AU2013204770A1 - A wagering system - Google Patents

Abstract

A wagering system and method is disclosed, that for each of a plurality of players, receives data representing a quantum of a wager amount and data representing a betting selection that represents at least one of the possible final outcomes for each of the gaming events. The received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for each of the gaming events, the received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for a predetermined number of the gaming events have reward amount(s) determined. The reward amount(s) are based on a bet constant, the bet constant being a value determined responsive to the quantum and a number of selected possible final outcomes in the identified received betting selection(s). Fig 16.

Description

1 A Wagering System Field of the invention The present invention relates to a wagering system and a wagering method. Related application 5 The present application is related to Australian patent application 2012216427. The content of this related patent application is hereby incorporated by reference into this specification, including the entire content of Australian patent number 778211, which is incorporated into Australian patent application 2012216427. Background 10 A wagering system allows players to participate in betting on a final outcome of a gaming event (e.g. a competition with several possible outcomes, such as a horse race). In totalisator betting systems, betting organisers accept wagers for the outcome of an event from participants. The outcome may be, for example, a horse the participant believes will win a race. If a player selects an outcome that corresponds to an actual outcome of the event (e.g. by 15 selecting a race winner), the wagering system provides that player with a reward. The reward may be determined based on a predetermined method. For example, in pari-mutuel wagering, a total of the wager amounts received from each player betting on an event (less any fees, taxes and expenses) is divided among each of the winning players. There is usually no reward for the other players, who may feel disappointed (e.g. if they continually fail to pick a winning outcome) 20 and therefore become reluctant to place further bets. Accordingly, there is a need to provide players with new forms of incentives to maintain their interest in wagering. Some wagering systems allow players to bet on a combination of final outcomes for several gaming events held at the same venue within a particular time frame (i.e. at a single meeting). For example, a quinella refers to an outcome where the horses in first and second place 25 are selected, and a trifecta is an outcome where the first, second and third place horses are selected. Many other combinations of such bets - known as exotic bets - are possible.

2 To place a wager on combinations, it is necessary for the participant to nominate the desired type of bet and the horses concerned, typically by marking a printed ticket. The participant also marks the ticket to indicate the quantum of the wager for each combination. This ticket is then presented to the organiser, prior to the event, so that the total quantum of the wager 5 for all combinations can be calculated and the corresponding payment made by the participant to the organiser. However, it is not always clear, particularly to the inexperienced participant, how many combinations are in fact being nominated with the more complex type of bets. In cases where a participant wishes to spread the risk of the wager, particularly with combination wagers such as a quinella or trifecta, it is possible to choose an increased number of 10 combinations. However, the minimum cost per combination is fixed by the organiser so that as the number of combinations increases so too does the quantum of the wager. The result is that the more exotic and sophisticated betting arrangements are only open to those wishing to risk substantial sums of money. Placing bets on the winning outcomes of multiple events presents a greater level of 15 challenge to players, and a winning player is therefore likely to receive a greater reward. However, this arrangement provides little variation in the type of events that players can bet on. Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be 20 expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art. Summary The specification describes a wagering system that, in certain embodiments, allows participants to choose how much they want to bet substantially independent of the number of combinations involved with the bet being placed, and dividends are determined based on the 25 quantum of the wager amount relative to the number of combinations selected by the participants. The specification describes a wagering system that provides a primary reward to winning players, and a secondary (or supplementary) reward to players who do not qualify for a primary reward. For example, a secondary reward may be provided to those players who have wagered 3 on a result that is close to (but not exactly matching) the winning result required to qualify for a primary reward. The specification also describes a wagering system that enables players to wager on the outcome of multiple gaming events held at one or more different locations within a 5 predetermined time frame. For example. the wagering system allows wagers to be made in respect of a plurality of different gaming events (which may be of different type - e.g. a horse racing event, grey hound racing event, and a motor racing event) held at different locations (e.g. in different countries) within a predetermined time frame. The specification also describes a wagering system that enables players to wager on the 10 outcome of multiple (i.e. two or more) gaming events by making a betting selection of at least two of the possible final outcomes for at least one and up to all of the multiple gaming events. For example. the wagering system allows wagers to be made in respect of a plurality of different participants in a single gaming event, for example alternative participants to win a racing event. The specification also describes a wagering system that enables players to wager on the 15 outcome of multiple gaming events and which is adapted to, after receiving results data for a penultimate gaming event and before receiving results for the ultimate gaming event, present/display estimated reward amounts associated with a plurality of final outcomes in the ultimate gaming event. Certain embodiments relate to a computer implemented gaming system, configured for, 20 in relation to a plurality of gaming events that each have a plurality of possible final outcomes, for each of a plurality of players: (i) receiving data representing a quantum of a wager amount, (ii) receiving data representing a betting selection that represents at least one of the possible final outcomes for each of the gaming events, and 25 in relation to the received data for the plurality of players: (a) identifying the received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for each of the gaming events, and 4 (b) identifying the received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for a predetermined number of the gaming events, the predetermined number being at least one and less than all of the gaming events; in relation to the identified received betting selection(s), determining reward amount(s), wherein 5 the reward amount(s) are based on a bet constant, the bet constant being a value determined responsive to said quantum and a number of selected possible final outcomes in said identified received betting selection(s). The reward amount(s) may be based on a total of wager amounts received from the plurality of players. 10 Reward amount(s) associated with received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for each of the gaming events may be based on a first portion of said total of wager amounts received from the plurality of players. Reward amount(s) associated with received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for the predetermined number of the gaming events may be based on a 15 second portion of said total of wager amounts received from the plurality of players, wherein said second portion is smaller than said first portion. The computer implemented gaming system may be configured for: determining that a number of said plurality of gaming events have been cancelled or abandoned after commencement of any of said events, said number being less than or equal to a first threshold 20 value; and determining that the betting selections of said players include final outcomes of each of said cancelled or abandoned events. The computer implemented gaming system may be configured for: determining that a number of said plurality of gaming events have been cancelled or abandoned after commencement of any of said events, said number falling within a range defined by a lower 25 threshold value and upper threshold value; and performing one or more of the following steps: i) determining that the betting selections of said players include final outcomes of each of said cancelled or abandoned events; and 5 ii) only determining said reward amount(s) that are associated with received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for each of the gaming events. The computer implemented gaming system may be configured for: determining that a number of said plurality of gaming events have been cancelled or abandoned after 5 commencement of any of said events. said number being greater than or equal to a second threshold value; and refunding the respective quantum of the wager amount for each said player. In some embodiments, said first threshold equals 1; said lower threshold value equals 2; said upper threshold value equals 3; and said second threshold value is equal to 4. The reward amount(s) may be generated based on at least one of the following: 10 i) a jackpot amount plus said total of the wager amounts received from said players; and ii) a jackpot amount plus said total of the wager amounts received from said players, wherein said jackpot amount is determined based on a portion of a total of wager amounts previously received from players of a previous said plurality of gaming events. 15 The betting selection for each said player may be generated based on at least one of the following: i) a random selection of a possible final outcome for each of said gaming events; and ii) a random selection of a possible final outcome for each of said gaming events, 20 wherein for each of said gaming events, said random selection includes those possible final outcomes for said gaming events that have a greater likelihood of being a final outcome of the respective said gaming events. For each of the gaming events, the actual final outcomes may include one or more of the following: 25 i) a participant winning said event; ii) a participant finishing in first place in said event; 6 iii) a participant of said event finishing in a predefined finish position; and iv) two or more participants of said event finishing in respectively predefined finish positions. If the quantum of the wager amount for a said player may is a fraction of a minimum 5 wager amount, then said reward amount for said player is based on said fraction. In some embodiments, the computed implemented gaming system is configured for: selecting a plurality of gaming events, the events being held at one or more different locations within a predetermined timeframe; receiving for each player: (i) a wager amount, and (ii) a betting selection representing only a 10 selected one of the possible final outcomes for each respective one of said gaming events; receiving results data representing final outcomes of some of said gaming events; selecting, based on a comparison of said results data with the betting selections of said players, one or more of said players having said betting selections including final outcomes for each of the gaming events as represented by said results data; and 15 generating, respectively for one or more possible final outcomes of a subsequent said event, a value representing a likelihood of each possible final outcome being a final outcome of the subsequent said event. The results data may represent final outcomes of a number of said events that is one less than the total number of said events. The value may include an estimated reward amount 20 generated based on a number of said players having said betting selections including all of the outcomes represented by said results data. The value may include an estimated reward amount generated based on a number of said players having said betting selections including each of the possible final outcomes of said subsequent event. The bet constant may be expressed as a percentage and represents a proportion that the 25 quantum of the wager constitutes of a unit wager on each betting selection(s). The unit wager may be one unit of a predetermined currency. The bet constant may be calculated as a percentage in accordance with the following formula: 7 Bet constant = (Quantum of the wager/Number of selected combinations) * 100. The quantum of the wager may exceed a predetermined minimum. The predetermined minimum may be at least three times the unit wager. The predetermined minimum may be at least five times the unit wager. 5 The bet constant may be at least 1%. The bet constant may be at least 5%. In some aspects, the computer implemented gaming system is configured for effecting payment of the quantum of the wager from the players to a betting organiser; and effecting payment of the reward amount(s) from the betting organiser to the players associated with identified received betting selection(s). 10 In some aspects, the bet constant has a lower limit that is defined by the smallest unit of currency used to make the wager. If the bet constant is less than 1%, the computer implemented gaming system is further configured for informing the participant of a minimum quantum of wager that is required to allow a wager for the number of selected outcomes. The minimum quantum of wager may be rounded to the nearest unit of the currency used 15 to make the wager. The unit wager may be rounded to the nearest multiple of the smallest unit of the currency used to make the wager. The bet constant may be calculated to four decimal places. The fourth decimal place may be rounded down. The bet constant may be calculated to four decimal places of the smallest unit of local currency. In some embodiments the event is a race having more than three predetermined entrants 20 and the outcomes are two or more of: selecting the entrant that places first in the race; selecting the entrants that respectively place first and second in the race; selecting the entrants that respectively place first, second and third in the race; selecting the first two entrants that complete the race; selecting the first three entrants 25 that complete the race; selecting the first four entrants that complete the race; and any other exotic bet.

8 In some embodiments the outcomes include two or more combinations of: the entrants that respectively place first and second in the race; the entrants that respectively place first, second and third in the race; the entrants that respectively place first, second, third and fourth in the race; 5 the first two entrants that complete the race; the first three entrants that complete the race; the first four entrants that complete the race; and any other exotic bet. In some aspects the participant selects combinations from multiple races. 10 The race may be a horse race and the betting organiser may be a totalisator. In some embodiments the event is a sporting contest which involves competitors that are individuals or teams that are competing to score more points than the other in accordance with the rules of the contest, the selected outcomes including one or more of the following: one or more of the respective scores obtained by the individuals or teams; and 15 the difference in the scores achieved by the individuals or teams. In some embodiments the event is one of a number of like contests between individuals or teams in a given organisation, association or league and the selected outcomes include one or more of the following: the winners of a given round of competition; 20 the winners of a given round of competition based upon a given set of margins; and the ranking of the individuals or teams at the end of a given competition season. In some embodiments all the wagers are totalled. A commission portion is computed that is provided to an organiser and a remainder is allocated to one or more prize pools. The reward 9 amount(s) may be drawn from the prize pool(s). If the bet percentage is less than 100%, then a total of the reward amount(s) may be less than the relevant prize pool. If the bet percentage is greater than or equal to 100%, then a total of the reward amount(s) may be equal to the relevant prize pool. 5 In some embodiments the system may include a payment device for effecting payment of the wager from the participant to the organiser and, when required, payment of the award from the organiser to the participant. In some embodiments the system may include a input device responsive to the quantum of the wager and the number of selected outcomes for determining a bet percentage that is 10 indicative of the percentage that the wager is of the unit wager. In some embodiments the system may include a validation device that is responsive to the bet percentage for determining the reward amount(s). In some embodiments the system may include a collation device that is responsive to the prize pool for determining a commission payment that is provided to the organiser and a prize 15 pool. In some embodiments, if only one player selects the actual outcome and the bet percentage is less than 100%, then the total reward amount is less than the prize pool. In some aspects, if the bet percentage is greater than or equal to 100%, then the total reward amount is equal to the prize pool. 20 In some embodiments if, after the reward amount(s) are paid to the players, the prize pool includes a remainder, that remainder is retained for inclusion within an event pool for a subsequent event. In some embodiments if the bet constant falls below a predetermined threshold, the players may be provided with an indication of the quantum of a revised wager that would 25 provide a corresponding bet constant that was greater than or equal to the threshold. This revised wager may be the minimum wager that would result in the bet constant being greater than or equal to the threshold. The revised wager may be the sum of a minimum wager for each outcome and the smallest number of integer multiples of wager increments for each outcome.

