Abstract:
A disadvantage of existing betting operations is the implementation of fixed odds and pari-mutuel betting on specific and dedicated systems. This results in higher acquisition and maintenance costs as compared with a single system. According to the present invention, a single system allows both fixed odds and pari-mutuel betting to be offered on a single system wherein the system effects a computer-implemented method of wagering, including: receiving, via a communications network, a wager from a customer in respect of a wagered event and a wagered product; storing the wager, in an electronic data store, and associating the wager with the wagered event, the wagered product and a customer account, wherein the computer system manages the electronic data store, having stored therein, a plurality of events, a plurality of products and a plurality of customers, all of which are independently defined.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a system, method and computer instruction code for wagering. Although not exclusively, the invention is particularly useful for implementing a “unified” wagering system. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The terms “gambling” and “betting” refer to a risking of something, typically money, with respect to the outcome of a future event. Typically, two or more people gamble on different outcomes of the event, and the winner, or winners, collect all, or a substantial portion of a prize pool. The event may be a sporting, racing, or political event, for example. The ratio between the risked amount and a return is typically referred to as “odds”. Typically, the odds of an outcome correlate with the likelihood of an outcome occurring. 
         [0003]    A horse for example, may have odds of 50 to 1 to win a particular race. If $1 is wagered on this outcome, the return is $50 in the event the horse wins the race. The likelihood of the horse winning is considered to be approximately 1/50. 
         [0004]    Betting is typically coordinated between gamblers by a third party entity. In horse racing, for example, this coordination has been traditionally satisfied by bookmakers at a race track. More recently, bookmakers have been replaced by larger companies offering gambling external to where an event occurs, sometimes via the Internet. 
         [0005]    There are a number of betting products on the market, some specific to a type of event, others more generic. For example, a trifecta is a betting product where an outcome is the horses, for example, that finish in first, second and third places. Another, more generic betting product, is simply betting on a win for a horse, team, or political party, for example. 
         [0006]    Another category of betting products relates to the calculation of odds. These forms include “pari-mutuel” betting and “fixed odds” betting. 
         [0007]    Pari-mutuel betting is a form of betting in which the odds are not known to a gambler when placing a bet. The odds are determined after new bets are no longer allowed. The odds change as bets are placed on an event. In other words, the odds are dependent upon the other bets in the pool as the total pool is split among the winners. In pari-mutuel betting, the bookmaker has no risk as the betters are effectively betting against each other with the winners sharing the combined pool. 
         [0008]    Fixed-odd betting is a form of betting where the odds are known to a better when placing a bet. The bookmaker chooses the odds for the event. These odds may be continually updated, but a gambler is provided the odds offered at the time the bet is placed, irrespective of any later changes. The bookmaker may base the odds upon previous bets, his own knowledge and/or other factors. 
         [0009]    Modern gambling has generally moved from the traditional bookmakers to larger companies running complex information technology systems. Services are often provided directly over the Internet, or via communications means to a number of smaller outlets. As these systems are typically large, the odds provided/offered are typically accurate. 
         [0010]    A disadvantage of the above described prior art systems is that separate systems are required for different betting products. For example, fixed-odd and pari-mutuel betting, if both offered by a betting provider, are provided by specific and dedicated systems. This results in higher acquisition and maintenance costs as compared with a single system as multiple systems must be purchased, developed and maintained. The ongoing additional cost of maintaining numerous systems is considerable and represents a significant cost to a business offering both fixed odds and pari-mutuel betting products. 
         [0011]    A further disadvantage of known systems is that they are not easily extensible to allow for the addition of new products. Products and the events to which a product refers, are inseparable in known systems. Thus the addition of a new product requires substantial system modification which usually incurs a significant cost in the form of high skilled labour costs to attend to any requisite modifications. 
         [0012]    Therefore, there is a need to overcome or alleviate one or more of the above identified problems associated with known wagering systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    According to one aspect, the present invention provides a computer-implemented method of wagering, wherein a computer system manages an electronic data store, having stored therein, a plurality of events, a plurality of products and a plurality of customer accounts, all of which are independently defined, the method including: receiving, via a communications network, a wager from a customer in respect of an event of the plurality of events, a product of the plurality of products and a customer account of the plurality of customer accounts; and storing the wager, in the electronic data store, and associating the wager with the event, the product and the customer account. 
