WO2004013816A1

WO2004013816A1 - Sporting lottery

Info

Publication number: WO2004013816A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/003020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bryce Kelsall
Original assignee: Bryce Kelsall
Priority date: 2002-07-29
Filing date: 2003-07-29
Publication date: 2004-02-12
Also published as: AU2002950606A0

Abstract

A sporting lottery method implemented on a computer network, the lottery consists of punters selecting a set of sums. Each sum is calculated by adding numerical information derived from the specified events occurring at sporting fixtures. The set of sums consists of the sums from a number of sporting fixtures held on the same day. The punters instead of selecting the set of sums may have the computer system select the sums. At the conclusion of the events at each sporting fixtures the numerical information derived from the specified events are summed by the computer system. The winner or winners are those punters who have at least two of the winning sums in their selection. The computer system implementation includes ticket issuing and prize collecting modules.

Description

"Sporting Lottery" TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to gaming, specifically to games of chance associated with sport and horse and dog racing. BACKGROUND PRIOR ART

There are a variety .αfJotteries available for the public to participate in, with some offering jackpots. Generally, a lottery is a game of chance in which the participants buy numbered tickets, and the prizes are distributed by drawing lots.

At present there is a racing lottery called 'Pick Six' operated by the New Zealand T.A.B, where the lottery numbers are selected from the winners' numbers from the results of the last six races from a nominated racing event. These meetings are held a plurality of times a week and consist of greyhound and horse racing. It would be desirable if a new, simpler form of such a lottery were available, which is attractive to persons who choose to rely on luck rather than on sporting knowledge. Throughout this specification, reference will be made to horse racing, the invention also applies to other sports, the reference to horse racing should be seen as exemplary only. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to attempt to provide a gaming system associated with sports that goes some way to meeting the above desideratum. Accordingly in a first embodiment the invention may broadly be said to consist in a sporting lottery method implemented on a computer network wherein punters select a preset plurality of numbers or said punters accept a preset plurality of random numbers generated by a computer on said network, comprising the steps: for each bet: capturing on a node on said computer network, said preset plurality of numbers, and storing each said bet in association with a bet identifier in a database; and for each lottery: publishing a set of predetermined rules including rules relating to the calculation of a plurality of winning numbers, the calculation of each said winning number being based on specified events occurring at at least one specified sporting fixture, at the conclusion of each of said sporting fixtures recording numerical information derived from said specified events in a database on said computer network, at the conclusion of all the sporting fixtures specified in said predetermined rules, calculating said plurality of winning numbers by applying said set of predetermined rules to said numerical information, and paying prize money in relation to bets for which the said preset plurality of numbers of the bet match said plurality of winning numbers.

Preferably the numerical information recorded is the numerical identifier of participants who cause a said specified event to occur and wherein the rule for calculating each said winning number is to perform a whole number numerical operation on said plurality of numerical identifiers of the at least one specified sporting fixture,

Preferably said whole number numerical operation is to add up the numerical identifiers.

Preferably at least one of said sporting fixture is a race meeting including a plurality of individual races, each said specified event is winning a said race, the numerical information recorded is the numerical identifier allocated to the winning participant and said predetermined rule is to add up said numerical identifiers.

Preferably the minimum number of said sporting fixtures specified in said predetermined rules is four.

Preferably said predetermined rules specify that if a sporting fixture is abandoned the winning number associated with the abandoned fixture will be zero.

Alternatively said predetermined rules specify that if a sporting fixture is abandoned the winning number is calculated from another sporting fixture.

Preferably said predetermined rules specify that payment is made in relation to bets wherein the said plurality of winning numbers match two or more said preset plurality of numbers of the bet.

Preferably said sporting lottery method including the steps of: printing a ticket recording the selected or generated preset plurality of numbers; and validating said ticket before paying said prize money.

Accordingly in a second embodiment the invention may broadly be said to consist in a computer system programmed to implement the sporting lottery method above.

Accordingly in a third embodiment the invention may broadly be said to consist in a computer system for determining a set of winning numbers for a sporting lottery comprising: storing a set of predetermined rules including rules relating to the calculation of a. plurality of winning numbers, the calculation of each said winning number being based on specified events occurring at at least one specified sporting fixture; at the conclusion of each of said sporting fixtures recording numerical information derived from said specified events in a database; and at the conclusion of all the sporting fixtures specified in said predetermined rules, calculating said plurality of winning numbers by applying said set of predetermined rules to said numerical information.

