US6015345A — Conducting games of chance using predicted sum of…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 273 words

A method of conducting games of chance in conjunction with a plurality of regularly-scheduled sporting events between competing teams for awarding prizes to participants that meet predetermined requirements, the method comprising the steps of: (a) issuing to participants game cards that identify a plurality of principal team sporting events to be played by a specified time and that include blank delineated spaces that correspond to pre-selected fields of information for the entry of indicia corresponding to the predicted numerical value of the sum of the final scores of the competing teams for each event; (b) receiving from the participants prior to the specified time, game cards that have the delineated spaces marked with indicia corresponding to the predicted numerical value of the sum of the final scores of the competing teams for each of the events, and the participants' prescribed entry fee; (c) entering the predicted numerical value of the sum of the final scores of the competing terms indicated on the cards into the memory of a programmed digital computing device in association with a unique data entry transaction code; (d) issuing to each participant a printed confirmation of the entry of the predicted numerical value of the scores of the competing teams and the data entry transaction code; (e) entering the actual numerical score value totals from each of the principal sporting events into the memory of the digital computing device; (f) employing the computing device to identify the data entry transaction code of the score predictions of any participants that meet predetermined requirements for winning a prize; and (g) publishing the data entry transaction code of any prize-winning score predictions.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 273 words

A method of conducting games of chance in conjunction with a plurality of regularly-scheduled sporting events between competing teams for awarding prizes to participants that meet predetermined requirements, the method comprising the steps of: (a) issuing to participants game cards that identify a plurality of principal team sporting events to be played by a specified time and that include blank delineated spaces that correspond to pre-selected fields of information for the entry of indicia corresponding to the predicted numerical value of the sum of the final scores of the competing teams for each event; (b) receiving from the participants prior to the specified time, game cards that have the delineated spaces marked with indicia corresponding to the predicted numerical value of the sum of the final scores of the competing teams for each of the events, and the participants' prescribed entry fee; (c) entering the predicted numerical value of the sum of the final scores of the competing terms indicated on the cards into the memory of a programmed digital computing device in association with a unique data entry transaction code; (d) issuing to each participant a printed confirmation of the entry of the predicted numerical value of the scores of the competing teams and the data entry transaction code; (e) entering the actual numerical score value totals from each of the principal sporting events into the memory of the digital computing device; (f) employing the computing device to identify the data entry transaction code of the score predictions of any participants that meet predetermined requirements for winning a prize; and (g) publishing the data entry transaction code of any prize-winning score predictions.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 1 where the sporting events are selected from the group consisting of baseball, basketball, football, volleyball and hockey games.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 2 where the sporting events are baseball games and the total points scored for each event is the sum of the runs scored by the opposing teams.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1 where the sporting events are played on the same day of the week.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 1 where the game cards include at least one alternate sporting event to replace any principal sporting event that is not completed.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 1 where the printed confirmation is entered on the game card.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 1 where the value of any prize that is not awarded during the play of one series of sporting events is added to the value of the lottery prize for a subsequent series of sporting events.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 1 where the completed game card contains more than one predicted total score for one or more of the sporting events and the prescribed entry fee is greater than a game with only one predicted total score for each of the sporting events.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 1 where the transaction code is comprised of alpha-numeric characters.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 1 where the game cards are issued with spaces that include spaces for entries corresponding to predicted total scores for at least one intermediate period of play during the course of each event.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 10 where the sporting event is basketball and the intermediate period of play is selected from the first half and second half, or both the first and second halves.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 215 words

A game of chance played in conjunction with a plurality of like sporting events, which events are to be played by a specified date, said game comprising: (a) game cards identifying a plurality of principal team sporting events to be played by a specified date, a preselected field of information pertaining to said sporting events, and delineated blank spaces that correspond to preselected fields of information appearing on the game card for entry of indicia corresponding to the predicted numerical value of the sum of the final scores for each event; (b) means for entering information in digital form from game cards completed by participants into a central pre-programmed computer processing system; (c) means for issuing a receipt to participants confirming the entry into the computer system of information from a participant's game card and assigning a unique transaction code to the data entered; (d) means for entering into the computer system information comprising the numerical value of the sum of the final actual scores following completion of each of the principal sporting events and comparing the numerical value of the sum of the actual final scores with the final predicted numerical value of the sum of the scores to identify any prize-winning predictions; (e) means for publishing the transaction code of any prize-winning predictions.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 215 words

