AU2017201159A1 - An interactive tipping system - Google Patents

Description

-1 - 2017201159 21 Feb 2017

AN INTERACTIVE TIPPING SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to an interactive tipping system and more particularly is concerned with an interactive tipping system for a competition. 5 While the invention relates to and can be applied to a wide range of sporting events, tournaments and competitions including races involving horse and cars and competitions involving games of skill such as golf, basketball, rugby union, rugby league, etc., for convenience it will be described herein in terms of the Australia Football League (AFL).

Background to the Invention 10 Betting is a popular recreational activity which can be undertaken at a wide variety of different establishments including sporting venues and entertainment venues such as restaurants. The betting facilities made available at these venues can be managed by the management of the particular venue or by an independent third party such as an interactive tipping house. Accordingly, it can happen that such betting houses cover a wide variety of 15 sporting events including sporting tournaments or competitions.

Betting normally involves a gambler selecting a contestant or team participating in a game of a sporting event which the gambler believes will win. For example, the gambler may choose to place a bet on a particular horse or a particular team or sports person. The amount of money which the gambler stands to win through the bet typically is a calculated using the 20 odds which the betting house or administrator of the betting facility has allocated to the contestant.

Flowever, betting systems generally allow the player to place a bet which covers only one round or one game of the tournament or competition.

Summary of the Invention 25 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to at least partly overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative, improvement or addition to current betting systems.

Within the context of the specification the term “competition” is meant to include a reference to any type of sporting event which has a number of rounds or stages which may be held or -2- 2017201159 21 Feb 2017 played at one venue or at a number of different venues over a short or prolonged period of time. Furthermore, this term also includes a reference to real and simulated competitions such as fantasy tournaments which may be made up from a number of games selected from one or more sporting events, disciplines or codes. 5 Within the context of the specification the term “round” is meant to refer to one stage or phase of the competition which, when combined with the other stages or phases of the competition, result in the completion of the competition.

Within the context of the specification the term “game” is meant to refer to any type of sporting discipline and extends to sporting disciplines which have individual contestants 10 competing against each other or sporting disciplines in which a group of contestants compete against another group of contestants.

Within the context of the specification the term “contestant” is meant to include a reference to any type of contestant which can participate in a competition. Accordingly, a contestant includes human and non-human participants of a competition. 15 The invention generally provides an interactive tipping system which allows a user to record a winning contestant for a game in a number of different rounds of a competition; the interactive tipping system automatically calculates a winning streak of the user based on the recorded predictions and allows the user to obtain details of the winning streak.

The interactive tipping system may be used as an add-on to existing betting systems. 20 Accordingly, the interactive tipping system may be used as entertainment without requiring the actual placing of a bet using money.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an interactive tipping system for placing a bet against one or more games in one or more rounds; the interactive tipping system includes an input mechanism with which a user can record, for a contestant of a game being played in a 25 round, a winning prediction; a processing mechanism which calculates, once the game is completed, a winning streak of consecutive wins of the user based on the winning prediction and any sequential earlier prediction made previously by the user during the current or earlier rounds in which the user correctly predicted a winning contestant; and a output mechanism which provides the user with at least details of at least the user’s winning streak. 30 The user may be able to record a winning prediction for a number of contestants playing in a number of games in a number of rounds of a competition. -3- 2017201159 21 Feb 2017

The user may further be able to predict a winning contestant for games of a number of different, consecutive future rounds of the competition.

The processing mechanism may automatically start a new winning streak when the user enters an incorrect prediction. The user may then lose his ranking. The user will then be 5 able to enter new predictions for subsequent rounds of the competition. The interactive tipping system may automatically transfer predictions for remaining rounds to the new winning streak.

The user may only be able to record a winning contestant predicted by the user to win provided that the game of which the contestant is a participant has not commenced. 10 The interactive tipping system may allow more than one contestant of a game to be predicted as a winner by the user if the competition allows games to be drawn. The user will then have to select, for example, both contestants of the game in order to prevent the winning streak of the user to end.