10 Other aspects of the disclosure include methods for providing a wagering game, implemented using computer apparatus, and computer readable storage medium/media containing instructions, that when executed by computational apparatus perform such methods. Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described 5 in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief description of the drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 10 Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a betting system; Figure 2 is a front view of a betting ticket for use with the system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of a betting receipt; Figure 4 is a representation of a display for a wagering system; Figure 5 is a representation of a "trace" display for a wagering system; 15 Figure 6 is a representation of a computer screen of a participant's computer that is viewing an internet page of an organiser for placing a standard bet; Figure 7 is a representation of a computer screen of a participant's computer that is viewing an internet page of an organiser for placing an expert bet; Figure 8 is a representation of a computer screen of a participant's computer that is 20 viewing an internet page of an organiser for requesting confirmation of a bet; Figure 9 is a representation of a computer screen of a participant's computer that is viewing an internet page of an organiser for receiving the confirmation of the bet being placed; Figure 10 is a plan view of a First Four ticket; Figure 11 is a plan view of a Superfecta ticket; 11 Figure 12 is a plan view of a Trifecta ticket; Figure 13 is a block diagram of the components of a wagering system; Figure 14 is a flow diagram of a wagering process performed by the system of Figure 13; and 5 Figure 15 is a flow diagram of a results analysis process performed by the system of Figure 13; Figure 16 is a flow diagram of a reward determination process performed by the system of Figure 13. Figure 17 is an example of a multifunction ticket. 10 Detailed description of the embodiments 1. System overview Referring to Figure 1 there is shown in broad outline a betting system 1 that allows participants to place wagers on events. This embodiment is described with respect to thoroughbred horse races. The system 1 is implemented electronically with various computer 15 servers, relays, switches and interfaces and is functionally centred at the box labelled "SYCO" 2. As shown, SYCO 2 is the hub of the system 1 and performs many functions such as: consolidating the bets that have been made, both in the quantum of the wagers and the combinations selected; race day operations; various accounting functions; dividend calculation; and winning investments declaration. 20 The system 1 allows a participant to place a bet in one or more ways, a-e as shown in Figure 1. This includes placing the bet: a) By instructing an operator of a betting terminal at a racetrack and paying the wager in cash. The instructions are usually provided in verbal form to an operator. Alternatively, the instructions are in the form of a printed card that has been appropriately marked by 25 the participant. In still further forms, the terminal includes a touch screen that is manually operated by the participant; 12 b) By completing a betting card at a specialist outlet; c) By electronically communicating via a telephone. This function may be reserved for registered members with existing accounts. That is, as a wager is made, the account is debited correspondingly. Conversely, when an award is due to the participant, it is 5 credited to the account; d) By voice based communication via a telephone. That is the participant instructs an operator of a remote betting terminal as to the quantum of the wager and the relevant event and the type of bet. Again, this function may be the reserve of registered members; and 10 e) By digital computer based communication, usually between a participant's PC and system 1. That is, the PC is appropriately interfaced with the system to allow the bet to be placed. The interface may include both the PC (or other computer) and the system communicating via the internet. To assist the addressee, the following is a description of the functionality of the interface 15 elements, shown as Point of Sale (POS) systems, in Figure 1. OCTS (ON COURSE TOTE SYSTEM) 4 Name OCTS Language C & C++ Hardware Intel Servers System Net work Protocol Interface Protocol Interfaces SYCO X25 ICL PC Tims Basic functionality: On Course Race Management system that sells bets, collates bets into pools, disseminates race information to on course displays, and provides management functions 20 for on course e.g. banker functions.

13 Key Data Pool Investments Winning Investments Event/Pool Information Bets In other embodiments use is made of other links, such as a TCP/IP network protocol. AWARD ON COURSE SYSTEM 5 Name Award Language C Hardware Dec/Unix, Intel PC System Net work Protocol Interface Protocol Interfaces SYCO X25 ICL Tim 90 Fast Bet Bankers Front End Processor Local Network 5 Basic Functionality: On Course Race Management system that sells bets, collates bets into pools, disseminates race information to on course displays, and provides management functions for on course e.g. banker functions. In other embodiments this functionality is either not required or provided by alternative means. Key Data Pool Investments Winning Investments Event/Pool Information Bets 10 14 FLIGHT 6 Name Flight Language C, Embedded OS Hardware 80188 based terminal built by Amtote System Net work Protocol Interface Protocol Interfaces Cashbet SNA Flight Message Protocol Basic Functionality: intelligent terminal for the acceptance of cash bets on wagering products. Key Data Bet Sale, Pay, Cancel Phone transactions (Open account, deposit, withdrawal) Event Information Amendments to Event Information Operator Functions (Office Security and Accounting) Comments: Can be performed by Eureka (see below). EUREKA 7 Name Eureka Language JAVA under Win 2000 Hardware Intel PC, 128 mb ram - purpose built Amtote terminal System Net work Protocol Interface Protocol Interfaces Cashbet TCPIP Flight Message Protocol with modifications FTP Server TCPIP FTP Satellite data feed Serial async Basic functionality: intelligent terminal for the acceptance of cash bets on wagering 10 products.

15 Key Data Same as Flight IVR 8 Name IVR Language IBM Direct Talk/2 under OS2 Middleware IVR 2" Tier - Java on NT Hardware Server PC Boxes System Net work Protocol Interface Protocol Interfaces PT TCPIP RT4 Protocol SQLMIS SNA ODBC 5 Basic functionality: telephone based betting process utilising the telephone keypad to access and place bets. Key Data Bet Sale Account Balances NLSR 9 Name NLSR - Natural Language Speech Recognition Language Middleware NLSR 2 "d Tier - Java Hardware System Net work Protocol Interface Protocol Interfaces PT TCPIP ASTerP 10 Basic functionality: telephone based betting process that will allow account holders to place bets via voice. Key Data Bet Sale 16 RT4 10 Name RT4 - Remote Terminal version 4 Language C embedded Middleware N/a Hardware 68000 - Amtote terminal System Net work Protocol Interface Protocol Interfaces PT SNA RT4 Protocol Basic functionality: an operator based terminal connected to PhoneTAB 3, utilised by account holders for the placement of bets. Key Data Bet Sale, Cancellation Display of Event, Pool Information Customer Account information Deposit & Withdrawals Comment: RT4 is, in some embodiments, replaced by the ABC system (see below). In other embodiments this functionality is not required at all or, alternatively, if provided by other means. ABC 11 Name ABC - Account Betting Client Language JAVA (NT or by Sun thin client) Middleware ABC 2 "d Tier Hardware PC currently, to be replaced by Sun ray terminals System Net work Protocol Interface Protocol Interfaces PT TCPIP Account Sales Terminal Protocol (ASTerP) Multi cast server UDP/IP ASTerP 10 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 17 Basic Functionality: operator based terminal connected to PhoneTAB 3, utilised by account holders for the placement of bets. Key Data Bet Sale, Cancellation Event and Pool Information Amendments to Event Information Customer Accounting Information NETTAB12 Name NETTAB (IBET) Language C++, OS/2, Java Applet (Tab Ticker) Hardware Desktop PC's (p733mhz) X 6 System Net work Protocol Interface Protocol Interfaces NETTAB REG TCP/IP PT SNA RT4 Protocol with modifications 5 Basic functionality: internet gateway and firewall used by account customers to place wagering bets. Key Data Bet Sale Event and Pool Information Account Balance / Trace 10 The system may be operated to allow the prior art type of wagers. However, the system is also operated to provide the wagers described in more detail below. The system allows a participant to make a wager with a betting organiser in respect of an event that has more than two possible outcomes. In the case of a horse race there are many possible outcomes, the exact number of which is determined by the type of bet and the number 15 of horses taking part in the race. In this embodiment the participant designates as selected outcomes at least two of the possible outcomes of the event via one of the methods illustrated in 18 Figure 1. The participant also, at that time, nominates the quantum of the wager. That is, it is not the unit wager that is nominated, but the desired total cost of the wager, independent of the number of combinations involved with the bet being placed. To validate the wager, the participant has then to effect payment of the wager from the participant to the organiser. As 5 shown in Figure 1, this occurs either by a cash or an electronic transaction. Upon receipt of the payment from the participant, the organiser determines a bet constant for the wager. This constant is determined in response to the quantum of the wager and the number of selected outcomes and, once calculated, remains fixed. All this occurs prior to the running of the event. Once the event has been completed and the actual outcome determined, if the actual 10 outcome matches one of the selected outcomes, the organiser is responsive to the bet constant and the quantum of the wager for determining an award for the participant. The organiser then effects payment of the award from the organiser to the participant. 2. Method overview In practice, the method according to one embodiment may be described as five sequential 15 steps, as follows: Step 1 The participant informs the organiser how much they want to bet in total. This is entered into the system via a terminal or other means. The difference from certain current forms of betting is that, in one embodiment, the number of combinations taken will not impact on the total 20 spend. That is, the participant chooses how much he or she wishes to bet and does not have to work out how much to bet based upon the type or combination of bets nominated. In one embodiment the bet must be in minimum increments of 50#. In other embodiments, however, different increments are used. For example, in another embodiment the increment is 1# and in another embodiment the increment is $1. 25 Step 2 The participant decides on their selections for the event. This does not change the amount of the wager. This selection could be a number of finishing combinations from the same event or combinations from multiple events.

