Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GAME SYSTEM AND METHOD BASED ON EXTERNAL EVENT OUTCOMES
BACKGROUND
100011 The present invention relates to game systems and methods, and more
particularly
to a game system and method employing external event outcomes.
[0002] Lottery games that are determined by pre-printed indicia and random
drawings are
known. For example, instant lottery tickets typically provide a scratch-off
coating whereby a
user can scratch off the coating to determine if the underlying indicia result
in any winnings.
Online or draw-based games allow a user to select various indicia such as
numbers, or have
the numbers randomly selected for the user, and then a random drawing
determines if the
user's indicia match enough of the randomly drawn indicia for the user to win.
[0003] Grid-based wagering games, such as Bingo or Crossword games, for
example,
permit players to spend more time on a game before knowing whether or not the
game has
been won. Some extended play games also provide for second chances or bonus
plays based
on a single wager.
[0004] Presently, ticket-based games do not address technical challenges
associated with
incorporating external event outcomes, such as sports fantasy-themed games
involving real-
life statistics that are not determined until after a ticket is issued. For
example, incorporating
real-life statistics in a sports fantasy-themed game may require ongoing
status monitoring of
available performers and replacements for unavailable performers, so that
previously issued
tickets maintain a full complement of chances based on external event
outcomes.
[0005] In addition, current games do not involve tickets having game play
information that
is modifiable after the time the ticket is issued based on external events.
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BRIEF SUMMARY
[0006] Aspects of the present invention pertain to a game system and method
involving a
host computer that selects or randomly determines a subset of available
performers from a
pool of such performers. The performers can be real-world performers whose
performances
can be statistically tracked according to established metrics, such as in
fantasy sports, for
example.
[0007] In various embodiments of the present invention, the subsets of
performers are
printed onto a physical ticket, or presented on a virtual ticket, of a user
that purchases the
ticket. The printed data can include a name, photo, image or other identifying
data for each
performer in the subset. Outcomes of one or more external events determine how
well each
performer performed according to underlying measured statistics. The host can
either track
the underlying statistics directly, or receive such data from an external
source. The user (e.g.,
the holder of the ticket) wins or loses as a result of the performance of each
of the subset of
performers on the user's ticket. In these ways, the value or winning status of
the issued ticket
is not pre-determined, and is further not determined by player skill, but
rather depends on
external event outcomes.
[0008] The game can be played with a physical ticket, or with a virtual
ticket accessible via
computing device, including mobile devices. In various embodiments, the
randomly selected
available performers may pertain to the same activity (e.g., a specific
sport), but hold different
positions within the sport. Different subsets of performers are issued to
individual tickets as
ticket order requests are received, and stored in a database of purchased
tickets.
[0009] In various embodiments, each performer's role or position can be judged
according
to one or more statistical metrics. At the end of a given time period and
after the ticket is
issued, the highest scoring performer for each position in the pool of
available performers is
determined by the host, the results are made available to each ticket holder
and winnings are
determined.
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[0010] In various embodiments, a pool of replacement performers is maintained,
and a
status of the available performers is tracked, such that if an available
performer in the pool of
available performers and/or selected for any tickets becomes unavailable after
a ticket is
issued, the host selects a replacement performer, substitutes the selected
replacement
performer for the now-unavailable performer for all tickets that originally
included the now-
unavailable performer, and stores the new grouping of performers in the
purchased ticket
database so that all tickets that originally included the now-unavailable
performer maintain a
full complement of participating performers. In various embodiments, the pool
of
replacement performers corresponds to backup players for each of the positions
and teams
associated with the available performers in the pool of available performers.
The host then
determines a score for any selected replacement performers when the highest
scoring
performer is later determined.
[0011] In various embodiments, additional prizes can be awarded over extended
time
periods. For example, if a given performer on a ticket is the top performer
for a given
position for a full season, the ticket holder bearing that performer may win a
prize.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Fig. 1 is an example embodiment of an issued ticket in accordance with
the present
disclosure.
[0013] Fig. 2 is a chart illustrating various positions within exemplary
sports in accordance
with the present disclosure.
[0014] Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a network
configuration
of the game system of the present disclosure.
[0015] Fig. 4 is a screen shot of one example embodiment of results depicted
by the game
system of the present disclosure.
[0016] Fig. 5 is an example embodiment of an issued ticket and a replacement
ticket in
accordance with the present disclosure.
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[0017] Figs. 6 and 7 are flowcharts illustrating example methods of operating
embodiments
of the game system of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] One example embodiment of the present disclosure includes a ticket or
group of
tickets for play of a fantasy-sports themed wagering game based on external
event outcomes,
where one or more customers are provided with one or more tickets. Each ticket
includes one
or more game play areas. A first subset of the tickets exists where each
ticket in the first set
includes game play information indicating that the ticket is a winner based on
the real-life
performance of multiple performers identified on the ticket. A second subset
of the tickets
exists where each ticket in the second set includes game play information
indicating that the
ticket is a winner based on the real-life performance of a single performer
identified on the
ticket, but not based on multiple performers. A third subset of the tickets
exists where each
ticket in the third set includes game play information indicating that the
ticket is not a winner.
A fourth subset of the tickets exists where each ticket in the fourth set does
not include game
play information indicating that the ticket is a winner based on the real-life
performance of
any performer identified on the ticket, but is nonetheless a winner based on
the real-life
performance of a replacement performer associated with the ticket in a
database of purchased
tickets, as described elsewhere herein.
