Patent Abstract:
The disclosure includes generating a plurality of contests having the same number of contest entries per contest by: sorting a plurality of contest entries into a plurality of subsets based on number of entries per user account; and iteratively generating contests starting with a subset of the plurality of subsets based on number of contest entries per user account having the greatest number of contest entries and successively progressing to a subset of the plurality of subsets based on number of contest entries per user account having the smallest number of contest entries.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional of and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/351,497, filed Jun. 17, 2016, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes. This application is also related to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/350,075, filed Jun. 14, 2016, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In conventional fantasy sports games, players compete against others by building a team of professional athletes from a particular league or competition while remaining under a salary cap, and earn points based on the actual statistical performance of the players in real-world competitions. Daily fantasy sports are an accelerated variant of traditional fantasy sports that are conducted over short-term periods, such as a week or single day of competition, as opposed to those that are played across an entire season. Daily fantasy sports are typically structured in the form of paid competitions typically referred to as a “contest” where winners receive a share of a pre-determined pot funded by their entry fees. A portion of entry fee payments go to the provider as rake revenue. 
         [0003]    However, conventional fantasy sports systems often generate contests in a way where large-scale and more experienced players receive an unfair advantage. In view of the foregoing, a need exists for an improved fantasy sports system and method for generating equitable electronic contests based on the number of entries per user in an effort to overcome the aforementioned obstacles and deficiencies of conventional fantasy sports systems. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is an example diagram illustrating an embodiment of a sports contest generating system. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is an example flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method of generating a plurality of entry sets that include a plurality of contest entries sorted by number of contest entries per user. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is an example block diagram illustrating an embodiment of generating a plurality of entry sets that include a plurality of contest entries sorted by number of contest entries per user. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is an example flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method of generating a plurality of contests with contest entries from a plurality of contest entry sets. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is an example block diagram illustrating an example method of generating a first contest from contest entries of a first contest entry set, in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is an example block diagram illustrating an example method of generating a second contest from contest entries remaining in the first contest entry set of  FIG. 5  and from contest entries of a second entry set, in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is an example block diagram illustrating an example method of attempting to generate a third contest from contest entries remaining from the second entry set of  FIG. 6  and a third entry set, but rejecting the formation of the third contest due to there not being enough contest entries remaining in the second and third entry sets to fill all slots of the third contest. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is an example flow chart illustrating an example method of generating contests including remainder contests. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is an example block diagram illustrating an example method of generating a second contest from contest entries remaining in the first contest entry set of  FIG. 5 , in accordance with an alternative embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is an example block diagram illustrating an example method of attempting to generate a third contest from the second and third entry sets of  FIG. 3 , but failing because the second set does not include enough entries to completely fill the slots of a third contest. 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is an example block diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment where a matching method can be configured to make contests with all remaining sets, even if there are not enough entries to fill all open slots of a given contest. 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  is an example block diagram illustrating an example method of generating a second and third remainder contest from the second and third entry sets of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  is an example block diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment compared to  FIG. 3  of generating a plurality of entry sets that include a plurality of contest entries sorted by number of contest entries per user, with entries of some number being grouped into the same entry subset. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative purposes throughout the figures. It also should be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the preferred embodiments. The figures do not illustrate every aspect of the described embodiments and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Turning to  FIG. 1 , the matching system  100  is shown as comprising a first and second user device  110  and a matching server  130 , which are operably connected via a network  140 . Although the user devices  110 A,  110 B are shown as being a laptop computer and smartphone respectively, in further embodiments, any suitable device can serve as a user device  110  including a desktop computer, laptop computer, smart phone, tablet computer, gaming device, wearable computer, home automation system, vehicle computer, and the like. Additionally, in various embodiments, there can be any suitable plurality of user devices  110 . 