19 Step 3 The participant places a bet. The organiser calculates the bet constant which, in this embodiment, is called a bet percentage. The bet percentage is equivalent to either: * A fraction of the full cost of the bet that the participant has paid for; or 5 * A multiple - be that an integer or non-integer multiple - of the full cost of the bet that the participant has paid for. The Bet Percentage is explained in more detail below. Step 4 After the race is run the organiser processes all winning bets, including all the bets made 10 using Steps 1 to 3 described above, and declares a dividend. That is, the system allows accommodation of both the prior art bets and the bets formed using Steps 1 to 3. The effect that this has on the calculation of the dividend is explained in more detail below. Step 5 If successful, the customer places his bet through an input terminal or other means to 15 collect the dividend. For registered participants, the dividend is automatically credited to the respective account. The participant receives the percentage of the dividend in line with the respective bet percentage. This will be explained in more detail below. The bet percentage is in some cases less than 100%, but in other cases greater than 100%. It is also possible for the bet percentage to be 100% for a particular selection of total wager amount and combinations. 20 The participants do not have to pay for the full unit cost of the bet, although they can choose to pay more than the full unit cost. That is, the participants decide how much they want to spend, as well as the respective combinations they want to bet upon. The more combinations that a participant selects, the better the chance of winning. More importantly, the number of runners that a participant selects does not impact on the cost of the bet. All that changes is the bet 25 percentage and, hence, the proportion of the dividend that is credited to the participant in the case where the actual outcome matches one of the outcomes selected by the participant. Also, the betting of certain embodiments, while being different, operates in addition to, not instead of, the 20 traditional forms of betting. The system provides the participants with more choice without limiting their ability to enjoy the prior forms of betting (at least in embodiments that also allow betting using prior forms). That is, the system does not force change upon the user but, rather, offers greater choice and flexibility. . 5 In other embodiments, the method and system of the invention supersedes all the existing bet types, as they are all subsumed within the operation of the system. 3. Calculating the cost of an exotic wager To better understand the betting system, an example of the determination of how the cost of a Trifecta, First 4 or Superfecta is calculated is provided. Put simply, the number of 10 combinations selected in any particular bet, multiplied by the unit of investment, determines the value of the bet. For example: Raymond places a Trifecta with selections 1-2-3 for a $1 Unit of investment. The bet type results in one combination: 1-2-3 15 The cost of his bet is $1 (1 Combination x $1) Shane is not so sure of the outcome of the race. He places a Box Trifecta with selections 1-2-3 for a $1 Unit of Investment. The bet type results in six combinations: 1-2-3 2-1-3 3-1-2 1-3-2 2-3-1 3-2-1 The cost of the bet is $6 (6 Combinations x $1) 20 Di wants a Trifecta but can only narrow the chances down to four or five runners. Considering she only has $24 left, she places a Box Trifecta with selection 1-2-3-4, and to lower the outlay, has it for a $1.00 unit of investment. The bet type results in 24 combinations: 21 1-2-3 2-1-3 3-1-2 4-1-2 1-3-2 2-3-1 3-2-1 4-1-3 1-2-4 2-1-4 3-1-4 4-1-3 1-4-2 2-4-1 3-4-1 4-3-1 1-3-4 2-3-4 3-2-4 4-2-3 1-4-3 2-4-3 3-4-2 4-3-2 The cost of the bet is $24 (24 Combinations x $1.00) This illustrates that when a participant wishes to increase his or her chances of winning by including additional selections, the cost of the investment must increase. This is because 5 participants must pay a minimum of 50c per combination. Up to the development of the present invention, a participant had to pay the full cost or 100% of the bet, or reduce their investment and receive half the dividend by paying 50% of the bet. However, through use of the present invention the participant's outlay is changed to suit their pocket - it is not determined by the number of combinations. This allows the placement of both small and non-integer multiples of 10 unit bets to be placed. In one embodiment, a participant is able to wager on a: " Trifecta (selecting first, second and third in the order of finishing) " First 4 (selecting first, second, third and fourth in the order of finishing) * Superfecta (selecting first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth in the order of 15 finishing) e Tripple Trio * Double Trio " Other exotic bet types such as Pick the margins, Footy TAB and the like. A participant can also have a FlexiTM TrifectaTM, FlexiTM First 4 or FlexiTM Superfecta 20 anywhere you can currently place a bet within the existing system as offered by TAB Limited.

22 This includes authorised TAB outlets including, but not limited to, all NSW racecourses, PhoneTAB, PhoneTAB Direct and via the NET at www.racetab.com.au. 4. Bet percentage Step 3, referred to above, mentioned the bet percentage. Particularly, in contrast to the 5 minimum 50c per combination system described above, a participant does not have to pay for the full cost of the bet, although they can choose to do so if he or she wishes. The participant chooses how much they want to spend and their combinations, and they get the bet for a percentage of the full cost of the bet. How much the participant has invested is called the bet percentage. If the participant is successful, he or she will collect the percentage of the dividend 10 they have paid for, be that greater or less than 100%. The betting system will always calculate the customer's bet percentage and have this printed on the betting receipt. This calculation is in accordance with the following: Bet Percentage = (Total $ Outlay/Number of Combinations) * 100 (1) To assist the reader an example of bet percentage calculations follows. In the 'Before 15 FlexiTM Betting' section, Di was forced to place a Box Trifecta with 4 selections because she could not afford the five runners in a Box Trifecta. Di hears about the betting provided according to Steps 1 to 3 described above (together with Steps 4 and 5) and tries a Trifecta on this basis. She decides to box the five runners in a FlexiTM Trifecta with her $24. The bet type results in 60 combinations. Di's Bet Percentage is: 20 $24 (Total $ Outlay) / 60 (Number of Combinations) * 100 =40.00% Di has now received the bet she wants for a fraction of the full unit cost. Her fraction is 2/5, or 40%. It is equivalent to having invested 40 cents per combination. As will be appreciated from the teaching herein, this system of betting offers considerably more flexibility, as prior 25 systems only offered a minimum wager of 50 cents per combination. The bet percentage is not always a full fraction. In some cases the bet percentage has an endless (infinite) number of decimals. For the above example, if Di only had $10 and wanted to box 5 runners in a Trifecta - the Bet Percentage would be 16.66% (repeater). Due to computer 23 restrictions, Di's bet is truncated to four decimal places - 16.6666%). This truncation has minimal affect on any return ultimately obtained. The betting receipt or betting ticket is printed with the bet percentage displayed with two decimal places, or 16.66%) in our example above. For larger investments, the number of decimal 5 places displayed on the ticket may be reduced. Notwithstanding, the bet is still placed to four decimal places. In some embodiments, and where space permits, the bet percentage is printed on the betting ticket to four decimal places. 5. Wager amount In broad terms, the process of betting in a cash office is the same having any other bet. 10 That is, certain embodiments may be suited to making use of existing systems and infrastructure. Moreover, the types of bets are also the same. For example, a Trifecta still requires the participant to select the first three placegetters in correct order, and the options of single, box, multiple and standout are still available. The same applies for First 4 and Superfecta. One change that will be apparent to the participant is that he or she is required to choose 15 how much is to be bet. Reference is made to Figure 2 which illustrates a betting card for use with one embodiment. This card has many similarities with existing cards, in that it is marked in the relevant spaces by the participant to indicate the relevant information about the desired wager. This card, once marked, is machine read to extract the information. It will be noticed that the $ BET area 20 on the ticket reads 'What is the total you want 20 to spend?' The participant marks the total amount he or she wishes to wager in this area. The amount of the wager need not be limited to the numbers displayed in the $ BET area. The amount can be the combination of various numbers in the area. If more than one number is marked, those numbers are added together to give the total wager. For example, if the 20 and the 5 numbers were marked, the total spend would be calculated as $20 + $5 = $25. 25 In this embodiment the top line in the $ BET area starts at $20 and goes up to $1000. The bottom line starts at $10 and goes down to 50c. The 5Oc has been included as the participant can increase their total outlay in multiples of 50c. In other embodiments different minimum increments are used.

24 For this embodiment there are minimum requirements that are included. These minimums are: " Minimum Investment of $5, and " Bet Percentage 1.00% or greater. 5 It will be appreciated that in other embodiments other minimums may apply. In this example, a participant cannot place a bet for less than a total outlay of $5. If a participant attempts to place such a bet, then the bet is rejected by the terminal that reads the card. More preferably, the terminal includes a display for the participant and, upon rejection of the bet, a visual error message is provided by the display. 10 In one embodiment that error message is as follows: 'Minimum Investment $5' Upon triggering this display, the terminal also stops further processing. If a participant places a bet with an investment of below 1%, he or she is effectively trying to make an investment of less than lc on every combination in their bet. While in some 15 embodiments this is permissible, in others it is not. An example of this is: A participant wishes to place $5 on a Box Superfecta with six runners. The number of combinations for this bet type is 720. By using the bet percentage calculation explained before: (Total $ Outlay/Number of Combinations) * 100 = Participant's Bet Percentage ($5 Outlay /720 Combinations) * 100 = 0.6944% 20 The betting terminal rejects this bet. This bet has 720 combinations: the outlay for 1.00% would be $7.20.

25 In an embodiment where the betting increments are in multiples of 50c, the minimum investment required for a bet for the 720 combinations is $7.50. This gives a participant a bet percentage of 1.04%. It is not as simple to calculate the minimum investment required if you do not know the 5 number of combinations. Accordingly, to assist the participant who attempts to place a bet below 1.00%, the terminal rejects the bet returning on the display the following error message: 'Bet Below 1%. Min $X.xx Reqd' The 'X.xx' is the minimum amount required for the bet, rounded up to the closest multiple of 50 cents. In the above example, the amount returned would have been $7.50. 10 As with the other error condition, when the terminal determines that the bet percentage is below the allowable minimum, the processing is stopped. All the information a participant requires about the wager, once placed, is recorded on a betting receipt. This receipt is produced by the terminal and provided to the participant. In addition to the information that is provided for a regular Trifecta, the receipt includes: 15 * The number of combinations; and e The participant's bet percentage. A receipt that is produced by the FLIGHT system 6 is shown below. It will be appreciated that the EUREKA system 7 will produce a receipt that contains the same information. 20 As shown, the number of combinations selected by the participant is displayed near the total amount outlaid. In this example, the participant has outlaid $15 on a bet with 60 combinations, which is indicated by (C60) to the right of the dollar outlay. To calculate the participant's bet percentage, use the calculation outlined previously: (Total $ Outlay/Number of Combinations) * 100 = Participant's Bet Percentage ($15 Outlay / 60 Combinations) * 100 = 25.0000% 26 The receipt only displays the bet percentage to two decimal places, that is "25.00%", however the bet has been placed to four decimal places. 6. Dividends Once the event is completed and the results declared or otherwise cleared by the body 5 administering the event, the organiser calculates the dividends that are payable. For the present embodiment, which is a totalisator system, the dividend is calculated by dividing the number of cents in the pool (after deductions) by the number of cents invested on the winning combinations. Calculating the Dividend - Example ] 10 A Trifecta pool for the last race at Canterbury is $1,250. The organiser applies its 20% deduction, leaving $1,000 to be paid back to the successful participants. Two participants correctly select the Trifecta. One participant invests $1 on the winning combination. The other participant invested $2 on the winning combination. The dividend is calculated by dividing the number of cents in the pool (after deductions) by the total of cents 15 invested on the winning combination. For instance: 100,000 cents (dividend pool of $1000.00) / 300 cents (2 winning tickets - 1 ticket x $1.00 and 1 ticket x $2.00) = $333.33. After rounding, the dividend is declared as $333.30. The participant who had the Trifecta for $1 receives $333.30. The participant who invested $2.00 receives $666.60 (that is, $333.30 x $2). 20 One aspect of the dividend declaration is that the organiser will pay out the entire dividend pool provided there is a single unit, 50c, invested on that combination. This results in the dividend declared being double the dividend pool in order for the successful participant or participants to collect the entire pool, as shown in the example below: Calculating the Dividend - Example 2 25 A Trifecta pool for the last race at Canterbury is $1,250. The organiser applies its 20% deduction, leaving $1,000 to be paid back to the successful participants. One participant correctly selects the Trifecta. This participant invested 50c on the winning combination. The dividend is calculated by dividing the number of cents in the pool (after deductions) by the total 27 of cents invested on the winning combination. For instance: 100,000 cents (dividend pool of $1000.00) / 50 cents (1 winning ticket x $0.50) = $2000.00. The dividend is declared as $2000.00. The participant with the Trifecta for $0.50 would receive $1000.00 - the entire dividend pool. 5 Dividend calculation for the betting takes into account that the participants have only paid for a fraction of the unit bet. In return, the participants are paid the same fraction of the dividend. So, when calculating the dividend, all fractions are added to the normal bets. The pool is then divided by the total number of cents invested on the successful combination (which includes all normal bets and the bets according to the invention). 10 Calculating the Dividend - Example 3 A Trifecta pool for the last race at Canterbury is $1,250. The organiser applies its 20% deduction, leaving $1,000 to be paid back to the successful participants. Two participants correctly select the Trifecta. One participant, who has a traditional bet, invests $1 on the winning combination. The other participant, who had a Trifecta in accordance 15 with the invention, invested 25.00% on the winning combination. The dividend is calculated by dividing the number of cents in the pool (after deductions) by the total of cents invested on the winning combination. More particularly: 100,000 cents (dividend pool of $1000.00) / 125 cents (2 winning tickets = 1 ticket x $1.00 and 1 x $0.2500) = $800.00. After rounding, the dividend is declared as $800.00. The participant who had the Trifecta 20 for $1 receives $800.00. The participant who had invested only 25.00% of the full cost of the bet, receives $200.00 ($800.00 x .25). With the present embodiment, if there is not a single unit, 50c, invested on the successful combination, the dividend pool will jackpot for Superfectas, Trifecta and First 4. In other embodiments a count back is used. 25 With betting in accordance with the invention comes the possibility of a participant selecting the winning combination for an amount less than a unit (50c). In fact several participants could select the correct combination, and the total amount of investment still may not add up to the single unit (50c). In this case, the organiser will pay out the participants with 28 the successful investments their percentage of the dividend pool, and jackpot the remainder. What occurs is a dividend being declared, and a jackpot. A unit, 50c, is still required for the entire dividend pool to be paid. In the event there is less than a full unit on the correct combination, a dividend will be declared and part of the pool 5 will jackpot to the next appropriate race. A further dividend declaration example follows. This example arises from a participant selecting the winning combination for less than a single unit, 50c, which was impossible before the introduction of the betting according to the invention. The participant is not entitled to the entire pool if they have not invested the minimum unit, 50c, on the winning combination. 10 Calculating the Dividend- Example 4 The dividend pool, after deduction by the organiser, for the Superfecta in the last race at Canterbury is $1,000. One participant correctly selects the Superfecta, investing 25.00% on the winning combination through a Superfecta according to the invention. 15 The dividend is calculated by dividing the number of cents in the pool (after deductions) by the minimum unit of investment. More particularly: 100,000 cents (dividend pool of $1000.00) / 50 cents (the minimum unit of investment) = $2000.00. It should be noted that this is the only time the organiser does not divide by the amount of winning cents invested on the correct combinations. 20 After rounding, the dividend is declared as $2000.00. The participant who invested only 25.00% of the full cost of the bet receives $500.00 ($2000.00 x .25). The remaining $500 of the dividend pool will jackpot. If the customer is successful with a FlexiTM Trifecta, FlexiTM First4 or FlexiTM Superfecta they collect a percentage of the dividend, equal to the percentage of the full cost of the bet they 25 paid for ie. the bet percentage. That is, if the participant pays for 25% of the full cost of the bet, he or she will only receive 25% of the dividend. The result of which is that the participant is provided with far greater flexibility and choice in their betting strategy.

