GB2320602A - Betting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Betting apparatus 2 comprises a visual display means 4 for displaying betting data relating to a draw, receiving means 6 for receiving money, tokens or electronic cash and means for enabling the placing of a bet on the outcome of a draw. Hand operated input means 10 is used to input a chosen bet into the betting apparatus and receipt-issuing means 14 issues a receipt for a bet. A computer (20) receives information relating to the draw and information relating to the bet. The input means can be by way of a keyboard, a touch screen or a touch pad. The apparatus can be free standing or wall mounted. The draw is a number draw such as the UK national or Irish lotteries.

Description

BETTING APPARATIJS This invention relates,to betting apparatus and, more especially, this invention relates to betting apparatus for enabling persons to place a bet on the outcome of a draw.

It is known in betting shops for persons to place a bet on the outcome a draw in the form of the Irish Lottery. It is not always convenient for persons to visit betting shops in order to place their bets.

Still further, many persons may wish to place bets on the outcome of draws other than the Irish Lottery.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided betting apparatus for placing a bet on the outcome of a draw, which betting apparatus comprises visual display means for displaying betting data relating to the draw, receiving means for receiving money, tokens, an electronic card containing money or an electronic card able to deduct money from an account for enabling the placing of at least one bet on the outcome of the draw, hand-operated input means for inputting a chosen bet into the betting apparatus, receipt-issuing means for issuing a receipt for the placed bet, and computer means for receiving information relating to the draw and also for receiving information relating to the bet.

The draw will usually be a number draw. Other types of draw may however be bet on. The number draw may be a National Lottery of any country, for example the UK National Lottery or the Irish National lottery.

Alternatively, the lottery may be a State lottery, for example a State lottery in the United States of America or a privately run lotttery.

The betting apparatus can be provided as a standalone machine or a wall mounted machine. The betting apparatus can be installed in any suitable and appropriate premises where it will be readily available to members of the public. Thus members of the public can easily place their bets. The receiptissuing means automatically issues a receipt for the placed bet, thereby giving the person placing a bet proof of the placed bet. In the event of a win, the person can be paid out via a cashier or via any other suitable and appropriate method.

Usually, the betting apparatus will be one in which the visual display means includes a visual display screen.

Preferably, the betting apparatus is one in which the receiving means is a coin-receiving means for receiving money in the form of coins. If desired however, the receiving means could be a tokenreceiving means for receiving tokens instead of coins.

Still further, the receiving means could be for receiving paper money, an electronic card containing money, or an electronic card able to deduct money from an account.

The hand-operated input means may comprise a touch screen, touch pads, or a keyboard.

The receipt issuing means may be such that it issues a printed receipt on paper or card.

The computer means will normally be a microcomputer.

As indicated above, the betting apparatus may be a stand alone piece of equipment or a wall mounted piece of equipment. In either case, the betting apparatus will normally comprise a housing containing all of the above mentioned components of the betting apparatus.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of betting apparatus; and Figure 2 illustrates schematically various parts of the betting apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown betting apparatus 2 for placing a bet on the outcome of a draw in the form of a National Lottery. The betting apparatus 2 comprises visual display means 4 for displaying betting data relating to the draw. The betting apparatus 2 also comprises receiving means 6 for receiving money in the form of coins for enabling the placing of at least one bet on the outcome of the draw. The receiving means 6 includes a slot 8 through which the coins are placed. By way of example, it is mentioned that each bet could require the insertion of a single one pound coin in the slot 8. Other costs per bet may obviously be employed.

The betting apparatus 2 includes hand-operated input means 10 for inputting a chosen bet into the betting apparatus 2. As shown in Figure 1, the handoperated input means 10 comprises a keyboard 12. If desired, the hand-operated input means 10 could be a touch screen located in the visual display means 4.

The betting apparatus 2 further comprises receipt-issuing means 14 for issuing a receipt for the placed bet. The receipt-issuing means 14 includes a dispensing aperture 16.

The visual display means 4, the receiving means 6, the hand-operated input means 10 and the receiptissuing means 14 are all contained in a housing 18.

The housing 18 also contains computer means 20 (see Figure 2) for receiving information relating to the draw, and also for receiving information relating to the bet. The housing 18 has a rectangular base as shown so that the betting apparatus 2 is in the form of a piece of stand alone equipment which can easily be located in any suitable and appropriate location, for example betting shops, railway stations, bus stations, shopping precincts, public houses and clubs.

The housing 18 has a display panel 22 which extends vertically behind the visual display means 4 and which can display point of sale information. The display panel 22 will normally be illuminated with a view to attracting the notice of persons to the betting apparatus 2.

The receipt-issuing means includes a printer 24 for issuing a printed receipt, for example from a paper roll. The printed receipt is then automatically dispensed through the dispensing aperture 16.

As shown schematically in Figure 2, the visual display means 4 has a visual display screen 24. The visual display screen 24 is able to display various displays. Thus, as shown schematically in Figure 2, the visual display means 4 may have a first display in the form of a permanent visual display, a second display in the form of a choice of bet display, a third display in the form of a choice of numbers display, and a fourth display in the form of a verified bet and print receipt display. Each of the displays 1, 2, 3, 4 may be associated with a fifth display having one or more help menus for each of the said displays 1, 2, 3, 4. A sixth display may give reliable reports and a menu, and may be connected to the printer 24. The reliable reports may also be input into the printer 24 via line 26.

The computer means 20 may be any suitable and appropriate microprocessor including a hard disc and appropriate software.

The betting apparatus 2 thus provides a person with the opportunity to bet on the outcome of a separate draw of numbers, for example the National Lotteries of the United Kingdom or Ireland, or any other draw which may from time to time be installed within the software forming part of the computer means 20. By way of example, a person wishing to place a bet may insert a one pound coin in the slot 8, whereafter the person is able to choose his or her bet, that is 1, 2, 3 or 5 numbers. The receiptissuing means 14 then automatically issues a receipt via the display aperture 16 so that the person who has placed the bet has proof of the bet. If the person wins, then that person is able to be paid out via a cashier.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus,, for example, the hand-operated input means 10 may be a touch screen, touch pads or the keyboard 12. The shape of the housing 18 can be varied as desired and the betting apparatus 2 could alternatively be wall mounted. Generally, the betting apparatus 2 can be in any suitable physical size and shape.

Claims (10)

1. Betting apparatus for placing a bet on the outcome of a draw, which betting apparatus comprises visual display means for displaying betting data relating to the draw, receiving means for receiving money1 tokens, an electronic card containing money or an electronic card able to deduct money from an account for enabling the placing of at least one bet on the outcome of the draw, hand-operated input means for inputting a chosen bet into the betting apparatus, receipt-issuing means for issuing a receipt for the placed bet, and computer means for receiving information relating to the draw and also for receiving information relating to the bet.

2. Betting apparatus according to claim 1 in the form of a stand-alone machine or a wall mounted machine.

3. Betting apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the visual display means includes a visual display screen.

4. Betting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the receiving means is a coin-receiving means for receiving money in the form of coins.

5. Betting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 3 in which the receiving means is a tokenreceiving means for receiving tokens.

6. Betting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 3 in which the receiving means is for receiving paper money, an electronic card containing money, or an electronic card able to deduct money from an account.

7. Betting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the hand-operated input means comprises a touch screen, touch pads, or a keyboard.

8. Betting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the receipt issuing means is such that it issues a printed receipt on paper or card.

9. Betting apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the computer means is a micro computer.

10. Betting apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.