be assigned the same number. The numbers assigned for an individual race or event may have a dedicated column within a bingo-style score card. A minor prize may be awarded for each number on the score card associated with a winning participant of one race or event, and a major prize may be awarded if a plurality of numbers on the score card correspond to a winning participant of a race or event within the series. The series of pari-mutuel races or events may relate to dog racing, horse racing, harness racing, or jai alai.

1 . A method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events, the method comprising:
 assigning a first group of numbers to starting positions of participants of a first pari-mutuel race or event, the first group of numbers being associated with a first column of a bingo-style score card;   assigning a second group of numbers to starting positions of participants of a second pari-mutuel race or event, the second group of numbers being associated with a second column of the bingo-style score card, the second group of numbers being mutually exclusive of the first group of numbers;   assigning a third group of numbers to starting positions of participants of a third pari-mutuel race or event, the third group of numbers being associated with a third column of the bingo-style score card, the third group of numbers being mutually exclusive of the first and second groups of numbers;   assigning a fourth group of numbers to starting positions of participants of a fourth pari-mutuel race or event, the fourth group of numbers being associated with a fourth column of the bingo-style score card, the fourth group of numbers being mutually exclusive of the first, second, and third groups of numbers; and   assigning a fifth group of numbers to starting positions of participants of a fifth pari-mutuel race or event, the fifth group of numbers being associated with a fifth column of the bingo-style score card, the fifth group of numbers being mutually exclusive of the first, second, third, and fourth groups of numbers;   wherein the bingo-style game is completed upon (1) completion of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth pari-mutuel races or events, and (2) respective identification of any winning numbers associated with winning participants of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth pari-mutuel races or events and that are on the bingo-style score card such that the bingo-style game is linked to the series of pari-mutuel races or events.   
     
     
         2 . The method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 1 , wherein the bingo-style score card includes a 5×5 matrix of numbers. 
     
     
         3 . The method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 2 , the method comprising awarding a minor prize for each winning number that is both associated with a winning participant of one of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth pari-mutuel race or event and on the bingo-style score card. 
     
     
         4 . The method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 3 , the method comprising awarding a major prize if the bingo-style score card contains winning numbers that are associated with winning participants of each of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth pari-mutuel races or events, the winning numbers forming a predetermined pattern on the bingo-style score card, the major prize being worth more than the minor prize. 
     
     
         5 . The method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 4 , wherein the series of pari-mutuel races or events relate to dog racing, horse racing, harness racing, or jai alai. 
     
     
         6 . The method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 1 , the method comprising assigning a plurality of numbers from the first group of numbers to a single starting position for the first pari-mutuel race or event. 
     
     
         7 . The method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 1 , the method comprising assigning a same number from the first group of numbers to a plurality of starting positions for the first pari-mutuel race or event. 
     
     
         8 . A method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events, the method comprising:
 (1) for a first pari-mutuel race or event, assigning a first set of numbers by starting position for the first pari-mutuel race or event to a dedicated first column of a bingo-style score card;   (2) for a next pari-mutuel race or event, assigning a next set of numbers by starting position for the next pari-mutuel race or event to an adjacent and dedicated next column of the bingo-style score card;   (3) performing step (2) until a total of five sets of numbers have been assigned by starting position for five pari-mutuel races or events;   (4) for a winning number associated with a winning participant of one of the five pari-mutuel races or events and that is on the bingo-style score card, awarding a minor prize; and   (5) for a plurality of winning numbers that are each associated with a winning participant of one of the five pari-mutuel races or events and that are on the bingo-style score card, the plurality of winning numbers forming a pre-determined winning pattern on the bingo-style score card, awarding a major prize, the major prize being worth more than the minor prize, such that the bingo-style game is linked to the series of pari-mutuel races or events.   
     
     
         9 . The method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 8 , the method comprising assigning a plurality of numbers from within the first set of numbers to a same starting position of the first pari-mutuel race or event. 
     
     
         10 . The method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 8 , the method comprising assigning at least one number from within the first set of numbers to a plurality of starting positions of the first pari-mutuel race or event, the plurality of starting positions being pre-determined to have an advantage over remaining starting positions of the first pari-mutuel race or event. 
     
     
         11 . The method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 8 , wherein the bingo-style score card includes a 5×5 matrix of numbers. 
     
     
         12 . The method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 8 , wherein the series of pari-mutuel races or events relates to dog racing. 
     
     
         13 . The method of linking a bingo-style game to a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 8 , wherein the series of pari-mutuel races or events relates to horse racing, harness racing, or jai alai. 
     
     
         14 . A bingo-style game that links a series of pari-mutuel races or events, the bingo-style game comprising:
 assigning numbers by starting position of participants for a series of pari-mutuel races or events, wherein the numbers assigned by starting position for an individual pari-mutuel race or event are associated with a dedicated column within a bingo-style score card and are mutually exclusive of numbers assigned by starting position for remaining pari-mutuel races or events within the series of pari-mutuel races or events;   awarding a minor prize for each number on the bingo-style score card that is associated with a winning participant of an individual pari-mutuel race or event; and   awarding a major prize if a plurality of numbers on the bingo-style score card are each associated with a winning participant of an individual pari-mutuel race or event, such that the bingo-style game links the series of pari-mutuel races or events.   
     
     
         15 . The bingo-style game that links a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 14 , wherein the major prize is awarded if the plurality of numbers on the bingo-style score card that are each associated with a winning participant of an individual pari-mutuel race or event form a pre-determined winning pattern on the bingo-style score card. 
     
     
         16 . The bingo-style game that links a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 14 , wherein each starting position for an individual pari-mutuel race or event is assigned a plurality of numbers. 
     
     
         17 . The bingo-style game that links a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 14 , wherein at least two starting positions of a same race are assigned a same number. 
     
     
         18 . The bingo-style game that links a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 14 , wherein the bingo-style score card includes a 5×5 matrix of numbers, and a first set numbers assigned for a first pari-mutuel race or event include one through fifteen, a second set of numbers assigned for a second pari-mutuel race or event include sixteen through thirty, a third set of numbers assigned for a third race include thirty-one through forty-five, a fourth set of numbers assigned for a fourth race include forty-six through sixty, and a fifth set of numbers assigned for a fifth race include sixty-one through seventy-five. 
     
     
         19 . The bingo-style game that links a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 14 , wherein the series of pari-mutuel races or events relate to dog racing. 
     
     
         20 . The bingo-style game that links a series of pari-mutuel races or events of  claim 14 , wherein the series of pari-mutuel races or events relate to horse racing, harness racing, or jai alai.