29 Once the dividend has been declared, calculating the participant's dividend is determined (within a few cents) by multiplying the relevant bet percentage by the dividend declared. The reason why sometimes the payout figure can only be determined to within a few cents is: " The participant's bet percentage is displayed on the ticket for two decimal places yet has 5 actually been placed for four decimal places. " Multiplying the bet percentage by the dividend declared can lead to a payment of part cents. Calculating the Participant's Dividend - Example I Trifecta dividend = 5,872.60 10 Participant's bet percentage on ticket = 1.38% Participant's actual bet percentage = 1.3888% Calculated payout for this ticket = $81.563366 After the declared dividend has been multiplied by the participant's bet percentage, the participant's dividend is rounded up or down to the nearest cent for payout purposes. 15 Accordingly, the actual payout for this ticket = $81.56 The participant is entitled to receive the full $81.56. Those participants using telephone or internet based betting receive that amount to the very cent. In the present embodiment of a cash office - and similar comments apply to on-course participants -rounding occurs to the nearest 5c. In other embodiments alternative rounding is used. In this embodiment, however, the actual cash payout for this ticket 20 = $81.55. A few more examples are listed below: Calculating the Participant's Dividend - Example 2 Trifecta Dividend = $110.20 Participant's bet percentage on ticket = 333.33% 25 Participant's actual bet percentage = 333.3333% 30 Calculated payout for this ticket = $367.333329. After the dividend declared has been multiplied by the participant's bet percentage, the participant's dividend is rounded up or down to the nearest cent for payout purposes. Actual Payout for this ticket = $367.33. 5 If this were the only transaction in a cash transaction for the participant the actual cash payout for this ticket = $367.35. If it was an electronic transaction the actual payment for this ticket = $367.33. Calculating the Participant's Dividend - Example 3 Trifecta Dividend = $19,488.00. 10 Customers bet percentage on ticket = 41.66%. Customer actual bet percentage = 41.6666%. Calculated Payout for this ticket = $8119.987008. After the dividend declared has been multiplied by the participant's bet percentage, the participant's dividend is rounded up or down to the nearest cent for payout purposes. 15 Actual Payout for this ticket = $8119.99. If this were the only transaction in a cash transaction for the participant the actual cash payout for this ticket = $8120.00. If it was an electronic transaction the actual payment for this ticket = $8119.99. 7. Jackpots 20 A number of jackpot options are available. For example, some of these are as follows: Bet Type Rule Trifecta In the event no participant correctly selected the first three places in correct order for a unit, dividend pool jackpots. There will be a partial jackpot for sub-unit selections.

31 First 4 In the event no participant correctly selected the first four places in correct order for a unit, dividend pool jackpots. There will be a partial jackpot for sub-unit selections. Superfecta In the event no participant correctly selected the first six places in correct order for a unit, dividend pool jackpots. There will be a partial jackpot for sub-unit selections. As discussed above, if a participant selects the correct order for less than a full unit, a dividend will be declared and the successful customer will receive their portion of the pool with the remainder jackpotting. 5 Embodiments are also suitable for use with one or more jackpot circuits. By way of example a jackpot circuit, as applied to Trifecta, First 4 and Superfecta betting, follows: The following list the jackpot circuits: Code State Venues Gallops NSW Metropolitan Gallops NSW Non-Metropolitan Gallops Non-NSW Metropolitan Gallops Non-NSW Non-Metropolitan Code State Venues Harness NSW Harness Non-NSW Code State Venues Greyhounds NSW Greyhounds Non-NSW 10 32 Metropolitan venues for galloping are: NSW Metropolitan Non-NSW Metropolitan Randwick Flemington Rosehill Gardens Caulfield Warwick Farm Sandown Canterbury Park Moonee Valley Eagle Farm Doomben Morphettville Cheltenham Victoria Park It will be appreciated that many other combinations are possible and the above is provided as an illustrative example only. 5 In the event of a jackpot, results pages display the jackpot amount. These results pages are typically visually displayed continuously to the participants so that they remain informed of the most current developments in the jackpot. In the event there has been a dividend declared and a jackpot (that is, somebody has correctly selected the finishing order for less than a single unit), the dividend is displayed with an asterisk (*). In other embodiments other forms of visually 10 distinguishing markings are used. 8. Advantages of the method and system The Wagering Business Unit is responsible for all racing and sports betting for the TAB. Bets can be made on events via a number of different methods utilising either cash or an account bet. 15 The sales that arise from the betting are, in some embodiments, added to normal totalisator pools. Moreover, the betting may be deliverable from existing outlets including on course terminals.

33 Certain embodiments allow the organiser to offer the participant a choice of unit of betting for some or all of the available exotic betting products. Before the betting according to embodiments disclosed herein, the minimum investment was one unit (which in NSW was 50c). For selected products the invention enables participants to take portions of one unit on selected 5 combinations and to allow different participants to take different portions on the same combination. Moreover, participants also have the ability to take more than 100% of a unit. This betting product may, for at least some participants or potential participants, increase the appeal of exotic betting by: 1. Allowing participants to cover greater numbers of combinations with a more affordable 10 investment; and 2. Allowing participants to nominate a "total spend" for any combination bet, as opposed to having to calculate the bet value based on the number of (50 cent) units taken. This, in turn provides two benefits to the participants and the organiser as the type of betting provided: 2.1 Reduces the requirement for change to be given; and 15 2.2 Aligns better with the self-service concept by eliminating coins and change. That is, the invention is more easily applied to self-service terminals. 9. Various features The following details the business requirements to introduce the betting according to some embodiments of the invention: 20 * Allow customers to specify the total spend instead of unit investment on Trifecta, First4 and Superfecta. In other embodiments alternative or additional exotic betting is provided. * The minimum spend is $5. * The minimum investment per single combination is greater than 1 cent and is maintained by the system to 4 decimal places (of a cent). 25 e Wagers are added to existing Trifecta, First4 and Superfecta pools and dividends are declared per $1.

34 Any pools that currently have countback levels (Trifecta and non-jackpot First4 and Superfecta) have changed the way they pay. They now pay on the winning combination and any remaining portion of the dividend pool (as a result of rounding of the winning investment to the minimum of 50 cents) is j ackpotted. 5 The same principle applies to results with dead heats where the minimum of 50 cents form the basis of dividend calculation in each contingency. Some additional detailed features of certain embodiment include: * The jackpot carries over to the next pool of the same type (Trifecta, Superfecta, non jackpot (Golden) Superfecta, First4) in the same meeting unless it needs to be carried 10 overnight where the concept similar to current circuits apply, with 8 new circuits defined. * The Superfecta 10% carry-over rule remains. * Countbacks remain for Golden Superfecta. * The same rule of minimum 50 cent winning investment per contingency applies to results with less than the required number of finishers, with the remaining money jackpotting. 15 e Non-jackpot First4 has been discontinued. * New Golden Superfecta rules require the division of the entire dividend pool amongst the winners, with no 50 cent minimum winning investment. e The product is available via all sales channels and on all terminal types with the exception of Betlink. 20 e Special Purpose tickets are required, as opposed to the standard ticket shown in Figure 2. * There is no Mystery option on FlexiTM bets. (In other embodiments, however, the Mystery Bet is available.) It will be appreciated that other embodiments will utilise different options.

35 10. Formulas used in the betting system The following provides some additional information about the formulas used in the betting system. Firstly, let us take N as the number of selections. This provides: Box TRIFECTA Formula 5 N*(N-1)*(N-2) STANDOUT TRIFECTA Formula N*(N-1) MULTI TRIFECTA Formula Explanation - the formula for trifectas gives the number of combinations as: 10 (AxBxC)-(AxBC + BxAC + CxAB) + (2x ABC) where: A = count of selections in Leg 1 (or fieldsize) B = count of selections in Leg 2 (or fieldsize) C = count of selections in Leg 3 (or fieldsize) 15 AB = count of selections common to both legs 1 & 2 AC = count of selections common to both legs 1 & 3 BC = count of selections common to both legs 2 & 3 ABC = count of selections common to all legs 1 & 2 & 3 BOX FIRST 4 Formula 20 N*(N-l)*(N-2)*(N-3) 36 STANDOUT FIRST 4 Formula N*(N-1)*(N-2) BOX SUPERFECTA Formula N*(N-1)*(N-2)*(N-3)*(N-4) 5 STANDOUT SUPERFECTA Formula N*(N-1)*(N-2)*(N-3) Trifecta collations are maintained in cents with 4 decimal places. When calculating the net pool from Trifecta collations, the system according to one embodiment calculates the actual non-refunded cost of all bets. This is to avoid large variations when late scratchings are declared. 10 Winning Investments are calculated and kept in betting cents (10,000th of cent). While participants may be familiar with countback levels that currently apply to Trifecta, First4 and Superfecta, in the present embodiment these have been removed, except for non jackpot (Golden) Superfecta where the countback levels remain unchanged. Non-Jackpot First4 15 Non-jackpot First4 no longer exists. Jackpot Carry-over To carry over (jackpot) any remainder of the dividend pool when total winning investment is less than 50 cents, or, in case of dead heats, where the winning investment in a contingency is less than 50 cents, including the case when it is nil. This rule applies to complete 20 results, results with less finishers (2 finishers for Trifecta, 2 or 3 finishers for First4 and 4 or 5 finishers for Superfecta). It also applies to the Golden Superfecta when there are less than 6 finishers. The existing 10% carry over for non-Golden Superfectas remains.