[0019] A sample ticket 15 illustrating identification information 17 for
five performers in a
game play area 16, a time of entry reference 18 and an external event date
reference 19 is
shown in Fig. 1. The identification information 17 for each performer can
include a
performer name 29, position 21 and team identifier 23, for example. In the
sample ticket 15
of Fig. 1, five players from the National Football LeagueTM are illustrated,
and each player is
associated with a distinct position. In various embodiments, each ticket shows
performers for
a plurality of positions, with no two positions being the same and no
performer being
associated with more than one position. For example, the chart 80 of Fig. 2
shows available
performer positions for different sports. As a specific example, a football-
themed game as
indicated generally at 81 may populate the subset of performers for the game
play area with a
quarterback, a tight end, a wide receiver, a running back and a kicker.
Alternatively, another
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game, such as the basketball-themed game indicated generally at 82, can
populate the subset
of performers with two guards, two forwards and a center. As such, the
basketball-themed
game includes multiple performers playing the same position on a given ticket.
A hockey-
themed game can populate the subset of performers with a goaltender, a
defenseman, a right
wing, a left wing and a center, as indicated generally at 83. A baseball-
themed game, as
indicated generally at 84, can populate the subset of performers with a
catcher, a pitcher, a
first- or third-baseman, a shortstop or second baseman and an outfielder.
Other combinations
of players can be employed and other sports can be used. Further, non-sports
games can be
provided, such as a weather-themed game involving the weather in multiple
geographic areas,
or a stock market-themed game, including stock ticker symbols from different
industry
groups, for example.
100201 In various embodiments, the game system 10 can operate with one or more
vending
units 35 and/or personal computing devices 33 in networked connection with a
central host
computer system 49, as shown in Fig. 3 and described elsewhere herein. The
central host
computer system 49 can provide instructions to the one or more vending units
35 and/or
computing devices 33 as these devices carry out their designed functions. As
shown in Fig. 3,
it will be appreciated that system 10 can be deployed with direct connections
from central
host 49 to a user device 33 via data network 75, or indirect connection
through a local
computing system 40. It will be appreciated that there may be a plurality of
vending units 35
in an establishment which are configured to process payments and issue tickets
to players, as
well as to receive tickets for redemption. Optionally, the vending units
(e.g., 35) may be self-
serve automated terminals or may be staffed by an agent. The user computing
devices 33 may
be, for example, mobile communication devices, PDAs, notebook computers,
tablets or
personal computers. The player may use the user device 33 as a form of
terminal to purchase
game tickets. Further, the user may use a device 33 to generate a ticket
request for sending to
the host, obtain a code from the host representing the requested ticket, bring
the code to a
vending unit 35, and receive a ticket after the code is scanned by the vending
unit 35. Since
the clerk-attended terminal or self-serve terminal 35 may be loaded with
printed tickets or
have a proprietary printing system, the user device 33 may differ in this
respect, and may be
limited to virtual tickets or printing of tickets with an available printer,
for example. The
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vending units 35 may also redeem the tickets for cash prizes, which can be
issued directly to
the player redeeming the ticket or credited to a player account associated
with the redeemed
ticket. Virtual tickets can be redeemed via the host crediting a player
account associated with
the redeemed ticket, for example.
[0021] It should be appreciated that the embodiments of the present disclosure
described
herein can be implemented in accordance with or in conjunction with one or
more of a variety
of different types of game systems, each having one or more of a plurality of
different
features, attributes, or characteristics. It should be appreciated that a
"game system" as used
herein refers to various configurations of: (a) one or more central servers,
central controllers,
or remote hosts, such as host 49 in Fig. 3; (b) one or more vending units,
such as units 35 in
Fig. 3; and/or (c) one or more personal gaming devices, such as desktop
computers, laptop
computers, tablet computers or computing devices, personal digital assistants
(PDAs), mobile
telephones such as smart phones, and other mobile computing devices, as
illustrated at 33 in
Fig. 3.
[0022] Thus, in various embodiments, the game system of the present disclosure
can
include: (a) one or more vending units in combination with one or more central
servers,
central controllers, or remote hosts; (b) one or more personal gaming devices
in combination
with one or more central servers, central controllers, or remote hosts; (c)
one or more personal
gaming devices in combination with one or more vending units; (d) one or more
personal
gaming devices, one or more vending units, and one or more central servers,
central
controllers, or remote hosts in combination with one another; (e) a single
vending unit; (f) a
plurality of vending units in combination with one another; (g) a single
personal gaming
device; (h) a plurality of personal gaming devices in combination with one
another; (i) a
single central server, central controller, or remote host; and/or (j) a
plurality of central servers,
central controllers, or remote hosts in combination with one another.
[0023] For brevity and clarity, each vending unit and each personal gaming
device of the
present disclosure can be referred to herein as a "gaming device."
Additionally, for brevity
and clarity, unless specifically stated otherwise, "gaming device" as used
herein represents
one gaming device or a plurality of gaming devices, and "central server,
central controller, or
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remote host" as used herein represents one central server, central controller,
or remote host or
a plurality of central servers, central controllers, or remote hosts.