Preferably the numerical information recorded is the numerical identifier of participants who cause a said specified event to occur and wherein the rule for calculating each said winning number is to perform a whole number numerical operation on said plurality of numerical ' identifiers of the at least one specified sporting fixture,

Accordingly in a fourth embodiment the invention may broadly be said to consist in a racing lottery implemented on a computer network when a plurality of race meetings are held on the same day wherein punters select the sum of the starting numbers allocated to the winning participants of each of a plurality of races at each of said race meetings resulting in a summed winning number set for the plurality of said race meetings and this said summed number set is captured on a node on said computer network, or said punters accept a random summed number set generated by a computer on said network, whereupon: said node prints a ticket recording the selected or generated said summed number set in both human and machine readable form for retention by said punter; after each of said plurality of races is run the numbers of the winning participant is entered into a database located on said computer network; after said plurality of races at said plurality of said race meetings have all been run the winning numbers of all said races from each said race meeting are summed by a computer on said network to produce a summed winning number set; said punters who believe they hold a ticket which includes the said summed winning number set have their tickets machine read at one of said nodes; and said node causes a computer on the said network to match the said summed number sets on the presented ticket with the said summed winning number set and if a match is found said computer forwards to said node a message authorising payment of prize money to said ticket holder. Preferably the minimum number of said plurality of race meetings is four.

Preferably if two or more participants in the same race dead heat, the starting numbers of all dead heating participants are summed to produce the winning number for that race.

Preferably if a race or a race meeting is abandoned, the winning number or summed winning number will be zero. Alternatively if a race meeting is abandoned, the resulting summed winning number is calculated from another selected race meeting.

Preferably said punters win monetary prizes when they hold tickets with two or more numbers in a number set matching those in said summed winning number set. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a diagram generally indicating a computer network for implementing the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention provides a system for sports gaming. With reference to horse racing, in the preferred embodiment the winning lottery numbers are typically the numbers resulting from the total sum of the winning horse numbers from eight horse races at four separate race meetings. The lottery result depends on four numbers typically ranging from zero to two hundred and forty, inclusive. Prizes are typically won when the correct lottery numbers are selected for two, three, or four race meets in a single gaming line. The amount of money paid out is dependant on the number of persons making correct selections.

The infrastructure required to support this gaming system consists of a server networked to a plurality of remote computer terminals to create a computer network. The Game

The preferred embodiment of the invention requires that, in any one week, there will be at least one day when four race meetings occur. A meeting may also be referred to as a sporting fixture throughout this specification. While all the sporting fixtures are preferably held on one day the lottery may equally use sporting fixtures held over a time delimited period such as a weekend.

Each horse racing meet typically consists of eight races with a plurality of horses competing in each race. Each participating horse racing number is the allocated number for that participant in the lottery. The numbers of each winning horse from every race in one meet are summed to produce a single total number. This number is the winning lottery number for that race meet. For example, if the horse number one wins every race, the resultant would be eight on an eight-race programme. If the same configuration occurred in every race meet, the winning game line consisting of the summed numbers from each race meet would look like this: Race Meet 1 - 8

Race Meet 2 - 8

Race Meet 3 - 8

Race Meet 4 - 8

In the event of a dead heat, two or more horses tied for first place in the same race, the numbers of those two or more horses are summed so that this number is the winning number of that particular race. If a race is abandoned then the winning number is zero or if a race meeting is abandoned then the resulting summed number for that meeting will also be zero. Another option is to use the results from another race meeting, a backup race meeting. For example, if race meet 4 was cancelled, it would be replaced with the winning results from race meet 5. The numbers allowed in the lottery can range from zero to two hundred and forty, inclusive with the most common number range from thirty-five to sixty-five, inclusive. Prizes

Monetary prizes are typically won when two, three or four winning numbers are selected on one ticket in one gaming line. A gaming line corresponds to four summed number selections, one for each race meet, in a single numbered column. If all four numbers are correct, then 80% of the pool is won; if three numbers are correct, 15% of the pool is won; if two numbers are correct, 5% of the pool is won. If one number is correct, there is no pay out. If there is more than one winner in any division, the prize is split between the winners. If there are no winners in any prize division, then that money is carried over to the next race meeting so the amount of money in the prize pool increases. This increased prize pool is known as a jackpot.

