Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD FOR PLAYING CASINO-STYLE GAMES OF CHANCE
WITH PARI-MUTUEL RACE OUTCOMES
The present invention relates to a method of playing and wagering games of
chance based on the outcome of pari-mutuel races.
The game of craps is a popular casino game of chance, just as pari-mutuel
racing
events are popular national sports. Both date back centuries and yet a game of
craps is based
on pure luck, and the successful wagering on a pari-mutuel racing event relies
on a number of
features involving skill. Both are spectator and participator sports.
Pari-mutuel wagering is a type of wagering system in which all wagers of a
particular type are placed together in a pool, taxes and a house take are
removed, and payoff
odds are calculated by sharing the pool among all placed wagers. Pari-mutuel
gambling is
frequently state-regulated, and offered in many places where gambling is
otherwise illegal.
Pari-mutuel gambling is often also offered at "off track" facilities, where
players may wager
on the events without actually being present to observe them in person. The
pari-mutuel
system may be used in gambling on horse racing, dog racing, jai alai, and any
sporting event
of relatively short duration in which participants finish in a ranked order.
Pari-mutuel racing
events, horseracing in particular, relies heavily on numerous factors,
including weather,
breeding, jockey trainer, etc. Therefore, to be successful at pari-mutuel
wagering, the pari-
mutuel gambler would typically need to have a fair level of skill and
commitment to be able
to accurately handicap and predict the outcome of the event.
On the other hand, a game of chance is a game whose outcome is strongly
influenced by some randomizing device, and upon which the participants of the
game
frequently wager money. Common randomizing devices used can include for
example, dice,
spinning tops, playing cards, roulette wheels or numbered balls drawn from a
container.
Games of chance are commonly available in most casinos and may also be called
casino
games. In a casino game, the players gamble on various possible random
outcomes or
combinations of outcomes. Casino games are also available in popular online
casinos, where
permitted by law. However, in many locations, legal online casino wagering is
not available.
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One such popular casino game of chance is craps. Craps has many possible
wagers,
all dependent on the rolling of two equally weighted dice. Craps is dependent
on the random
outcome of the game and, therefore, is dependent solely on the roller of the
dice. However,
craps and pari-mutuel racing event wagering are attractive to the public
because of
camaraderie associated with each.
Backgammon is another game of chance and skill played by two persons upon a
specially marked board divided by a space, called the bar, into two tables
(inner table and
outer table), each of which has twelve alternately colored points, or
triangular spaces. Players
move along the board according to the outcome of the roll of two equally
weighted dice, and
the object is to remove the other player's fifteen pieces, or disks, from the
board first. The
Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans played a form of backgammon
probably
derived from the earlier Indian game of Parcheesi. After the 10th century
A.D., the game
became popular in Europe.
Another form of game of chance is card games. However, card games vary from
the aforementioned dice oriented games. Nonetheless, they also can be adapted
to be mapped
to pari-mutuel racing event results and can be uniquely coordinated to allow
for prize values
in and above those normally associated with the prize pools associated with
card based
games.
Because pari-mutuel racing event wagering is legal, it would be beneficial to
combine the excitement of a game of chance with pari-mutuel racing event
wagering as a
valid U.S. licensable game. Players will now have an opportunity to actually
handicap their
wagers before each race starts, and watch the actual races live via the online
worldwide
satellite feeds, Internet model, at participating tracks themselves on
countless monitors, or on
special television, cable and radio broadcast shows. It would add an exciting
new realm of
possibilities for both types of players by adding more wagering opportunities
for the pari-
mutuel player while, giving the new and seasoned craps players opportunity to
win at greater
pooled odds.