[0024] In various embodiments, the game system includes a gaming device in
combination
with a central server, central controller, or remote host. In such
embodiments, the gaming
device is configured to communicate with the central server, central
controller, or remote host
through a data network or remote communication link. In certain such
embodiments, the
gaming device is configured to communicate with another gaming device through
the same
data network or remote communication link or through a different data network
or remote
communication link. For example, the game system illustrated in FIG. 3
includes a plurality
of gaming devices 33, 35 that are each configured to communicate with a
central server,
central controller, or remote host 49 through a data network 75.
[0025] In certain embodiments in which the game system includes a central
server, central
controller, or remote host, the central server, central controller, or remote
host is any suitable
computing device (such as a server) that includes at least one processor and
at least one
memory device or storage device. Fig. 3 illustrates four storage devices,
including a games
database 71, an available performer database 72, a replacement performer
database 73 and a
purchased tickets database 74. As further described below, the gaming device
includes at
least one gaming device processor configured to transmit and receive data or
signals
representing events, messages, commands, or any other suitable information
between the
gaming device and the central server, central controller, or remote host. The
at least one
processor of such a gaming device is configured to execute the events,
messages, or
commands represented by such data or signals in conjunction with the operation
of the
gaming device. Moreover, the at least one processor of the central server,
central controller,
or remote host is configured to transmit and receive data or signals
representing events,
messages, commands, or any other suitable information between the central
server, central
controller, or remote host and the gaming device. The at least one processor
of the central
server, central controller, or remote host is configured to execute the
events, messages, or
commands represented by such data or signals in conjunction with the operation
of the central
server, central controller, or remote host. It should be appreciated that one,
more, or each of
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the functions of the central server, central controller, or remote host may be
performed by the
at least one processor of the gaming device. It should be further appreciated
that one, more,
or each of the functions of the at least one processor of the gaming device
may be performed
by the at least one processor of the central server, central controller, or
remote host.
[0026] In certain embodiments, computerized instructions for controlling any
games or
game content displayed by the gaming device are executed by the central
server, central
controller, or remote host. In such "thin client" embodiments, the central
server, central
controller, or remote host remotely controls any games or game content (or
other suitable
interfaces) displayed by the gaming device, and the gaming device is used to
display such
games or game content (or suitable interfaces) and to receive one or more
inputs or
commands. In other embodiments, computerized instructions for controlling any
games or
game content displayed by the gaming device are communicated from the central
server,
central controller, or remote host to the gaming device and are stored in at
least one memory
device of the gaming device. In such "thick client" embodiments, the at least
one processor
of the gaming device executes the computerized instructions to control any
games or game
content (or other suitable interfaces) displayed by the gaming device.
[0027] In various embodiments in which the game system includes a plurality of
gaming
devices, one or more of the gaming devices are thin client gaming devices and
one or more of
the gaming devices are thick client gaming devices. In other embodiments in
which the game
system includes one or more gaming devices, certain functions of one or more
of the gaming
devices are implemented in a thin client environment, and certain other
functions of one or
more of the gaming devices are implemented in a thick client environment. In
one such
embodiment in which the game system includes a gaming device and a central
server, central
controller, or remote host, computerized instructions for controlling any
primary or base
games displayed by the gaming device are communicated from the central server,
central
controller, or remote host to the gaming device in a thick client
configuration, and
computerized instructions for controlling any functions displayed by the
gaming device are
executed by the central server, central controller, or remote host in a thin
client configuration.
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[0028] In certain embodiments in which the game system includes: (a) a gaming
device
configured to communicate with a central server, central controller, or remote
host through a
data network; and/or (b) a plurality of gaming devices configured to
communicate with one
another through a data network, the data network is a local area network (LAN)
in which the
gaming devices are located substantially proximate to one another and/or the
central server,
central controller, or remote host. In one example, the gaming devices and the
central server,
central controller, or remote host are located in a gaming establishment or a
portion of a
gaming establishment.
[0029] In other embodiments in which the game system includes: (a) a gaming
device
configured to communicate with a central server, central controller, or remote
host through a
data network; and/or (b) a plurality of gaming devices configured to
communicate with one
another through a data network, the data network is a wide area network (WAN)
in which one
or more of the gaming devices are not necessarily located substantially
proximate to another
one of the gaming devices and/or the central server, central controller, or
remote host. For
example, one or more of the gaming devices are located: (a) in an area of a
gaming
establishment different from an area of the gaming establishment in which the
central server,
central controller, or remote host is located; or (b) in a gaming
establishment different from
the gaming establishment in which the central server, central controller, or
remote host is
located. In another example, the central server, central controller, or remote
host is not
located within a gaming establishment in which the gaming devices are located.
It should be
appreciated that in certain embodiments in which the data network is a WAN,
the game
system includes a central server, central controller, or remote host and a
gaming device each
located in a different gaming establishment in a same geographic area, such as
the same city
or the same state. It should be appreciated that game systems in which the
data network is a
WAN are substantially identical to game systems in which the data network is a
LAN, though
the quantity of gaming devices in such gaming systems may vary relative to one
another.
