Systems and methods for accessing, manipulating and using funds associated with pari-mutuel wagering
Methods of pari-mutuel wagering are disclosed. One method utilizes a house card associated with an account set up by a patron at a pari-mutuel gaming establishment, such as a horse or dog racing track. The house card may be used to place wagers at a gaming terminal and, additionally, for the purchase of goods and/or services, accessing additional informational displays, or accessing secure special areas at the pari-mutuel gaming establishment. The house card acts a cash substitute wherein the patron's account may be automatically updated with all of the patron's wins, losses, and purchases via a network system or updated on the card itself using smart card technology. In another method, a credit or debit card may be utilized, instead of a house card, with an established electronic funds transfer system. In another method, the house card or credit/debit card may be used to place wagers remotely using a touchtone telephone or personal computer.
1 . A cashless method of pari-mutuel wagering comprising: providing a gaming terminal at an establishment, the gaming terminal configured for a player to place a pari-mutuel wager on an event;
presenting a house card associated with a monetary account to a card reader in communication
with the gaming terminal;
accessing at least a portion of funds of the monetary account for use at the gaming terminal; placing a pari-mutuel wager at the gaming terminal on an event using the at least a portion of the funds; and
placing a purchase using the house card at the establishment using at least another portion of the funds.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein placing the purchase using the house card is effected before placing the pari-mutuel wager.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein placing the purchase using the house card is effected after placing the pari-mutuel wager.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising using the house card to access a secure area at the establishment.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising using the house card to access an informational display at the establishment.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising adding additional funds to the monetary account.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein accessing the at least a portion of funds comprises sending a request for allocation of the at least a portion of funds to a remote computer in communication with the card reader.
8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein accessing the at least a portion of funds further comprises receiving the at least a portion of funds requested from an authorization sent to the gaming terminal from the remote computer.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising updating the monetary account with winnings from a result of the pari-mutuel wager.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising selecting the house card from the group consisting of a smart card, a magnetic strip card, a radio frequency identification transmitter, and a card encoded with a bar code or other coded indicia.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising selecting the house card to have a predenominated amount of funds.
12 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising removing the house card prior to placing the pari-mutuel wager.
13 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising verifying the identity of the player prior to the player accessing the at least a portion of funds.
14 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising using a personal identification number, a key, a smart card, an electronic button for entering a personal identification number in a user interface of the gaming terminal, a finger print imaging device, or a retinal scan to verify the identity of the player.
15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein accessing at least a portion of funds of the monetary account for use at the gaming terminal further comprises requesting a specific amount of funds as determined by the player.
16 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising selecting the event to be a sporting event.
17 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising forwarding information regarding an outcome of the pari-mutuel wager over a communication link.
18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein forwarding information comprises sending the information using text messaging.
19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein forwarding information comprises sending the information using email.
20 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising selecting the house card to be associated with a first monetary account and with a second monetary account associated with a debit card accounts or a credit card account, and using the at least a portion of the funds from the first monetary account to place the pari-mutuel wager.
21 . The method according to claim 20 , further comprising crediting the first monetary account when a purchase is placed using funds from the second monetary account.
22 . The method according to claim 21 , further comprising selecting the funds from the first monetary account to be only available for use at the establishment.
23 . The method according to claim 20 , further comprising transferring funds between the first monetary account and the second monetary account.
24 . A cashless method of pari-mutuel wagering comprising: providing a gaming terminal at an establishment, the gaming terminal configured for a player to place a pari-mutuel wager on an event;
presenting a credit card or a debit card associated with a monetary account to a card reader in communication with the gaming terminal;
accessing at least a portion of funds of the monetary account for use at the gaming terminal;
placing a pari-mutuel wager at the gaming terminal on an event using the at least a portion of the funds; and
placing a purchase using the credit card or the debit card at the establishment using at least another portion of the funds.
25 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein placing the purchase using the credit card or the debit card is effected before placing the pari-mutuel wager.
26 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein placing the purchase using the credit card or the debit card is effected after placing the pari-mutuel wager.
