AU2006201150A1

AU2006201150A1 - Interactive tipping system

Info

Publication number: AU2006201150A1
Application number: AU2006201150A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jim Drossos; Anthony Ouliaris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Drossos Jim
Priority date: 2005-03-18
Filing date: 2006-03-20
Publication date: 2006-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-20
Also published as: AU2006201150B2

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

STANDARD

PATENT

Invention Title: Interactive tipping system The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 004786346 2 Interactive Tipping System Field of the invention This invention relates to the area of interactive tipping competitions and in particular, to an interactive competition method whereby contestants can compete against one another via a series of scheduled sporting events to win a prize pool at the end of the competition. In particular practical forms, the invention provides an online tipping system, and a software package for effecting the system.

While the invention relates to and can be applied to a wide range of sporting events such as international football (soccer), Australian Rules football, rugby, basketball, 0 cricket or the like, for convenience it will be discussed herein in terms of the Australian Football League (AFL) competition. This exemplification is of course not limiting on the scope or application of the invention.

Background of the invention There are many tipping competitions for sporting events and in particular, football games. Most of these competitions involve participants registering to compete against each other with the winner being the participant who can pick the highest number of winning teams from the schedule of games or sporting events.

Generally, the points in these competitions are awarded on a point per win basis, where one point is awarded for each correct winning team picked. The disadvantage with this method of tipping is that participants often stick to the favourite teams to ensure they remain in the competition, and those who take risks and make difficult decisions are not rewarded accordingly.

For example, throughout a typical football season, there are many one sided games, with the outcome appearing easy to predict from the outset. Tipsters will often all pick the favourite to win, thereby making the game a 'dead rubber' in the overall scheme of the final competition standings. If the favourite wins, everyone picks up 1 point, and if it loses everyone scores 0 points. Regardless of the result, there is no relative movement 004786346 3 amongst tipsters on the leader board. Given that there are multiple games in a round of a typical football season, many of these become irrelevant from a tipping perspective as a result of the 'dead rubber' concept. Many tipsters lose interest later in a season for the mere fact that they see no way of reeling in the early leaders, who will typically play safe by tipping favourites.

It is an objective of the invention to address this flaw in current practice, with a view to sustaining tipsters' interest as a season progresses.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides a method and system of interactive tipping for sporting events where points awarded are inversely related to the likelihood of a selected outcome of a game.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method of interactive tipping for sports events which includes a plurality of participants who register to compete against each other, a schedule of at least one event in a round of sports events, and a points system whereby points awarded are inversely related to the likelihood of a team winning a particular game whereby the participant with a highest points total at an end of a season is declared a winner.

In another aspect, the invention provides an interactive tipping system for sports events, comprising:registering a plurality of competing participants for a tipping competition conducted by the system; providing each of said registered participant, with:a first schedule of sports events during a first time period, (ii) the identities of competitors in the respective sports events, and 004786346 4 (iii) for each event respective parameters related to the likelihood of one or more outcomes of each sports event in the schedule; recording for each participant the participant's simple selection, with no wager factor, of a predicted outcome in one or more of the sports events in said first schedule; after the outcome of the selected sports events is known, assigning each participant zero points for each incorrect said selection and, for each correct said selection, a points score inversely related to 0 said likelihood of the selected outcome; and repeating steps to for a multiplicity of further schedules of sports events during subsequent time periods wherein the participant with the highest points score total at a predetermined end-time is the winner of said tipping competition.

Steps to are conveniently carried out in a computer, eg a computer or computer system having an installed program for carrying out the aforedescribed tipping system. In one application of the invention, steps to are carried out at a server computer for a computer network, eg the internet, and steps and are carried out when a registered participant logs on to the system via the computer network, whereby said tipping system is an online tipping system.

However, in this or other applications of the invention, the participant's selection of a predicted outcome may be communicated by one or more of mail, telephone, SMS transmission, email, facsimile transmission, PDAs, index networks and 3G networks. More generally, the invention may be conducted by traditional means: registration forms, tip submissions and leaderboard information may be completed manually and sent through mail or fax. Such competitors might be conducted, for example, via sales promotion or newspaper/media sponsored competitions.

004786346 The network may be a LAN of an organisation or group of organisations whereby registered participants are employees of or are otherwise associated with the organisation(s).

In the online case, it is preferred that at the time of registration an electronic account is set up for each participant. It is preferred that each electronic account will have a username and password associated with it to enable a participant to access the competition from any remote computer connected to a LAN, or with internet access.

Said parameters may be fixed for the first schedule at a predetermined time 0 before the first played event of the schedule. Alternatively, said parameters may vary up to commencement of the event or of the first played event of the schedule.

The outcomes available for selection by the participant may be limited to a win by either of the competitors in the respective event, or may additionally include one or more of a draw, a tie or no result.

The first and further schedules of sports events preferably comprise two or more separate sports events.

Said parameters preferably comprise or are derived from odds against the respective outcomes determined by an independent source. Alternatively or additionally, the parameters may be derived from the frequency of selection of the outcome by registered participants.