According to the present invention, a method of playing a game of chance by
mapping pari-mutuel racing event results to a die or a card value to represent
a roll of a pair
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of dice or to represent a dealt hand for a player in games of chance. Wagers
are made based
on the predicted outcome of the pari-mutuel racing event. A player may select
to a house or a
player pool from which to wager. The die or card value is assigned based on
the order of
outcome of participants in the pari-mutuel event. A pool of wagers is divided
amongst the
players who selected the winning pool.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the pari-mutuel
racing event results are mapped to represent the possible roll of the dice for
a casino game of
chance, such as craps.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the pari-
mutuel
racing event results are mapped to represent the possible roll of the dice for
a game of chance,
such as backgammon.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the pari-
mutuel racing event results are mapped to represent the possible cards dealt
in a hand of a
typical card game.
Accordingly, it is a feature of the embodiments of the present invention to
combine
the playing and wagering excitement of a game of chance with pari-mutuel
racing event
wagering. Other features of the embodiments of the present invention will be
apparent in
light of the description of the invention embodied herein.
The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present
invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following
drawings,
where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates the die value assignment to the order of pari-mutuel racing
event
participants according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 illustrates how the sum of the dice roll is determined when less than
12
entries compete in a pari-mutuel event according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 3 graphs the probability distribution for the sum of a pair of equally
weighted
dice roll.
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Fig. 4A-G graphs the probability distribution by mapping seven to thirteen
event
entrants to an even dice roll sum according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
Fig. 5 illustrates typical "morning line" odds, mapped to a pari-mutuel racing
event
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 6 illustrates the probability distribution of an actual result of the
pari-mutuel
event resulting if all entrants were equal according to an embodiment of the
present
invention.
Fig. 7 illustrates the probability distribution for f the actual results of a
pari-mutuel
race event, if all the participants were equal, and the line odds for the
participants of the pari-
mutuel race event according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 8 illustrates a typical craps table layout according to an embodiment of
the
present invention.
Fig. 9 illustrates a pari-mutuel craps table layout with pari-mutuel wagering
odds
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 10 illustrates the dice sum probabilities for an actual pari-mutuel race
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 11 illustrates a pari-mutuel craps tote board and the expected odds for a
pari-
mutuel race according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 12 illustrates hypothetical output displays showing the mapped die
assignment
along with the corresponding pari-mutuel racing event according to an
embodiment of the
present invention.
In the following detailed description of the embodiments, reference is made to
the
accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way
of
illustration, and not by way of limitation, specific embodiments in which the
invention may
be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized
and that logical,
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mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope
of the present invention.
Pari-mutuel results can be combined with games of chance. For example, with a
pari-mutuel race event, the race results could be mapped to a game of chance
that uses a pair
of dice such as, for example, craps. In this embodiment, each participant in
the race can be
assigned a possible die value (i.e., a value between 1 and 6). Rather than
dice randomly
thrown down a table, the odds can be pooled for each race, consisting of the
first six to twelve
event entrants being designated die value, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Wildcard
variations and undesignated runners can replace last minute scratches,
injuries, acts of God,
for example, incorporating the wagering odds, adjustable traditional craps
table odds, the
pari-mutuel game of chance players can have an opportunity to actually
handicap their
wagers before each pari-mutuel race starts, and watch the actual events live
via: for example,
the online worldwide live satellite feeds, Internet based wagering networks,
or on the track's
wagering websites. Television, cable and radio broadcasts can be found as the
global Internet
adds an entirely new dimension to both pari-mutuel racing and, traditional
craps.
After assigning the first six participants in the pari-mutuel event to the
possible die
values 1 through 6, the die values will continue to be assigned to the
participants for the
number of participants over six. For example, the seventh participant would be
assigned the
die value of 1, the eighth participant would have a die value of 2, the ninth
participant would
have a die value assignment of 9 and so on as illustrated in Fig. 1. The craps
dice roll would
then correspond to the value of the sum of the die values assigned to the
participants of the
first and second place finishers in the pari-mutuel race. For example using
the assigned die
values shown in Fig. 1, if the third participant finishes first (with a die
assignment of 3) and
the first participant finishes second (with a die assignment of 1), the sum of
the dice roll
would be 4 (i.e., 3 +1).
Referring to Fig. 2, however, if there are less than twelve participants in
the race
and the last participant comes in second place, some possible dice sums may
not happen. In
this case, the participant's die value assignment of the first place finisher
will be used twice.