37 Jackpots In certain embodiments, it is prohibited to include the brought forward jackpot where there are less finishers than there should be. Such a jackpot is carried forward. Trifecta: Brought forward Jackpot 5 A trifecta may have a brought forward jackpot. Trifecta: Winnings with two finishers This pays on the first and second in the correct order, combined with any other starter, when there are only 2 finishers. Any jackpot brought in is included into the dividend pool except where there are only 2 10 finishers. When there is less than a unit of investment (50 cents) winning investment for a winning combination, including a winning combination of first, second and any other starter with 2 finishers, the dividend is calculated as if there was full 50 cents winning investment. The money left over after distribution of the dividend, minus any fraction resulting from rounding the 15 dividend down to 10 cents, goes into a jackpot pool. First 4: Brought forward Jackpot A First4 may have a brought forward jackpot. First 4: Winnings with less than 4finishers This pays on first, second and third in the correct order, combined with any other starter, 20 when there are only 3 finishers. It also pays on first and second in the correct order, combined with any other starters, when there are only 2 finishers. First 4: Jackpots Any jackpot brought in is included into the dividend pool except where there are 2 or 3 finishers. When there is less than a unit of investment (50 cents) winning investment for a 25 winning combination, including a winning combination that includes any other starter, the 38 dividend is calculated as if there was full 50 cents winning investment. The money left over after distribution of the dividend, minus fraction resulting from rounding the dividend down to 10 cents, goes into a jackpot pool. Superfecta: Brought forward Jackpot 5 A Superfecta may have brought forward jackpot. Superfecta. Winnings with less than 6finishers This pays on first, second, third, fourth and fifth in the correct order, combined with any other starter, when there are only 5 finishers. It also pays on first, second, third and fourth in the correct order, combined with any other starters, when there are only 4 finishers. 10 Superfecta: Jackpots 10% of the investment pool, after commission, is included into the jackpot pool for the next race. Any jackpot brought in is included into the dividend pool except where there are 4 or 5 finishers. When there is less than a unit of investment (50 cents) winning investment for a winning 15 combination, including a winning combination that includes any other starter, the dividend is calculated as if there was full 50 cents winning investment. The money left over after distribution of the dividend, minus fraction resulting from rounding the dividend down to 10 cents, is added to the jackpot pool. Non-jackpot Superfecta: Brought forward Jackpot 20 This wager is also referred to as a Golden Superfecta and may have a brought forward jackpot. Non-jackpot Superfecta: Winnings with less than 6finishers This pays on first and second in the correct order, combined with any other starter, when there are only 2 finishers. It also pays on first, second, third, fourth and fifth in the correct order, 25 combined with any other starter, when there are at least five finishers and there is at least 1 cent investment for that combination.

39 Another payout occurs on first, second, third and fourth in the correct order, combined with any other starters, when there are at least four finishers and there is at least 1 cent investment for that combination. Otherwise, the dividend pool is converted into a Golden dividend pool and the pool pays on first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth in any order, when 5 there are at least six finishers and there is at least 1 cent investment for that combination. Non-jackpot Superfecta: Jackpots Any jackpot is included into the dividend pool except where there are 4 or 5 finishers. When there are less than 6 finishers in the race and there is less than a unit of investment (50 cents) winning investment for a winning combination, the dividend is calculated as if there was 10 full 50 cents winning investment. The money left over after distribution of the dividend, minus fraction resulting from rounding the dividend down to 10 cents, goes into a jackpot pool. Certain embodiments of the invention also deal slightly differently with Jackpots. More particularly: " Jackpots are allowed on Trifectas and all Trifecta pools are able to jackpot. 15 * Golden Superfecta pools remain. This means that there are two types of Superfecta pools: jackpot and non-jackpot (Golden). " All First4 pools can jackpot. Jackpots are transferred to the next pool of the same type in the same racing meeting. When no such pool exists, a jackpot is transferred to the next pool of the same type (Trifecta, 20 Superfecta, Golden Superfecta or First4) in the same circuit. For the NSW area, jackpot circuits have been set to the following format of eight circuits: Code State Venues Gallops NSW Metropolitan Gallops NSW Non-Metropolitan Gallops Non-NSW Metropolitan Gallops Non-NSW Non-Metropolitan 40 Code State Venues Harness NSW Harness Non-NSW Code State Venues Greyhounds NSW Greyhounds Non-NSW Metropolitan venues comprise the following tracks: Metropolitan Non-NSW Metropolitan Randwick Flemington Rosehill Gardens Caulfield Warwick Farm Sandown Canterbury Park Moonee Valley Eagle Farm Doomben Morphetville Cheltenham Victoria Park 5 11. Rules for dividends and refunds In certain embodiments, the following rules apply to both dividend and refunds: 1. Bet Dividend Payouts reflect the percentage of the bet was placed but the actual amount is rounded, upon payment in cash, to the nearest five cents. For electronic payments, the 41 amount is rounded to the nearest cent. The rounding occurs only once, that being the final step prior to payment. 2. Because the exact dividend payout per winning combination may have 5 (five) decimal digits of a cent, rounding down to the 10,000th of a cent (truncation) per combination is 5 applied. In other embodiments alternative rounding is used. 3. The exact amount of bet refund may have betting cents. 4. The refund amount is rounded to the nearest cent, per bet. 5. The amount refunded is never higher than the original bet cost. 6. The amount refunded is equal to the original bet cost when all combinations in the bet 10 include scratchings. 12. RAPP software is used to set up a race day Race day meeting details are sent by racing clubs up to 12 months in advance of the actual race day. Race days need to be set up in the system. This may be done using a software system called RAPP. A race day covers every race meeting (and legs in that meeting) for the 15 entire day - no matter where it occurs eg Sydney, Brisbane - as long as the organiser is covering it. An alternative software product is referred to as ISport. Each meeting is given a meeting code and location. The remainder of the information (runner details, for instance) is electronically downloaded from an external source (Racing Services Bureau). Once this information has been downloaded, the Initialisation Officer verifies 20 the RAPP Report; this is an audit for incorrect entries. RAPP is then used to enter the default values such as pools, Doubles and tote participation. The Duty manager checks for Times/field sizes/venues and club details. The RAPP option, "RAPP GOX" is then initiated. This moves the RAPP data just entered into the system where it updates Steven tables. To describe the initialisation of a meeting in 4 25 stages: 1. Stage One - Insert the Meeting to the Fixtures Listing (Menu item) 42 2. Stage Two - Confirm the Meetings to be covered (listing). At each stage the system builds the next level by applying the meeting defaults and using a number of tables which contain static information relevant to a meeting 3. Stage Three - Add Pools/Totalisator Details to a Meeting 5 At stage three the race fields and pools are added - the majority of race fields are updated directly from the Racing Services Bureau. Race fields not received electronically are updated using the various RAPP input panels 4. Stage Four - Build the 'Steven Tables' for System Initialisation 10 Finally, a program verifies that the 'Steven Tables' have been built correctly against the RAPP data and detects any errors or discrepancies As the initialisation is built, meetings progress through the following status: Unlisted - Updated to the Fixtures listing appear in white on the Fixtures Listing Listed - Meeting confirmed as intended for TAB coverage appear in yellow on the 15 Fixtures Listing Verified - Fields, pools and totalisator details have been added appear in light blue on the Fixtures Listing Post Raceday - Coverage is completed and all sales data updated to the tables appear in dark blue on the Fixtures Listing 20 13. RT4 interface The RT4 bet screen appears substantially as before, with the major exception of being configured to accept the betting according to the invention. A sample of the RT4 screen is shown in Figure 4. The RT4 bet screen has the following field added to the screen as the last field prior to placing the bet. That is: 25 FlexiTM Bet? 1 = Yes 43 The operator has the option of entering either a 1 or nothing. A 1 identifies the bet as a bet according to Steps 1 to 3 described above. The operator has the option of either transmitting the bet or hitting Comp Amt to compute the percentage of the declared dividend, in cents to 2 decimal places. A further display, known as 5 a trace display, is provided by RT4 and is shown in Figure 5. The operator also has the ability to make use of three new error messages to cater for the extent to which the bets in accordance with the invention are to be offered to the participants. That is, the system is configured to alert both the organiser and the participant if: 1. The minimum investment is less than $5; 10 2. The bet percentage is below 1%; and 3. If the bets in accordance with the invention are available or not, whether that be only in respect of a particular event or for the terminal concerned. The terminal also allows the system to either reject or correct the bet according to the participant's response. 15 There is also a verification step which involves the following bet details being sent to RT4 type terminals: MR01TT (FLX) 3 ROAST BEEF / 6 ROGAN JOSH, 7 NACHOS, 8 /2 VOL-AU-VENT FOR 5.00 = 166.66% (DIV). In other embodiments alternative or additional details are provided. For the other terminal 20 types similar errors and verification occurs. 14. Using the internet interface Embodiments of the invention are well suited to implementation over the internet. In this format the participant may be provided with an online guide. Additionally, in this embodiment a tick box may be included for the participant to indicate that he or she is betting with the wager in 25 accordance with Steps 1 to 3 above.

44 An error message is shown if the customer attempts to select both the wager according to Steps 1 to 3 above and a Mystery option. The participant initiates the selection of the bet according to Steps 1 to 3 above by checking the tick box. If the customer attempts to select both that tick box and the Mystery 5 option boxes an error message is returned indicating that this is not possible. Examples of the displays that would be presented to a participant using the internet based form of one embodiment are shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9. For internet based embodiments there are two types of errors displayed on screen. They come from one of two sources, but are transparent to the participant. One set of error messages is 10 sent by the host to the web page and the other set is generated by the Java script from the web page itself. New error messages for the betting in accordance with the invention are generated by the host. Three new error messages are possible for the new bets, in addition to the existing error messages. These error messages are generated by the host and NOT Java scripts in the web page. 15 They are: * Minimum investment $5 " Bet percentage below 1 % Minimum * The new betting is not allowed on Mystery bets. The respective error messages for these errors are: 20 e "The minimum investment is $5.00" * "Bet below 1 % (min $nn.nn)" * "Either a New bet or a Mystery bet" The IVR menu for Trifecta, First Four and Superfecta are: 0. Single 25 1. Boxed 45 2. Standout 3. Multiple 4. Boxed - FlexiTM 5. Standout - FlexiTM 5 6. Multiple - Flexi T M The amount prompt for standard bets, in this embodiment, remains the same as prior to the implementation of the invention. With the new bets, however, a prompt is provided: "Enter the total cost of the bet in dollars and cents, then press the hash key. Please note the minimum spend for Flexi T M betting is five dollars rising in 50 10 cents increments. The amount entered is equal the total cost of the bet" The script for bet call back has been altered in 2 places: * The descriptor is added prior to the bet type, ie. "Descriptor" Trifecta * The following phrase has been added to the end of the existing call back script: 'returning you xx.xx% of the declared dividend', where xx.xx is the amount to 2 decimal places, 15 as returned via the terminal. The error messages are consistent with the other error messages discussed above for the betting of the invention. There are 4 screens on the FLIGHT terminals 6. 20 a. Operator Display Mode There is no change to the Operator Display mode for FlexiTM Betting.