The processing mechanism may be in the form of a software platform which is capable of 15 recording the winning contestant predicted by the user and which is capable of performing the calculation in which the winning streak is determined. The software platform may also be associated with the output mechanism thereby to produce a display containing at least the details of at least the user’s winning streak. The display may include at least one output page which contains at least the details of at least the user’s winning streak. 20 The software platform may be accessible through a website. The input mechanism may be part of a remote device which is operable by the user and with which the winning contestant is recorded on the software platform.

The display of the website may further include at least one input page with which the user can record the winning contestant. 25 The remote device may be in the form of a personal computer, PDA or other electronic device through which the user can record the winning contestant in the software platform.

The recording of the winning contestant may involve entering or selecting details of the winning contestant. The details may include the name of the contestant.

The website of the software platform may include a selection mechanism with which the 30 predicted, winning contestant can be recorded by the user. The selection mechanism may -4- 2017201159 21 Feb 2017 be a feature on the input page of a software platform such as an active webpage element which allows the user to click a button on the input page to submit the winning prediction of the user.

The input page may include a list of all the games being played in a particular round. The 5 input page may further include details of the games being played in subsequent rounds. The input page may further include details of previous rounds to a current round being played in the competition.

The input and output pages may be in the form of input and output sections thereby allowing the user to readily identify details of the user’s winning streak as well as details of contestants 10 participating in the games of a particular round.

The output page or section may include a list of the predicted winners selected by the user.

The input page or section may contain a list of the games being played in a particular round and games containing the predicted winners may be removed from the list of games once selected by the user. 15 A plurality of users may be able to predict one or more winning contestants of a number of different games being played over a number of different rounds of a competition. The plurality of users may be ranked according to lengths of the winning streak of the users.

The output page or section may include a ranking system which includes a plurality of sections. The ranking system may include a current streak section which shows details of 20 the current streak to the user. The ranking system may further include a best streak section which provides details of the best streak the user has had to date in the competition. The ranking system may further include an all member best streak section which provides details to the user of the best streak of any user of the interactive tipping system.

The invention also extends to a method for tipping on an interactive tipping system; the 25 method including the steps of allowing a user to predict a winning contestant of one or more games being played in a round of the competition; calculating a winning streak of consecutive wins of the user based on the number of consecutive correct predictions made previously by the user during earlier rounds of the competition in which the user correctly predicted a winning contestant; and making available to at least the user details of the user’s winning 30 streak.

The invention generally provides an interactive tipping system which includes - 5- 2017201159 21 Feb 2017 an Internet software platform providing for a. an input means with which a player’s can record a chosen one or more games and predicted win/loss result for that one or more games, b. a result means undertaking the actions of: 5 i. determining a length of a streak being a continuous correctly predicted win/loss result for that one or more games; ii. identifying an end of the streak; iii. automatically starting a new winning streak; iv. and repeatedly determining a length of a streak being a continuous 10 correctly predicted win/loss result for that one or more games and automatically starting a new winning streak until an end of the chosen one or more games in a predefined period; and an output means which provides a ranking according to a longest streak of a number of streaks in the predefined period. 15 The invention also extends to an interactive tipping system for placing a bet against one or more games in one or more rounds; the interactive tipping system includes a computer arrangement which includes a processing device, an input device and an output device each of which is in communication with the processing device; and a software platform which is operable through the computer arrangement; a list of unstarted games showing the 20 contestants of the unstarted games is displayed on the output device to a user of the interactive tipping system; the list of unstarted games is compiled from games being played in a number of different rounds; wherein, using the input device, the user records a winning prediction on the software platform for a contestant of a game of the list of unstarted games being played in a round; wherein the software platform calculates using the processing 25 device and once the game is completed, a winning streak of consecutive wins of the user based on the winning prediction made by the user for the game and one or more consecutive earlier predictions for earlier rounds in which the user correctly predicted a winning contestant; wherein the output device is updated to provide the user with at least details of at least the user’s winning streak. 30 The list of unstarted games may be compiled from games being played in a number of different rounds of one competition.