This calculation ensures that all possible dice roll sums (i.e., 2 to 12)
occur when there are
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less than twelve participants in the pari-mutuel race event and the last
participant comes in
second.
In all cases, the order of finish is important. Again referring to the table
in Fig. 2,
for example, if the first participant comes in first and the ninth participant
comes in second,
the mapped dice roll will have a sum of 2 (i.e., 1+1). Since the last
participant, in this case the
ninth participant, came in second and there were less than twelve
participants, the die value
assignment of the first place finisher, in this case the first participant,
will be multiplied by
two. However, if the ninth participant were to come in first and the first
participant were to
come in second, the dice roll will have a sum of 4 (i.e., 3 +1).
The probability distribution for pari-mutuel race events can be substantially
the
same as a random dice roll if all participants have an equal chance of
winning. Since no
random elements are introduced, there can be a deterministic mapping of the
pari-mutuel race
results to a dice roll in craps game of chance. Fig. 3 illustrates the
probability distribution of
each dice sum for two random equally weighted dice. As can be seen in Fig. 3,
the seven sum
is most likely with the sums of two and twelve being the least likely. The
mapping method
does not have to fit the probability distribution of the sum of two equally
weighted dice
exactly, but making the mapping as substantially similar to the probability
distribution of two
dice as possible can create a more accurate game result.
Fig. 4A graphs the probability distribution of dice sums when using
deterministic
mapping and seven participants versus the probability distribution of two
random equally
weighted dice. As can be seen in Fig. 4A, generally lower dice sums tend to be
more probable
than higher values. This is due to the fact that the die value 1 is
represented twice (i.e.,
assigned to the first and seventh participants). Figs 4B-5E also illustrate
the skewing of the
probability distributions when mapping eight through eleven participants,
respectively. For
example, in Fig 4C which maps the probability for nine participants, the
results are still
skewed toward low sum outcomes since the die values of 4, 5 and 6 have only
one participant
assign to them (i.e., the fourth, fifth and sixth participants) and the die
values 1, 2, and 3
have two participants assigned to them. Overall, the probability distribution
can be
substantially similar to the probability distribution of random dice. However,
when mapping
twelve participants, the probability distribution of the twelve participants
can be substantially
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the same as using two random equally weighted dice as seen in Fig. 4F,
assuming each
participant has an equal chance of winning. Using more than twelve
participants also does
not generally affect the probability distribution as seen in Fig 4G which
graphs the
probability distribution of thirteen participants versus the probability
distribution of the pair
of dice.
However, the real probability distribution depends on skill of the individual
participants in the pari-mutuel racing event. Typically, a pari-mutuel race
comprises
participants who are clear favorites that have better odds of winning and
participants who are
long shots that are unlikely to win. Fig. 5 illustrates a morning line taken
from a resource on
pari-mutuel racing event information such as, for example, Equibase. Given a
set of odds, it
can be possible to calculate the probability of a particular participant
winning. In the example
of Fig. 5, since there are only eleven participants in the event, the
deterministic mapping can
be performed to achieve all possible dice roll sums. As illustrated in Fig. 6,
the results of the
actual race can be different than those of the expected race results where
each participant is
given an equal chance of winning.
Again, the probability distribution can be dependent on the chance of winning
of
each participant. Therefore, it may be beneficial to rearrange the die
assignments based on the
odds of each participant rather than strictly based on the order of
participants. As illustrated
in Fig. 7A, the long shots for a race event can be assigned to the start and
end of the lineup
and the favorites (i.e., the participants with the lowest odds) can be place
towards the middle
of the order. This rearrangement can help create a more balanced probability
distribution that
more closely approximating random dice. In a real race event, the actual
participant lineup for
races is assigned randomly. In pari-mutuel games of chance, the order of the
participants can
then be rearranged using the available morning lines and the die values
assigned. The
conversion of the die value for each participant can be available to the
players of the game of
chance at the start of the race. Fig. 7B illustrates the effect of reordering
the participants
based on the morning line versus the original order of participants. As can be
seen in Fig 7B,
the rearranging of the order of participants based on the morning odds can be
beneficial to
savvy handicappers for placing wagers. As illustrated in Fig 7B, the savvy
handicapper may
recognize that a sum of 4 may be more likely and, therefore, a "place 4" wager
in a pari-
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mutuel game of craps may give very good odds of winning since this dice roll
sum may be
more likely based on the pooled handicap wagers placed by the players.
