WO2013001539A1

WO2013001539A1 - Wager management system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2013001539A1
Application number: PCT/IL2012/050227
Authority: WO
Inventors: Amit Cohen
Original assignee: LEVI, Itzhak; SHNORMAN, Matityahu
Priority date: 2011-06-29
Filing date: 2012-07-01
Publication date: 2013-01-03
Also published as: IL213831A0

Abstract

A results distribution system and method for validating a user's wager against results recorded in gambling authorities. The system comprises communication unit and processor. The communication unit is configured to: receive a first data comprising the wager's details and at least one user communication ID from the user, receive a second data comprising at least a subset of the results recorded in the gambling authority, and send a message comprising a wager-results dataset to the user communication ID. The processor is configured to evaluate the wager's details against the second data, and generate the wager-results message. In some embodiments, the system is further capable of serving as a wager ticket sales post and a wager money transfer station. In some embodiments, the system is further capable of regulating users' wagers according to different criteria.

Description

WAGER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to gambling. In particular the invention relates to sports betting and lottery draws.

BACKGROUND

Several gambling fields involve a central authority for keeping track of gambling wages and gambling results. Such is the case with lottery - drawing of lots for a prize. Bookmakers are another example: they accept sports wages, maintain a spread of the wages, and distribute the wage money according to results of sports events.

Gambling wages are usually recorded in a central store by the central gambling authority, and gambling tickets are distributed to the people placing the wages. In most cases, the person placing the bet is responsible to collect the prize, and thus needs to be made aware of the wager results.

It is not always simple, however, for a gambler to track these results: For example, a gambler could miss the online lottery drawing, and have to look up the results on publically available media. More so, once he gets the results, he may not understand their implications: for example, assuming he got 3 out of 6 numbers correct in a lottery draw, he may not understand whether he is entitled to collect winnings.

In some cases, a gambler may forget to track wager results, and miss his chance of collecting his prize money. This is particularly relevant to sporting bets, where the results may have to be gathered from a plurality of sources over a period of time (for example, results of 15 soccer games taking place over a 10-day period). Again, the gambler does not have a reliable source through which he can verify how much money he is entitled to receive according to the results. Automatic telephony messaging services and generalized web sites are not always accurate but always time consuming, as they require a lot of input to be entered by the user in order to distinguish between different wager combinations, making the process cumbersome and error-prone.

It has been known that some may become addicted to gambling, which may result in great financial and personal losses. Gambling is typically an anonymous activity which does not require people to disclose personal details about themselves, other than their age. Gambling authorities today (bookmakers, lottery draw managers or the like) currently do not have the means or the authority to limit one's gambling wagers according to personal details, such as financial capacity, even if they have the will to do so. Financial institutions also lack means to limit one's wagers.

• Turbo-Toto http://www.turbototo.com assists users in filling complex gambling forms.

• US Patent application publication no. 2006020484 titled "System for informing entrants of the result of an event by electronic message" relates to the inclusion on an Optically Mark Read (OMR) entry form for an event (contest, competition, game of chance, lottery, wager) of a panel to allow the entrant to record their telephone number so that the entrant may be informed of the outcome of the event by electronic message, in the form of SMS, faxed text messages, electronically generated voice mail messages or other electronic messages.

• A number of web applications send out real time gaming results to end-user devices using text messaging (SMS and e-mail), for example: http://www.one.co.il/wireless/Cellular.asp http://www.livescore.co.il http://www.flashscore.com.

Some even select sports events according to popular wagers: http://www.liga.co.il http://www.livegames.co.il/default.asp

Korean patent application publication no. KR20040100546 titled "Method for marking lottery ticket information and buyer ID information on lottery ticket slip, and internet lottery ticket purchase agent" relates to providing an electronic receipt for the purchase of lottery tickets and informing winning result through an E-mail or an SMS.

Japanese patent application publication no. JP2004038893 titled "Lottery result notification system" and Japanese patent application publication no. JP2007087332 titled "Prize winning collation result notifying device and its program" relate to a lottery result notification system which enables lottery ticket holders to register an email address and lottery numbers of the tickets in a database from a terminal device, and deliver the results by mail.