[0030] In further embodiments in which the game system includes: (a) a gaming
device
configured to communicate with a central server, central controller, or remote
host through a
data network; and/or (b) a plurality of gaming devices configured to
communicate with one
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another through a data network, the data network is an internet or an
intranet. In certain such
embodiments, an internet browser of the gaming device is usable to access an
internet game
page from any location where an internet connection is available. In one such
embodiment,
after the internet game page is accessed, the central server, central
controller, or remote host
identifies a player prior to enabling that player to place any wagers on any
plays of any
wagering games. In one example, the central server, central controller, or
remote host
identifies the player by requiring a player account of the player to be logged
into via an input
of a unique username and password combination assigned to the player. It
should be
appreciated, however, that the central server, central controller, or remote
host may identify
the player in any other suitable manner, such as by validating a player
tracking identification
number associated with the player; by reading a player tracking card or other
smart card
inserted into a card reader (as described below); by validating a unique
player identification
number associated with the player by the central server, central controller,
or remote host; or
by identifying the gaming device, such as by identifying the MAC address or
the IP address of
the internet facilitator. In various embodiments, once the central server,
central controller, or
remote host identifies the player, the central server, central controller, or
remote host enables
placement of one or more wagers and/or ticket requests associated with the
present disclosure,
and displays those requested wagers and/or ticket requests via the internet
browser of the
gaming device.
[0031] It should be appreciated that the central server, central
controller, or remote host and
the gaming device are configured to connect to the data network or remote
communications
link in any suitable manner. In various embodiments, such a connection is
accomplished via:
a conventional phone line or other data transmission line, a digital
subscriber line (DSL), a T-
1 line, a coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, a wireless or wired routing
device, a mobile
communications network connection (such as a cellular network or mobile
internet network),
or any other suitable medium. It should be appreciated that the expansion in
the quantity of
computing devices and the quantity and speed of internet connections in recent
years
increases opportunities for players to use a variety of gaming devices to play
games from an
ever-increasing quantity of remote sites. It should also be appreciated that
the enhanced
bandwidth of digital wireless communications may render such technology
suitable for some
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or all communications, particularly if such communications are encrypted.
Higher data
transmission speeds may be useful for enhancing the sophistication and
response of the
display and interaction with players.
[0032] In various embodiments, a gaming device includes at least one processor
configured
to operate with at least one memory device, at least one input device, and at
least one output
device. The at least one processor may be any suitable processing device or
set of processing
devices, such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller-based platform, a
suitable integrated
circuit, or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The
at least one
processor of the gaming device is configured to communicate with, configured
to access, and
configured to exchange signals with the at least one memory device or data
storage device. In
various embodiments, the at least one memory device of the gaming device
includes random
access memory (RAM), which can include non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), magnetic RAM
(MRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), and other forms as commonly understood. In
other
embodiments, the at least one memory device includes read only memory (ROM).
In certain
embodiments, the at least one memory device of the gaming device includes
flash memory
and/or EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read only memory). It should
be
appreciated that any other suitable magnetic, optical, and/or semiconductor
memory may
operate in conjunction with the gaming devices disclosed herein.
[0033] In various embodiments, the gaming device includes one or more input
devices.
The input devices may include any suitable device that enables an input signal
to be produced
and received by the at least one processor of the gaming device. One input
device of the
gaming device is a payment device configured to communicate with the at least
one processor
of the gaming device to fund the gaming device. In certain embodiments, the
payment device
includes one or more of: (a) a bill acceptor into which paper money is
inserted to fund the
gaming device; (b) a ticket acceptor into which a ticket or a voucher is
inserted to fund the
gaming device; (c) a coin slot into which coins or tokens are inserted to fund
the gaming
device; (d) a reader or a validator for credit cards, debit cards, or credit
slips into which a
credit card, debit card, or credit slip is inserted to fund the gaming device;
(e) a player
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identification card reader into which a player identification card is inserted
to fund the gaming
device; or (f) any suitable combination thereof.
[0034] In certain embodiments, one input device of the gaming device is a
touch-screen
coupled to a touch-screen controller or other touch-sensitive display overlay
to enable
interaction with any images displayed on a display device (as described
below). One such
input device is a conventional touch-screen button panel. The touch-screen and
the touch-
screen controller are connected to a video and/or display controller. In these
embodiments,
signals are input to the gaming device by touching the touch screen at the
appropriate
locations.
[0035] The at least one memory device of the host can store operating data,
such as image
data, event data, input data, random number generators (RNGs) or pseudo-RNGs,
paytable
data or information, and/or applicable game rules that relate to the play of
one or more games
as described herein. Such data and/or programming can be stored, for example,
in the games
database 71 according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0036] As referenced above, the host 49 can operate in connection with various
databases
(e.g., 71, 72, 73 and/or 74) for facilitating operation of the game system 10
described herein.
For instance, the host can establish a pool of available real-life performers,
wherein the pool
of available real-life performers includes identification information for a
number of available
real-life performers. As noted above, the identification information can
include, for example,
the performer's name, position and team identifier. The host can also
establish a pool of
replacement real-life performers, wherein this separate pool includes
identification
information for a number of replacement real-life performers. In various
embodiments, the
replacement players may or may not be employed for a given game or winning
ticket
determination, and can generally be deemed to be replacements or "backups" for
the
"starters" who are stored as available real-life performers. Whenever a game
ticket request is
made, such as by a user of a gaming device (e.g., 33 or 35), the host receives
the request, and
generates a subset of the available real-life performers to be used as game
play information
for the requested ticket. The generated subset can be randomly generated, or
can be
specifically selected by the user or the host. In the event of random
selection, the user may be
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provided with an option to accept the initially randomly selected subset of
performers, or have
the host re-select another subset of performers. For example, if the user does
not wish to
complete the purchase of the ticket based on the originally generated subset
of performers, the
user can request that the host generate a subset that is different from the
originally generated
subset as many times as desired in order to receive a subset that is
acceptable for purchase. In
various embodiments, the host randomly selects one performer per position from
the pool of
available real-life performers for each ticket. The number of available
performer positions
can differ from sport to sport. The tickets can be issued as a physical
ticket, which may be
printed by a gaming device (e.g., vending devices 35), or as a virtual ticket
accessible via
another gaming device (e.g., devices 33).
