System For Providing Simulated Betting And Kiosk For Same

Abstract

A system for simulated betting on a sporting event comprising a main control application having, at least one database, and an operator interface control application in communication with each database; at least one betting kiosk located in at least one venue, each kiosk having, at least one display associated, and at least one data input device in communication with the main control, whereby at least one better can place a simulated bet at a kiosk on a sporting event then the main control application tabulates the simulated betting results. The input devices may a card reader, whereby a person who desires to use the system can initiate betting by causing a card to be read. The relevant statistical information necessary for tabulation of results being mined by the control application from a streaming source of information fed to the system by a network. Advertisements may be served to betters at a venue targeted to the expected demographic composition of persons at that venue.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for simulated betting on a sporting event comprising:
 a. a main control application having,
 i. at least one database, and 
 ii. an operator interface control application in communication with each database; 
   b. at least one betting kiosk located in at least one venue, each kiosk having,
 i. at least one display associated, and 
 ii. at least one data input device in communication with the main control, 
   whereby at least one better can place a simulated bet at a kiosk on a sporting event then the main control application tabulates the simulated betting results.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , where at least one of the input devices is a card reader, whereby a person who desires to use the system can initiate betting by causing a card to be read. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , the card reader adapted to decode magnetic cards. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , the card reader adapted to communicate with a card by electromagnetic waves. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , the card reader adapted to decode data from a bar code. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , the relevant information necessary for tabulation of results being mined by the control application from a streaming source of information fed to the system by a network. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , the main control application in communication with at least card kiosk adapted to receive necessary information to set up a better account and to issue a card that can be read by a betting kiosk. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , the card kiosk adapted to mine data from a betters identification card and to prompt the better for any additional information needed, the card kiosk also having a data input mechanism for receiving additional data not mined from the identification card. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , the main control application in communication with at least two kiosks in at least two different venues, whereby betters at each venue can compete against each other and collectively, betters at each venue can compete against betters at another venue. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , the sporting event comprising an event selected from the group of a college football game; a professional football game; a college basketball game; a professional basketball game; a college baseball game; a professional baseball game; a college hockey game, a professional hockey game; a college soccer game; a professional soccer game; a world cup soccer game; an animal race, including but not limited to horses, dogs or amardillos; a car race; the X-Games; an Olympic sporting event; a boxing match; an Ultimate Fighting Championship match; or a tournament associated with any of the foregoing sports; or a season associated with any of the foregoing sports. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , the event being simulated by the main control application, whereby betting on a desired type of sporting event can occur regardless of whether it is currently ongoing or whether a broadcast of it is available at a particular venue. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , the available bets including at least one of the following: the winner of the event; the score differential during any period of the event; the first to achieve some objective; the total points scored during any period of the event; the score during any period of the event; the score at one or more milestones during the event; statistics of at least one player in the event; or some combined outcome of more than one event. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , the databases including following:
 a. control, containing information concerning the overall operation of the system;   b. betters, including information related to individuals using the system;   c. groups, including information related to groups of games such as the live sporting events on display at a particular venue;   d. events/games, including information on events upon which betters may be able to place simulated bets; and   e. items database, including information on bets available for or made on an event.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  also including a teams database, whereby groups of betters at a particular venue can be organized into teams to compete against each other at that venue on at least one event. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , the main application maintaining results for a set of sporting events adapted to allow teams to compete over a period of time with results for at least two sporting events determining the winner among teams. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  further including the option of organizing betters in at least two venues into teams to compete against each other. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , the databases further including following additional databases:
 a. teams, containing information on betters grouped into teams for an event or a season;   b. themes, containing information for each theme available   c. data extended, containing information to currently be displayed on a extended desktop results screen;   d. data extended main, containing statistical data brought into the system from an external source for the games presented in the main control panel; and   e. game request, containing information relating to games for which the system needs information such as the game number, sport type, and team name.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , the main control having the following control tabs:
 a. betters, adapted to control and input information related to the betters database;   b. themes, adapted to control the appearance of display screens;   c. events, adapted to control and input information related to the events database;   e. additional options, adapted to control optional elements of the system; and   f. event, adapted to control and input information related to an event.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , the main control having an ad server for serving advertisements to be displayed on at least one display screen in at least one venue. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , the ad server adapted to target the served ads to the expected demographic makeup of betters in at least one venue. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , the ad server adapted to target ads served to the bet kiosk display to the demographic characteristics of the better who is placing a bet. 
     
     
         22 . A method for simulated betting on a sporting event comprising:
 a. providing a main control application with at least one database and an operator interface control application in communication with each database;   b. providing at least one betting kiosk with a kiosk application in communication with the main control application and at least one display associated with at least one data input device.   
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for simulated betting on sports comprising:
 a. a main control application in communication with at least one database;   b. at least one operator interface adapted to direct the control application; and   c. at least one betting kiosk with a display and at least one data input device in communication with the main control application;   whereby an operator can set up betting parameters on a sporting event and betters can place simulated wagers at betting kiosks after which the main control application tabulates the wagering results.   
     
     
         24 . A betting kiosk comprising:
 a. a display and at least one data input device in communication with the kiosk;   b. a main control application in communication with the kiosk adapted to maintain and provide to the kiosk information from at least one database controlled by at least one operator interface,   whereby, participants can place simulated bets at the kiosk on the a sporting event after which the main control application tabulates the wagering results.