US patent application publication no. US2008167079 titled "Winner notification system" relates to proprietary software which can be downloaded onto a mobile and/or handheld device, enabling the device to read information automatically from one or more lottery- style gaming tickets. Facilitated by the downloaded software, the read information is transmitted to a third-party service where it is stored, compared and verified to determine if there exists one or more matches with winning numbers. A notification information can be sent to the mobile device. SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

A results distribution system for validating a user's wager against results recorded in at least one gambling authority is disclosed. The system comprises at least one communication unit and at least one processor.

The communication unit is configured to: receive a first data from the user, the first data comprising details of the wager and at least one user communication ID; receive a second data from the gambling authority, the second data comprising results recorded in the gambling authority; and send a message to the user according to the specified user communication ID. The processor is configured to evaluate the details against the second data, and generate the message; The message comprises a wager-results dataset, comprising a subset of the results relevant to the wager.

Optionally, the system further comprises at least one storage system configured to store information regarding the user. Optionally the information is selected from a group comprising the user's personal data and the user's gambling patterns. The personal data may be selected from a group comprising: financial capacity, age, gambling frequency, preferred payment options, and preferred communication methods. The gambling patterns may be selected from a group comprising: wager types, wager sums, past wins, and past losses. Optionally, the communication unit is further configured to send and receive financial data to and from financial institutions. Optionally, any of said first data, said second data, said message or send financial data are in a form selected from a group comprising: text, pictures, voice, video, tactile communication, and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the communication unit is configured communicate with end-user communication devices associated with the user communication IDs. The end-user communication devices may be selected from a group comprising: land line phones, cellular phones, IP phones, computers, laptops, smart phones, PDAs, Television sets, tablets and combinations thereof. The end-user communication ID is selected from a group comprising: e-mail addresses, land line phone numbers, cellular phone numbers, instant messaging account IDs, chat account IDs, Skype account IDs, social network account IDs and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the system is integrated within regulatory systems. The regulatory systems may be selected from a group comprising governmental sporting offices, gambling authorities, legal institutions, financial institutions and telephony operators.

In some embodiments, the system further comprises a screen for displaying data to the user. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a keypad for inserting data by the user. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a physical money-transfer unit. The money-transfer unit may be selected from a group comprising: cash insertion slots, credit card insertion slots, money transfer access, and combinations thereof.

A wager results distribution method according to a plurality of wager- related events, users' specific gambling transactions, and users' communication IDs is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving data from the users, the data comprising information regarding the specific gambling transactions and communication IDs associated with the specific gambling transactions; tracking outcomes of the plurality of wager-related events; matching data-sets comprising the outcomes, the specific gambling transactions and the communication IDs associated with the specific gambling transactions; calculating final wager results and winnings according to the data-sets; composing messages to the users, the messages comprising the final wager results and winnings; and issuing the messages to the users, according to the communication IDs.

Optionally, the method further comprises issuing money transfer commands to the users' accounts according to said final wager winnings. Optionally, issuing the messages is performed according to the users' preferred messaging options. In some embodiments, the method further comprises pre-registration of the users to a wager results distribution messaging service. In some embodiments, receiving data from the users further comprises receiving personal preferences of each of the users.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises consolidating wagers associated with similar communication IDs. In some embodiments, the method further comprises periodic updating of the data sets. Optionally, the method further comprises sending messages to regulatory systems, the regulatory systems may be selected from a group comprising governmental sporting offices, gambling authorities, legal institutions, financial institutions, and telephony operators.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises enforcing limitations on the users' gambling transactions according to pre-defined criteria. The criteria may be selected from financial capacity, age, gambling frequency and combinations thereof.

The wager-related events may be selected from a group comprising sporting events, bingo draws, lottery draws, parlay bets, and combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments, tracking outcomes of the plurality of wager- related events is obtained from independent sources. The independent sources may be selected from a group comprising radio stations, Television stations, Internet sites, central wager depositories, and combinations thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.

With specific reference now to the drawing in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention; the description taken with the drawing making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In discussion of the various figures described herein below, like numbers refer to like parts. The drawings are generally not to scale.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 schematically depicts a regulated gambling system 100 as known in the art.