[0037] The issued ticket(s) include game play information including multiple
real-life
performers randomly selected from the pool of available real-life performers,
as indicated at
17 in Fig. 1. The identification information associated with each real-life
performer is shown
in Fig.1, including the performer's name 29, position 21 and team identifier
23. The team
identifier may be a geographic name as opposed to a team nickname, for
example. In the
embodiment shown in Fig. 1, five different performers are shown with mutually
exclusive
positions. It will be appreciated that it is possible for different tickets to
share the same player
and/or full set of players. As further shown in Fig. 1 and described above,
the issued ticket 15
includes a time of entry reference 18 indicating when the ticket was
purchased, issued and/or
printed, a drawing reference number 36, a ticket number 37, a barcode or other
type of human
non-readable code 38 and a human readable code 39. Each of elements 18, 36,
37, 38 and 39
provides a way of uniquely identifying and/or referencing the specific ticket
issued by the
host for later validation purposes when the ticket is presented for
redemption, for example,
and can be stored by the host in a database 74 of purchased tickets, along
with an external
event date reference 19 indicating a date by which real-life games are to be
played by the
performers on the issued ticket(s), the performers in the pool of available
real-life performers,
and/or a subset thereof It will be appreciated that the barcode and/or serial
number may also
implement anti-tamper measures, and the ticket may contain additional security
measures.
The ticket may also have other relevant information such as the agent and/or
terminal the
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ticket was generated on, and a range of validation or security measures to
prevent cheating,
for example.
[0038] In various embodiments, the host can identify one or more real-life
games to be
played by the external event date reference and after the time of entry
reference on the
plurality of user tickets. For example, for NFLTM games on any given week,
there may be a
Thursday night game, many Sunday games and a Monday night game. Thus, if a
ticket is
purchased and issued on a Tuesday of a typical NFLTM game week, the time
reference 18
would indicate Tuesday at a specific time, for example, and the external event
date reference
19 would indicate the following Monday as a date by which real-life games are
to be played
by the performers. In various embodiments, and prior to the external event
date, the host can
determine whether any of the game play information of each of the user tickets
includes at
least one performer who is unavailable to participate in the identified one or
more real-life
games. This may occur, for example, when a performer becomes injured,
suspended or
otherwise unavailable between the time of ticket purchase and the date
reference. Such
information can be learned through various external information sources 58
accessible via
network 75, for example. In various embodiments, an external system 58 such as
a trusted
and certified sports data provider (e.g., stats.com) can be employed to verify
or update
performer status, and to verify or acquire statistical results in determining
game outcomes. In
such occasion, and for each of the user tickets including at least one
performer who is
determined to be unavailable to participate in the identified one or more real-
life games, the
host can select a specific replacement real-life performer from the pool of
replacement real-
life performers and update the game play information associated with each of
the affected
user tickets. Such an update can include replacing the performer who is
unavailable with the
selected replacement performer, and storing the update in the database of
purchased tickets.
According to various embodiments, the replacement performer is selected to
have the same
position as the position of the performer being replaced. Further, according
to various
embodiments, the replacement performer is selected based on having the same
team identifier
as the team associated with the performer being replaced. Such operation helps
ensure that
each ticket has a full complement of performers that will actually be expected
to perform or
participate in the identified games.
14
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[0039] In various embodiments, a replacement ticket can be issued after a
replacement
performer has been selected to replace one of the originally available real-
life performers.
Whether a replacement ticket is issued can depend upon the timing of the
replacement
performer being selected, the form of the original ticket (e.g., physical or
virtual) and the
availability of the ticket holder to access suitable replacement ticket
issuing devices, among
other things. For instance, in the embodiments where a virtual ticket has been
issued, the host
can issue a replacement ticket virtually depicting the updated grouping of
players on a visual
display of a user gaming device (e.g., 33 in Fig. 3). In the embodiments where
a physical
ticket has been issued, the host can provide for a replacement physical ticket
to be available
upon the ticket holder appearing before a gaming device (e.g., vending device
35 in Fig. 3)
capable of printing a replacement ticket upon proper authentication being
provided. For
example, if a ticket holder has an original ticket with five original
performers identified, and
one of the original performers is replaced as described herein, the ticket
holder may be
enabled to present the barcode or other identifying information from the
ticket to a ticket
reader associated with a gaming device as described herein, and have the
gaming device
communicate with the host to determine that the ticket is one which now
includes a
replacement performer. At such time, the host can instruct the gaming device
to print a
replacement ticket showing the five actual performers whose score will be
determined for
purposes of assessing whether the ticket has won, as described elsewhere
herein. Fig. 5
illustrates an original ticket 15 with an original time reference 18, showing
five players
including Cam Newton, the quarterback of the Carolina Panthers. Fig. 5 also
illustrates a
replacement ticket 115 with a new time reference 118, showing four of the five
players from
the original ticket 15, but wherein Cam Newton has been replaced by Derek
Anderson, who is
the "backup" quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. Such a replacement ticket
115 can be
issued, for example, if the system learns that Cam Newton will be unavailable
to play in the
designated week's games due to injury or some other reason. Regardless of
whether a
replacement ticket is issued, the ticket will be assessed for a winning status
based on the
performers stored in the purchased ticket database at the external event date
reference (i.e.,
when the outcome determinative external events occur). Thus, as described
above, a subset of
issued tickets for a game according to embodiments of the game system may be a
winner even
CA 02957713 2017-02-10
though none of the performers listed on the originally issued ticket are
determined to have the
highest score for their identified position.