46 b. Computer Bet Cost screen MSGS 1926B

------------

Percentage 20.83% c. Bet Correction Screen In Bet Correction mode the screen shows the bet as FlexiTM on the record display. 5 Two new error messages are possible for the bets of the invention, in addition to the existing error messages possible for the whole unit bet type. These messages correspond with the other new error described above. The bet can either be rejected or corrected by the operator according to the participant's response to the error messages. One error message is shown below. READ CORR 0200A --- 10 MINIMUM INVESTMENT $5.00 CR TT 04 Pre:N $ FLEXITM =>456 13:14:46 SG09 1330 SGlO 1400 DT01 1400 d. RT4 Receipts Some examples of the receipts provided by the RT4 follow. Bet percentage under 1000%: 47 123456789012345 123456789 123456789 123456789 12 Ill IlIl 1] Il ilIl RANDWICK 02 :2 COCA COLA/4 BFLLY BUTTON, 6 $10 (C24):SLOW DUDE, 11 IMPRESSION, 12 SR05FF 06NovOO:AVANGARDA*S/OUT 380-0003-619 : 41.66%(05NovO 145559) ||||1 I I1 1 || || il Bet percentage between 1000% and 9999%: 123456789012345 123456789 123456789 123456789 12 Ill Ill II i Il ||| RANDWICK 02 :2 COCA COLA/4 BELLY BUTTON, 6 $75 (C6):SLOW DUDE, I1 IMPRESSION*S/OUT SR05FF 06NovOO: 380-0003-619 :1250.0%(05NovO 145559) |IM|| II I || Il |1 Bet percentage above 9999%: 123456789012345 123456789 123456789 123456789 12 I ll II I ||| l RANDWICK 02 :2 COCA COLA/4 BELLY BUTTON, 6 $750 (C6):SLOW DUDE, 12 AVANGARDA*S/OUT SR05FF 06NovOO: 380-0003-619 :12500%(05NovOl 145559) 5111111 1 1 I 11 H 48 15. Various features and options Two special purpose tickets have been produced for Trifectas and Box Trifectas that are placed in accordance with Steps 1 to 3 above. The difference between the normal tickets (as shown in Figure 10, 11 and 12) and the special purpose tickets (not shown) is that the location, 5 code and race number are missing in the latter. It will be appreciated that these special purpose tickets have those fields completed by the system, not the participant. In the case of a Box Trifecta there is an additional difference: the "2nd" and "3rd" areas on the ticket don't appear and the "1st or Box" wording is changed to "Box". The other participant interfaces also operate similarly and are configured for 10 accommodating both the conventional wagering and wagering according to Steps 1 to 5 above. One embodiment provides a distributed betting system for allowing persons at a number of remote locations to all participate in a single totalisator pool. That is, the participants have access to the system: 1. On-course - that is, at the physical racetrack; 15 2. At off-course outlets - that is, at special retail outlets; 3. Individual sites - that is, home based wagering. While in the embodiment described above the same minimums and increments are offered to all participants, in other embodiments this is not the case. For example, in one of those other embodiments the participants at the individual sites are allowed smaller increments and 20 minimum wagers as opposed to those participants making use of the on-course and off-course outlets. In still further embodiments, in those bets where the participant chooses to pay the wager in an electronic form, smaller increments are accommodated than in the case of cash based wagers. In some embodiments different off-course outlets accommodate different minimum unit 25 wagers and minimum increments. Other embodiments allow participants to wager on the outcome of other events such as football or other sporting codes. In some embodiments, the participants are able to place multiple bets that extend across sporting codes.

49 In other embodiments there is provided a method for a participant to make a wager with a betting organiser in respect of an event that has more than two possible outcomes, the method including the steps of: the participant designating as selected outcomes at least two of the possible outcomes of the event; the participant nominating the quantum of the wager for each of 5 the selected outcomes; being responsive to the quantum of the wager and the number of selected outcomes for determining a total wager; effecting payment of the total wager from the participant to the organiser; determining the actual outcome of the event and then, if the actual outcome matches one of the selected outcomes, being responsive to the quantum of the wager for determining an award for the participant; and effecting payment of the award from the organiser 10 to the participant. This method is also implemented with the hardware mentioned above, with appropriate modification of the software. The event has been described as a horse race and the wager being an exotic bet in respect of that race. That is, the bet is in respect of at least two possible outcomes of a race that has many 15 possible outcomes. Clearly, the organiser would in practice wish to limit the number of selections to be less than the number of the possible outcomes. In other embodiments the event includes a combination of separate events. For example, in one embodiment, the event includes eight separate games of football in a predetermined football league. That is, the participant makes a wager in respect of the winners of each of the 20 games. In other embodiments the wager is in respect of the margins or scores in the games. In still further embodiments the event includes a combination of events that are from different games. For example, the participant makes a wager in respect of the winners of a predetermined game of rugby union, a predetermined game of rugby league and a predetermined game of football. In this example the games are played at or about the same time, such as in the 25 same week. However, in other embodiments, the timing of the games is spaced apart. Further embodiments that use Steps 1 to 4 (and 5 in relation to payment) described above and that have application to combinations of events, which may be at the same venue, at different venues, at different times and/or different geographical locations are provided below.

50 16. Embodiments providing supplementary rewards A wagering system 100, as shown in Figure 13, enables one or more players to wager on the possible final outcomes of gaming events that are held (or take place) at one or more different gaming locations 120a, 120b and 120c. A gaming location 120a, 120b and 120c refers 5 to the place or venue at which a gaming event is held (or takes place) at a particular time (e.g. a race meeting). For example, each gaming location 120a, 120b and 120c may respectively correspond to a different racing venue that hosts a different type of gaming (e.g. horse racing, greyhound racing and motor racing). Each gaming location 120a, 120b and 120c may each be located at a different geographic location (e.g. in a different city or country). 10 As described above, a gaming event can have several possible final outcomes. A final outcome of a gaming event refers to a final result of a game that can be achieved by any of the participants of a particular gaming event. While the foregoing description was provided by way of example with reference to racing, the final result may be determined at the conclusion of the gaming event based on any measurable or observable attribute of the gaming event; such as but 15 not being limited to, a score (e.g. number of goals), count (e.g. number of repetitions), time (e.g. finish time or lap time), margin (e.g. a difference in score, count or timing) or finishing positions of one or more participants (e.g. individually or a team) for the gaming event. For example, one final outcome of a gaming event could be a specific participant of the event finishing first place (i.e. the winner), and another final outcome could be three specific participants of the event 20 respectively finishing in first, second and third place (e.g. a trifecta). a. Supplementary rewards - system overview The wagering system 100 includes a wagering server 102 that communicates with a database 104. The database 104 includes any means for storing and accessing data, such as a file server or relational database (such as that provided by Oracle <http:// www.oracle.com>). 25 The wagering server 102 may be a standard computer (such as that provided by IBM Corporation <http://www.ibm.com>) running a standard operating system (such as Windows or Unix). The wagering server 102 includes at least one processor that performs various act in processes under the control of one or more control modules in the wagering server 102 (not shown in Figure 13). The control modules of the wagering server 102 may be provided by way 30 of computer program code in languages such as C and C++. The terms processor is used in this 51 specification to refer to either a collection of one or more microprocessors, one or more data processing hardware components of a device, or an entire device that is configured for performing the acts in the processes shown in Figure 14 to 16. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the processes performed by the control modules of the wagering server 102 can 5 also be executed at least in part by dedicated hardware circuits, e.g. Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) or Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). The wagering server 102 communicates with one or more race control systems 116a, 116b and 116c via a communications network 106 (e.g. the Internet, Wide Area Network (WAN), Virtual Private Network (VPN), wireless network or a mobile or standard 10 telecommunications network). In a representative embodiment (as shown in Figure 13), each race control system 11 6a, 11 6b and 11 6c is located at a different gaming location 120a, 120b and 120c. However, it will be appreciated that each race control system 11 6a, 11 6b and 11 6c (each of which may communicate with a different respective event information display system 11 8a, 118b and 118c) may be integrated into the wagering server 102 and may not be located at 15 different locations. Each race control system 11 6a, 11 6b and 11 6c generates events data for each gaming event scheduled to take place at the relevant gaming location 120a, 120b and 120c. The events data may include one or more of the following types of data: i) event identification data representing a unique identifier for each gaming event; ii) event location data representing a unique identifier for the gaming location 120a, 20 120b and 120c hosting the event; iii) event scheduling data representing the date and/or time at which each gaming event is scheduled to take place; and iv) participant data representing the identity of the participants (e.g. the names or unique identifiers of the participants) participating in each gaming event. In another 25 representative embodiment, the participant data may be generated by a separate system (not shown in the Figures). The race control systems l I6a, 11 6b and 11 6c send or transmit the events data to the wagering server 102 for processing and storage in the database 104.