Figure 2A schematically depicts improved wager results distribution system 200A according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

Figure 2B schematically depicts improved wager results distribution system 200B according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention. Figure 2C illustrates the relevant part of a system with a wager results center which is also capable of sending a "money transfer" message to a Winning collection site which will trigger the process of transmitting winnings (typically money) to the user's account according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

Figure 2D schematically depicts improved wager results distribution system according to another exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

Figure 3A schematically illustrates a modified gambling ticket having a communication ID section according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

Figure 3B illustrates a modified gambling receipt according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

Figure 4 schematically illustrates a wager post apparatus such as ticket reader according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

Figure 5 schematically illustrates a method of improved wager results distribution according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details set forth in the following description or exemplified by the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", and "having" together with their conjugates mean "including but not limited to".

The term "consisting of" has the same meaning as "including and limited to". The term "consisting essentially of" means that the composition, method or structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method or structure.

As used herein, the singular form "a", "an" and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term "a compound" or "at least one compound" may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof. Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible sub-ranges as well as individual numerical values within that range.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

In discussion of the various figures described herein below, like numbers refer to like parts. The drawings are generally not to scale. For clarity, non-essential elements were omitted from some of the drawing. An efficient system to accurately distribute wager outcomes and gambling results to gamblers according to their exact wager is disclosed hereinbelow.

The wager results distribution system is capable of comparing wager outcomes against concrete results of sports games, bingo and lottery draws, money line bets, parlay bets (stake winnings from one bet on a subsequent wager) or the like. The system is further capable of analyzing specific wagers and determining the amount of money gamblers are to receive (if at all) according to their individual wager results, optionally in accordance with data recorded in gambling tickets and gambling receipts. In some embodiments, the system is further capable of transferring the exact winnings directly to the gambler's account (bank account, PayPal, credit card account, cellular provider account or the like). In preferred embodiments, the system enables customers and authorities (gambling commissions, banks or the like) to enforce limitations on customers' wagers according to details supplied by the customers, details such as but not limited to the customers' financial situation according to bank account authorization.

In such system, a customer 10 approaches an approved point of sale

120 to purchase a gambling ticket 20. The gambling ticket 20 may be in the form of a bubble sheet, where the wager details are filled in by darkening selected bubbles which represent the wager. The customer submits the gambling ticket 20 to the point of sale 120 for approval. Typically, the gambling ticket 20 is processed (either automatically or manually) at the point of sale 120. The wager details as processed from the gambling ticket are typically sent to a central wager depository 130 where wagers from a plurality of gambling tickets 20 are stored. The customer receives an electronic receipt 30 comprising the details of his wager after being processed and sent to the central wager depository 130.

Once the events relevant to the wager take place, the customer 10 can either follow up on event results 40 at real time using different media 140a - 140c (sporting arenas, television, web sites, newspapers or the like). Alternatively, the customer can turn to a media which distributes results after all the relevant events have been completed (all sporting events, lottery draws and the like), for example and without limitation a web site which organizes and publishes event results. The customer has to track different event results filter the event results 40 which are relevant to his wager, compare the relevant results 40 against his wager as recorded in the gambling ticket 20 or the receipt 30, and understand whether he is entitled to receive earnings 50, typically in the form of money. The customer 10 then has to approach a winning collection site 150 (which may be the point of sale 120 or the central wager depository 130) to collect his earnings 50, and optionally deposit his earnings 50 in a deposit site 160, for example a bank account.

With the traditional system illustrated herein, a customer 10 may lose his gambling ticket 20 or electronic receipt 30, thus forgetting his wager details or failing to show a proper receipt 30 when approaching a winning collection site 150. Furthermore, the customer 10 may forget to follow up on wager outcomes 40, fail to understand whether he is entitled to receive earnings 50 from wager outcomes, or decide that relatively low earnings do not justify the trouble of approaching a winning collection site 150, thus losing potential earnings.

In system 200A, depicted in figure 2A, a communication ID 60 is provided along with the wager details as recorded on the original electronic receipt 30 creating an improved electronic receipt 30' and provided to a ticket reader 235. Data from the receipt can then be transferred to a wager results center 240.

The communication ID 60 can be a land line or a cellular phone number, an e-mail address, an instant messaging account ID, a chat account ID, a Skype account ID, social network account IDs (such as Facebook or Twitter) or any other communication ID available to user 10. Preferably, communication ID 60 represents an end-user communication device 70 capable of receiving text messages, for example and without limitation a land line phone, a cellular phone or a computer.