A game of chance played in conjunction with a plurality of like sporting events, which events are to be played by a specified date, said game comprising: (a) game cards identifying a plurality of principal team sporting events to be played by a specified date, a preselected field of information pertaining to said sporting events, and delineated blank spaces that correspond to preselected fields of information appearing on the game card for entry of indicia corresponding to the predicted numerical value of the sum of the final scores for each event; (b) means for entering information in digital form from game cards completed by participants into a central pre-programmed computer processing system; (c) means for issuing a receipt to participants confirming the entry into the computer system of information from a participant's game card and assigning a unique transaction code to the data entered; (d) means for entering into the computer system information comprising the numerical value of the sum of the final actual scores following completion of each of the principal sporting events and comparing the numerical value of the sum of the actual final scores with the final predicted numerical value of the sum of the scores to identify any prize-winning predictions; (e) means for publishing the transaction code of any prize-winning predictions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

The game of claim 12 where the sporting events are selected from the group consisting of baseball, football, basketball and hockey.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

The game of claim 13 where the sporting events are the world series of major league baseball.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The game of claim 12 where the means for entering information is a personal computer connected via the Internet to the central pre-programmed computer processing system.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

The game of claim 12 where at least six principal team sporting events are identified on the game cards.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The game of claim 12 where at least one alternate sporting event is identified on the game cards.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 160 words

Apparatus for conducting games of chance in conjunction with a plurality of like sporting events, which events are to be played by a specified date, the apparatus comprising: (a) a computer system comprising a central processor pre-programmed for analyzing input data and out-putting information relevant to the lottery; (b) a plurality of remote terminals connected to the pre-programmed central processor for entering data and issuing receipts to lottery participants; (c) game cards identifying a plurality of principal team sporting events to be played by a specified date, said game cards provided with blank spaces for entry of a number or an indicia corresponding to the predicted numerical value of the sum of the final scores of the competing teams for each of the sporting events; and (d) receipts generated by the remote terminals, each of said receipts including a printed record of the entry fee paid, the data entered and a unique data entry transaction code for each game card.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 160 words

Apparatus for conducting games of chance in conjunction with a plurality of like sporting events, which events are to be played by a specified date, the apparatus comprising: (a) a computer system comprising a central processor pre-programmed for analyzing input data and out-putting information relevant to the lottery; (b) a plurality of remote terminals connected to the pre-programmed central processor for entering data and issuing receipts to lottery participants; (c) game cards identifying a plurality of principal team sporting events to be played by a specified date, said game cards provided with blank spaces for entry of a number or an indicia corresponding to the predicted numerical value of the sum of the final scores of the competing teams for each of the sporting events; and (d) receipts generated by the remote terminals, each of said receipts including a printed record of the entry fee paid, the data entered and a unique data entry transaction code for each game card.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 18 where the central processor and the remote terminals are connected by telephone lines.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 18 where the remote terminals are automated and include currency receiving and verification means and means for entry of the data corresponding to predicted scores directly by the participant.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 58 words

The apparatus of claim 20 in which the remote terminals further include means for optically scanning the game cards, recording the data corresponding to the predicted scores or subset values for each sporting event as entered by the participant, printing a unique data entry transaction code on the game card and returning the game card to the participant.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus of claim 21 where the game card comprises a plurality of machine-readable data fields proximate each of the identified sporting events, each of said data fields identifying one numerical digit of total score or subset value for a sporting event.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 18 including display means associated with the remote terminals for displaying data transmitted from the central processor.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 18 where the central processor and the remote terminals are connected via the Internet and the entry fee is paid by credit accounting or debit accounting means selected by the participant.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-01-17	2003-07-19	2004-01-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-01-17	2007-07-19	2008-01-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-01-17	2011-07-19	2012-01-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Conducting games of chance using predicted sum of scores

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