In traditional casino-based craps, there are fixed payout odds based on the
dice roll
outcomes with the player winning or losing that are set to give an edge to the
house. If the
player wins, he or she is paid out at the prescribed odds, otherwise the
casino keeps the
wager. With craps based on pari-mutuel racing events, the craps wagers can
have variable
pari-mutuel odds. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, savvy wager makers can also
handicap the pari-
mutuel crap wagers. The advance line can be map to the craps odds. The wagers
will have
odds that can be based on a live wagering pool, where the pool will be divided
on the
winning wagers. The house will take a percentage of the wagering pool. The
odds will
change up to the race/roll time. However, the wager pooling may be complicated
for some
crap wagers. For example, pass and don't pass type wagers might require
several pools.
Therefore, pool carry over may be necessary as seen in exotic wagers such as,
for example,
Pick Six, Daily Double and Trifecta pari-mutuel wagering. For example, 2 and
12 on come
out and 7 on point may require the wagers to be carried over to the next race.
Traditional craps wagers pit the players against the house, with different
wagers
having different fixed payout odds. To turn craps wagering into a pari-mutuel
model, every
craps wager may be treated as a unique wagering pool. In pari-mutuel wagering,
players can
wager on the outcome of an event (such as, for example, the winner of a horse
race). Odds
can be established prior to the pari-mutuel event via a mathematical model
that assigns odds
according to the funds that are wagered on each potential winner or outcome.
Less money
wagered on an outcome means higher payout odds
With pari-mutuel craps, for each wager at the craps table, players may have
the
usual option to wager as the player, or as the house. These two options for
every wager
comprise two pari-mutuel wagering pools. For example, the wagers for the
player win, if the
wager is successful for the player, and the wagers for the house win, if the
player loses.
For example, consider a "place six" wager. This wager wins for the player if a
six
outcome occurs before a seven. The house wins if a seven occurs first. All
other outcomes
mean the player re-rolls the dice. In traditional craps, the "place six" wager
maker is paid 7 to
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6 on a win (i.e., if they wagered $6, they earn $7 in profit). However, if a
seven is rolled
before a six, then the house keeps the $6 wager.
In pari-mutuel craps, two different kinds of "place six" wagers can be accept
for all
craps wagers: a wager for the player and a wager for the house. For example,
if $1000 in total
was wagered for the player and $1500 for the house, after the house takes its
5% take (i.e.,
the amount of all wager pools which goes to the house), the wager pool is left
with $2375.
The pari-mutuel odds for a two-outcome event can be simple to compute:
= Player odds: ( $2375 - $1000 ) to $1000 = 1.375 to 1
= House odds: ( $2375 - $1500 ) to $1500 = .583 to 1 (1 to 1.72)
Therefore, if a sum of six is rolled before a sum of seven, then each $1
player
wager is paid out $1.37 (plus the original $1 wager). If the sum of seven
comes out before the
sum of six, each house wager is paid out 58 cents (plus the original $1
wager). In either case,
the original wager pool of $2375 is exhausted, as expected.
All of the available craps wagers can be handled in exactly the same way,
giving
all wager makers the option to wager on the player or wager on the house. The
two wager
pools for each wager strictly determine the final odds. However, the "don't
pass" wager in
craps may not be the equivalent of wagering with the house on the pass line,
since the don't
wager maker actually pushes their wager on a come out roll of 12.
