Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7438640?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=ininventor:oliver+ininventor:steele
Timestamp: 2015-10-05 16:08:27
Document Index: 666328919

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2007902728', 'Application No. 2007100414', 'Application No. 2007900946', 'Application No. 2007100144', 'Application No. 2006906599', 'Application No. 2006906600', 'Application No. 2006100878', 'Application No. 2006100877', 'Application No. 2006100876', 'Application No. 2006903031']

Patent US7438640 - Systems and methods for providing gaming activities - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsDescribed herein are various systems and methods for providing gaming activities, these particularly relating to gaming activities where a plurality of players provide respective entry fees. Traditional gaming activities necessarily involve the player putting his or her entry fee at risk. The present...http://www.google.com/patents/US7438640?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7438640 - Systems and methods for providing gaming activitiesAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7438640 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/015,466Publication dateOct 21, 2008Filing dateJan 16, 2008Priority dateJun 2, 2006Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2654727A1, CN101355991A, EP2026888A1, EP2026888A4, US7537521, US8535144, US20070287533, US20070293305, US20080102946, US20090098934, US20120238342, US20140018161, US20140080581, WO2007140515A1, WO2007140517A1Publication number015466, 12015466, US 7438640 B2, US 7438640B2, US-B2-7438640, US7438640 B2, US7438640B2InventorsMarc AMOUROriginal AssigneeG5 Enterprizes Pty Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (84), Non-Patent Citations (11), Referenced by (25), Classifications (14), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSystems and methods for providing gaming activities
US 7438640 B2Abstract
Described herein are various systems and methods for providing gaming activities, these particularly relating to gaming activities where a plurality of players provide respective entry fees. Traditional gaming activities necessarily involve the player putting his or her entry fee at risk. The present invention, at least in some of its preferred forms, modifies the traditional approaches of operating such gaming activities so that the player's entry fee is not necessarily placed entirely at risk. Indeed, in some embodiments a player is provided with an option to participate on the basis that his or her entry fee is wholly refundable while retaining the opportunity to win prizes, potentially alongside more risky though still modified participation by other players.
1. A method for providing a gaming activity wherein a plurality of players provide respective entry fees, the method including the steps of:
defining a plurality of risk profiles, wherein each risk profile defines a proportion of an entry fee that is refundable on the basis of predetermined refund criteria and a complementary proportion of the entry fee that is placed at risk;
receiving, for each player, data indicative of the entry fee provided by that player and a risk profile selected by that player; and
allocating to each player, on the basis of the entry fee provided by that player and the risk profile selected by that player, one or more entries in relation to the gaming activity such that for each player the risk profile selected affects the relative probability of that player winning a prize in relation to the gaming activity in exchange for the entry fee provided.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of risk profiles includes a risk profile for which 100% of the entry fee is refundable.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of risk profiles includes a risk profile for which 100% of the entry fee is placed at risk.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of risk profiles includes at least one risk profile for which X % of the entry fee is refundable and Y % of the entry fee is placed at risk, wherein X+Y=100 and wherein 0<X<100.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the risk profile selected by a given player affects the number of entries allocated to that player in exchange for the entry fee provided.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein, for a first risk profile, a given player is allocated a predetermined number of entries in exchange for a predetermined entry fee, and, for a second risk profile, a given player is allocated an increased number of entries for the same predetermined entry fee, wherein the first risk profile defines a greater proportion of the entry fee that is refundable compared with the second risk profile.
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the number of entries allocated to a given player is related to a contribution made by or on behalf of that player to a prize pool.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the number of entries allocated to a given player is determined according to the formula:
E player =kA+B wherein Eplayer is the number of entries allocated to a particular player in exchange for the entry fee provided by that player, A is a parameter related to the contribution made by or on behalf of that player to the prize pool, B is an adjustment factor, and k is a proportionality factor selected such that the allocation of entries follows a predetermined risk/chance favouritism protocol.
identifying one or more winning entries for the gaming activity;
awarding prizes to the players to whom winning entries were allocated in accordance with a predetermined prize distribution protocol; and
for each player who selected a risk profile for which a non-zero proportion of the entry fee is refundable, refunding the refundable proportion of the entry fee.
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the step of refunding the refundable proportion of the entry fee includes, for at least one player:
defining the refundable portion of the entry fee as at least part of a subsequent entry fee in relation to a subsequent gaming activity; and
allocating to the at least one player one or more entries in relation to the subsequent gaming activity in exchange for the subsequent entry fee.
11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the subsequent gaming activity is a gaming activity provided by a method according to claim 10.
identifying, for each entry fee, a total contribution amount corresponding to that entry fee, the total contribution amount including:
i. a primary contribution amount comprising the proportion of the entry fee that is placed at risk, less any predefined deductions; and
ii. a supplementary contribution amount;
combining the total contribution amounts of the respective entry fees to form a prize pool;
identifying one or more winning entries; and
distributing the prize pool among the players to whom winning entries were allocated in accordance with a predetermined prize distribution protocol.