52 The wagering server 102 also communicates with a configuration terminal 108 via the communications network 106. The configuration terminal 108 generates configuration data representing parameters for controlling the operation of the wagering server 102. In a representative embodiment, the configuration terminal 108 queries the wagering server 102 to 5 provide the events data (retrieved from the database 104) for one or more gaming events. The configuration terminal 108 generates, based on the events data, configuration data including game definition data representing one or more predefined games that players can wager on using the wagering system 100. Each game includes a selection of one or more gaming events (e.g. as defined by the events data) that are scheduled to take place at any of the gaming locations 120a, 10 120b and 120c within a predetermined time frame (e.g. a period of 24 hours). The game definition data may include rules data (for each of game represented by the game definition data) that represents the type of player input required for placing a wager on a particular game. For example, the rules data may define a number of final outcomes and the type of final outcomes available for selection by a player for placing a wager. The configuration terminal 114 sends the 15 game definition data to the wagering server 102 for storage in the database 104. The wagering server 102 communicates with (and sends the game definition data and events data to) one or more transaction servers 112 via the communications network 106. As shown in Figure 13, the transaction server 112 may be located on a site or facility that is external to a gaming location 120a, 120b and 120c. In a representative embodiment, a different 20 transaction server 112 is located at different gaming locations 120a, 120b and 120c (shown as components 118a, 118b and 118c in Figure 13). Each transaction server 112 communicates with one or more betting terminals 114. A betting terminal 114 may be a remote personal computer (PC), an electronic betting terminal (e.g. a betting kiosk), or a telecommunications device (e.g. a standard telephone or mobile 25 phone) that communicates with the transaction server 112 via an appropriate communications channel (e.g. the Internet, WAN, VPN, wireless network or a mobile or standard telecommunications network). The transaction server 112 generates, based on the game definition data and events data, a user interface for a player (or agent for the player) to provide input in the form of betting data to 30 the transaction server 112. For example, the user interface may be a graphical display interface or an interactive voice response (IR) interface prompt. The betting data provided by the user 53 includes data representing a wager amount and a betting selection in respect of a specific game. Alternatively, the betting data may represent a player's instructions for the transaction server 112 to cancel an existing wager on a game (e.g. provided that the first gaming event of the game has not yet started). 5 The betting selection includes at least one final outcome selected by the player (e.g. by selecting options via the user interface generated by the transaction server 112) for each gaming event in a game (as defined by the game definition data). In a representative embodiment, the game definition data defines a game with multiple different gaming events (e.g. six different gaming events), where a player is required to provide a betting selection representing a selected 10 one or more participants (for each gaming event) who the player considers to be the likely winner (i.e. finish in first place) for each respective gaming event. In another representative embodiment, a player can instruct the transaction server 112 (via a belting terminal 114) to automatically generate a betting selection on behalf of the player. For example, the betting selection may represent one or more participants for each respective gaming event selected on a 15 random basis (e.g. based on one or more random numbers). Alternatively, the betting selection may represent one or more participants for each respective gaming event selected from a subgroup of one or more participants who are more likely to win the event (i.e. the selection is biased towards the "favourites") The group of "favourites" participants for a gaming event may be determined based on factors including a total number of wagers (or wager amounts) placed on 20 each of the participants of the event (e.g. where a participant having a greater number of wagers (or wager amount) may be considered more likely to win the event), and/or performance statistics of each participant in previous events. The wager amount represents an amount of money invested by the player on the player's betting selection for a specific game. The transaction server 112 may have access to a player's 25 account containing an amount of credit that can be used (by the player) towards a wager amount. For example, a player can prepay a certain monetary amount to accumulate an equivalent amount of credits in the player's account in the wagering system 100. A unit of credit in the player's account may represent a credit point of arbitrary monetary value, or alternatively, each unit of credit may represent a value equivalent to $1 of a predetermined currency (e.g. Australian 30 dollars). The wagering system 100 determines a suitable exchange rate for converting a monetary amount received from a player into an equivalent number of credits in the player's account. The player (e.g. by interacting with a user interface generated by the transaction server 54 112) can nominate any portion of the credits available to the player towards any part of a wager amount made by the player. The transaction server 112 may require (e.g. depending on the game definition data) the wager amount for a game to be no less than a minimum investment amount. Otherwise, the 5 wager amount is determined using the flexible unitary betting system described above, including Steps 1 to 3 for placing a wager, Step 4 for determining the rewards and Step 5 for payment. Each transaction server 112 receives (from one or more betting terminals 114) betting data for one or more different games. Each transaction server 112 generates (e.g. either in real time or on a periodic basis) transactions data for each game represented by the betting data 10 received by the transaction server 112. The transaction data for a particular game includes data representing a total wager amount (e.g. the investment pool) for that game, and the betting selections of one or more different players who have wagered on that game. The wagering server 102 receives transaction data from one or more transaction server 112, and generates (for each particular game represented in the transaction data received) a total wager amount received from 15 each of the players wagering in the game and their corresponding betting selections. This information is stored in the database 104. In a representative embodiment, the wagering server 102 generates (based on the total wager amount received from the all players wagering in the game) a first total wager amount and a (separate) second total wager amount for rewarding some of the players participating in a 20 particular game. For example the wagering server 102 first generates a balance amount by deducting any expenses (e.g. any management expenses, fees and taxes) from the total wager amount received from all players in the particular game. The balance amount is then divided into a first total amount (representing a larger portion of the balance amount) and a separate second total amount (representing a smaller portion of the balance amount). For example, the first total 25 amount may comprise of 90% of the balance amount, and the second total amount may comprise of 10% of the balance amount. The first and second total amounts are used to reward players based on a number of winning selections (e.g. either full set or partial set) and based on the determination of the proportion of the relevant unit of investment, as described above. Each race control system 116a, 116b and 116c generates status data representing the 30 status of a gaming event defined by the events data. For example, the status data for a gaming 55 event may represent that the event has either finished, not yet taken place, has been delayed, or has been cancelled. The race control system 116a, 116b and 116c sends the status data for each gaming event to the wagering server 102 (e.g. in real time or at periodic intervals) for storage in the database 104. However, it will be appreciated that each race control system 116a, 116b and 5 11 6c may be integrated into the wagering server 102 rather than them being separate to provide the server 102 with that data/functionality. At the conclusion of a gaming event (e.g. when all participants of the event have completed all requirements of the event, excluding those participants who have been withdrawn or disqualified from the event), the each race control system 116a, 116b and 116c generates 10 event results data representing final outcomes of the gaming event. For example, the event results data for a gaming event may include data representing the finishing order of each of the participants in that gaming event. The event results data may include data representing one or more different measurable or observable attributes of the gaming event (e.g. a finish time, score, etc). The race control system 11 6a, 11 6b and 11 6c sends the event results data for each gaming 15 event to the wagering server 102 for storage in the database 104. The wagering server 102 analyses the event results data, and determines (based on the event results data) various final outcomes of the gaming event. For example, in a representative embodiment, the wagering server 102 determines the winner of a gaming event to be the participant finishing in first place in the finishing order represented by the event results data. As another example, the wagering 20 server 102 may determine the participants in a trifecta as the participants respectively finishing in first, second and third places in the finishing order represented by the event results data. The wagering server 102 receives the event results data in respect of each gaming event included in a game (as defined by the game definition data), and compares the betting selections made by each player of the game with the event results data received. Based on this comparison, 25 the wagering server 102 selects a first group of players having betting selections including all of the final outcomes represented by the event results data (e.g. including final outcomes for each of the gaming events as represented by the event results data). Also based on this comparison, the wagering server 102 selects a second group of different players having betting selections including a predetermined number of the final outcomes represented by the event result data (e.g. 30 including final outcomes for only some but not all of the gaming events as represented by the event results data). The predetermined number is defined in the game definition data, and for 56 example, may be a number one less than the total number of gaming events included in the game. The wagering server 102 generates a first reward amount for each player in the first group, where the first reward amount is determined by dividing the first total amount by the total 5 investment by players in the first group. Alternatively, the wagering server 102 may receive the first reward amount from a remote source, for example a different wagering server that determines the first reward amount. The wagering server 102 may also generate or receive a second reward amount for each player in the second group, where the second reward amount is determined by dividing the second total amount by the total investment by players in the second 10 group. As described above, the actual reward amount for a player is calculated based on the proportion of the wager. For example, the player from Example 3 who invested 25% on the winning combination will receive a corresponding 25% of the relevant generated reward amount. The combination of these features may be particularly advantageous as it has the effect of allowing the participants to substantially independently control their wager amount and number 15 of combinations selected as well as providing a supplementary reward (i.e. a second reward amount) to those players who have made betting selections that almost qualifies them for a primary reward (i.e. a more substantial first reward amount). This helps reduce the potential disappointment to those players who would otherwise not qualify for a primary reward. Providing a supplementary reward also helps encourage at least some of the players to continue 20 wagering on another game. For each game that has concluded the wagering server 102 generates game results data for the particular game including the event results data (for each gaming event included in the game) and also payout data. The payout data includes data representing the value of the first reward amount, the value of the second reward amount and the identities of the players (e.g. one 25 or more unique identifiers for each player, such as a unique betting ticket number issued to a player) who qualifies for the first reward amount or the second reward amount. The wagering server 102 transmits the game results data to each transaction server 112, which enables the transaction server 112 to provide or issue an appropriate reward to the appropriate (identified) players 30 The wagering server 102 communicates with one or more presentation systems 110 via the communications network 106. For example, the wagering server 102 may provide each 57 presentation system 110 with data including the status data and/or the event results data received from the race control systems 1 16a, 116b and 1 16c. Alternatively, the presentation systems 110 may receive such data directly from the wagering server 102 (e.g. as a direct data feed in the form of an XML message). A presentation system 110 includes any means for generating 5 presentation data for presenting (e.g. in the form of audio, text and/or graphics) the status and/or results of one or more games that are handled by the wagering system 100. For example, a presentation system 110 may generate data representing a television broadcast (e.g. including a text feed for incorporation into a television broadcast), a webpage (e.g. for display on a computer or mobile device), a display interface for a graphical user display device, a data message (e.g. an 10 XML data message such as an RSS data feed), an audio message for listening on a telecommunications device (e.g. a mobile phone) b. Supplementary rewards - wagering process Figure 14 is a flow diagram of a wagering process 200 performed by a processor of the wagering server 102 under the control of a control module of the wagering server 102. The 15 wagering process 200 begins at step 202 with the wagering server 102 accessing game definition data (from the database 104) for a game selected by a player. The game selected by the player is defined in the transaction data received by the wagering server 102 from the transaction server 112. At step 204, the wagering server 102 accesses (from the transaction data received) the player's betting selection of the gaming events of the selected game. At step 206, the wagering 20 server 102 accesses (from the transaction data received) the player's wager amount for the selected game. The wagering server 102 receives transaction data from one or more transaction servers 112 that contains data relating to the selected game. At a predefined point in time, the wagering system 100 stops accepting new wagers for the selected game and generates a balance amount 25 (as defined above). At step 212, the wagering server 102 determines (based on the status data received from the race control systems 116a, 11 6b and 11 6c) whether any of the gaming events scheduled for the selected game has been cancelled (or withdrawn) prior to the first gaming event starting. If no gaming events have been cancelled (or withdrawn) at step 212, then step 212 proceeds to step 30 216. Otherwise, at step 214, the selected game is cancelled and the wagering server 102 58 generates game results data including payout data to refund the wager amount to each player of the selected game. Process 200 ends after step 214. Otherwise, step 212 proceeds to step 216. At step 216, the wagering server 102 receives status data and any event results data (from one or more race control systems 116a, 116b and 116c) for each gaming event included in the 5 selected game. The race control system 11 6a, 11 6b and 11 6c may send status data for all gaming events included in the selected game, and may only send event results data for those gaming events that have finished (i.e. where a final outcome of the gaming event has been determined). For example, the results data represents at least those final outcomes that are defined in the rules data (which is part of the configuration data stored in the database 104 for the selected game). At 10 step 218, the results data are processed using the results analysis process 300 shown in Figure 15. At step 220, the wagering server 102 determines whether all of the gaming events included in the selected game have finished. If so, step 220 proceeds to step 224. Otherwise, step 220 proceeds to step 222 where the wagering server 102 provides the presentation system 110 with updated status data for each of the gaming events included in the selected game. The 15 presentation system 110 generates presentation data based on the updated status data, and distributes the presentation data accordingly. Step 222 proceeds to step 216 to receive results data for another gaming event included in the selected game. At step 224, the wagering server 102 has received the results data for all gaming events included in the selected game. The wagering server 102 generates game results data for the 20 selected game using the reward determination process 400 shown in Figure 16. At step 226, the wagering server 102 sends the game results data (including payout data) to the presentation systems 110 for presenting the final results to the players, and to the transaction servers 112 to enable certain players to receive a reward amount determined in the payout data. c. Supplementary rewards - results analysis process 25 Figure 15 is a flow chart of a results analysis process 300 performed by a processor of the wagering server 102 under the control of a control module of the wagering server 102. The results analysis process 300 begins at step 302 with the wagering server 102 analysing the status data for each of the gaming events included in the selected game to determine whether any of the gaming events have been cancelled or abandoned. If none of the gaming events have been 30 cancelled or abandoned, step 302 proceeds to step 322. Otherwise. step 302 proceeds to step 304 59 to determine the number of gaming events that have been cancelled or abandoned (i.e. have been affected). At step 306, the wagering server 102 determines whether the number of gaming events (determined at step 304) is within a first threshold range. For example, there may be a total of six 5 gaming events included in the selected game, and the first threshold range represents an integer value between 0 and 1. In the example, step 306 detects the scenario where a total of only 1 gaming event is affected. if the criterion al step 306 is not met, step 306 proceeds to step 310. Otherwise, step 306 proceeds to step 308 where the wagering server 102 determines that the betting selections of the players for the affect gaming event(s) represent a final outcome of the 10 gaming event (regardless of what final outcome the betting selections of those players represent). Step 308 then proceeds to step 322. At step 310, the wagering server 102 determines whether the number of gaming events (determined at step 304) is within a second threshold range. Continuing with the above example where the selected game has six gaming events in total, the second threshold range represents an 15 integer value between 2 and 3 (inclusive). In the example, step 310 detects the scenario where a total of 2 to 3 gaming events are affected. If the criterion at step 310 is not met, step 310 proceeds to step 318. Otherwise, step 318 proceeds to step 312 where the wagering server 102 determines that the betting selections of the players for the affect gaming event(s) represent a final outcome of the gaming event (regardless of what final outcome the betting selections of 20 those players represent). At step 314 and 316, the entire second total amount is added to the first total amount. Step 316 then proceeds to step 322. At step 318, the wagering server 102 determines whether the number of gaming events (determined at step 304) is within a third threshold range. Continuing with the above example where the selected game has six gaming events in total, the third threshold range represents an 25 integer value between 4 and 6 (inclusive). In the example, step 318 detects the scenario where a total of 4 or more gaming events are affected. If the criterion at step 318 is not met, step 318 proceeds to step 322. Otherwise, step 318 proceeds to step 320 to return control to step 214 of the wagering process 200. At step 322, the wagering server 102 determines whether the event results data received 30 indicates that a certain number of gaming event for the selected game (up to and including the 60 gaming event before the last gaming event) has finished. If not, step 322 proceeds to step 326. Otherwise, step 322 proceeds to step 324 to generate approximates data representing estimated reward amounts for one or more of (or each of) the final outcomes in the final gaming event for the selected game, and then control of the process proceeds to step 326. The reward amounts 5 may be displayed on a per unit investment basis. This may be, for example $1, which enables participants who have made proportionate wagers to readily calculate their reward amount. The following is an example describing how approximates data is generated for a selected game having a total of 6 gaming events. At step 324, the wagering server 102 identifies a group of players of the game having betting selections including the final results of each of the 10 preceding (e.g. 5) events. The final gaming event has several possible final outcomes, and the betting selections of the group of players include one or more of these outcomes. The wagering server 102 generates (based on the betting selections for the group of players) approximates data representing a different reward amount for one or more of (or each of) the possible final outcome of the final gaming event. Each reward amount represents the likely reward for the players who 15 having betting selections including the corresponding final outcome (on the basis that the selected outcome becomes the final outcome of the event). For example, if the final gaming event is a horse race where the player's betting selections include horse numbers 1, 3 and 8 (out of 8 horses participating in the final event), the approximates data represents a reward amount for at least horses 1, 3 and 8 (or alternatively for each of the horses participating in the final 20 event). The reward amount for horse number 1 is determined by dividing the first total amount by the total number of players having betting selections including horse number 1 in the final gaming event. Reward amounts for the other horses are determined on the same basis. The wagering server 102 then sends the approximates data to the presentation system 110 for presentation or display to the users. The advantage of generating approximates data is that it 25 helps build excitement towards the end of the game by showing a different (and usually significant) reward amount for different final outcomes of the final gaming event. At step 326, the wagering server 102 determines whether there is a remaining balance of the first total amount and the second total amount that has not been awarded to a player of the game. If so, the remaining balance is treated as a jackpot amount that is added (in total) to the 30 first total amount to increase the potential reward amount (e.g. provide a jackpot) for subsequent winning players.