         [0019]    The matching server  130  can comprise any suitable server device, which can include one or more physical server, cloud computing service, or the like. The network  140  can comprise any suitable wired and/or wireless network including the Internet, a cellular network, a WiFi network, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Bluetooth network, and the like. 
         [0020]    In various embodiments, the matching system  100  can comprise a large plurality of user devices  110 , which can respectively be associated with one or more user account for a contest service, which in one preferred embodiment can comprise a daily fantasy sports contest service. A user can sign into a user account on a user device  110 , which can allow the user to make entries or the like, into various suitable contest events. The user device  110  can be configured for the user to provide payments, receive payments and the like, which can be done via a bank account, cryptographic currency, credit card, debit account, or the like. 
         [0021]    In one example, a user can generate one or more entries for a contest event (e.g., a daily fantasy sports contest event) and such entries can be associated with a user account. Accordingly, in various embodiments a plurality of users can respectively generate one or more entries into a given contest event. The following disclosure relates to computer implemented methods of receiving and sorting entries based on the number of entries per user profile and computer implemented methods of generating contests from a plurality of entries. For example, the methods described herein can be performed by the matching server  130 , with entries coming from various user devices  110  and contest payouts going to such user devices  110 . In various embodiments, any of the methods or steps of such methods can be performed automatically, without human interaction. 
         [0022]    For example,  FIG. 2  illustrates a method  200  of sorting a plurality of received entries based on the number of entries per user profile. The method  200  begins in block  210 , where a plurality of contest entries are received (e.g., from one or more user device  110 ), which are each associated with a user profile. In block  220 , the variable N is set to 1, and in block  230 , an Nth entry set having Nth entries from all user profiles with Nth entries is generated. Accordingly, where N=1, a 1st entry set is generated having 1st entries from all user profiles having 1st entries is generated. 
         [0023]    For example, referring to  FIG. 3 , a plurality of entries  301  can be received, which defines an entry pool  300 . In this specific example, there are 14 players or user accounts, which are defined as players A-N. In this specific example of  FIG. 3 , players A-D have each provided three entries  301  to the contest event, players E-G have each provided two entries  301  to the contest event and players H-N have each provided one entry  301  to the contest event. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 2  and using the example of  FIG. 3 , where N=1, in block  230 , a 1st entry set  310  is generated having 1st entries  301  from all user profiles having 1st entries  301 . More specifically, in the example of  FIG. 3 , players A-N each have at least a first entry  301  and each of these entries  301  becomes part of the first set  310  having all first entries  301 . In  FIG. 3 , this is illustrated by each of the entries  301  of the first set  310  being associated with a letter and a number. For example, entry A1 is the first entry  301  of Player A, entry B2 is the second entry  301  of Player B, and so forth. 
         [0025]    Returning to the method  200  of  FIG. 2 , in block  240 , the variable N is set to N+1 (i.e., set to the next integer), and in block  250 , a determination is made whether any user profiles have Nth entries. If so, the method  200  cycles back to block  230  where an Nth entry set having Nth entries from all user profiles with Nth entries is generated. Accordingly, following the example above, setting N to N+1 in block  240  results in N being set to 2, and where N=2, a 2nd entry set is generated having 2nd entries from all user profiles having 2nd entries. 
         [0026]    Again using  FIG. 3  as an example, where N is set to 2 and a second entry set  320  is being generated, second entries  301  from the Players of the entry pool  300  are included in this second entry set  320 . For example, Players A-D have a second entry  301 , and Players E-G also have a second entry  301 . Accordingly, the second entry set  320  comprises second entries  301  from players A-G signified by the seven entries A2-G2. 
         [0027]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , the method  200  continues again to block  240 , where the variable N is set to N+1 (i.e., set to the next integer), and in block  250 , a determination is made whether any user profiles have Nth entries. If so, the method  200  cycles back to block  230  where an Nth entry set having Nth entries from all user profiles with Nth entries is generated. Accordingly, following the example above, setting N to N+1 in block  240  results in N being set to 3, and where N=3, a 3rd entry set is generated having 3rd entries from all user profiles having 3rd entries. 