         [0014]    By independently defining various entities such as events, products and customer accounts, the system and method of the present invention can record and manage any type of wager including pari-mutuel and fixed odds. Effectively, the method and system of the present invention is configured to treat the wager as the primary entity with relationships between the wager and other entities, such as specific products and the customer account, being formed according to the particular circumstances of the wager. Adopting this approach allows a unified wagering system to be established that accommodates a range of different types of betting including pari-mutuel and fixed odds wagering. 
         [0015]    According to an embodiment, the computer-implemented method of wagering further includes receiving, via a communications network, information relating to an outcome of the event; determining, on a computer processor, an outcome of the wager; and transmitting, via a communications network, the outcome of the wager. 
         [0016]    According to another embodiment, the computer-implemented method of wagering further includes receiving, via a communications network, a request for event information from the customer; selecting, on a computer processor, and retrieving, from the data store, one or more events; and transmitting, via a communications network, an event list including information relating to the one or more events, to the customer; wherein the event is an event of the one or more events in the event list. 
         [0017]    The request and the wager may be received from the customer via a channel, the channel including one of a purpose built kiosk, a computer application, and a browser based application. 
         [0018]    The one or more events may be selected according to at least one of customer or account preference, jurisdiction and location. Additionally, or alternatively, the event list is sorted according to at least one of customer or account preference, jurisdiction and location. 
         [0019]    According to another embodiment, the computer-implemented method of wagering further includes: retrieving, from the data store, a plurality products; and associating each of the one or more events with one or more products of the plurality of products. 
         [0020]    The one or more products associated with each event may be included in the event list. Alternatively, links to the one or more products associated with each event may be included in the event list. 
         [0021]    The plurality of products may include fixed odds and pari-mutuel products. 
         [0022]    According to another aspect, the present invention provides a computer system including: a database for maintaining data associated with at least one event, a plurality of products, and at least one customer account, wherein the at least one event and the at least one customer account are stored independently to the plurality of products; and a computer coupled to the database, wherein the computer includes a processor and a memory, the processor and memory configured to: generate, based upon input from a customer associated with a customer account of the at least one customer account, records pertaining to a betting instance including the at least one event, a product from the plurality of products, and the customer account; wherein the plurality of products includes pari-mutuel and fixed odds products. 
         [0023]    According to an embodiment, the processor and memory are additionally configured to: retrieve information relating to the at least one event from the database; and associate the at least one event with one or more of the plurality of products. 
         [0024]    According to yet another aspect, the present invention provides a computer implemented wagering system, the wagering system including: an event module for storing a plurality of events; a product catalogue module for storing a plurality of products, the plurality of products including at least pari-mutuel and fixed odds products; a customer data module for storing customer account data for a plurality of customers; and a betting instance module, for generating betting instances, the betting instances including an association to an event from the event module, to a product from the product catalogue module, and to a customer account from the customer data module. 
         [0025]    The event module may include, for each of the plurality of events at least one contestant, and the betting instance module an association to a contestant from the event module. 
         [0026]    The customer data module may include, for a customer, a plurality of accounts, and the betting instance module includes an association between the customer and an account of the plurality of accounts. 
         [0027]    According to an embodiment, the computer implemented wagering system further includes an event-product rule module, which includes rules relating to which products from the plurality of products may be associated with an event. 
         [0028]    According to another embodiment, the computer implemented wagering system further includes an account-event rule module, which includes rules relating to which events from the plurality of events may be associated with a customer account. 
         [0029]    The computer implemented wagering system may include a channel module, for storing information relating to a plurality of channels. The system may include a customer account-channel rule module, which includes rules relating to which channels from the plurality of channels a customer account has access. 
         [0030]    The computer implemented wagering system may include a product-channel rule module, which includes rules relating to which channels from the plurality of channels a product is available. 
         [0031]    The computer implemented wagering system may include an event channel rule module, which includes rules relating to which channels from the plurality of channels an event is available. 