13. A method according to claim 12 wherein, for a given entry fee, the supplementary contribution amount includes an amount derived from one or more sources selected from a group comprising:
an investment return derived by subjecting at least a proportion of that entry fee to an investment procedure for a period of time;
an operator contribution; and
a third-party contribution.
14. A method according to claim 1 including the steps of:
providing a prize pool for distribution in accordance with a predetermined prize distribution protocol amongst the players to whom winning entries were allocated;
identifying an undistributed portion of the prize pool;
investing at least a proportion of the undistributed portion of the prize pool to generate an investment return; and
adding at least a proportion of the investment return to a subsequent prize pool in relation to a subsequent gaming activity.
15. A method for providing a gaming activity wherein a plurality of players provide respective entry fees, the method including the steps of:
defining a risk profile, the risk profile defining a non-zero proportion of an entry fee that is refundable on the basis of predetermined refund criteria and a complementary non-zero proportion of the entry fee that is placed at risk;
receiving, for each player, data indicative of the entry fee provided by that player; and
allocating to each player, on the basis of the entry fee provided by that player and the risk profile, one or more entries in relation to the gaming activity such that the risk profile affects the relative probability of that player winning a prize in relation to the gaming activity in exchange for the entry fee provided.
16. A method for providing a gaming activity wherein a plurality of players provide respective entry fees, the method including the steps of:
allocating to each player, on the basis of the entry fee provided by that player and the risk profile selected by that player, one or more entries in relation to the gaming activity such that for each player the risk profile selected affects at least one characteristic of the one or more allocated entries, wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of the quantum of entry fee in exchange for which a predetermined number of entries is allocated and one or more characteristics of a prize winnable by that player in exchange for the entry fee provided.
17. A method according to claim 16 wherein, for a first risk profile, a given player is allocated a predetermined number of entries in exchange for a predetermined entry fee, and, for a second risk profile, a given player is allocated the same predetermined number of entries for less than the predetermined entry fee, wherein the first risk profile defines a greater proportion of the entry fee that is refundable compared with the second risk profile.
18. A method according to claim 16 wherein, for a first risk profile, a given player is able to win a prize having a first value in exchange for a predetermined entry fee, and, for a second risk profile, a given player is able to win a prize having a second value in exchange for the same predetermined entry fee, wherein the second value is greater then the first value, and wherein the first risk profile defines a greater proportion of the entry fee that is refundable compared with the second risk profile.
19. A method according to claim 16 including the steps of:
20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the step of refunding the refundable proportion of the entry fee includes, for at least one player:
allocating to the at least one player one or more entries in relation to the subsequent gaming activity in exchange for the subsequent entry fee. Description
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/756,810, filed on Jun. 1, 2007, which claims priority to the following foreign applications: Australian Provisional Application No. 2007902728, filed on May 22, 2007; Australian Provisional Application No. 2007100414, filed on May 22, 2007; Australian Provisional Application No. 2007900946, filed on Feb. 23, 2007; Australian Provisional Application No. 2007100144, filed on Feb. 23, 2007; Australian Provisional Application No. 2006906599, filed on Nov. 24, 2006; Australian Provisional Application No. 2006906600, filed on Nov. 24, 2006; Australian Provisional Application No. 2006100878, filed on Oct. 13, 2006; Australian Provisional Application No. 2006100877, filed on Oct. 13, 2006; Australian Provisional Application No. 2006100876, filed on Oct. 13, 2006; and Australian Provisional Application No. 2006903031, filed on Jun. 2, 2006. The entire contents and disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing gaming activities. Some embodiments provide hardware and software components for the implementation of such systems and methods. The term “gaming” is intended to be interpreted in the broadest sense, as encompassing the fields of gambling, gaming, wagering, betting, lotteries and games or competitions of skill and/or knowledge and/or chance.
The following discussion of the prior art is intended to place the invention in an appropriate context and to allow the unique characteristics and advantages of it to be more fully understood. However, any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an express or implied admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Numerous gaming activities are known and have been implemented in a variety of different forms. One broad category of gaming activity is commonly referred to as “pari-mutuel” gaming (also known by terms such as “para-mutual”, “paramutual” and “parimutuel”). In this form, it is typical for the entry fees provided by players in relation to a gaming activity to be combined into a pool, the operator's commissions, fees and charges deducted from the pool, and for the residual amount to define a prize pool for distribution among the winners of the gaming activity, according to predetermined criteria. Lotteries, totalisators and the like fall into this category.
A characteristic feature of pari-mutuel gaming is that the quantum of winnings is not necessarily known in advance, since this will depend upon the number of participants in the gaming activity, and the level of participation of each, which are indeterminate at the outset. Another characteristic feature is that, aside from any ad hoc instances of cross-subsidisation by the gaming operator, the total amount returned to the entrants collectively as prize-money is necessarily less than the total amount received from the entrants collectively as entry fees or bets, due to the fees and charges of the operator as well as taxes and duties of governments and jurisdictional authorities, being deducted from the prize pool, prior to distribution. These fees and charges are significant, often in the order of 15% to 40% of the total prize pool, which is a particular disadvantage of this form of gaming activity, in so far as the participants are concerned.