         [0028]    Again using  FIG. 3  as an example, where N is set to 3, and a third entry set  330  is being generated, third entries  301  from the Players of the entry pool  300  are included in this third entry set  330 . For example, Players A-D have a third entry  301 , but Players E-G and H-N do not have a third entry  301 . Accordingly, the third entry set  330  comprises third entries  301  from players A-D signified by the four entries A3-D3. 
         [0029]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , the method  200  again continues to block  240 , where the variable N is set to N+1 (i.e., set to the next integer), and in block  250 , a determination is made whether any user profiles have Nth entries. If not, the method  200  is done in block  299 . Again using  FIG. 3  as an example, where N is set to 4, a determination is made whether any users have a 4th entry, and in this example, none of Players A-N in the entry pool  300  have a fourth entry  301 , so no further entry sets are created in this example. 
         [0030]    Although  FIG. 3  illustrates an example, where fourteen players have between one and three entries  301 , this should not be construed to be limiting on the wide variety of entry pools  300  that are within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. For example, in further embodiments there can be any suitable plurality of Players and any suitable number of entries, with each Player or user profile being associated with any suitable number of entries. In one example, there can be millions of Players in a contest entry pool  300  with such players being associated with a number of entries in the range of one and one million. 
         [0031]    In various embodiments, entries  301  of a contest entry pool  300  can be separated into a plurality of separate contests, with each contest having one or more entries  301 . In various embodiments, it can be desirable to separate entries  301  based on the number of entries per user profile. For example, professional players may have a large number of entries  301 , which can number in the tens or hundreds of entries  301 , whereas amateur players may have a smaller number of entries  301  or only one entry  301 . In an effort to make it less likely that amateur players will be grouped into a contest with entries of many professional players, it can be desirable to generate contests based on the number of entries that user profiles are associated with. In some embodiments, such a grouping can make the contests more fair or level the playing field for the amateur players. 
         [0032]    For example,  FIGS. 4-13  illustrate example methods, or steps thereof, of generating contests based on the number of entries that a given user profile is associated with. Turning to  FIG. 4 , a first example method  400  of generating contests begins in block  405 , where a number of entries per contest is defined, with this variable being X. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7  first, second and third contests  510 ,  620 ,  730  can comprise ten entry slots  501 , which can be filled by selected entries  301  as discussed herein. 
         [0033]    Returning to  FIG. 4 , the method continues to block  200 , where a plurality of entries are received and sorted based on the number of entries per user profile as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . However, in further embodiments, any suitable sorting method can be used and the examples of  FIGS. 2 and 3  should not be construed to be limiting on the present disclosure. Returning to  FIG. 4 , the method  400  continues to block  415 , where variable N is set to 1 and variable C is set to 1, and in block  420 , a determination is made whether X entries are available in the Nth entry set, and if so, in block  425  a Cth contest is generated by selecting X entries from the Nth entry set. In the case where N=1, C=1 and X=10, a determination is made whether ten entries are available in the 1st set, and if so, in block  425  a 1st contest is generated by selecting ten entries from the 1st entry set. 
         [0034]    For example, using  FIGS. 3 and 5  as an illustration, a first entry set  310  can include fourteen first entries  301  from Players A-N, and in this case, ten entries  301  are available in the first entry set  310  at this point because fourteen entries are available. Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , ten entries  301  from the first entry set  310  are used to generate a first contest  510  and fill the ten slots  501  available in the first contest  510 . In the example of  FIG. 5 , entries A1, C1, D1, E1, F1, G1, I1, K1, M1 and N1 are selected for the first contest  510 , leaving entries B1, H1, J1 and L1 available in the first set  310 . 