         [0032]    According to another aspect, the invention provides a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium including software code adapted, when executed on a data processing apparatus, to provide a method of wagering as described above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    To assist in understanding the invention and to enable a person skilled in the art to put the invention into practical effect, embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of a computer system, with which the present invention may be implemented; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of a unified wagering system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  illustrates a wagering system, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of a method of wagering, from the view of a computer system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic illustration of a method of wagering, from the view of a computer system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic illustration of a wagering system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic illustration of a database, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of an event list, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0042]      FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic illustration of a wagering system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0043]    Skilled readers will appreciate that minor deviations from the layout of components as illustrated in the drawings will not detract from the proper functioning of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0044]    Embodiments of the present invention include a wagering system, method and computer software. Elements of the invention are illustrated in concise outline form in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are necessary for understanding the embodiments of the present invention, but so as not to clutter the disclosure with excessive detail that will be obvious to a skilled reader. 
         [0045]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of a computer system  100 , with which the present invention may be implemented. 
         [0046]    The computer system  100  includes a central processor  102 , a system memory  104  and a system bus  106  that couples various system components including the system memory  104  to the central processor  102 . The system bus  106  may be any of several types of bus structure including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The structure of system memory  104  is well known to those skilled in the relevant field of technology and may include a basic input/output system (BIOS) stored in a read only memory (ROM) and one or more program modules such as operating systems, application programs and program data stored in random access memory (RAM). 
         [0047]    The computer system  100  may also include a variety of interface units and drives for reading and writing data. In particular, the computer system  100  includes a hard disk interface  108  and a removable memory interface  110  respectively coupling a hard disk drive  112  and a removable memory drive  114  to system bus  106 . Examples of removable memory drives  114  include magnetic disk drives and optical disk drives. The drives and their associated computer-readable media, such as a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)  116  provide non-volatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer system  100 . A single hard disk drive  112  and a single removable memory drive  114  are shown for illustration purposes only and with the understanding that the computer system  100  may include several of such drives. Furthermore, the computer system  100  may include drives for interfacing with other types of computer readable media. 
         [0048]    The computer system  100  may include additional interfaces for connecting devices to system bus  106 .  FIG. 1  shows a universal serial bus (USB) interface  118  which may be used to couple a device to the system bus  106 . An IEEE 1394 interface  120  may be used to couple additional devices to the computer system  100 . 
         [0049]    The computer system  100  can operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers or other devices, such as a server, a router, a network personal computer, a peer device or other common network node, a wireless telephone or wireless personal digital assistant. The computer  100  includes a network interface  122  that couples system bus  106  to a local area network (LAN)  124 . Networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks and home computer systems. 
         [0050]    A wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet, can also be accessed by the computer system  100 , for example via a modem unit connected to serial port interface  126  or via the LAN  124 . 
         [0051]    It will be appreciated that the network connections shown and described are exemplary and other ways of establishing a communications link between the computers can be used. The existence of any of various well-known protocols, such as Frame Relay, Ethernet, TCP/IP, FTP, HTTP and the like, is presumed, and the computer system  100  can be operated in a client-server configuration to permit a user to retrieve web pages from a web-based server. Furthermore, any of various conventional web browsers can be used to display and manipulate data on web pages. 
         [0052]    The operation of the computer system  100  can be controlled by a variety of different program modules. Examples of program modules are routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The present invention may also be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, mainframe computers, personal digital assistants and the like. Furthermore, the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. 
         [0053]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of a unified wagering system  200  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0054]    A customer interacts with the system  200  through a channel  204  connected to the system  200 . The channel  204  allows the customer to access his or her account  206  and to place a bet on an event  208 . Examples of channels  204  include a mobile phone, a kiosk located at a betting location, and a web browser running on a computer. 
         [0055]    The account may, for example, include customer preferences, customer jurisdiction, or other details of the customer. The customer may obtain access to his or her account through an authorization module that authorises the credentials of the customer. Examples of credentials include a username, password, smart card or digital certificate. Authorization modules and authentication are well known in the art. 
         [0056]    Each customer may be associated with one or more accounts. If a customer is associated with more than one account, the authorization module may also select an account based upon credentials, for example. 
         [0057]    After authentication, the customer may view an event  208  to which a bet can be placed. Rather than a single event  208 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of events  208  are typically offered for betting. The plurality of events  208  may be filtered based upon preferences of the customer, a location, the channel used, account preferences, account jurisdiction, or by other means. The events  208  are advantageously sorted, for example by event date or alphabetically. 
         [0058]    The system  200  includes a plurality of products  210 . Examples of products  210  include betting on a win, a place, quinella, trifecta, etc. The plurality of product  210  includes both fixed odds and pari-mutuel (variable odds) products. 