The invention also extends to an interactive tipping system which allows a user to predict a winning contestant for a game; the interactive tipping system including -6- 2017201159 21 Feb 2017 an interactive interface through which the user is capable of accessing details of at least one round of games being played in a competition and recording a winning prediction for one or more games of the at least one round in which the user predicts a winning contestant for the one or more games; and 5 a processor device which is capable of accessing the winning predictions for the one or more games; wherein the processor device monitors the games of the at least one round and calculates, once a result is known for a completed game for which the user has recorded a winning prediction, a winning streak of the user which is based on the winning 10 prediction for the completed game and any sequential earlier prediction made previously by the user in the same round or in earlier rounds of the competition and in which the user correctly predicted the winning contestant of a game; and wherein the interactive interface allows the user to access details of the winning streak of the user. 15 In a further example of the invention there is provided for an interactive tipping system when used allows a user to record a winning prediction for one or more games played in at least one round of a competition; the interactive tipping system including a software platform which includes a database containing a list of games for each round of a competition and an interactive interface which allows the user to access a list of 20 games for at least one round of the competition; a processor device which runs the software platform and which monitors completion of the games of the rounds of the competition; wherein the software platform through the interactive interface allows the user to record a winning prediction for one or more games being played in at least one round; 25 wherein the processor device allows the user to start a winning run for the competition; wherein the processor device maintains details of a current winning streak of the winning run of the user which is based on the number of correct earlier winning predictions made by the user for earlier games of the competition; 30 wherein the processor device, once a relevant game is completed for which the user has recorded a winning prediction, determines the current winning streak of the user which is based on the winning prediction of the user for the relevant game and the details of the winning streak; wherein the processor device determines the current winning streak of the user as 35 the games of the round progress and as the rounds progress of the competition; - 7- 2017201159 21 Feb 2017 wherein the processor device automatically starts a new winning streak for the winning run of the user when the processor device determines that the user has entered an incorrect winning prediction for a relevant game of one of the rounds of the competition; wherein the processor device, upon starting of a new winning streak, automatically 5 transfers to the new winning streak the winning predictions made by the user for the current winning streak which has ended; wherein the interactive interface allows the user to access details of the winning run of the user.

Brief Description of the Drawings 10 In order that the invention can be more readily understood the invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an interactive tipping system according to the invention. Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a website of the interactive tipping system of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a representative image of a webpage containing a display of the website. 15 Figure 4 is a representative image of a webpage of the website in which the display shows the results of a user’s tipping using the interactive tipping system.

Figure 5 is a representative image of a webpage of the website showing a ranking system of the interactive tipping system.

Figure 6 is a flow diagram showing an example of various steps taken during the operation of 20 the interactive tipping system.

Description of Illustrated Embodiment of the Invention

Figure 1 of the accompanying representations illustrates an interactive tipping system 10 according to the invention. The interactive tipping system includes a processing means or mechanism 12, an input means or mechanism 14, and an output means or mechanism 16. 25 Figure 2 represents the interactive tipping system 10 being operable through a website 18. In the website the processing mechanism 12 is in the form of a software platform 20 which includes an interactive interface or display 24 containing an input page 26 and an output page 28. The input and output pages are combined into one digital display 30 thereby allowing a user, not shown, of the interactive tipping system 10 to view details of the user’s 30 winning streak as well as to select a predicted winner for games which have not yet commenced.

Typically the user will be able to access the website 18 from a remote location using a - 8- 2017201159 21 Feb 2017 remote device 34 such as a personal computer or PDA which is capable of accessing the website. The remote device includes an input device 36 such as a keyboard, mouse, touch screen or the like which allows the user to record a winning prediction 38 on the software platform 20. 5 Details shown on the display 24 will depend on a number of different factors. By default the display will contain a listing of the games of a current round 40 of a competition 42 as well as details of a current winning streak 44 of the user. Therefore, when the user first accesses the website the display by default will appear to be similar to the representation of Figure 3.

In Figure 3 the input and output pages 26 and 28 are in the form of input and output sections 10 46 and 48 thereby allowing the input and output sections to be contained on one webpage.

The output section 48 contains details of the user’s current winning streak. The details include the length of the streak, see for example Figure 4, as well as the games of the present round, in this case round 17 in Figure 3, for which a user predicted a winner.