As with typical pari-mutuel racing, the payout odds for every available wager
in
pari-mutuel craps can vary up until race time. This exciting dynamic can be
preserved in pari-
mutuel craps, as savvy handicappers strive to find the wagers with the best
payouts, based on
their expectation for the pari-mutuel race outcomes.
Ensuring a fair pari-mutuel wagering model effectively doubles the number of
wagering options for the pari-mutuel craps player, but can be a favorable
change since the
player can now choose to wager with the house, not just against it.
To model an actual game, pari-mutuel craps may need a large pool of live pari-
mutuel races to use for the dice rolls. The pari-mutuel race being used for
the upcoming roll
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can be displayed to the players, so that handicappers can base their wagering
decisions on the
expected outcomes. Wagers can be collected, and a tote board shows the wager
pools and
odds for each wager (both for the player and for the house). All wagering can
be halted once
the race begins, the race completes, and the dice roll determined. Wagers that
are finished can
be paid out, while wagers that are not resolved stay around for the next race,
to be paid out
eventually (such as, for example, come or place wagers).
In traditional craps, the dice can be rolled every minute or two. An enjoyable
pace
for pari-mutuel craps may require a dice roll every 5 minutes. This may
require live pari-
mutuel racing feeds from a broad geographic range (for example, state, country
or
worldwide). A secure live feed of race results will be used, along with
closing the wagering
well before the race actually starts, to ensure a fair game.
Using live pari-mutuel race results, the pari-mutuel craps game can be a
mapping,
or variation, of legalized pari-mutuel wagering. The dice rolls map in a
deterministic,
transparent and non-random way directly to race results. By allowing wagers
both for the
player and for the house for every pari-mutuel craps wager, a simple two-pool
pari-mutuel
wagering system may be created. Lastly, using live race results means players
can be in effect
wagering in an exciting variation of a normal pari-mutuel wagering. All
combined, pari-
mutuel craps can meet all the requirements of legalized track wagering, while
providing the
rich casino action of craps.
Using historic race results involves collecting accurate and timely live race
results
in pari-mutuel craps, especially with the potential five minute re-roll
requirements, may prove
challenging. An alternative may be to use historic race results for the dice
rolls. This would
require the selection of the races for each dice roll to be done randomly,
from a very large
pool of past races.
Using historic race results does present some problems. For example, players
can
no longer use horse handicapping information to bias their wagering decisions,
since the
races are selected randomly and by introducing an element of chance (random
race selection),
an absolute mapping to track wagering cannot be accomplished. This method more
closely
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parallels a recent attempt to map horse racing to slot machines, using a
similar randomizing
strategy for the spin of the wheels.
The Tote Board shows players the odds for each available craps wager for the
coming race. Using the pari-mutuel wagering method, players can wager for the
player or the
house on each and every wager. This creates two wagering pools for every craps
wager.
In additional to the basic odds, any given predicted odds or morning line for
the
upcoming race can be converted into expected odds for the craps wagers.
Handicappers can
take this information into account, choosing to wager on craps wagers where
the supplied
pari-mutuel craps odds may be better than the expected odds.
Using the morning odds shown in Fig. 5, the race morning line odds can be
converted into probabilities for each dice sum outcome. From this data, the
expected
probability for any given craps wager to win and lose is computed as shown in
Fig. 10.
Players now choose to make live craps wagers prior to the race, with the
additional option to
wager as the player or with the house (i.e. they win if the casino would have
won the wager).
Two wagering pools for every such craps wager can be created, the house take
and taxes can
be subtracted, and the simple pari-mutuel odds can be computed. This yields
the real Tote
Board odds for both the player and house sides of every craps wager. For
example, consider
three different craps wagers with a supposed pool of wagers (place 6, place 8,
any seven):
The probabilities that a wager wins can be simple to compute once there are
the
individual sum outcome probabilities. While the 'any seven' wager is a one-
roll wager (i.e.
resolved immediately after the next race), the place wagers make take several
rolls. To
simplify the expected odds calculation, it is assumed the same dice sum
probabilities
throughout, but it is possible to factor in all the upcoming morning line race
data if it is
available. Either way, the expected line may be only a prediction aid for the
handicapper, so
this assumption may be reasonable.