27 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising selecting the gaming terminal to include the card reader.
28 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising updating the monetary account with winnings from a result of the pari-mutuel wager.
29 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising removing the credit card or the debit card prior to placing the pari-mutuel wager.
30 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising verifying the identity of the player prior to the player accessing the at least a portion of funds.
31 . The method according to claim 30 , further comprising using a personal identification number, a key, a smart card, an electronic button for entering a personal identification number in a user interface of the gaming terminal, a finger print imaging device, or a retinal scan to verify the identity of the player.
32 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein accessing the at least a portion of funds comprises sending a request for an allocation of the at least a portion of funds to a remote computer in communication with the card reader.
33 . The method according to claim 32 , wherein accessing the at least a portion of funds further comprises the remote computer forwarding the request to an electronic funds transfer system.
34 . The method according to claim 33 , wherein accessing the at least a portion of funds further comprises the electronic funds transfer system forwarding the request to a credit issuing system.
35 . The method according to claim 32 , wherein accessing the at least a portion of funds further comprises receiving the at least a portion of funds requested from an authorization sent to the gaming terminal from the remote computer.
36 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising selecting the event to be a sporting event.
37 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising forwarding information regarding an outcome of the pari-mutuel wager over a communication link.
38 . The method according to claim 37 , wherein forwarding information comprises sending the information using text messaging.
39 . The method according to claim 37 , wherein forwarding information comprises sending the information using email.
40 . A cashless method of pari-mutuel wagering comprising: inputting a unique identifier associated with a monetary account over a communication link with a remote computer;
accessing at least a portion of funds from the monetary account;
placing a pari-mutuel wager over the communication link on an event using the at least a portion of the funds; and
placing a purchase of goods or services sold at an establishment over the communication link using another portion of the funds.
41 . The method according to claim 40 , wherein inputting the unique identifier comprises inputting an account number using a touch tone telephone.
42 . The method according to claim 41 , further comprising inputting a unique secondary identifier number using the touchtone telephone.
43 . The method according to claim 40 , wherein placing the pari-mutuel wager over the communication link comprises inputting the pari-mutuel wager using a touch tone telephone.
44 . The method according to claim 40 , wherein placing the pari-mutuel wager over the communication link comprises inputting a code corresponding to a specific pari-mutuel gaming establishment.
45 . The method according to claim 40 , wherein inputting the unique identifier comprises inputting an account number into a user interface of a website that communicates with the remote computer.
46 . The method according to claim 45 , further comprising inputting a unique secondary identifier into the user interface of the website that communicates with the remote computer.
47 . The method according to claim 45 , further comprising placing a purchase of at least one item sold by the establishment.
48 . The method according to claim 40 , further comprising selecting the monetary account to be associated with a house card.
49 . The method according to claim 48 , further comprising adding funds to the monetary account associated with the house card.
50 . The method according to claim 48 , further comprising selecting the house card to have a predenominated amount of funds.
51 . The method according to claim 40 , further comprising selecting the monetary account to be associated with a debit or credit card.
52 . The method according to claim 40 , further comprising updating the monetary account with winnings from a result of the pari-mutuel wager.
53 . The method according to claim 40 , further comprising verifying the identity of the player prior to the player accessing the at least a portion of funds.
54 . The method according to claim 48 , further comprising selecting the house card from the group consisting of a smart card, a magnetic strip card, a radio frequency identification transmitter, and a card encoded with a bar code or other coded indicia.
55 . The method according to claim 48 , further comprising selecting the house card to be associated with a first monetary account and a second monetary account associated with a debit card accounts or a credit card account and using at least a portion of the funds from the first monetary account to place the pari-mutuel wager.
56 . The method according to claim 55 , further comprising crediting the first monetary account when a purchase is placed using funds from the second monetary account.
57 . The method according to claim 56 , further comprising selecting the at least a portion of funds from the first monetary account to be only available for use at the establishment.
58 . The method according to claim 55 , further comprising transferring funds between the first monetary account and the second monetary account.