Wagering apparatus

Abstract

A wagering apparatus having an input at which a user can make at least one wager on the outcome of first and second different events, each with different outcomes equated to value. A processor causes the outcomes to be identified in response to the making of a wager through the input. Information relating to the events is visually observable on a display screen. The information includes at least information relating to the outcomes of the events. The information relating to the first and second outcomes is independently identifiable upon the display screen by a user.

1 . A wagering apparatus comprising:
 an input at which a user can make at least one wager on the outcome of at least first and second different events each having different potential outcomes that are equated to different values for the user;   the input part of a processor that in response to the making of the wager causes an outcome to be identified for each of the at least first and second different events,   each outcome equating to one of: a) a first value to a user; and b) a second value to a user that is greater than the first value; and   a display screen upon which a user can visually observe information relating to the first and/or second events including the outcome of the first and/or second events as identified by the processor,   the display screen constructed to permit a user to visually observe the information relating to the outcome of the first event at a first location on the display screen without having to visually observe the information relating to the outcome of the second event at the first location,   the display screen and processor constructed to allow the information relating to the first and/or second events to be displayed on the display screen so as to allow a user to associate a value with the first outcome by observing the display screen at or adjacent the first location.   
   
   
       2 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the display screen is constructed to permit a user to visually observe the information relating to the outcome of the second event at a second location on the display screen that is spaced from the first location. 
   
   
       3 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the information relating to the outcome of the first event is displayed on a first area at the first location and the information relating to the outcome of the second event is displayed on a second area at a second location and the first and second areas are independent from each other. 
   
   
       4 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the processor is configured to cause a signal to be generated, as an incident of the processor identifying the outcome of the first and second events, which signal can be sensed by a user and identifies one of the first and second locations differently than the other of the first and second locations, in the event that the value of the outcome identified at the one location is greater than the value of the outcome identified at the other location. 
   
   
       5 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the processor is configured to cause a signal to be generated, that can be sensed by a user and identifies the one of the first and second locations differently than the other of the first and second locations, in the event that a potential value of the outcome identified at the one location is greater than a potential value of the outcome identified at the other location. 
   
   
       6 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the one of the first and second locations is identified differently than the other of the first and second locations by reason of one of: a) projection of light at the one location and not at the other location; b) projection of a color of light at the one location that is different than a color of a light projected at the other location; c) flashing of light at the one location; d) displaying of at least one symbol at the one location; and e) flashing of a symbol at the one location. 
   
   
       7 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the information relating to the outcome of the first event is displayed as a payline at the first location with at least one symbol thereon. 
   
   
       8 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the information relating to the first event further comprises information displayed at or adjacent the first location relating to a value for display of the at least one symbol on the payline. 
   
   
       9 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the information relating to the outcome of the first event is displayed as a payline at the first location with a plurality of symbols thereon. 
   
   
       10 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the information relating to the first event further comprises information displayed at or adjacent to the first location relating to a value for display of the plurality of symbols on the payline. 
   
   
       11 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the display screen and/or processor are constructed to allow the information relating to the first and/or second events to be displayed on the display screen so as to allow a user to identify a specific value associated with the first outcome by observing the display screen at or adjacent the first location. 
   
   
       12 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the first value is either: a) zero; or b) a value greater than zero. 
   
   
       13 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the processor comprises a random number generator. 
   
   
       14 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the processor is constructed to cause an outcome to be identified for each of the at least first and second different events that is correlated with an outcome of at least one actual event that is not determined by the processor. 
   
   
       15 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the at least one actual event comprises at least one of: a) a dog race; b) a horse race; and c) a jai alai game. 
   
   
       16 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the at least one actual event comprises a race with multiple participants, and the outcomes identified by the processor comprise different orders of finishing of the multiple participants in the race. 
   
   
       17 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein different values are associated with the different orders of finishing of the multiple participants in the race. 
   
   
       18 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second areas can be circumscribed by first and second separate squares or circles, the first square/circle not including information relating to the outcome of the second event. 
   
   
       19 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the payline is defined by a plurality of relatively movable mechanical components. 
   
   
       20 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the payline is defined by an electronic depiction of relatively movable mechanical components. 
   
   
       21 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the display screen comprises movable mechanical components that can be viewed by a user. 
   
   
       22 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the display screen comprises an electronic display that can be viewed by a user. 
   
   
       23 . The wagering apparatus according go  claim 2  wherein the processor is constructed so that a user can make a specific wager on the first event and not the second event and cause the outcome of the first event to be predictably displayed at the first location, whereby a user can monitor the first location to determine the outcome of the first event identified by the processor. 
   
   
       24 . The wagering apparatus according go  claim 23  wherein the information relating to the first event allowing a user to associate value with an outcome of the first event is displayed at or adjacent the first location before the processor identifies the outcome of the first event. 
   
   
       25 . The wagering apparatus according go  claim 24  wherein the information relating to the outcome of the first event is displayed as a payline at the first location with a plurality of symbols thereon, the information relating to the first event allowing a user to associate value with the first event comprising an identification of at least one symbol that corresponds to an outcome with a particular value. 
   