The input section contains a list of the games which will be played in the current round 40. It 15 is possible for the user to predict a winner for a game played in a round until the game has commenced. Accordingly, the user is still able to predict a winner of, for example the Geelong and Brisbane Lions game, until the game has commenced. The predicted winner of this game is recorded by the user using the input mechanism 14 contained by the input section 46. The input mechanism is in the form of a button 50 on the display 24. Typically 20 the user would be able to click on the button by way of the input device 36 which may be in the form of a keyboard or a mouse. Thus, the input mechanism allows the winning prediction 38 to be recorded through the click of a button on the input section.

Figure 3 show that the user has predicted for the 17th round 40 Hawthorn to defeat St Kilda and Collingwood to defeat Richmond. The output section 48 includes a selection 25 display 54 which shows these winning predictions 38. The input display 46 contains a list of unstarted games 56. This list is updated to show that the user has selected for the St Kilda -Hawthorn and Collingwood - Richmond games predicted winners. The input display further includes a marker 58 which indicates to the user which team was selected as the winner.

In Figure 4 the input section 46 contains details of a round, in this case round 1, which has 30 been completed. The user is therefore not able to predict a winner of any of the games listed in the input section of Figure 4. However, the user can select a different round, for example round 17, which will result in the display 24 being dynamically changed by the software -9- 2017201159 21 Feb 2017 platform 20 to the display shown in Figure 3. The input section therefore still allows the user to input a selection in the form of a choice of round although the user is not able to predict a winning contestant for the games of round 1 listed in Figure 4 as this round has finished.

The input section 46 contains comments 60 which provide guidance to the user as to what 5 will happen with the user’s winning streak due to an incorrect prediction 62.

The output section 48 includes a cancellation button 64 which allows the user to cancel anyone of the winning predictions 38. This will allow the user to remove a game from the selection display 54 if the user is uncertain about the winning prediction for the game. This allows the user to reduce the likelihood of ending the winning streak of the user if the user 10 has any doubts about the likelihood of success of the winning prediction.

Figure 5 shows a ranking system 68 of the interactive tipping system 10. The ranking system includes a number of sections 70 which includes a current streak section 72 which provides details of the user’s current streak. The current streak section provides a ranking 74 of the user’s current streak based on all of the winning streaks currently being run on the 15 interactive tipping system. The ranking system further includes a best streak section 76 which provides details of the best streak which the user has had to date. The ranking system further includes an all member based streak section 78 which provides details of the best streak of all of the users of the system, in this case 37.

Figure 6 shows the various steps which are taken during the calculation of a current winning 20 streak 44 of a streak attempt or winning run of the user using the interactive tipping system 10. The interactive tipping system allows the user to have multiple current winning streaks in succession in an overall winning run of the user. The website 18 is accessed by the user with the remote device 34 thereby allowing the interactive display 24, which is generated by the software platform 20, to be viewed by the user. This would typically involve receiving on 25 the remote device the display, in the form of the digital display or webpage 30 such as the one shown in Figure 3, containing the list of unstarted games 56. The user is then free to select a predicted winner for any number of games contained by the list of unstarted games. It should be noted that the software platform 20 typically has a database which contains details of the games being played in each of the rounds of the competition 42. Depending on 30 the user’s selection, the user may be able to view a list of games for any one of the rounds of the competition. For example, in Figure 3 the list of games for the current round, i.e. round 17, is displayed on the input section 46. However, the user can also view the list of games for a future round of the competition, for example round 18, or for a previous round of the - 10- 2017201159 21 Feb 2017 competition such as round 16.

Figure 6 shows the likely sequence of events performed by a processor device or microprocessor 80 of the processing mechanism 12 during the utilisation by a user of the interactive tipping system 10. Although the interactive tipping system is shown to have a 5 start (82) and a finish (84), the illustration in Figure 6 is a simplification of the interactive tipping system in order to show the operational steps associated with the calculation or determination of the current winning streak 44 of the user. The microprocessor 80 through the software platform 20 allows the user to start a winning run (86) using the interactive tipping system 10. The aim of the winning run would be for the user to accumulate as many 10 correct winning predictions 38 as possible before the user makes an incorrect winning prediction. The start of the winning run can be directly affected by the user, i.e. through the user specifically activating for the user the winning run feature through the software platform.