         [0059]    Each event  208  is matched with a product  210  or a plurality of products  210  that are allowed for that event. For example, a sports match may allow betting on a win, but not a place. The products  210  available for an event  208  may advantageously change over time. For example, for sporting events, certain products  210  may be made available after the event  208  has begun. 
         [0060]    The customer may then select to gamble an amount of money on an outcome of an event  208 . A bet instance  212  is generated including a product instance, an event instance, and a customer/account instance. 
         [0061]    The products  210 , the events  208  and the accounts  206  are stored in a database. The products  210 , the events  208  and the accounts  206  are stored separately in the database. In other words, the products  210  are defined independently from the events  208  and accounts  206 , and the events  208  are defined independently from the accounts  206 . 
         [0062]    The database is designed using an object oriented approach, which includes product objects, event objects and customer objects. The product object allows for the inclusion of both fixed odds and Pari-mutuel (variable odds) products. 
         [0063]    The independent definitions, especially of the events  208  and products  210 , allows for new products to easily be defined. Additionally, multiple products  210  for a single event  208  are easily added to the system without a large amount of redundancy. 
         [0064]      FIG. 3  illustrates a wagering system  300 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The system  300  includes an account module  302 , an event module  304 , a product module  306 , and a channel module  308 . Each of the modules  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308  defines the data structures of the system  300 . The system  300  additionally includes a betting instance module  384  which includes instances of the data structures of the modules  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 . 
         [0065]    The account module  302  specifies fields or parameters of an account. The account module  302  includes an account type  310 . The account type  310  is associated with a jurisdiction  312  and a tier  314 . Examples of jurisdictions  312  include country (e.g. Australia) and state (e.g. New South Wales, NSW). Examples of tiers  314  include Bronze, Silver and Platinum and indicate a membership status of the account. The account type  310  is associated with one or more account specifications  316  which include a blackbook  318  and one or more preferences  320 . 
         [0066]    The account module  302  includes a customer type  322 . The customer type is associated with one or more customer specifications  324 , an affiliate  326 , a third party  328  and a physical person  330 . 
         [0067]    The account module  302  is connected to the event module  304 . An event type  332  of the event module  304  is connected to the account type  310  of the account module  302  via an account-event rule configuration  342 . 
         [0068]    The account-event rule configuration  342  may specify rules which govern whether an account has access to an event. For example, premium events, such as pay per view boxing, may only be available to Platinum members. Additionally, certain events may be illegal to gamble on in certain jurisdictions. 
         [0069]    The event type  332  provides information about an event through a categorisation. Examples of event types  332  include race, match, game, round and fight. The event type  332  may be associated with event specifications  334 . The event type  332  is associated with a contestant type  338  through one or more event-contestant rule configurations  336 . A contestant type  338  may be, for example, a team, a player, or a horse. The contestant type  338  may be associated with contestant specifications  340 . 
         [0070]    The event module  304  is connected to the product module  306 . A product type  344  of the product module  306  is connected to the event type  332  of the event module  304 , through an event-product rule configuration  346 . The event-product rule configuration  346  may specify products types  344  that are compatible with an event type  332 . This may include, for example, that a trifecta product, i.e. first, second and third placing in a race, may only relate to horse or greyhound racing events, and not to other events such as sporting matches. 
         [0071]    The product module  306  may include product bundles  348  associated with a product type  344 , and product specifications  350 . The product specifications  350  includes the type of odds offered for a product, including fixed odds and pari-mutuel (variable) odds. 
         [0072]    The event module  304 , the product module  306 , and the account module  302  are connected to the channel module  308 . The channel module provides information regarding access to the wagering system  300 , through device descriptions, for example. 
         [0073]    A channel type  352  of the channel module is connected to the product type  344  of the product module  306  via a product-channel rule configuration  354 . The product-channel rule configuration  354  may specify a channel type  352  that is available for a certain product type  344 . For example, a live odds product may only be available via the Internet. 
         [0074]    The channel type  352  of the channel module is connected to the event type  332  of the event module  304  via a channel-event rule configuration  356 . The channel-event rule configuration  356  may specify a channel type  352  over which an event type  332  is available. For example, a local horse race event type may only have products available via a local outlet. 