         [0035]    In this example, and many of the examples that follow, selection of entries  301  to fill slots  501  in a contest is shown as being done randomly; however, in further embodiments, any suitable selection method can be used, including selection of the first X entries, selection of the last X entries, selecting X entries from every even entry, selecting X entries from every odd entry, or the like. In some embodiments, selection can be based on a time stamp associated with entries  301 , a skill level associated with a user profile associated with the entry, or the like. Such a skill level can be based on past performance of the user profile in past contests or events. 
         [0036]    Returning to  FIG. 4 , once a Cth contest is generated by selecting X entries from the Nth entry set in block  425 , the method  400  continues to block  430 , where variable C is set to C+1, (i.e., C is incremented to the next integer). The method  400  then cycles back to block  420  where a determination is made whether X entries are available in the Nth entry set. If not, the method continues to block  435  where a determination is made whether X total entries are available in sets {Qε         /Q≧N}, where           is the set of integers. In other words, a determination is made whether there are X total entries available in the current Nth set and any additional sets (e.g., sets N+1, N+2, N+3, N+4, N+5 and so forth if such sets exist). If so, the method  400  continues to block  440  where a Cth contest is generated by selecting X entries from the {Qε         |Q≧N} sets. 
         [0037]    For example, using  FIGS. 3, 5 and 6  as an illustration, where four entries B1, H1, J1 and L1 remain available in the first entry set  310 , a determination can be made whether at least ten entries are available in the first entry set  310  and any subsequent entry sets, which in this example includes the second and third entry sets  320 ,  330 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , seven entries remain available in the second set  320 , and four entries remain available in the first set  310 , so there are at least ten entries  301  available in at least the first and second sets  310 ,  320  combined (in fact there, are eleven entries available in the first and second sets  310 ,  320  combined in this example). 
         [0038]    Accordingly, where C has been incremented to 2, a second contest  620  is generated where ten entries  301  from the first and second entry set  310 ,  320  are selected (from the eleven available in the first and second sets  310 ,  320 ) to fill the ten slots  501  available in the second contest  620 . In this example, entries B1, H1, J1, L1, A2, C2, D2, E2, F2 and G2 have been selected to fill the ten available slots  501  of the second contest  620 , leaving the first entry set  310  empty and leaving only entry B2 in the second entry set  320 . 
         [0039]    Various embodiments can therefore be configured to select additional entries as required from the {Qε         |Q≧N} sets, such as giving priority to earlier sets (smaller N) and using up all of an entry set&#39;s potential entries prior to moving on to the next entry set. In other words, in various embodiments the system can always empty the smallest entry set prior to moving on to the next entry set. Additionally, further embodiments can guarantee that a given user gets into a contest with their first entry. For example, in some embodiments, all entries  301  of the first entry set  310  must be included in a contest, regardless of whether such contests are full contests or remainder contests. In other words, some embodiments can be configured such that no first user entries are voided or canceled, as discussed herein. 
         [0040]    Although  FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a selection method that includes randomly selecting entries  301  in the first set  310 , and then randomly selecting entries  301  in only the first and second set  310 ,  320  when there are less than ten entries  301  remaining in the first set  310 , other suitable selection methods can be implemented in further embodiments. In one embodiment, entries  301  can be randomly selected from one or more selected entry sets without emptying the partially filled sets first. For example, entries  301  from the first, second and third sets  310 ,  320 ,  330  can be randomly selected where the first set  310  is partially full and the second and third sets  320 ,  330  are completely full. Additionally, in further embodiments, selection of entries  301  from entry sets need not be random and can be done in any suitable non-random way. For example, entries can be sequentially selected from sets, with selection alternating between sets or emptying partially filled sets before moving to full sets. 
         [0041]    Returning to the method  400  of  FIG. 4 , after a Cth contest is generated by selecting X entries from the {Qε         |Q≧N} sets in block  440 , the method  400  continues to block  445  where variable N is set to the closest set to N with remaining available entries. For example, in the example of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the first set  310  is empty after generating the second contest  620  and therefore in this case N would be set to 2 because one entry remains in the second set  220 . The method  400  continues to block  430 , where variable C is set to C+1 and continues to block  420 , which is discussed above. 