Figure 2B schematically depicts improved wager results distribution system 200B according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

In embodiment 200B depicted in Figure 2B, ID 60 data is given to a modified point of sale station 120' together with wager data 20, for example orally, or on a modified wager modified gambling ticket 20. Modified point of sale station 120' produces a modified receipt 30' which is created such that it includes data regarding communication ID 60. Modified receipt 30' typically includes data comprising at least the wager details 20 and communication ID 60, and possibly other settings. Data 20' is then sent to an approved point of sale 120' and transferred to the wager results center 240, either 229 via central wager depository 130 or directly 228.

Figure 2C illustrates the relevant part of a system 300 with a wager results center 240' which is also capable of sending a "money transfer" message 50' to a Winning collection site 150 which will trigger the process of transmitting winnings (typically money) to the user's account in a money deposit site 160, for example and without limitation a bank account or a paypal account according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

For drawing clarity, elements of system 200A and 200B which do not change their functions were omitted from this figure.

Wager results center 240 (240') is typically a server comprising a processor and a communication unit capable of receiving specific wager details and communication IDs, gathering events' results published in different media 140a - 140c, comparing the events' results with the wager details, calculating the earnings according to the data, and sending information comprising comparison results and calculated earnings to a user via the communication unit. Wager results center 240 (240') uses the information regarding the placed wager and the communication ID to create a data set associating a specific gambler with his current pending bets, his communication ID (or IDs) and his instructions. For example, a gambler may select for some or all his pending bets one of few of the following options:

• Send a winning message only for winning wagers.

• Send a message for winning and losing wagers.

• Send a message with final results of sporting events on which a wager was placed.

· Send a message with halftime and final results of sporting events on which a wager was placed.

• Send a message anytime a goal was scored in a soccer game on which a wager was placed.

• Consolidate messages for all wagers placed on the same lottery or sporting events.

• Automatically deposit winning money to gambler chosen account. • Send a message when wager expenses are above a pre-set limit for a preset period.

• Send messages only during specific time of the day (such as 08:00 to 22:00).

· Send a periodic (for example weekly or monthly) consolidated summary of wagers (for example winning and/or losses).

• Send an anonymous massage to the mobile phone and a detailed massage to an e-mail account or other mailbox. For example: an SMS and/or an e-mail message to workplace email account saying "new data arrived", and a detailed e-mail to a private e-mail account.

Figure 2D schematically depicts improved wager results distribution system 200C according to another exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

In this depicted exemplary embodiment, gambler 10 may purchase a plurality of wagers 20, all with same ID 60 and receive a plurality of modified gambling receipt 30'. It should be noted that the transactions may be through the same modified point of sale 120' or using a plurality of different modified point of sale 120'. Optionally, the wagers are placed with a plurality of gambling companies having different central wager depositories 130 (for simplicity only two such central wager depository 130 and 130b were marked in the figure).

Wager results center 240 (240') receives information regarding the wagers and communication ID directly from the modified point of sale(s) 120', from central wager depository 130 and 130b, or from ticket reader(s) 235 (not seen in this figure). Wager results center 240 (240') consolidates the information regarding the wagers and communication ID, and track the events' results from different media 140 or central wager depositories 130 to issue a message on the end-user communication device 70. In the non-limiting example, end-user communication device 70 is a cellular phone such as a Smartphone and the message is an SMS, an MMS or other message sent for example via cellular network 650.

Figure 3A schematically illustrates a modified gambling ticket 20' having a communication ID section 22' according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

Gambling ticket 20' comprises a gambling information section 329, identical or similar to the corresponding section used in the art.

In the depicted example, communication ID section 22' is in the form of a bubble sheet for marking bubbles 322 (only two are marked for clarity) representing a cellular phone number 323 which will be used for sending wager results to a user. It should be clear that other methods of marking the ID on the card may be used. Specifically, advances in current Optical Character Recognition (OCR) methods may enable reading hand written phone numbers, E-mail addresses and the likes from a scanned gambling ticket 20'.

Additionally and optionally, other option such as disclosed above may be selected using optional boxes on gambling ticket 20'.