         [0075]    The channel type  352  of the channel module  308  is connected to the account type  310  of the account module  302  via an account-channel rule configuration  358 . The account-channel rule configuration  358  may specify a channel type  352  that is available to an account type  310 . For example, gambling via the internet may not be available to certain account types  310  depending on their jurisdiction  312 , for example. 
         [0076]    The channel module  308  may include channel specifications  360  associated with a channel type  352 . Additionally, a device type  364  may be associated with a channel type  352  via a channel-device rule configuration  362 . The device type  364  may also have associated device specifications  366 . 
         [0077]    The betting instance module  384  is central to the system  300 , and includes instances of each of the major features described above that are associated with a bet. A customer instance  368  is associated with a customer type  322 , an account instance  370  is associated with an account type  310 , a product instance  376  is associated with a product type  344 , an event instance  374  is associated with an event type  332 , and a contestant instance  372  is associated with a contestant type  338 . 
         [0078]    The customer instance  368  is associated with one or more account instances  370 . One or more contestant instances  372  are associated with a product instance  376 , and an event instance  374  is associated with a product instance  376 . The betting instance module  384  additionally includes an event result  378  associated with the event instance  374 . Additionally, a dividend and prices  380  are associated with a product instance  376 . 
         [0079]    The account instance  370  and the product instance  376 , along with their associated data as described above, together make a ‘bet ticket’  382 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of a method of wagering  400 , from the view of a computer system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0081]    The computer system manages an electronic data store. The electronic data store has a plurality of events, a plurality of products and a plurality of customer accounts stored thereon, all of which are independently defined. 
         [0082]    At step  405 , a wager is received, via a communications network and from a customer, in respect of a wagered event and a wagered product. 
         [0083]    The communications network may, for example, include the Internet, but as will be readily understood by a skilled reader, any suitable communications network may be used. 
         [0084]    The wager may include explicit reference to an event, a product, an outcome, and an account, for example. Alternatively, the wager may include an identifier associated with wager details known by the system. This may include a ‘favourite’ wager type, a suggested wager, or a response to a list of predetermined wagers, for example. 
         [0085]    At step  410 , the wager is stored in the electronic data store. The wager is associated with the wagered event, the wagered product and the customer. 
         [0086]    The wagered product, the wagered event and the customer are stored in a database as instances of a product definition, an event definition and a customer definition. The products are thus defined independently from the events and the customers, and the events are defined independently from the customers, through their separate definitions. 
         [0087]      FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic illustration of a method of wagering  500 , from the view of a computer system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0088]    The method of wagering  500  is similar to the method of wagering  400 , and includes a similar electronic data store. 
         [0089]    At step  505 , a request for event information is received, via a communications network, from a customer. The request may include requesting a web page containing the event information, or any other suitable form of data request. 
         [0090]    At step  510 , one or more events are selected, on a computer processor, and retrieved from the data store. The one or more events may be selected based upon a location of a customer, a preference of the customer, a jurisdiction of the customer, or based upon any other suitable parameter. 
         [0091]    At step  515 , an event list, including the one or more events from step  510 , is transmitted, via a communications network, to the customer. The event list may include a web page, or raw data to be presented by an application. 
         [0092]    The event list may include links to products which are available for each event. The event list may, for example, comprise a list of events with associated products. The products may be directly part of the event list, or accessible via one or more additional lists or pages. 
         [0093]    At step  520 , a wager is received, via a communications network and from the customer, in respect of a wagered event and a wagered product. 
         [0094]    The wager may be received as an identifier embedded in the event list, for example, or through explicit identification. 
         [0095]    At step  525 , the wager is stored in the electronic data store. The wager is associated with the wagered event, the wagered product and the customer. 
         [0096]    The wagered product, the wagered event and the customer are stored in a database as instances of a product definition, an event definition and a customer definition. The products are thus defined independently from the events and the customers, and the events are defined independently from the customers, through their separate definitions. 
         [0097]    At step  530 , information relating to an outcome of the event is received, via a communications network. The information may include a winning person, horse or team, for example, but may include further details such as a time, placements, a score, or similar information. 
         [0098]    At step  535 , an outcome of the wager is determined on a computer processor. 