         [0042]    Returning to block  435 , if X total entries are not available in sets {Qε         |Q≧N} then the method  400  continues to block  450  where all remaining entries are voided. For example, voiding such entries can include canceling the entry and providing an entry refund, if any, to the user account associated with the entry. 
         [0043]    For example, using  FIGS. 3 and 5-7  as an illustration, where first and second contests  510 ,  620  have been filled with entries  301  as described, the second set  320  has one entry B2 remaining and the third set  330  has four entries A3, B3, C3 and D3 remaining, which makes a total of five entries remaining. Where X=10 in this example and a determination is made that X total entries are not available in sets {Qε         |Q≧N} (i.e., remaining entry sets  320 ,  330 ), then as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , all remaining entries  301  in the second and third entry sets  320 ,  330  can be voided and a third contest  730  is not created. In other words, because ten entries  10  are not available in remaining sets, the third contest  730  cannot be created and leftover entries are voided. 
         [0044]    Accordingly, the method  400  of  FIG. 4  can be configured to generate a plurality of contests that only have X entries. Although ten entries is an example used herein for a value of X or the size of a set, in further embodiments, contests can be of any suitable size, which may be the same or variable among contests. For example, in some embodiments, contests of less than X entries can be generated in certain situations.  FIGS. 8-12  illustrate examples of such embodiments. 
         [0045]    Turning to  FIG. 8 , a second example method  800  of generating contests begins in block  805 , where a number of entries per contest is defined, with this variable being X. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 9 and 10  first, second and third contests  510 ,  920 ,  1030  can comprise ten entry slots  501 , which can be filled by selected entries  301  as discussed herein. 
         [0046]    Returning to  FIG. 8 , the method  800  continues to block  200 , where a plurality of entries are received and sorted based on the number of entries per user profile as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The method  800  continues to block  815 , where variable N is set to 1 and variable C is set to 1, and in block  820 , a determination is made whether X entries are available in the Nth entry set, and if so, in block  825  a Cth contest is generated by selecting X entries from the Nth entry set. In the case where N=1, C=1 and X=10, a determination is made whether ten entries are available in the 1st set, and if so, in block  825  a 1st contest is generated by selecting ten entries from the 1st entry set (e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0047]    In block  830 , variable C is set to C+1 (i.e., incremented to the next integer), and in block  835 , a determination is made whether X entries are available in the Nth set. If so, the method  800  cycles back to block  825  where a Cth contest is generated by selecting X entries from the Nth entry set. In other words, where a given entry set includes sufficient entries, a plurality of successive contests can be generated from the entries in that same set. 
         [0048]    However, where X entries are not available in the Nth set, then a determination is made in block  840  whether the Nth set is empty, and if not, a Cth remainder contest is generated that includes the remainder entries from the Nth set. Using  FIGS. 3, 5 and 9  as an example, where a first contest  510  has been generated using entries  301  from a first entry set  310  and there are not enough entries  301  to fill all slots  501  of a second contest  920 , then the second contest  920  can be a remainder contest where remainder entries  301  from the first entry set  310  fill available slots  501  in the second contest  920  and unfilled remainder slots  501  are subsequently left or generated in the second contest  920 . 
         [0049]    Returning to the method  800 , after a Cth contest is generated by selecting X entries from the Nth entry set in block  845  or where a determination is made that the Nth set is empty in block  840 , the method  800  continues to block  850 , where variable N is set to N+1 and to block  855  where variable C is set to C+1. The method  800  then cycles back to block  820 , where a determination is made whether X entries are available in the Nth set, and if not, then all remaining entries are voided in block  860 . 