The Ticketing Process

Referring now to Figure 1, the ticketing system consists of a plurality of remote terminals 2, networked to a server 1. The remote terminals 2, collect data and transfer it once the server 1 requires it. The data collected relates to details such as number selections and sales, calculating odds and payments etc.

Lottery numbers may be manually selected by customers or randomly generated by the remote terminals 2. Manually selected numbers are keyed into the remote terminals 2, and a ticket with bar codes is generated for this number selection. The server 1, allocates bar codes for all lottery tickets.

The server 1, performs the majority of processing, for example, it can calculate the total pool fund, number of sales, undetected wins and any statistical data required. Once the days' racing has finished, messages containing winning bar code numbers are generated and transmitted to the remote terminals 2. The remote terminals 2, check the lottery ticket bar codes and report any wins to the server 1. At the completion of the days' racing, winning ticket bar code numbers are recorded and stored on the server 1. This eliminates the risk of overpaying, multiple payments or forged tickets.

Different types of tickets procure different fees, these are payable by the customer before the time of lottery bar code generation. The minimum number of gaming lines is four lines per ticket. The price of a ticket incrementally increases as the number of gaming lines increases.

When time has expired for the purchase of tickets, before the start of the first race at any of the race meetings on that day, information is collected from the remote terminals 2, and subsequently collated at the server 1. The resulting information generated is related to, for example, total pool fund, tax percentages, agents' commission etc. is then made available at the remote terminals to customers.

Once the days' racing has been completed, customers may check their tickets on the remote terminals 2. The bar codes from the lottery tickets are scanned and matched with the winning ticket bar codes on the server 1. If the ticket is valid, a validation message is sent to the remote terminal 2 where matching has been requested authorising pay out to the customer.

While described in relation to horse racing the present invention is equally applicable to other sporting fixtures. The rules of the lottery could for example provide that each number is calculated by adding the number allocated to the players in a rugby match that score a try. The set of numbers could be calculated based on the results of four or more rugby matches held on the same day or over a time limited period such as a weekend. Any sport in which the participants are allocated numerical identifiers and has an event that can be specified is suitable for use to calculate the lottery numbers. Soccer is another example of a sport where the participants have a numerical identifier and scorning a goal is an example of an event which could be used to aid in the calculation of a lottery number. Different sporting fixtures could be used for the calculation of different numbers and multiple fixtures could be used to calculate each number.

While the allocation of tickets has been described in relation to the invention, the invention could equally be implemented using internet or telephone betting as is known in the gambling industry. If bets are placed using the internet or telephone then no paper tickets would be issued.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A sporting lottery method implemented on a computer network wherein punters select a preset plurality of numbers or said punters accept a preset plurality of random numbers generated by a computer on said network, comprising the steps: for each bet: capturing on a node on said computer network, said preset plurality of numbers, and storing each said bet in association with a bet identifier in a database; and for each lottery: publishing a set of predetermined rules including rules relating to the calculation of a plurality of winning numbers, the calculation of each said winning number being based on specified events occurring at at least one specified sporting fixture, at the conclusion of each of said sporting fixtures recording numerical information derived from said specified events in a database on said computer network, at the conclusion of all the sporting fixtures specified in said predetermined rules, calculating said plurality of winning numbers by applying said set of predetermined rules to said numerical information, and paying prize money in relation to bets for which the said preset plurality of numbers of the bet match said plurality of winning numbers.

2. A sporting lottery method implemented on a computer network as claimed in claim 1 wherein the numerical information recorded is the numerical identifier of participants who cause a said specified event to occur and wherein the rule for calculating each said winning number is to perfonn a whole number numerical operation on said plurality of numerical identifiers of the at least one specified sporting fixture,

3. A sporting lottery method implemented on a computer network as claimed in claim 2 wherein said whole number numerical operation is to add up the numerical identifiers.

4. A sporting lottery method implemented on a computer network as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein at least one of said sporting fixture is a race meeting including a plurality of individual races, each said specified event is winning a said race, the numerical information recorded is the numerical identifier allocated to the winning participant and said predetermined rule is to add up said numerical identifiers.