   
       26 . A wagering apparatus comprising:
 an input at which a user can make at least one wager on the outcome of at least first and second events each having different potential outcomes that are equated to different values for the user;   the input part of a processor that in response to the making of the wager causes an outcome to be identified for each of the at least first and second different events,   each outcome equating to one of: a) a first value to a user; and b) a second value to a user that is greater than the first value; and   a display screen upon which a user can visually observe information relating to the first and/or second events including the outcome of the first and/or second events as identified by the processor,   the display screen constructed to permit a user to visually observe: a) the information relating to the outcome of the first event at a first location on the display screen; and b) the information relating to the outcome of the second event at a second location on the display screen,   wherein the first locations have first and second areas respectively that can be circumscribed by first and second squares or circles that do not overlap,   wherein the processor is configured to cause a signal to be generated, as an incident of the processor identifying the outcome of the first and second events, which signal can be sensed by a user and identifies one of the first and second locations differently than the other of the first and second locations, in the event that one of: a) the value of the outcome identified at the one location is greater than the value of the outcome identified at the other location; or b) a potential value of the outcome identified at the one location is greater than a potential value of the outcome identified at the other location.   
   
   
       27 . The wagering apparatus according go  claim 26  wherein the one of the first and second locations is identified differently than the other of the first and second locations by reason of one of: a) projection of light at the one location and not at the other location; b) projection of a color of light at the one location that is different than a color of a light projected at the other location; c) flashing of light at the one location; d) displaying of at least one symbol at the one location; and e) flashing of a symbol at the one location. 
   
   
       28 . The wagering apparatus according go  claim 26  wherein the information relating to the outcome of the first event is displayed as a payline at the first location with at least one symbol thereon. 
   
   
       29 . The wagering apparatus according go  claim 28  wherein the information relating to the first event further comprises information displayed at or adjacent the first location relating to a value for display of the at least one symbol on the payline. 
   
   
       30 . A wagering apparatus comprising:
 an input at which a user can make at least one wager on the outcome of at least first and second events each having different potential outcomes that are equated to different values for the user;   the input part of a processor that in response to the making of the wager causes an outcome to be identified for each of the at least first and second different events,   each outcome equating to one of: a) a first value to a user; and b) a second value to a user that is greater than the first value; and   a display screen upon which a user can visually observe information relating to the first and/or second events including the outcome of the first and/or second events as identified by the processor,   the display screen constructed to permit a user to visually observe: a) the information relating to the outcome of the first event at a first location on the display screen; and b) the information relating to the outcome of the second event at the second location,   wherein the processor is configured so that a user can make first and second different wagers that can be simultaneously processed by the processor which identifies an outcome for the first event in response to the first wager and an outcome for the second event in response to the second wager,   the information relating to the outcome of the first event displayed consistently at the first location in a predetermined manner with the information relating to the outcome of the second event displayed consistently at the second location in a predetermined manner,   whereby a user can selectively monitor: a) the first location to observe information relating to the outcome of the first event caused by the making of the first wager; and b) the second location to observe information relating to the outcome of the second event caused by the second wager.   
   
   
       31 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 30  wherein the information relating to the outcome of the first event is displayed as a payline at the first location with at least one symbol thereon. 
   
   
       32 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 31  wherein the information relating to the first event further comprises information displayed at or adjacent the first location relating to a value for display of the at least one symbol on the payline. 
   
   
       33 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 30  wherein the at least first and second events comprise at least one race with multiple participants and the outcomes identified by the processor comprise different orders of finishing of the multiple participants on the race. 
   
   
       34 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 33  wherein the outcomes identified by the processor as different orders of finishing of the multiple participants participating in the race comprise at least one of: a) a winner; and b) an order of finishing of at least two participants in the race. 
   
   
       35 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 34  wherein the display screen and processor are constructed to allow the information relating to the first event to be displayed on the display screen so as to allow a user to associate a value with the first outcome by observing the display screen at or adjacent the first location. 
   
   
       36 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 35  wherein the information comprises odds for the first event. 
   
   
       37 . A wagering apparatus comprising:
 an input at which a user can make at least one wager on the outcome of at least first and second different events each having different potential outcomes that are equated to different values for the user;   the input part of a processor that in response to the making of the wager causes an outcome to be identified for each of the at least first and second different events,   each outcome equating to one of: a) a first value to a user; and b) a second value to a user that is greater than the first value; and   a display screen upon which a user can visually observe information relating to the first and/or second events including the outcome of the first and/or second events as identified by the processor,   the wagering apparatus configured so that a user can at least one of: a) change a wager; or b) add a wager on the outcome of at least one of: i) the first and/or second event; or ii) a third event after the user makes the at least one wager and before the processor causes an outcome to be identified.   
   
   
       38 . The wagering apparatus according to  claim 37  wherein the display screen has a touch location at which a user can change and/or add a wager.