Figure 3B illustrates a modified gambling receipt 30' according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, modified gambling receipt 30' is having a section 32' representing the wager details and optionally the communication ID (not shown) in a format which can be read by a user, and a barcode 34' which can be scanned to retrieve the data. It should be noted that this format of modified gambling receipt 30' is a non-limiting example. Optionally, communication ID (not shown) may be plainly printed. Optionally, communication ID and wager may be combined into an encrypted, authentication verifiable code such as a barcode or a 2D barcode.

Figure 4 schematically illustrates a wager post apparatus 400 such as ticket reader 235 according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

In the depicted exemplary embodiment, wager post apparatus 400 is having a screen 402, a keypad 404, a credit card insertion slot 406, a gambling slip insertion slot 408, and a gambling receipt receiving slot 410. Cable 412 may be used for receiving power, and cable 414 may be a network cable for connecting to a network such as but not limited to the internet.

Wager post embodiments may be a computerized post, enabling communication with a user via screen 402 and keypad 404. Additionally and alternatively, other forms of communication (audible, visual and tactile) may be used.

Wager post embodiments may be a replacement for manned gambling stations. Wager post embodiments may be used for selling gambling tickets optionally by marking wager options on a touch screen, checking wager results according to the gambling ticket / receipt, and collecting wager winnings.

Credit card insertion slot 406 may be used in gambling ticket purchase scenarios to pay for purchased gambling tickets. Alternative wager post embodiments may also include other payment forms, for example a cash insertion slot or access to bank accounts or paypal account. A user may be able to receive a gambling receipt through receiving slot 410.

Wager results check scenario may be enabled by inserting a gambling receipt into gambling slip insertion slot 408. A barcode on the gambling receipt may be read, and processed according to relevant information on the specific receipt, information such as but not limited to wager details and communication ID. In preferred embodiments, the winnings can be collected in the form of cash or credit directly from the post.

In some embodiments wager post apparatus 400 is used for adding communication ID and options to a ticket sold in a point of sale 120 as known in the art. In these cases, the gambler inserts his already purchased gambling ticket 30 into gambling receipt receiving slot 410, than add his ID details using keyboard 404. Alternatively or additionally, gambler may insert (or swipe) his card such as a credit card or a dedicated gamblers' card (for example into credit card insertion slot 406. Wager post apparatus 400 may use the data from the card to associate the wager with the communication ID and transmit the information to wager results center 240 (240').

In preferred embodiments, wager post apparatus 400 embodiments further comprise a processor and/or communicating capabilities with a wager results center 240 (240'). Data obtained from a gambler at the post can be processed such that the gambler may consult with the apparatus prior to submission of his wager.

Consulting with the wager post apparatus 400 may be according to data relevant to the wager details. For example, in sports gambling the apparatus may be able to display statistics of the sporting teams relevant to the wager, such as the teams' previous wins and losses. More data may be displayed, for example the number and identity of injured players belonging to a sporting team. Data provided by the wager post apparatus 400 may assist a gambler in selecting his winning team. The wager post may then replace a manned gambling tickets selling point, allowing a gambler to:

• select a wager type (lottery, sports wagers, etc.);

• receive information about teams and players, optionally based on statistical data;

• select wager options;

• provide a communication ID for receiving information relevant to the wager;

• pay for gambling tickets;

• receive information relevant to his specific wager directly to the communication ID provided to the user; and

• collect winnings and earnings.

By providing a communication ID, gambling through the wager post apparatus becomes a non-anonymous activity, thus replacing the 'relationship' with the gambling broker at a traditional manned wager selling- point. Governmental and financial supervision over gamblers may thus be integrated into the wager post apparatus.

Wager post apparatus embodiments combine capabilities such as but not limited to secure internet connectivity, online data retrieval and transmission, data processing and remote management. Wager posts may combine elements such as but not limited to:

• A screen and / or a keyboard for communicating with a gambler. The screen may be a touch screen to assist gamblers in filling out gambling tickets, inserting their communication IDs, or the like;

• money insertion slots for coins, bills, credit cards or other payment forms; • a printer capable of generating printed receipts to a gambler and checks;money insertion slots for coins, bills, credit cards or the like;

• embedded software capable of displaying gambling options to the user; and

• a processor capable of data analysis, optionally according to statistics.