         [0050]    For example, using  FIGS. 3, 5, 9 and 10  as an illustration, where a first contest  510  having ten entries is generated ( FIG. 5 ) and a second remainder contest  920  is generated having four entries  301  that remained in the first entry set  310 , the remaining entries  301  in the remaining sets can be voided as shown in  FIG. 10  because the second set  320  does not include enough entries to completely fill the slots  501  of a third contest  1030 . 
         [0051]    However, in an alternative embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , a method  1100  can be configured to make contests with all remaining sets, even if there are not enough entries  301  to fill all open slots of a given contest. For example, presume that blocks  1105 ,  200 ,  1115 ,  1120 ,  1125 ,  1130 ,  1135 ,  1140  and  1145  of  FIG. 11  are respectively analogous to blocks  805 ,  200 ,  815 ,  820 ,  825 ,  830 ,  835 ,  840  and  845  of  FIG. 8 . 
         [0052]    After a Cth contest is generated by selecting X entries from the Nth entry set in block  1145  or where a determination is made that the Nth set is empty in block  1140 , the method  1100  continues to block  1150 , where a determination is made whether any sets are remaining, and if not, the method is done in block  1199 . However, where sets are remaining, the method  1100  continues to block  1155  where variable N is set to N+1 and to block  1160  where variable C is set to C+1. The method  1100  then cycles back to block  1120 , where a determination is made whether X entries are available in the Nth set, and if not, then the method  1100  continues to block  1145  where a Cth contest is generated by selecting X entries from the Nth entry set. 
         [0053]    For example, using  FIGS. 3, 5, 9 and 12  as an illustration, after a first and second contest  510 ,  920  are generated from the first entry set  310 , a third and fourth contest  1230 ,  1240  are generated from the second and third entry sets  320 ,  330  because each of the second and third entry sets do not comprise ten entries to fill the available slots  501  of a further contest. In other words, new contests are generated from a given entry set until a remainder set is created or until the entry set is empty. This continues until all entry sets are gone and all entries  301  have been assigned to a contest. 
         [0054]    In some embodiments, where remainder contests are present within a tournament or contest event, some contests can be resized to spread discrepancies or empty slots  501  among more than one contest. For example, where three contests are generated with two of the contests having ten users and one contest having one user, these three contests could be resized to generate three contests with seven entries  301  and seven entry slots  501  each. Such resizing can be done in any suitable way. 
         [0055]    As discussed herein, contests can have a defined number of slots  501 , and such slots  501  may or may not be completely filled with entries  301  in accordance with various embodiments. In other words, some embodiments provide for remainder contests, where fewer than all available slots  501  are filled and some embodiments only provide for contests where all slots  501  available in a contest are filled. Contest payout structures can be done is various suitable ways. For example, in one embodiment, where a given contest has ten entries  301  and each entry  301  provides a $5 entry fee, the total pool for the contest would be $50. One example payout for the contest could be $20 to the first place entry; $15 to the second place entry; $10 to the third place entry; and $0 to the fourth-tenth place entries, with $5 going to the “house” or the organization that organizes the contest event and one or more contests of a contest event. 
         [0056]    However this structure should only be construed to be one example of many possible entry fee and payout structures possible. For example, in some embodiments entries  301  of a contest can be associated with any suitable entry fee, including but not limited to $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $1000, $10,000 and the like. In various embodiments, all entry fees of entries  301  of a given contest of a contest event can be the same. However, in some embodiments, entry fees of entries  301  of a given contest of a contest event can be different. Similarly, contests of a contest event may or may not have the same entry fee value for entries  301  of respective contests. 
         [0057]    Additionally, various other suitable payout structures can be implemented. For example, the first place winner can win all of the money available in the contest pool for a given contest. In another example, all players of the contest can win an amount, which can be proportional to their rank. In other words, the first place entry wins more than the tenth place entry. In various embodiments, payout to the players associated with entries of a contest may or may not be less a “rake” or portion of the contest pool that goes to the organizer of the contest event. As illustrated in the example above, $5 can be removed from the contest pool and the remainder can be split among the first, second and third place entries  301 . In further embodiments, a fee or rake can be paid to the house in various other suitable ways. 