Another broad category of gaming activity is “fixed-odds” based, usually referred to as wagering, which is typical of most types of sports betting and bookmaking operations. In this form, the odds of a particular outcome are predetermined by the operator when each bet is placed, so that the quantum of potential winnings for each participant is known at the outset, irrespective of the number of bets subsequently placed by other participants. In this case, the total amount returned to the participants collectively as prize-money is not necessarily less than the total amount received from the entrants collectively as bets, and in that sense, the operator bears some risk. However, the operator endeavours, through judgment and experience, to retain a predetermined margin of profit on average over time, and this would typically be in the order of 8% to 10%.
A further disadvantage with both of these forms, and indeed most other forms of gaming, is that in the absence of a winning outcome, the initial value of the bet or participation fee is lost to each participant and fundamentally, the odds are statistically weighted against the players.
Against this backdrop, it is well-known that some personality types fall victim to gaming at significant personal and wider social cost. Others are reluctant to participate in such activities at all, either as a matter of principle or due to inherent aversion to risk, and thereby miss the entertainment value and the opportunity to participate in the upside of winning outcomes.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for providing a gaming activity wherein a plurality of players provide respective entry fees, the method including the steps of:
allocating to each player, on the basis of the entry fee provided by that player and the risk profile selected by that player, one or more entries in relation to the gaming activity.
One embodiment provides a method wherein the plurality of risk profiles includes a risk profile for which 100% of the entry fee is refundable.
One embodiment provides a method wherein the plurality of risk profiles includes a risk profile for which 100% of the entry fee is placed at risk.
One embodiment provides a method wherein the plurality of risk profiles includes at least one risk profile for which X % of the entry fee is refundable and Y % of the entry fee is placed at risk, wherein X+Y=100 and wherein 0<X<100.
One embodiment provides a method wherein the plurality of risk profiles includes a plurality of risk profiles for which X % of the entry fee is refundable and Y % of the entry fee is placed at risk, wherein X+Y=100 and wherein 0<X<100.
One embodiment provides a method wherein at least one risk profile is defined in response to data indicative of a player's selective designation of a proportion of an entry fee that is to be refundable and/or a complementary proportion of the entry fee that is to be placed at risk.
One embodiment provides a method wherein the risk profile selected by a given player affects the relative probability of that player winning a prize in relation to the gaming activity in exchange for the entry fee provided.
One embodiment provides a method wherein the risk profile selected by a given player affects the number of entries allocated to that player in exchange for the entry fee provided.
One embodiment provides a method wherein, for a first risk profile, a given player is allocated a predetermined number of entries in exchange for a predetermined entry fee, and, for a second risk profile, a given player is allocated an increased number of entries for the same predetermined entry fee, wherein the first risk profile defines a greater proportion of the entry fee that is refundable compared with the second risk profile.
One embodiment provides a method wherein the number of entries allocated to a given player is related to a contribution made by or on behalf of that player to a prize pool.
One embodiment provides a method wherein the number of entries allocated to a given player is determined according to the formula:
One embodiment provides a method wherein 0.01≦k≦100.
One embodiment provides a method wherein 1≦k≦100.
One embodiment provides a method wherein k≧1.
One embodiment provides a method wherein k≈1.
One embodiment provides a method wherein the risk profile selected by a given player affects the quantum of entry fee in exchange for which a predetermined number of entries is allocated.
One embodiment provides a method wherein, for a first risk profile, a given player is allocated a predetermined number of entries in exchange for a predetermined entry fee, and, for a second risk profile, a given player is allocated the same predetermined number of entries for less than the predetermined entry fee, wherein the first risk profile defines a greater proportion of the entry fee that is refundable compared with the second risk profile.
One embodiment provides a method wherein the risk profile selected by a given player affects one or more characteristics of a prize winnable by that player in exchange for the entry fee provided.
One embodiment provides a method wherein, for a first risk profile, a given player is able to win a prize having a first value in exchange for a predetermined entry fee, and, for a second risk profile, a given player is able to win a prize having a second value in exchange for the same predetermined entry fee, wherein the second value is greater than the first value, and wherein the first risk profile defines a greater proportion of the entry fee that is refundable compared with the second risk profile.
One embodiment provides a method wherein awarding the prizes includes making the prizes available for collection by or on behalf to the players to whom winning entries were allocated.
One embodiment provides a method wherein, for a given player, refunding the refundable proportion of the entry fee includes making the refundable proportion of the entry fee available for collection by or on behalf of that players.
One embodiment provides a method wherein the step of refunding the refundable proportion of the entry fee includes, for at least one player:
defining the refundable portion of the entry fee as a subsequent entry fee in relation to a subsequent gaming activity;
One embodiment provides a method wherein the s