With the wager post, a customer may:

• approach the wager post and communicate with the post using a display screen and a keypad, a touchscreen, or any other communication means provided by the wager post;

• enter details for at least one wager;

• optionally, receive data relevant to the wager (for example, statistical data)

• optionally, supply at least one communication ID;

• optionally, supply relevant bank / paypal account details

• pay for the wager by means of cash, coins, credit cards, wired money transfer, or other payment forms;

• optionally, receive confirmation from a gambling regulation authority;

• receive a receipt for the wager;

• leave the wager post.

After leaving the post, the customer may receive detailed information about his wager, and possibly the winnings may get transmitted directly to the gambler's account according to details supplied by the gambler. Figure 5 schematically illustrates a method 500 of improved wager results distribution according to an exemplary embodiment of the current invention.

Method 500 which is generally performed by wager results center 240 (240') comprises:

Optionally, registration 501 of gambler for the messaging service. This may be a one-time process in which the gambler submit his messaging details and preferences and receives a unique gambler ID in a form of a code or a coded card to be used in future wager placing.

Receiving 502 information regarding a plurality of gambling transactions. Each transaction includes: the wager, communication ID and selected option or options such as message type and winning transfer option.

Optionally, consolidating 504 wagers associated the same ID. This may be an on-going process which updates the wagers' data set.

Optionally issuing warning 503 to gamblers exceeding their gambling limits. Optionally, warning or limiting messages also sent to point of sales to limit or block further transactions by the gamblers exceeding their gambling limits.

Tracking sporting events and lottery results 508. Information may be obtained from independent sources such as radio or TV stations, Internet sites or central wager depositories 130.

Optionally matching wagers and real time sporting events result 510 and issuing messages to gamblers, depending on their messages options. In some cases some gamblers may choose to be informed only final results. In some cases some gamblers may choose to be informed on intermediate results. Receiving final betting results 512 including winnings. Final results are preferably verified against winning ticket data at the wager depositories 130 and preferably include the corresponding winning sums.

Optionally charging 514 gamblers for the messaging service.

Matching wagers final wagers result 515 and issuing messages to gamblers, depending on their messages options. In some embodiments charging the gambler is done by the point of sell at the time of placing the wager. In other embodiments charging is done by the card reader 235 (400) at the time of placing the messaging option. In yet another embodiment, only winning gamblers are charge at higher rate, for example as a percentage of the winning sum.

Optionally, issuing winning transfer 516 to gambler accounts.

It should be noted that the order of these actions may be different, some actions may be omitted and more action added, and some actions may be performed by different components of the system within the general scope of the current invention. Actions drawn in dash line are optional.

Further advantages of the wager results distribution system illustrated herein have to do with gambling control, especially with underage individuals under parental supervision, mentally-challenged individuals with guardianship, and common folks who may develop a gambling obsession / addiction.

Gambling is typically an anonymous activity which does not require people to disclose personal details about themselves, other than their age. Gambling authorities today (bookmakers, lottery draw managers or the like) currently do not have the means or the authority to limit one's gambling wagers according to personal details, such as financial capacity, even if they have the will to do so. Financial institutions such as but not limited to banks also lack means to limit one's wagers. The wager results distribution system illustrated herein may further be used for regulation. By providing a communication ID and possibly bank account details to the wager results distribution system, gambling anonymity is willfully compromised by the gambler, thus allowing partial or full supervision over the gambler's gambling habits.

Governments, financial institutions and responsible adults will be referred to herein as "gambling supervisors". Gambling supervisors may utilize the system to regulate gambling - enforce gambling limitations on themselves or others under their supervision. The system may enable gambling supervisors to select supervision options according to different criteria. Gambling habits supervision can be according to parameters such as financial capacity, age, gambling frequency or the like.

Optionally, OCR techniques can be used to scan written parts on the receipt, such as the a phone number (322 in figure 3A). Image processing techniques can be used to scan a barcode on a gambling receipt.

Optionally, a portable communicationdevice may be transformed into a personal, non-anonymous gambling station. A user may use a camera integrated to his cell phone (or another portable device capable of communication) to scan a barcode and send it to a wager results center optionally as an MMS comprising an image, a text message, and the communication ID of the portable communication device. The barcode details and / or receipt number can be sent over the internet to the wager results center. The user may charge his cellular account rather than use cash or his bank account. Optionally, the cellular operators may serve as regulators for monetary issues, according to governmental instructions, providing financial and social supervision over gamblers. Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.

