Interactive wagering systems and methods with multiple television feeds

#This invention relates to systems and methods for interactive wagering. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods that provide interactive wagering systems and methods with multiple television feeds.

#Wagering is a popular leisure activity. For example, many racing fans wager on events such as horse, dog, and harness racing. However, it may be inconvenient to attend racing events in person. Not all racing fans have sufficient time to visit racetracks as often as they would like and some fans have difficulties in obtaining suitable transportation to the track. Off-track betting establishments are available for fans who cannot attend racing events in person, but fans must still travel to the off-track betting establishments.

#Interactive wagering using a set-top box wagering interface has become widely popular. An example of a set-top box wagering interface is illustrated in Marshall et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/330,651, filed Jun. 11, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. As shown therein, an interactive wagering interface can be presented on a wagerer's television alternatively or simultaneously with television racing coverage. Because television coverage of racing may be provided in conjunction with such an interface, the wagerer may feel as though he or she is at the race and thus may be enticed to participate in wagering.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative interactive wagering system in accordance with the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of illustrative user television equipment in accordance with the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of additional illustrative user television equipment in accordance with the present invention.

#An illustrative interactive wagering system 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. Aspects of the invention apply to various different types of wagering, but are described herein primarily in the context of interactive wagering on races (e.g., horse races) for specificity and clarity.

#Races may be run at racetracks 12, which may be located at various geographic locations. Races run at racetracks 12 may be simulcast to television viewers. For example, simulcast videos may be provided to users with satellite receivers or to off-track betting establishments via satellite.

#System 10 may be used to provide an interactive wagering service to users of various user equipment. An interactive wagering application may be used to provide the wagering service. The interactive wagering application may run locally on the user equipment (e.g., on a set-top box, personal computer, cellular telephone, handheld computing device, etc.) or may run using a client-server or distributed architecture where some of the application is implemented locally on the user equipment in the form of a client process and some of the application is implemented at a remote location (e.g., on a server computer or other such equipment in the system) as a server process. These arrangements are merely illustrative. Other suitable techniques for implementing the interactive wagering application may be used, if desired.