[0040] Once any replacement performers are selected and stored, and once the
external
event date reference 19 has arrived and/or passed, the host can operate to
receive real-life
statistical performance information associated with the performance of the
available real-life
performers, whether randomly selected for any tickets or not, as well as for
the selected
specific replacement performers for the games covered by the associated time
period. As a
specific example, a quarterback for a football team can be tracked according
to rushing
touchdowns scored, yards thrown, touchdown passes thrown, etc. A baseball
player can be
tracked according to runs, hits, home runs, runs batted in and other
categories. A race horse
can be tracked according to whether the horse wins, places or shows. Real-
world, non-sports
performances can also be tracked, such as the weather, the stock market and
other real-world
events. Such information can be obtained through online external sources 58,
as indicated
elsewhere herein. A sample display 20 on a mobile device 22 of the statistical
leaders 24 for
events associated with the event time reference is shown in Fig. 4. The
results can be made
available actively such as by pushing a notification to users, or passively
such as by
displaying the results online or at retail stores, for example.
[0041] The host can further determine a fantasy performance score for all of
the available
performers and the selected replacement performers based upon the received
real-life
statistical performance information, and can then determine whether each of
the tickets is a
winner by comparing each performer associated with each ticket with all
performers having
the same position who participated in the identified games for the given time
period, for
example. As a specific example, for the ticket 15 of Fig. 1, and using the
results displayed on
the display 20 in Fig. 4, the user would have one a single time based upon the
running back,
D. Freeman, accumulating the most points for his position based on the real-
life statistical
performance information for the given time period. In this way, embodiments of
the game
system and method can assess whether each ticket has lost, won a single time
or won multiple
times. In various embodiments, each performer's role or position can be judged
according to
a single statistical metric or multiple metrics. Prizes can be awarded based
on the number of
16
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highest scoring performers on a single ticket, for example. For example, total
points scored
may be used as the metric to evaluate the performance of each football
performer. In other
embodiments, each position can be judged according to multiple metrics that
are converted to
a common metric. For example, a quarterback can earn game points by scoring
rushing
touchdowns or throwing passing touchdowns. If, for example, a quarterback
scores one
rushing touchdown and throws one passing touchdown, and the game provides for
six game
points for a rushing touchdown and four game points for a passing touchdown,
the
quarterback will have earned ten game points. The -game points" are the common
metric
used to measure the performance of each of the performers during the game.
[0042] In various embodiments, the game system and method operate such that
replacement
players are not employed. In such embodiments, the host receives real-life
statistical
performance information associated with the performance of all available real-
life performers
in the games played as of the external event date on the tickets, regardless
of whether each
real-life performer has been selected for any tickets. The host then
determines a fantasy
performance score for each of the available real-life performers based upon
the received real-
life statistical performance information, and determines whether the
determined fantasy
performance score for each performer on the user ticket exceeds the determined
fantasy
performance score of all of the available real-life performers having a common
position.
[0043] In various other embodiments, replacement performers for any performers
deemed
unavailable after the issuance of a ticket are not specifically identified
based upon being from
the same team and at the same position, but are randomly selected by the host
from a subset of
available performers in the pool of available performers having the same
position as the
player deemed to be unavailable. In still other embodiments, replacement
performers are
randomly selected by the host from all available performers in the pool of
available
performers, regardless of team or position.
[0044] Among other things as described herein, the game database 71 can store
information
pertaining to available games for selection, including graphic designs,
sports' performer
names and positions, non-sports performers, available wager amounts, odds and
other game-
related elements. In various embodiments, the pool of available performers can
be stored in
17
CA 02957713 2017-02-10
database 72 and can be initially populated with various players/performers who
play various
positions in various sports. For example, the set of football players included
in the games
database 71 may include, for example, thirty-two quarterbacks, thirty-two wide
receivers,
thirty-two running backs, thirty-two tight ends and thirty-two kickers from
the National
Football LeagueTM. In various embodiments, the number of players employed in
the pool of
available performers for each position includes at least the best perceived
player from each
team in the league (e.g., from thirty-two NFLTM teams, thirty NHLTM teams,
thirty MLBTM
teams and thirty NBATM teams). In various embodiments, an external source 58
can provide
updates to the games database 71 on a regular basis to account for any players
who may have
been injured, cut or otherwise rendered unavailable for play in real-world
events. In this way,
the database 71 remains accurate and the system avoids potentially populating
a user's ticket
with a player who is unable to play and earn points. In various embodiments,
the pool of
replacement performers is stored in database 73 and is initially populated
with various
performers who are deemed to be the first "backup" to the performers in the
available
performers database 72.