Alternatively, the microprocessor can automatically assign a winning run feature to the user's account. 15 The microprocessor 80 determines (88) when the competition 42 has ended whereafter the microprocessor prevents the user to record one or more winning predictions 38. The display 24 can be suitably updated with the message to indicate to the user that the competition has ended. While the competition is running, the microprocessor monitors (90) games of the competition so that, once a game has finished and the outcome of the game is known, the 20 microprocessor determines (92) whether the winning prediction 38 of the user for the relevant game was correct. If the user correctly predicted the winning contestant for the relevant game, the microprocessor updates (94) the current winning streak 44 of the user. For example, depending on the rule of the interactive tipping system, the winning streak of the user may reflect the number of correct winning predictions the user has made up to and 25 including the relevant game. The microprocessor updates (96) the output section 48 to show the current winning streak of the user so that, once the user accesses the output section, the user is able to readily determine the value of the current winning streak of the user.

Flowever, if the user has made an incorrect winning prediction 38, the microprocessor ends the current winning streak 44 and automatically starts a new winning streak 98 for the user. 30 Also, the microprocessor transfers any winning predictions made by the user in the terminated current winning streak 44 to the new winning streak so that any winning predictions made earlier by the user will be assigned to the new winning streak. - 11 - 2017201159 21 Feb 2017

The prediction of a winner by the user for a game results in the marker 58 being assigned to a game 100 thereby indicating a predicted winning contestant 102 (see Figure 3) of the game. Additionally, details of the game are transferred to the selection display 54. In order to effect these changes, the microprocessor continuously monitors the communication 5 channel between the website 18 and the input device 36 so that, upon receipt of a winning prediction 38 from the user, the microprocessor 80 automatically updates (96) the input and output sections 46 and 48.

Additionally, the microprocessor 80 continuously monitors whether a game 102 has commenced. If it has, then the user is no longer able to select a winning contestant and the 10 input section 46 is dynamically updated to notify the user of this restriction. When a game has commenced and the user has predicted a winning contestant 102, the microprocessor automatically calculates a winning streak of the user based on the winning prediction 38 and any sequential earlier projection made previously by the user during the same or earlier rounds in which the user correctly predicted a winning contestant. Thus, starting of the 15 winning run for the user will typically result in the output section showing that the current winning streak 44 of the user is zero. It should therefore be noted that it is possible for the user to view a number of updated (96) displays during the course of around, for example if the user has predicted a winning contestant 102 for a number of games in the current round 40 and which are played over a number of days. 20 The rules of streak betting are as follows: • The user can start a streak attempted at any round, for example the current round or any future round. A user can predict a winner for each of the rounds of the competition at the beginning of the competition if they so desire; • A game can be added to, or removed from, a streak attempt at any time in the 25 future provided that the game has not commenced; • Streak attempts will run into the finals; • A member can only be attempting 1 streak attempt at any time. However, the streak can include a number of different games in a round; • If a streak attempt is broken (i.e. by an incorrect prediction), the streak attempt 30 ends. • A new winning streak is automatically entered and streak tips for the remaining games will be transferred to the new winning streak attempt; • Is two games are listed as playing at the same time, the results will be processed in the order they are listed on the tipping screen; 2017201159 21 Feb 2017 - 12- • A streak attempt will remain open even if there is currently no predictions added to the streak; • All streaks end when the final game/round of the season is processed (including finals if available); 5 · If the streak tipping is for a sport that allows tipping a draw, a draw will be accepted as a valid tip outcome and correctly tipping a draw will add a game to the streak; • If the sport does not allow draws ( e.g. AFL), if a game for the sports is drawn it will not count towards a streak, nor will it end a streak; 10 · The rank on the ladder is determined by the member with the longest streak, then the average streak length, then ranked by the order in which uses have registered (oldest member of the website ranked highest); • A tip can be removed from the streak provided the game has not started.

The interactive tipping system allows a user to predict a winning contestant for a number of 15 rounds of the competition. This allows the user to build up a winning streak until an incorrect prediction is entered. The user is therefore able to attempt a winning streak over a number of rounds of the competition. The interactive tipping system can be used as an add-on to traditional betting systems which could provide an added dimensioned to traditional betting systems. 20 Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

While we have described herein a particular embodiment of an interactive tipping system, it is further envisaged that other embodiments of the invention could exhibit any number and 25 combination of any one of the features previously described. However, it is to be understood that any variations and modifications which can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof are included within the scope of this invention.