Preferably, the points score for each correct selection is proportional to the odds against the respective outcome determined by a betting or wagering agency.

Alternatively or additionally, the points score for each correct selection may be proportional to the frequency of selection of the outcome by registered participants.

004786346 6 The invention also extends to a computer or computer system having an installed program for carrying out the aforedescribed tipping system, and to a computer software package that, when installed in a computer or computer system having an appropriate operating system, is actuable to effect the aforedescribed tipping system.

Brief description of the drawings I The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying flow chart of the steps involved in operating an online tipping system I according to an embodiment of the invention.

0 Detailed description of the embodiments In this embodiment, the method involves a football tipping competition played over an interactive internet format whereby participants in various remote locations can participate by accessing a host server computer system to compete against each other.

A software package is installed on the server computer system for effecting the online tipping system to be now described in detail.

The method includes first electronically registering a plurality of participants to compete against one another in the football tipping competition. For convenience, and for purposes of exemplification herein, the football competition is the Australian Football League (AFL) competition. The number of participants permitted to register for the competition may be limited to a predetermined number of participants. In addition, participants may join together to form a group or team that is registered to compete against other individual participants or groups.

At the time of registration, an electronic account may be established for each registered participant and an entry fee to play the game may be collected. This fee may contribute to the available prize pool money at the end of the competition. Once all the registrations have been completed prior to the competition and all entrants have been confirmed, the prize amounts for first, second, third and last place will typically be declared prior to the start of the football league's season.

004786346 7 Once payment of the prescribed entry fee has been received from the participant, he or she will be given a username and password to be used in connection with their electronic account which will enable them to access and log onto the host computer via I any remote computer with internet access. Each electronic account can include the personal contact details of the participant such as their name and address, and information relevant to the tipping competition such as weekly selections and points tally.

Participants are typically provided with a draw of the upcoming games for the entire football season on which they are able to "tip" which team will win. The draw is 0 predetermined by the football league and consists of the teams which are members of the league. For each round of eight games, there is a schedule of the games in a given time period, with the identities of the competitors or teams contesting each game. The draw or schedule may also indicate the day, venue and time that the game is to be played.

From the schedule for the next round, the participants can each week select at least one outcome of a game for that particular round and may select the outcome of all games. In a simple case, the participant can select either team to win for each game, but in other instances may be able to also select other outcomes, eg one or more of a draw, tie or no result.

In accordance with the invention each team for a given game will have odds set against them proportional to the likelihood of the team winning the game. The odds may conveniently be obtained from an independent source, for example a business or agency that determines and publishes the odds as part of its normal business. The odds for the round may be set and published at the start of the week prior to a round and remain fixed for that week regardless of fluctuation in the odds during the course of the week at the betting or wagering agency. Alternatively, the odds may vary up to the commencement of the game, or of the first played game of the round: this approach adds on additional level of uncertainty and interest for the participant as the assigned odds may change significantly over the period.

004786346 ID 8 N When the outcome of the game is known, zero points are awarded for incorrect t selections, but for correct selections points are awarded in proportion to the odds against the team to win. For example, in a game where Adelaide plays Essendon, N Adelaide may have odds of 1.70 whereas Essendon may have odds of 2.10 to win. If Adelaide wins, a correctly tipping participant would be awarded 1.70 points, whereas if Essendon wins, a correctly tipping participant would be awarded 2.10 points. Thus, a participant is rewarded for taking the risk to pick a weaker team and make a more difficult choice instead of simply choosing the favourite so as to guarantee themselves C points. This scoring concept addresses the "dead rubber" problem by ensuring that S0 there are no "guaranteed winners" of a round of games a person with fewer riskier tips can win a round over a person with a higher number of correct but safe tips. More participants can remain in with a chance until the very end of the season, thereby generating greater excitement and sustaining interest in the competition.

If a player joins the competition late, they will begin at the bottom with the lowest ranking and points will be accumulated from that point onwards, but a late starter has a better chance of overtaking other participants by adopting a successful "inspired risk" tipping strategy.

The above process is repeated up to a predetermined end-time, in this case until the last game in the round of competitions for the season has been played, where the number of rounds may be any predetermined number of rounds.

It is envisaged that the schedule or draw will enable participants to view their results of past games showing their pick, and the actual winner of the game, in addition to their cumulative total to enable them to keep constant track of their progress.

Following the completion of the last round of games in the season, the points are added up based on the final number of points in each participant's account, and the participants are ranked from highest to lowest and the participant established as being the overall competition winner. One or more prizes may be distributed to the overall winner and to one or more other highest-ranked participants or lowest-ranked participants. Prizes may include cash, merchandise, or other valuable items, services 004786346 9 and benefits. Additional prizes, eg. weekly prizes, may also be awarded during the competition to specified participants.

It is emphasised that, while the above specific embodiment involves a football competition and typically, online registration and tipping submission, neither of these aspects are limiting on the scope of the invention. In particular, participant access need not be online but may be by any of a wide variety of traditional and more modern communication means.