         [0058]    In some embodiments, where a contest event includes remainder contests where all available slots  501  of one or more contest are not filled, it can be desirable to normalize such contests so that remainder contests have the same payout outcome as non-remainder contests. In other words, it can be desirable to setup remainder and non-remainder contests so that entries  301  in either type of contest do not have a payout advantage or disadvantage. This can be desirable so that remainder and non-remainder contests are treated fairly. 
         [0059]    Normalizing remainder and non-remainder contests can be done in various suitable ways. For example, in one embodiment, where a full contest has ten entries  301 , for remainder contests, prize money can be added to the contest pool of the remainder contest so that payout is the same for winners of both remainder and non-remainder contests. For example, using the example above where the first place winner gets $20, if a remainder contest only has one person with an entry fee of $5, then $15 could be added to the prize pool so that $20 of first place prize money can be provided to the entry of this remainder contest. In another example, $40 could be added to the prize pool so that first, second and third place prize money could be awarded to the entry. 
         [0060]    As discussed herein, in some examples, entries  301  may not be matched in a contest in some contest events or tournaments and such entries  301  can be voided. Voiding entries can result in a refund of the entry fee or in some examples can result in a refund of the entry fee plus an additional compensation, which may or may not include a monetary compensation. 
         [0061]    In some embodiments, there can be a plurality of different tournaments in a given day or associated with a given sporting event, with each having a different defined entry fee. For example, a first tournament can have $1 entry fees, whereas a second tournament can have $10 entry fees. In some embodiments, users can be limited to a number of buy-in levels for a defined time period. For example, in one embodiment, each user account may only make entries in only one buy-in level per day. Such an embodiment can be desirable so that professional or more experienced users are prevented from flooding low buy-in tournaments. 
         [0062]    Further embodiments can include separate lobbies for different types of contests. For example a “Rookie” lobby can include contests having $1-$5 entry fees and a “Veteran” lobby can include contests having $10+ entry fees. Users can be limited in their ability to participate in contents in some examples based upon a sport type, sports league, lobby, time period, or the like. For example, in some embodiments, a user can only enter contests in one lobby or the other on a given day in a given sport. Using the example above including Rookie and Veteran lobbies, in some examples, a user could play Rookie NBA contests and Veteran NHL contests on the same day; however, the user would not be able to play both Rookie and Veteran NBA contents on the same day, nor would the user be able to play both Rookie and Veteran NHL contents on the same day. Such embodiments can be desirable so that professional or more experienced users are prevented from flooding low buy-in tournaments. 
         [0063]    Accordingly, when receiving a selection from a user to enter a given contest, a determination can be made whether the user has already entered other contests for a given time period (e.g., for a given day, week, month, or the like), and if so, a determination can be made whether the new entry selection conflicts with the contest entries that the user has already entered for the given time period. If a conflict exists, then the user can be denied the new contest entry. For example, if a user had already entered a Rookie NFL contest and a Veteran MLB content for a given day, the user would be denied entry into a Veteran NFL contest or Rookie MLB contest if the user attempted to enter such contests. 
         [0064]    In various embodiments, the matching methods discussed herein can be configured for single entry matching only. In other words, in some embodiments no generated contest has more than one entry  301  per user. Accordingly, in some embodiments where contests are generated with entries  301  from a plurality of entry sets, selection of entries  301  can prevent more than one entry  301  from a given user being selected for a given contest. However, in further embodiments, matching methods discussed herein can be configured for multiple entry matching. In other words, some contests can include more than one entry  301  per user. 
         [0065]    The described embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, and specific examples thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the described embodiments are not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but to the contrary, the present disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0