Claims (27)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   1. An interactive tipping system for placing a bet against one or more games in one or more rounds; the interactive tipping system includes an input mechanism with which a user can record, for a contestant of a game being played in a round, a winning prediction; a processing mechanism which calculates, once the game is completed, a winning streak of consecutive wins of the user based on the winning prediction and any sequential earlier prediction made previously by the user during the same or earlier rounds in which the user correctly predicted a winning contestant; and a output mechanism which provides the user with at least details of at least the user’s winning streak.
2. 2. An interactive tipping system according to claim 1 wherein the user can record a winning prediction for a number of contestants playing in a number of games in a number of rounds of a competition.
3. 3. An interactive tipping system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the user can record a winning prediction for one or more games of each round of a competition.
4. 4. An interactive tipping system according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the processing mechanism automatically starts a new winning streak when the user enters an incorrect prediction.
5. 5. An interactive tipping system according to claim 4 wherein the user loses his ranking due to an incorrect prediction; and wherein winning predictions for games which have not been completed are automatically transferred by the processing mechanism to the new winning streak.
6. 6. An interactive tipping system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the user can only record a winning prediction for a game which has not commenced.
7. 7. An interactive tipping system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the user can record a winning prediction for more than one contestant of a game.
8. 8. An interactive tipping system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the processing mechanism is a software platform which is capable of recording the winning prediction of the user and which calculates the winning streak of the user; and wherein the software platform is associated with the output mechanism thereby to produce a display containing at least the details of at least the user’s winning streak.
9. 9. An interactive tipping system according to claim 8 wherein the display includes at least one output page which contains at least the details of the at least the user’s winning streak.
10. 10. An interactive tipping system according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the software platform is accessible through a website; and wherein the input mechanism is part of a remote device which is operable by the user and with which the winning prediction is recorded on the software platform through the website.
11. 11. An interactive tipping system according to claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein the display of the website includes at least one input page with which the user can record the winning prediction.
12. 12. An interactive tipping system according to claim 11 wherein the recording of the winning prediction involves entering into or selecting details of the contestant on the output page thereby to record the winning prediction with the software platform.
13. 13. An interactive tipping system according to claim 11 wherein the input page includes a selection mechanism with which the winning prediction is recorded by the user.
14. 14. An interactive tipping system according to claim 13 wherein the selection mechanism is a feature on the input page of a software platform.
15. 15. An interactive tipping system according to claim 14 wherein the selection mechanism is an active webpage element which allows the user to click a button on the input page to submit the winning prediction of the user.
16. 16. An interactive tipping system according to claims 11 to 15 wherein the input page includes a list of all the games being played in a particular round; and wherein the selection mechanism is associated with the games thereby allowing the user to record a winning prediction for at least one contestant of the games.
17. 17. An interactive tipping system according to claim 16 wherein the input page includes details of the games being played in subsequent rounds; and wherein the input page includes details of previous rounds to a current round being played in the competition; whereby the user is able to select a round of the competition to determine what winning predictions the user made for the round.
18. 18. An interactive tipping system according to any one of claims 9 to 17 wherein the input and output pages are input and output sections on one webpage thereby allowing the user to readily identify details of the user’s winning streak as well as details of contestants participating in the games of a particular round.
19. 19. An interactive tipping system according to claim 18 wherein the output section includes a list of predicted winners selected by the user and the input section contains a list of games being played in a particular round; and wherein games containing the contestants for which the user entered a winning prediction are marked and are included into the list of predicted winners; whereby the user can readily identify the games for which the user entered a winning prediction on the list of games and on the list of predicted winners.
20. 20. An interactive tipping system according to any one of claims 9 to 19 wherein a plurality of users are able to record one or more winning contestants for a number of different games being played over a number of different rounds of a competition; and wherein the plurality of users are ranked according to lengths of the winning streak of the users.
21. 21. An interactive tipping system according to claim 18, 19 or 20 wherein the output section includes a ranking system which includes a current streak section which contains details of the current streak to the user, a best streak section which provides details of the best streak the user has had to date in the competition, and an all member best streak section which provides details to the user of the best streak of any user of the interactive tipping system.