         [0099]    The outcome may be determined using the outcome information  520  alone, or in combination with other information. The outcome may, for example, be calculated as a wagered amount multiplied by an odds of the outcome. The odds may be determined at the time the wager was placed, i.e. fixed odds betting, and stored in a data store associated with the wager. Alternatively, the odds may be determined when no further wagering is allowed for the event, e.g. pari-mutuel wagering, and stored in a data store associated with the event. 
         [0100]    At step  540 , the outcome of the wager is transmitted via the communications network. The outcome may be transmitted to the customer, possibly including information on how to redeem a winnings. The outcome may be transmitted to a gambling agent, or other person, which may handle payouts for the event. 
         [0101]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic illustration of a wagering system  600 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0102]    The wagering system includes a computer  605  and a database  610 . The database  610  may be part of the computer, or alternatively connected to the computer via a computer interface. 
         [0103]    The computer  600  includes a central processor  615  connected to a memory  620 . The memory includes a betting instance  625 . 
         [0104]    The database  610  includes an events table  630 , a products table  635  and a customers table  640 . The database  610  is accessible to the central processor  615  of the computer  605 . The database  610  may have an SQL query interface, or any other suitable interface. 
         [0105]    By independently defining events table  630 , a products table  635  and a customers table  640 , the system of the present invention can record and manage any type of wager including pari-mutuel and fixed odds, efficiently. 
         [0106]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic illustration of a database  700 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0107]    The database  700  includes an events table  705 , a products table  710  and a customers table  715 . 
         [0108]    The events entity  705  includes a plurality of entries  705   a - c , each entry  705   a - c  corresponding to an event. Each entry  705   a - c  may include fields identifying an event type, an event location, and event identifier, and an event date, for example. 
         [0109]    The products entity  710  includes a plurality of entries  710   a - c , each entry  710   a - c  corresponding to an event. Each entry  710   a - c  may include fields identifying an outcome that is being bet on, and a product type. 
         [0110]    The accounts entity  715  includes a plurality of entries  715   a - c , each entry  715   a - c  corresponding to a customer account. Each entry  715   a - c  may include fields identifying a name of the customer, and a jurisdiction. 
         [0111]    As will be readily understood by a person skilled in the art, the entries  705   a - c ,  715   a - c ,  720   a - c  may include more or fewer fields that those described above. For example, each entry may be associated with a unique key. 
         [0112]    The database  700  may additionally including betting instance information. The betting instance information is advantageously stored as a separate table which references the events table  705 , a products table  710  and a customers table  715 . 
         [0113]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of an event list  800 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0114]    The event list  800  includes a plurality of events identifiers  805   a - c , and each event identifier is associated with a plurality of betting product links  810   a - i.    
         [0115]    The plurality of event identifiers  805   a - c  is advantageously sorted according to user preferences, location or jurisdiction. 
         [0116]    The plurality of betting product links  810   a - i  include links to both pari-mutuel and fixed odds products. The plurality of betting product links  810   a - l  provide links specific to their associated event. For example, betting product link  810   c , linking to a fixed odd trifecta product, would not be suitable for the event associated with event identifier  805   c.    
         [0117]      FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic illustration of a wagering system  900 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0118]    The wagering system includes a wagering server  905  connected to a database  910 . The database may, for example, be the database  700  of  FIG. 7 , or any other suitable database. 
         [0119]    The wagering server is connected to a plurality of devices  915   a - c  via a communications network  920 . 
         [0120]    The plurality of devices  915   a - c  include a purpose built kiosk device  915   a , a personal computer  915   b  and a mobile device  915   c.    
         [0121]    The purpose built kiosk device  915   a  may be running an application on a computer processor, for example. The application may receive raw data via the communications network  920  which is displayed on a screen of the purpose built kiosk device  915   a.    
         [0122]    The personal computer  915   b  may provide access to the wagering system via a web browser, as will be readily understood by a person skilled in the art. 
         [0123]    The mobile device  915   c  may include a purpose built application, such as an application for an iPhone device, manufactured by Apple Computer Inc. California, USA, as is known in the area of technology. 
         [0124]    The above description of various embodiments of the present invention is provided for purposes of description to one of ordinary skill in the related art. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to a single disclosed embodiment. As mentioned above, numerous alternatives and variations to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, while some alternative embodiments have been discussed specifically, other embodiments will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this patent specification is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variations of the present invention that have been discussed herein, and other embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the above described invention.