100451 In operation, a user may be presented with a game selection display
from which to
choose a sport in which to wager on for a wagering game associated with the
present
invention. The selection display may be presented, for example, on a display
of the user's
computing device 33, on a display of a self-service operated kiosk vending
device 35, or on a
display of a retailer-operated vending device 35, wherein the user selects the
game by
communicating with a sales clerk operating the device 35, for example. In
response to a user
selecting a specific game, such as a football fantasy game, for example, the
host 49 operates a
randomizer engine to randomly select a subset of real-life performers from the
pool of
available real-life performers corresponding to the selected game. The subset
can comprise
one player per position. For example, for a football-themed game, one player
is randomly
chosen from the thirty-two quarterbacks, one player is randomly chosen from
the thirty-two
wide receivers, one player is randomly chosen from the thirty-two running
backs, one player
is randomly chosen from the thirty-two tight ends, and one player is randomly
chosen from
the thirty-two kickers. It will be appreciated that the system can operate
such that the
plurality of performers randomly selected in response to the user's request
include at least two
18
CA 02957713 2017-02-10
performers having different player positions within the same sport. It will
also be appreciated
that the element of time is involved in operating the system, as one player's
performance will
generally change in real life on a game-by-game basis. A time of entry
reference is also
determined by the host according to the date and time when the ticket was
purchased and/or
issued, and this reference is communicated along with the randomly selected
players to the
vending device 35 and/or user device 33 for reference on the issued ticket.
100461 As described elsewhere herein, the user can be issued a ticket by
having a physical
ticket printed by or through use of the vending device 35 and/or user device
33.
Alternatively, a virtual ticket can be displayed on such devices 35, 33 and
optionally printed
thereafter as desired by the user. The ticket can be obtained at a retail
location, through a
website, through a mobile application, in a team store, and other physical and
virtual
locations. The issued ticket displays the randomly selected performers and the
time of entry
reference. As noted above, the issued ticket can include an external event
date reference,
which indicates when the external events will be played that will determine
the outcome of
the ticket game. When the external, real-world events transpire associated
with the game,
such as the games held as of the external event date, a determination can be
made by the host
as to whether the user has won based on accumulated fantasy score formulations
for the
performers in the subset issued on the ticket. For instance, a football-themed
ticket may
include five performers, wherein the quarterback earned four points, the
running back earned
twenty-three points, the wide receiver earned nine points, the tight end
earned seven points,
and the kicker earned ten points. In this example, the total ticket points
would be fifty-three
points. Winnings can be awarded in a number of ways. For example, winnings can
be
awarded based on any individual performer at a given position having the
highest total from
among all other performers for the given position in the set of performers in
the game
database 71. Thus, for example, if the twenty-three points for the running
back exceeded the
individual points earned by any other individual running back, the ticket may
be a winner. As
another example, winnings can be awarded based on the total points earned for
each ticket.
As another example, winnings can be awarded based on the number of players on
the ticket
who earned the most points for their position for the given time frame, or who
earned
somewhere in the top five players for their position for the given time frame.
In a football-
19
CA 02957713 2017-02-10
themed game, the given time reference may be weekly National Football LeagueTM
games. In
a baseball-, basketball-, or hockey-themed game, the given time reference may
be for daily
real-world games.
[0047] In various embodiments, the odds of winning vary based on the number of
teams in
each draw, and prize payouts are handled on a pari-mutuel basis. Fixed prizes
can also be
provided in various other embodiments. In various other embodiments,
additional prizes can
be awarded over the course of a longer time period, such as the running back
with the most
points over the course of a football season involving multiple games, for
example. Actual
outcomes of real-world events (e.g., player performances in football games)
determine point
totals for each ticket, and these outcomes can be measured by an external,
certified statistical
authority as described elsewhere herein.
[0048] According to various embodiments, methods associated with the
present disclosure
can operate as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. As shown in Fig. 6, an exemplary
method can first
establish a pool of available real-life performers, as at step 90. This pool
can include one or
more pools divided into subsets based upon sport or underlying external event.
For instance,
there can be a baseball pool, a football pool, etc. The pool includes
identification information
for real-life performers, including name, position and team, for example, as
described above.
As at step 91, the host can receive a selection from a gaming device to play a
game with a
subset of the performers in the pool. For example, a user can select a
football game on a
gaming device, whereupon the football subset includes all of the available
real-life football
players in the pool for the game, and wherein the user wishes to receive a
subset of
performers from the football pool for the user's ticket as described elsewhere
herein. As at
step 92, the host can randomly determine the subset of performers (in
football, in this
example), for inclusion as game play information on the user's ticket. As at
step 93, the host
further associates the determined performers and their respective
identification information
with the user's ticket in a database of purchased tickets. The host can
further associate a time
of entry reference corresponding to the time/date of the user's ticket
purchase with the stored
information in the database of purchased tickets. As at step 94, the requested
ticket is issued
to the user with the determined selections and time of entry reference. The
ticket issuance can
CA 02957713 2017-02-10
be in the form of a physical ticket or a virtual ticket as described elsewhere
herein. As at step
95, the host then receives statistical information pertaining to the actual
performances of the
performers in the pool, including the statistical information associated with
the performers
identified on the issued ticket, as described elsewhere herein. As at step 96,
the host further
determines statistical leaders for the performers in evaluating whether the
ticket is a winner.