In an alternative embodiment, the points score for each correct selection may be proportional to the frequency of selection of the outcome by registered participants.

0 Example 1 Adelaide v Essendon at Adelaide Our two fictional tipsters Billy and Jake discuss who will win the match. Billy, a firm believer in the virtues of home ground advantage, is adamant Adelaide will win, and locks in his tip on Monday. Jake on the other hand waits until he hears the team news and finally decides to tip Adelaide just prior to the commencement of the match. Billy has taken a risk by tipping prior to the confirmation of the respective teams. Both tipsters are correct as Adelaide subsequently wins, however, the translations of this result under the traditional tipping and inventive systems are very different.

In the standard football tipping competition: Result: Adelaide wins Jakes receives 1 point and Billy receives 1 point.

In the interactive competition of the invention: The odds published online on Monday for this game are: Adelaide $1.90 and Essendon $1.90 004786346 IND

O

N The odds published online on game day have fluctuated due to the team Snews: Adelaide $1.70 and Essendon $2.10 OResult: Adelaide wins Jake receives 1.70 points, Billy receives 1.90 points IND Therefore, both tipsters win but Billy is rewarded with a premium for the O risk taken by tipping early.

0 Example 2 Brisbane v Richmond at Brisbane Jake believes that Brisbane will crush Richmond, while Billy, a hardcore Richmond supporter, is convinced that an upset is on the cards. However, in a standard tipping competition, Billy decides to stick with the favourite as his 'gut feeling' Richmond tip is just too risky for 1 point.

In the standard football tipping competition: Result: Brisbane Wins Jake and Billy both receive 1 point. OR Result: Richmond Wins Both receive 0 points.

In the interactive competition of the invention: The odds published online for this game are: Brisbane $1.10 and Richmond $5.00 004786346 11 Billy, now a happy new member of the inventive tipping system, changes his mind and sticks with his gut feeling of an upset because he is being rewarded for his risk.

Result: Brisbane wins Jake receives 1.10 points Richmond wins Billy receives 5.00 points Therefore, Billy reaps the rewards of taking a 'Punt with Grunt' and shoots up the ladder gaining five points on most of his rivals.

Claims

1. An interactive tipping system for sports events, comprising:- registering a plurality of competing participants for a tipping competition conducted by the system; providing each of said registered participants with:- a first schedule of sports events during a first time period, (ii) the identities of competitors in the respective sports events, and (iii) for each event respective parameters related to the likelihood 0 of one or more outcomes of each sports event in the schedule; recording for each participant the participant's simple selection, with no wager factor, of a predicted outcome in one or more of the sports events in said first schedule; after the outcome of the selected sports events is known, assigning each participant zero points for each incorrect said selection and, for each correct said selection, a points score inversely related to said likelihood of the selected outcome; and repeating steps to for a multiplicity of further schedules of sports events during subsequent time periods wherein the participant with the highest points score total at a pre- determined end-time is the winner of said tipping competition. 004786346 13

2. A tipping system according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said steps to are carried out in a computer or computer system.

3. A tipping system according to claim 2 wherein said computer or computer system has an installed program for carrying out the tipping system.

4. A tipping system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said steps to are carried out at a server computer for a computer network, and steps and are carried out when a registered participant logs on to the system via the network, whereby said tipping system is an online tipping system.

A tipping system according to claim 4, wherein the network is a LAN of an 0 organisation or group of organisations whereby registered participants of employees or otherwise associated with the organisation(s).

6. A tipping system according to any preceding claim, wherein the participant's selection of a predicted outcome is communicated by one or more of mail, telephone, SMS transmission or email.

7. A tipping system according to any preceding claim, wherein said parameters are fixed for said first schedule at a predetermined time before the first played event of the schedule.

8. A tipping system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said parameters vary up to commencement of the event or of the first played event of the schedule.

9. A tipping system according to any preceding claim wherein the outcomes available for selection by the participant are limited to a win by either of the competitors in the respective event.

A tipping system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the outcomes available for selection by the participant include a win by either of the competitors in the respective event, and one or more of a draw, a tie or no result. 004786346 O 14 O c,

11. A tipping system according to any preceding claim wherein said first and further schedules of sports events comprise two or more separate sports events.

12. A tipping system according to any preceding claim wherein said parameters comprise or are derived from odds against the respective outcomes determined by an independent source.

13. A tipping system according to any preceding claim wherein said parameters are INO derived from the frequency of selection of the outcome by registered participants.

14. A tipping system according to any preceding claim wherein said points score for each correct selection is proportional to the odds against the respective outcome 0 determined by an independent source.

A tipping system according to claims 1 to 12, wherein said points score for each correct selection is proportional to the frequency of selection of the outcome by registered participants.

16. A computer or computer system having an installed program for carrying out the tipping system of any one of claims 1 to

17. A computer software package that, when installed in a computer or computer system having an appropriate operating system, is actuable to effect the tipping system of any one of claims 1 to Dated 20 March 2006 Freehills Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Patent Trade Mark Attorneys for the Applicant/s: Jim Drossos and Anthony Ouliaris