From the wager probabilities, the actual expected odds for both the player and
house wagers are computed. Since all player wagers in traditional craps have
less than 50%
chance of occurring (i.e. the house is more likely to win), the expected
player odds can be
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generally better than 1 to 1. This does depend, of course, on the morning line
and expected
dice sums. It is possible to see less than 1 to 1 expected odds if the dice
sum outcome
probabilities vary significantly from the norm.
Now wagers are accepted from the pari-mutuel craps players, for either the
player
or the house. This creates two wagering pools for every craps wager. Using a
simple two-
event pari-mutuel wagering model, the actual player and house odds can be
derived and
given to the pari-mutuel craps players. Like any Tote Board, these odds change
up to race
time as wagers are collected The odds factor in the house take and taxes,
which are deducted
from the total wagering pool before the pari-mutuel odds can be computed. For
this example,
a total cut of 5% was assumed.
Referring to Fig. 11, the savvy handicapper can see that the wagering a place
8
with the player provides better odds than expected (1.49:1 is better than the
expected 1.31:1).
Also, wagering with the house on the any seven craps wager yields am expected
edge (1:2.35
is better than 1:4.46). All the other wagers are not better than expected, so
the handicapping
wager maker ignores them. Some craps wagers do not yield an advantage for
either the house
or player due to the house take. In practice, the handicapper is looking for
wagers where the
discrepancy between the expected outcome and the actual odds are greater than
the cost of
the house take
The pooling of interstate and international wagering funds pooled into the
live
pari-mutuel game of chance can create infinite variables, not only increasing
the number of
wagers made, but in the alliance presented by joining multiple entities that
now operate
autonomously. All venues of pari-mutuel racing such as, for example: brick and
mortar
casinos, racetracks, and online gaming companies benefit from the interstate
simulcast and
wagering that allows for an entirely new set of games to be offered by online
gaming
companies that would otherwise not be available.
The supplemental pari-mutuel pools, both increasing and decreasing the odds,
and
the payoffs, of any game referenced herein are directed to the games of chance
themselves,
such as pari-mutuel craps. Consequently, the odds associated with standard
craps games will
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fluctuate depending on an algorithm combining the starting odds of the pari-
mutuel races and
the traditional odds associated with wagers based on the outcome of rolled
dice.
In one embodiment, where the game of chance is craps, the odds on the Pass
Line
Bet are highest in a standard craps table wager. The pass line wager is made
before a "point"
is established. If a 7 or 11, as designated by the outcome of the given
race(s), is the outcome
of the primary pari-mutuel "craps roll," it is an immediate winner.
Alternatively, if the race
results equal an outcome of 2, 3 or 12, then it is an immediate loser. Any
other outcome of
the races, other than those above, becomes the player's Pass Line Point. This
number, as
represented by the pari-mutuel race outcome, must be repeated before a 7
results from the
following pari-mutuel race(s).
Fig. 8 illustrates a typical craps table layout. The PASS and COME fields are
identified but the odds are not. The COME Odds are laid after the `Point' is
established as
follows in a normal craps game:
If the point is 4 or 10: Payoff on odds wager is 1 unit for every 2 units laid
as
odds, adjusted accordingly to the pari-mutuel odds and/or total amount wagered
on
each winner representing the traditional dice.
If the point is 5 or 9: Payoff on odds wager is 2 units for every 3 units laid
as
odds adjusted accordingly to the pari-mutuel odds and/or total amount wagered
on
each winner representing the traditional dice.
- If the point is 6 or 8: Payoff on odds wager is 5 units for every 6 units
laid as
odds adjusted accordingly to the pari-mutuel odds and/or total amount wagered
on
each winner representing the traditional dice.
Without free odds the house has approximately 1.4% advantage on all Don't Pass
or Come wagers. When an algorithm combining the pari-mutuel odds with the
standard odds,
an entirely new set of odds come into play, odds calculable only after the
final odds have
been closed on the tote boards of the pari-mutuel racing event have been
closed.