As described elsewhere herein, such determination can be, for example, for
each performer
associated with each ticket, an assessment of whether the fantasy score total
for such
performer exceeds the fantasy score total for all performers of the same
position in the
database.
[0049] As shown in Fig. 7, another exemplary method can first establish a pool
of available
real-life performers, as at step 100, and can further establish a pool of
replacement
performers, as at step 101. As described elsewhere herein, the pool of
replacement
performers can include the anticipated backup players for each of the players
in the pool of
available real-life performers. Thus, in the NFLTM game example, if there are
thirty-two NFL
teams, there may be thirty-two starting quarterbacks in the pool of available
real-life
performers, and thirty-two backup quarterbacks in the pool of replacement
performers. As at
step 102, the host can receive a selection from a gaming device to play a game
with a subset
of the performers in the pool, such as described in connection with Fig. 6 and
elsewhere
herein. As at step 103, the host can randomly determine the subset of
performers, and can
further determine the time/date of the user's ticket purchase for use as a
time of entry
reference for the ticket game. As at step 104, the requested ticket is issued
to the user with the
determined selections and time of entry reference. As at step 105, the host
further associates
the determined performers and their respective identification information with
the user's
ticket in a database of purchased tickets. The host can further associate the
time of entry
reference with the stored information in the database of purchased tickets. As
at step 106, the
host 49 can then determine whether a status change has occurred for one or
more of the
performers, such as by receiving official announcement from an external
source, such as the
sports league or sports information services. If no status changes have
occurred as of the date
the games involving the performers are to be played, then as at step 107, the
host receives
statistical information pertaining to the actual performances of the
performers in the pool,
21
CA 02957713 2017-02-10
including the statistical information associated with the performers
identified on the issued
ticket, and as at step 108, the host further determines statistical leaders
for the performers in
evaluating whether the ticket is a winner, as described elsewhere herein. On
the other hand, if
one or more status changes are received, the host determines any affected
tickets as at step
109, identifies a replacement performer as at step 110, and then associates
the identified
replacement performer with the ticket as at step 105. The status change
determination cycle
continues until the external event date arrives, at which time the game is
conducted and
statistical determinations are made, as exemplified by steps 107 and 108.
Thus, the originally
issued ticket and any subsequently issued ticket has game play information
that is modifiable
after issuance of the original ticket. In various embodiments as described
elsewhere herein,
upon a replacement performer being substituted for one of the originally
determined available
performers, a replacement ticket may optionally be issued to the user.
[0050] The host 49 may be responsible to provide redemption information, prize
information, and other information to the gaming devices. Optionally, the
gaming devices,
host, and tickets are designed with verification, validation, and/or anti-
cheating mechanisms
to ensure game integrity. In the embodiments with a computer readable code
(e.g., barcode
38 and/or human readable code 39) on the ticket, this code may be used to
validate the ticket,
or for a machine to read the contents of the ticket. The example embodiment
may also
include security and/or anti-tampering technologies. The host 49 may be
configured,
responsive to the tender of a ticket in the first, second or fourth subsets
identified above for
redemption at a terminal, to transmit an indication to the terminal that the
ticket should be
redeemed for a prize.
[0051] It will be appreciated that tickets according to the present
disclosure can include
instructions on how to play the game printed thereon. These instructions
include information
indicating how to determine what prize, if any, the example ticket qualifies
for. The ticket
also may include information that indicates the cost of the ticket, the name
of the game, and
prizes available in the game, for example.
[0052] Unless otherwise stated, devices or components of the present
disclosure that are in
communication with each other do not need to be in continuous communication
with each
other. Further, devices or components in communication with other devices or
components
22
CA 02957713 2017-02-10
can communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediate
devices, components
or other intermediaries. Further, descriptions of embodiments of the present
disclosure herein
wherein several devices and/or components are described as being in
communication with one
another does not imply that all such components are required, or that each of
the disclosed
components must communicate with every other component. In addition, while
algorithms,
process steps and/or method steps may be described in a sequential order, such
approaches
can be configured to work in different orders. In other words, any ordering of
steps described
herein does not, standing alone, dictate that the steps be performed in that
order. The steps
associated with methods and/or processes as described herein can be performed
in any order
practical. Additionally, some steps can be performed simultaneously or
substantially
simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-
simultaneously.
[0053] Furthermore, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of a
computer
program product embodied in one or more computer readable media having
computer
readable program code embodied thereon.
[0054] Where databases are described in the present disclosure, it will be
appreciated that
alternative database structures to those described, as well as other memory
structures besides
databases may be readily employed. The drawing figure representations and
accompanying
descriptions of any exemplary databases presented herein are illustrative and
not restrictive
arrangements for stored representations of data. Further, any exemplary
entries of tables and
parameter data represent example information only, and, despite any depiction
of the
databases as tables, other formats (including relational databases, object-
based models and/or
distributed databases) can be used to store, process and otherwise manipulate
the data types
described herein. Electronic storage can be local or remote storage, as will
be understood to
those skilled in the art. Appropriate encryption and other security
methodologies can also be
employed by the system of the present disclosure, as will be understood to one
of ordinary
skill in the art.
[00551 The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing
from the
spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are
therefore to be
considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of
the invention being
23
CA 02957713 2017-02-10
indicated by the claims of the application rather than by the foregoing
description, and all
changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims
are therefore
intended to be embraced therein.
24