Claims

1 . A results distribution system for validating a user's wager against results recorded in at least one gambling authority, the system comprising at least one communication unit and at least one processor, wherein said at least one communication unit is configured to: receive a first data from the user, said first data comprising details of the wager and at least one user communication ID; receive a second data from the gambling authority, said second data comprising results recorded in the gambling authority; and send a message to said at least one user communication ID; and wherein said at least one processor is configured to evaluate said details against said second data, and generate said message, said message comprising a wager-results dataset, said dataset comprising a subset of said results relevant to the wager.

2. The distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one storage system configured to store information regarding the user.

3. The distribution system of claim 2, wherein said information is selected from a group comprising the user's personal data and the user's gambling patterns.

4. The distribution system of claim 3, wherein said personal data is selected from a group comprising: financial capacity, age, gambling frequency, preferred payment options, and preferred communication methods.

5. The distribution system of claim 3, wherein said gambling patterns are selected from a group comprising: wager types, wager sums, past wins, and past losses.

6. The distribution system of claim 1 , wherein said communication unit is further configured to send and receive financial data to and from financial institutions.

7. The distribution system of any of claims 1 , 2 or 6, wherein any of said first data, said second data, said message or send financial data are in a form selected from a group comprising: text, pictures, voice, video, tactile communication, and combinations thereof.

8. The distribution system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one communication unit is configured communicate with end-user communication devices associated with said at least one user communication ID.

9. The distribution system of claim 8, wherein said end-user communication devices are selected from a group comprising : land line phones, cellular phones, IP phones, computers, laptops, smart phones, PDAs, Television sets, tablets and combinations thereof.

10. The distribution system of claim 8, wherein said at least one end-user communication ID is selected from a group comprising: e-mail addresses, land line phone numbers, cellular phone numbers, instant messaging account IDs, chat account IDs, Skype account IDs, social network account IDs and combinations thereof.

1 1 .The distribution system of claim 1 integrated within regulatory systems.

12. The distribution system of claim 1 1 , wherein said regulatory systems are selected from a group comprising governmental sporting offices, gambling authorities, legal institutions, financial institutions and telephony operators.

13. The distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising a screen for displaying data to the user.

14. The distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising a keypad for inserting data by the user.

15. The distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising a physical money-transfer unit.

16. The distribution system of claim 15, wherein said money-transfer unit is selected from a group comprising: cash insertion slots, credit card insertion slots, money transfer access, and combinations thereof.

17. A wager results distribution method according to a plurality of wager- related events, users' specific gambling transactions, and users' communication IDs, the method comprising: receiving data from the users, said data comprising information regarding the specific gambling transactions and communication IDs associated with the specific gambling transactions; tracking outcomes of said plurality of wager-related events; matching data-sets comprising said outcomes, said specific gambling transactions and the communication IDs associated with the specific gambling transactions;

calculating final wager results and winnings according to said data- sets;

composing messages to the users, said messages comprising said final wager results and winnings; and

issuing said messages to the users, according to the communication IDs.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising issuing money transfer commands to the users' accounts according to said final wager winnings.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein issuing said messages is performed according to the users' preferred messaging options.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising pre-registration of the users to a wager results distribution messaging service.

21 . The method of claim 1 7, wherein receiving data from the users further comprises receiving personal preferences of each of the users.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising consolidating wagers associated with similar communication IDs.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising updating said data sets.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising sending messages to regulatory systems.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said regulatory systems are selected from a group comprising governmental sporting offices, gambling authorities, legal institutions, financial institutions, and telephony operators.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising enforcing limitations on the users' gambling transactions according to pre-defined criteria.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said criteria comprises financial capacity, age, gambling frequency and combinations thereof.

28. The method of claim 17 wherein said wager-related events are selected from a group comprising sporting events, bingo draws, lottery draws, parlay bets, and combinations thereof.

29. The method of claim 1 7, wherein said tracking outcomes of said plurality of wager-related events is obtained from independent sources.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said independent sources are selected from a group comprising radio stations, Television stations, Internet sites, central wager depositories, and combinations thereof.