Referring to Figure 9 which illustrates a pari-mutuel craps table layout with
pari-
mutuel wagering odds, the standard layout of the craps table remains
substantially the same,
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though the odds on each of the individual wagering areas may change as the
final pari-mutuel
odds are decided when the race wagering closes as the minutes to post expire.
The pari-
mutuel craps table can be easily observed by the player in a number of ways.
An international wagering hub may be the most logical medium for the pari-
mutuel
games of chance by bringing two opposing industries together - the
thoroughbred industry
and the Internet gaming companies. This solution may help overcome the U.S.
anti-gaming
laws faced by the large companies who have almost completely shut down their
U.S.
operations, due to the fact that pari-mutuel wagering has not banned. The
brick and mortar
pari-mutuel wagering facilities, which can provide the events at considerable
expense benefit
from the accountability an international portal offers through the licensing
and monitoring of
wagers and thereby make certain each participating land based facility
receives their share of
the combined takeout from wagering on their races. No longer will any offshore
outlet be
able to steal and accept wagers without paying the simulcast fees, state and
federal taxes, or
be non-accountable for their action if they want to re-enter the U.S. market
with new
confidence and total security. But, of real importance, is the open door
policy.
Live tables can be set up at licensed wagering outlets, racetracks, and
anywhere
where pari-mutuel racing is regulated and legal. The player approaches the
table as he would
a traditional craps table based on the outcome of dice. Drawn by the
traditional look of the
tables themselves, seasoned craps players will be attracted to the game, and
the additional
odds generated by the pari-mutuel odds add an increased attractiveness to
these players. The
pari-mutuel player can be drawn to the table because it offers alternative
wagers for them to
try their handicapping skills in an alternative wagering arena, hoping to out
handicap those
less seasoned. So there can be a mutual attraction to the game itself, as it
offers.
Live simulcast races can be broadcast and televised on output displays
throughout
the wagering area, within clear site when possible, off all participants.
Audio of the races will
also enable the wager makers to hear each race amplified associated with the
race
determining the outcome of the wagering table and its participants. In one
embodiment, hand
held wager machines can help ease the flow and can eliminate the lines at
track windows.
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In one embodiment, the output displays can have a split screen. One part of
the
output display can show the live pari-mutuel racing event and the other part
can depict
animated icons that illustrate the die values associated with each pari-mutuel
participant in
that race as illustrated in Fig. 12A. In the animated icon part of the output
display, each die
value assigned to the pari-mutuel racing participant can be shown as an icon.
Each icon can
be the color associated with the pari-mutuel racing participant for easy
identification by the
players. The icons can move in real time and in-synch with the pari-mutuel
racing
participants to which they are assigned during the course of the race. This
allows the players
to quickly and easily follow the position of the die values during the course
of the race even
when it may be difficult to tell the actual position of each of the pari-
mutuel racing
participants on the output display due to, for example, close packing of the
pari-mutuel racing
participants, wide camera angle, bad weather, or combinations thereof. The
entire order of
the field of pari-mutuel racing participants can be displayed and updated. As
shown in Figure
12B, the die value icons can display real-time information regarding the pari-
mutuel racing
participant to which the die value icon is assigned. Such information can
include, for
example, the name of the participant, odds associated with the participant,
the speed of the
participants, or any other suitable information. Additionally, as shown in
Fig. 12C, the output
displays can show replays of the pari-mutuel racing event along with the
replayed finish of
the die value icons.
In the live onsite embodiment, wagers can be handled in two ways,
electronically
and traditionally. The latter would allow players to purchase wagering chips
in varying
denominations such as is found in a casino setting. Wagers are laid in the
traditional fashion,
places the chips on the table in the position(s) they want to wager. Once a
wager is placed, it
may not be moved, unless management sets rules to the contrary. The idea
behind this captive
wagering position regarding wagers being placed is to allow players to take
advantage of
early odds, while later entrants wagering different positions as the race odds
change within
seconds of the gates opening and the race closing additional wagers.
