Patent ID: 9443392
Filing Date: 2016-09-13
CPC Classification: G07F

Claim Text:
1. A process for allowing a plurality of players to form a pari-mutuel pool, by making pari-mutuel wagers on previously-run, order-of-finish contests (PROOFCs), each of which has a specified race condition, a plurality of contestants and an order-of-finish result, and wherein for each of a plurality of rounds of said wagering on said PROOFCs, a first player of the plurality of players is required to make contestant selection choices and place wagers of a defined monetary amount from a balance of funds available to said first player, from which an appropriate payout is made to said first player whose contestant selections are correct and wherein a controlled wagering experience is provided that results in a specifiable average wagering variability and a specifiable financial return on the wagers of said players, said process comprising the steps of: providing a networked totalisator including a processor and a first memory device configured to store totalisator control software, executable by said processor; providing a plurality of networked wagering terminals, each of the wagering terminals including a display device configured to display a screen interface, a terminal processor, and a second memory device configured to store terminal control software, executable by the terminal processor; providing a database of said race conditions, the number of said plurality of contestants, and the order-of-finish results applicable to each of said PROOFCs; wherein said terminal control software and said totalisator control software include instructions that cause said networked wagering terminals to: (a) provide to each of said players a PROOFC on which said player may wager, (b) establish a terminal-specified, pari-mutuel pool on which each of said players may wager, (c) receive from each of said players said contestant selection choices and said wagers, (d) display to each of said players a pertinent PROOFC order-of-finish result and said appropriate payout applicable to said contestant selection choices of said player, and (e) dispense, from said pari-mutuel pool, said appropriate payouts to each of said players; and wherein said terminal control software and said totalisator control software further include instructions that cause said networked wagering terminals to provide said players with the ability to configure and customize the appearance and operation of said screen interfaces of the networked terminals being used by said players, wherein said customization includes providing said players with options including: (a) configuring said screen interface so as to select between a traditional or a graphically-entertaining interface, (b) electively placing a wager on one of said PROOFCs, (c) wagering in an additional, optional pool, rather than solely in a mandatory pool, (d) electively viewing said race conditions pertaining to a specific PROOFC, (e) personally handicapping a specific PROOFC on which said players are considering placing a wager, and (f) utilizing a third-party handicapping tool to assist said players in handicapping a PROOFC.