61 d. Supplementary rewards - reward determination process Figure 16 is a flow chart of a reward determination process 400 performed by a processor of the wagering server 102 under the control of a control module of the wagering server 102. The reward determination process 400 begins at step 402 with the wagering server 102 accessing 5 configuration for the selected game. At step 404, the wagering server 102 generates/identifies a first total number of players having betting selections including all of the final outcomes represented by the event results data for the selected game. At step 406, the wagering server 102 generates/identifies a second total number of players having betting selections including a predefined number of the final outcomes 10 represented by the event results data for the selected game. The configuration data includes data representing the value of the predefined number used in step 406. The predefined number may be a number that is one less than the total number of gaming events included in the selected game. At step 408, the wagering server 102 generates a first reward amount, using the process 15 described herein above. In summary, and for example, the first reward may be determined by dividing the first total amount described above, by the total amount invested by the first total number of players (generated/identified at step 404). At step 410, the wagering server 102 generates a second reward amount by dividing the second total amount described above by the second total number of players (generated/identified at step 406). 20 At step 412, the wagering server 102 generates game results data including payout data representing the first reward amount and second reward amount generated at steps 408 and 410 respectively. The game results data (including the payout data) is sent to the transaction server 112 for rewarding the players, and is send to the presentation system 110 for publication. Process 400 then ends, and control is returned to process 200. In addition, as described above, if the 25 entirety of the first and/or second reward amounts is not awarded to participants, for example because the player(s) that had selected the winning combination did not amount to the minimum wager amount, then a jackpot procedure may be followed to distribute the funds that were not awarded. Figure 17 shows an example of a ticket 500 that may be used by a person to indicate a 30 betting selection, for example at a specialist outlet as described herein in relation to Figure 1.

62 Equivalent information may be indicated and communicated to the system 1/wagering server 102 using the other modes of placing a bet shown in Figure 1. The ticket 500 has use for different wager types, named in this example a Double, a Quaddie or a Big6. In relation to the Big6 option, there are 6 gaming events in the form of horse races. In an embodiment the players are 5 awarded the first reward amount (step 408 in Figure 16) if they select the winning horse in each of the six races and a the second reward amount (step 410 in Figure 16) if a person selects the winning horse in five of the six races. In section 501, a space is provided to select the group of six races on which the player wishes to place a wager. As indicated, these may be across different meetings, which may be in 10 different geographical locations. An option may also or instead be provided to place a Big6 bet in relation to 6 races at a single meeting (at a single venue). In section 502, the player selects the wager amount that he or she wishes to bet. More than one value can be indicated, with the wager amount being the sum of the indicated values. As described herein, a summation of wager amounts across players may be used to determine the 15 total amount from which a commission and prize pool is determined. In the section 503 the player enters their selection for the first race and enters their selection for the second to fifth races in the spaces below, and enters their selection for the sixth race in the section 504. The selection for each and every race may be one horse, in which case the total number of combinations selected is 1. In one or more races the selection may indicate 20 more than one horse, in which case the number of combinations increases. As described herein, the payout for a player is dependent on the amount wagered by the player and the number of combinations selected. Any of the processes or methods described herein can be computer implemented methods, wherein the described acts are performed by a computer or other computing device. 25 Acts can be performed by execution of computer-executable instructions that cause a computer or other computing device (e.g. the wagering server 102 or the like) to perform the described process or method. Execution can be accomplished by one or more processors of the computer or other computing device. In some cases, multiple computers or computing devices can cooperate to accomplish execution.

63 One or more computer-readable media can have (e.g. tangibly embody or have encoded thereon) computer-executable instructions causing a computer or other computing device to perform the described processes or methods. Computer-readable media can include any computer-readable storage media such as memory, removable storage media, magnetic media, 5 optical media, and the like. The data structures described herein can also be stored (e.g. tangibly embodied on or encoded on) on one or more computer-readable media. It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative 10 aspects of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. A gaming system comprising computational apparatus, wherein the computational apparatus is configured for, in relation to a plurality of gaming events that each have a plurality of possible final outcomes, 5 for each of a plurality of players: (i) receiving data representing a quantum of a wager amount, (ii) receiving data representing a betting selection that represents at least one of the possible final outcomes for each of the gaming events, and in relation to the received data for the plurality of players: 10 (a) identifying the received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for each of the gaming events, and (b) identifying the received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for a predetermined number of the gaming events, the predetermined number being at least one and less than all of the gaming events; 15 in relation to the identified received betting selection(s), determining reward amount(s), wherein the reward amount(s) are based on a bet constant, the bet constant being a value determined responsive to the quantum and a number of selected possible final outcomes in the identified received betting selection(s).

2. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the reward amount(s) are based on a total of 20 wager amounts, determined based on the quantum of the wager amounts received from the plurality of players.

3. The gaming system of claim 2 wherein reward amount(s) associated with received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for each of the gaming events are based on a first portion of said total of wager amounts. 25

4. The gaming system of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein reward amount(s) associated with received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for the 65 predetermined number of the gaming events are based on a second portion of said total of wager amounts, wherein said second portion is smaller than said first portion.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 further configured for: determining that a number of said plurality of gaming events have been cancelled or abandoned 5 after commencement of any of said events, said number being less than or equal to a first threshold value; and determining that the betting selections of said players include final outcomes of each of said cancelled or abandoned events.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 further configured for: 10 determining that a number of said plurality of gaming events have been cancelled or abandoned after commencement of any of said events, said number falling within a range defined by a lower threshold value and upper threshold value; and performing one or more of the following steps: i) determining that the betting selections of said players include final outcomes of each of 15 said cancelled or abandoned events; and ii) only determining said reward amount(s) that are associated with received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for each of the gaming events.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 further configured for: determining that a number of said plurality of gaming events have been cancelled or abandoned 20 after commencement of any of said events, said number being greater than or equal to a second threshold value; and refunding the respective quantum of the wager amount for each said player.

8. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein said reward amount(s) are generated based on at least one of the following: 25 i) a jackpot amount plus said total of the wager amounts; and 66 ii) a jackpot amount plus said total of the wager amounts, wherein said jackpot amount is determined based on a portion of a total of wager amounts previously received from players of a previous said plurality of gaming events.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, 5 wherein the betting selection for each said player is generated based on at least one of the following: i) a random selection of a possible final outcome for each of said gaming events; and ii) a random selection of a possible final outcome for each of said gaming events, wherein for each of said gaming events, said random selection includes those possible final outcomes for 10 said gaming events that have a greater likelihood of being a final outcome of the respective said gaming events.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the bet constant is expressed as a percentage and represents a proportion that the quantum of the wager constitutes of a unit wager on each betting selection(s). 15

11. The gaming system of claim 10 wherein the unit wager is one unit of a predetermined currency.

12. The gaming system of claim 11 wherein the bet constant is calculated as a percentage that equals a value calculated in accordance with the following formula: Bet constant = (Quantum of the wager/Number of selected combinations) * 100. 20

13. The gaming system of claim 12 configured to reject betting selections that result in a bet constant that is not at least 1%.

14. The gaming system of claim 12 wherein, if the bet percentage is less than 100%, then a total of the reward amount(s) is less than an available prize pool.

15. The gaming system of claim 14 wherein, if the bet percentage is greater than or equal to 25 100%, then a total of the reward amount(s)is equal to the available prize pool. 67

16. The gaming system of any one of claims 1-23 wherein the received data is received from one or more computer interface elements.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the computer interface elements is an interface to the internet. 5

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the determined reward amount(s) are communicable to the interface element to the internet for reception by different computer apparatus.

19. A computer implemented method of providing a wagering game, the method including: for each of a plurality of players: 10 (i) receiving data representing a quantum of a wager amount, (ii) receiving data representing a betting selection that represents at least one of the possible final outcomes for each of the gaming events, and in relation to the received data for the plurality of players: (a) identifying the received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final 15 outcomes for each of the gaming events, and (b) identifying the received betting selection(s) that include a selection of actual final outcomes for a predetermined number of the gaming events, the predetermined number being at least one and less than all of the gaming events; in relation to the identified received betting selection(s), determining reward amount(s), wherein 20 the reward amount(s) are based on a bet constant, the bet constant being a value determined responsive to the quantum and a number of selected possible final outcomes in the identified received betting selection(s).

20. Computer readable storage including instructions for, when executed by a computer system, performing the method of claim 19.