Craps offers many different ways to wager. There are some very simple wagers
that work with favorable odds in the traditional game, but when combined with
the pooled
pari-mutuel odds, pari-mutuel craps offers even greater combinations of odds
selections
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based on the number of potential final payoff combinations resulting from of
the races
representing the numbers formerly found on dice. The biggest distinction
between traditional
craps and pari-mutuel craps is the ability to handicap the results in pari-
mutuel craps. Further,
every traditional craps wager can be turned into a two-sided wagering pool by
allowing
wagers for the player, or for the house, thereby, effectively doubling the
number of available
wagers. All craps wagers eventually resolve with either the player or the
house winning,
thereby, allowing a simple two-event pari-mutuel racing event model.
The object of both traditional casino based craps and pari-mutuel craps is to
predict
the outcome of a roll of the dice. What is significantly different in this
game of chance is the
ability to make a wager that lasts for more than one roll, in fact some wagers
by their nature
will last for many rolls. There is no clear or accepted way to wager this
game, each player has
their favorite plan of attack, aggressive or passive.
In another embodiment, the utility of the pari-mutuel racing event wherein
like
games rules are associated with the exception of replacing the outcome of two
dice with
outcome of a series of pari-mutuel racing event results. One such game of
chance is
backgammon. These results are based on the outcome of a fixed number of races
with
participants given a time limit to choose the pari-mutuel racing event, from a
series of pari-
mutuel racing events, and selecting the pari-mutuel racing events in instead
of rolling the
dice. The time limits will predetermine and gauged by a timer, much like those
used in chess
games, will designate the time limits. Random selection of pari-mutuel racing
events as
chosen by management will automatically become the choice of any player who
doesn't
select a pari-mutuel racing event within the time limit.
Both an online version and on site version would utilize a series of pari-
mutuel
racing events offered from around the world and individual one-on-one opponent
structures
as well as limited and unlimited satellite tournaments would be coordinated to
attract larger
player fields and prizes. One of the unique attributes of time limits and a
selection of pari-
mutuel racing events allows each player to handicap a series of pari-mutuel
racing events
while increasing the action associated with a game based on fast activity
accelerated by and
distinguished from ordinary dice rolled Backgammon in that players have the
opportunity to
participate on a skill level based "next move," dependent on their ability to
select which pari-
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mutuel racing events they choose, and the odds associated with the needed, or
optimum,
numbers potentially resulting from their selection.
All other aspects of the centuries old rules associated with the game of
Backgammon will remain as close to the widely accepted principles of the game
itself,
notwithstanding the above mentioned pari-mutuel based alternative model.
In another embodiment, card games of chance, such as, for example Blackjack
and
poker, can be played using pari-mutuel racing events. A new card deck type,
will have a card
value of 13 cards drawn from four suits (Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, Clubs)
replicating a
standard deck of cards with individual pari-mutuel racing event participants.
Values can be
both "open" as in games that involve mutual cards such as the five table cards
in a standard
"Texas Hold'em," or dealt as up cards in standard stud based games. Players
will select a
hand, or position, from which to co-participate, while others will select
beforehand which
player "Position," they will wager on, opting to remain or opt-out as wagering
progresses.
Prize pools will be supplemented by pari-mutuel handles.
It is noted that terms like "preferably," "commonly," and "typically" are not
utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed invention or to imply that
certain features are
critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the
claimed invention.
Rather, these terms are merely intended to highlight alternative or additional
features that
may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present
invention.
For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention it is noted
that
the term "substantially" is utilized herein to represent the inherent degree
of uncertainty that
may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other
representation. The term "substantially" is also utilized herein to represent
the degree by
which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without
resulting in a
change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to specific
embodiments
thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible
without departing
from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. More
specifically, although
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some aspects of the present invention are identified herein as preferred or
particularly
advantageous, it is contemplated that the present invention is not necessarily
limited to these
preferred aspects of the invention.