22. 22. A method for tipping on an interactive tipping system; the method including the steps of allowing a user to predict a winning contestant of one or more games being played in a round of the competition; calculating a winning streak of consecutive wins of the user based on the number of consecutive correct predictions made previously by the user during earlier rounds of the competition in which the user correctly predicted a winning contestant; and making available to at least the user details of the user’s winning streak.
23. 23. The invention generally provides an interactive tipping system which includes an Internet software platform providing for c. an input means with which a player’s can record a chosen one or more games and predicted win/loss result for that one or more games, d. a result means undertaking the actions of: v. determining a length of a streak being a continuous correctly predicted win/loss result for that one or more games; vi. identifying an end of the streak; vii. automatically starting a new winning streak; viii. and repeatedly determining a length of a streak being a continuous correctly predicted win/loss result for that one or more games and automatically starting a new winning streak until an end of the chosen one or more games in a predefined period; and an output means which provides a ranking according to a longest streak of a number of streaks in the predefined period.
24. 24. An interactive tipping system for placing a bet against one or more games in one or more rounds; the interactive tipping system includes a computer arrangement which includes a processing device, an input device and an output device each of which is in communication with the processing device; and a software platform which is operable through the computer arrangement; a list of unstarted games showing the contestants of the unstarted games is displayed on the output device to a user of the interactive tipping system; the list of unstarted games is compiled from games being played in a number of different rounds; wherein, using the input device, the user records a winning prediction on the software platform for a contestant of a game of the list of unstarted games being played in a round; wherein the software platform calculates using the processing device and once the game is completed, a winning streak of consecutive wins of the user based on the winning prediction made by the user for the game and one or more consecutive earlier predictions for earlier rounds in which the user correctly predicted a winning contestant; wherein the output device is updated to provide the user with at least details of at least the user’s winning streak.
25. 25. An interactive tipping system according to claim 24 wherein the list of unstarted games is compiled from games being played in a number of different rounds of one competition.
26. 26. An interactive tipping system which allows a user to predict a winning contestant for a game; the interactive tipping system including an interactive interface through which the user is capable of accessing details of at least one round of games being played in a competition and recording a winning prediction for one or more games of the at least one round in which the user predicts a winning contestant for one or more games; and a processor device which is capable of accessing the winning prediction for the one or more games; wherein the processor device monitors the games of the at least one round and calculates, once a result is known for a completed game for which the use has recorded a winning prediction, a winning streak of the user which is based on the winning prediction for the completed game and any sequential earlier prediction made previously by the user in the same round or in earlier rounds of the competition and in which the user correctly predicted the winning contestant of a game; and wherein the interactive interface allows the user to access details of the winning streak of the user.
27. 27. An interactive tipping system in use allows a user to record a winning prediction for one or more games played in at least one round of a competition; the interactive tipping system including a software platform which includes a database containing a list of games for each round of a competition and an interactive interface which allows the user to access a list of games for at least one round of the competition; a processor device which runs the software platform and which monitors completion of the games of the rounds of the competition; wherein the software platform through the interactive interface allows the user to record a winning prediction for one or more games being played in at least one round; wherein the processor device allows the user to start a winning run for the competition; wherein the processor device maintains details of a current winning streak of the winning run of the user which is based on the number of correct earlier winning predictions made by the user for earlier games of the competition; wherein the processor device, once a relevant game is completed for which the user has recorded a winning prediction, determines the current winning streak of the user which is based on the winning prediction of the user for the relevant game and the details of the winning streak; wherein the processor device determines the current winning streak of the user as the games of the round progress and as the rounds progress of the competition; wherein the processor device automatically starts a new winning streak for the winning run of the user when the processor device determines that the user has entered an incorrect winning prediction for a relevant game of one of the rounds of the competition; wherein the processor device, upon starting of a new winning streak, automatically transfers to the new winning streak the winning predictions made by the user for the current winning streak which has ended; wherein the interactive interface allows the user to access details of the winning run of the user.