5. A sporting lottery method implemented on a computer network claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the minimum number of said sporting fixtures specified in said predetermined rules is four.

6. A sporting lottery method implemented on a computer network as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said predetermined rules specify that if a sporting fixture is abandoned the winning number associated with the abandoned fixture will be zero.

7. A sporting lottery method implemented on a computer network as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said predetermined rules specify that if a sporting fixture is abandoned the winning number is calculated from another sporting fixture.

8. A sporting lottery method implemented on a computer network as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said predetermined rules specify that payment is made in relation to bets wherein the said plurality of winning numbers match two or more said preset plurality of numbers of the bet.

9. A sporting lottery method implemented on a computer network as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 including the steps of: printing a ticket recording the selected or generated preset plurality of numbers; and validating said ticket before paying said prize money.

10. A computer system for determining a set of winning numbers for a sporting lottery comprising: storing a set of predetermined rules including rules relating to the calculation of a plurality of winning numbers, the calculation of each said winning number being based on specified events occurring at at least one specified sporting fixture; at the conclusion of each of said sporting fixtures recording numerical information derived from said specified events in a database; and at the conclusion of all the sporting fixtures specified in said predetermined rules, calculating said plurality of winning numbers by applying said set of predetermined rules to said numerical information.

11. A computer system for determining a set of winning numbers for a sporting lottery as claimed in claim 10 wherein the numerical information recorded is the numerical identifier of participants who cause a said specified event to occur and wherein the rule for calculating each said winning number is to perform a whole number numerical operation on said plurality of numerical identifiers of the at least one specified sporting fixture,

12. A computer system for determining a set of winning numbers for a sporting lottery as claimed in claim 11 wherein said whole number numerical operation is to add up the numerical identifiers.

13. A computer system for determining a set of winning numbers for a sporting lottery as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein at least one of said sporting fixture is a race meeting including a plurality of individual races, each said specified event is winning a said race, the numerical information recorded is the numerical identifier allocated to the winning participant and said predetermined rule is to add up said numerical identifiers.

14. A computer system for determining a set of winning numbers for a sporting lottery as claimed any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein the minimum number of said sporting fixtures specified in said predetermined rules is four.

15. A computer system for determining a set of winning numbers for a sporting lottery as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein said predetermined rules specify that if a sporting fixture is abandoned the winning number associated with the abandoned fixture will be zero.

16. A computer system for determining a set of winning numbers for a sporting lottery as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein said predetermined rules specify that if a sporting fixture is abandoned the winning number is calculated from another sporting fixture.

17. A computer system programmed to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.

18. Software for effecting the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.

19. Storage media containing software for effecting the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.

20. A racing lottery implemented on a computer network when a plurality of race meetings are held on the same day wherein punters select the sum of the starting numbers allocated to the winning participants of each of a plurality of races at each of said race meetings resulting in a summed winning number set for the plurality of said race meetings and this said summed number set is captured on a node on said computer network, or said punters accept a random summed number set generated by a computer on said network, whereupon: said node prints a ticket recording the selected or generated said summed number set in both human and machine readable form for retention by said punter; after each of said plurality of races is run the numbers of the winning participant is entered into a database located on said computer network; after said plurality of races at said plurality of said race meetings have all been run the winning numbers of all said races from each said race meeting are summed by a computer on said network to produce a summed winning number set; said punters who believe they hold a ticket which includes the said summed winning number set have their tickets machine read at one of said nodes; and said node causes a computer on the said network to match the said summed number sets on the presented ticket with the said summed winning number set and if a match is found said computer forwards to said node a message authorising payment of prize money to said ticket holder.

21. A racing lottery system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the minimum number of said plurality of race meetings is four.

22. A racing lottery system as claimed in claim 20 or 21 wherein if two or more participants in the same race dead heat, the starting numbers of all dead heating participants are summed to produce the winning number for that race.

23. A racing lottery system as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22 wherein if a race or a race meeting is abandoned, the winning number or summed winning number will be zero.

24. A racing lottery system as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22 wherein if a race meeting is abandoned, the resulting summed winning number is calculated from another selected race meeting.

25. A racing lottery system as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 24 wherein said punters win monetary prizes when they hold tickets with two or more numbers in a number set matching those in said summed winning number set.