Skill-based wagering methods, devices and systems

A method of presenting a machine-implemented skill-based game comprising the steps of:

• receiving at a game server, from a gaming device configured to present at least one skill-based gaming event, information regarding an identity of a player;
• determining, at said game server, a player skill level assigned to said player;
• selecting, at said game server, odds for achieving a winning outcome of said at least one skill-based gaming event;
• determining, at said game server, a payout value for a winning outcome of said event, said payout value being based upon said odds;
• determining, at said game server, a difficultly level for said skill-based gaming event, said difficulty level comprising a level which, based upon said player skill level, results in a probability of said player achieving a successful outcome of said event matching said odds;
• transmitting said difficultly level and said payout value from said game server to said gaming device;
• accepting a wager from said player to participate in said at least one skill-based gaming event;
• presenting said at least one skill-based gaming event to said player at said transmitted difficulty level;
• receiving input from said player relative to said skill-based gaming event via one or more input devices;
• determining, at said gaming device, an outcome of said at least one skill-based gaming event;
• and
• awarding an award to said player in the event of a winning outcome of said at least one skill-based gaming event, a size of said award dependent upon said payout.

A system for presenting a skill-based game to a player comprising:

• a game server comprising a processor, a memory and a communication interface;
• at least one game presentation device, said game presentation device comprising at least one controller, at least one video display and at least one player input device;
• machine readable code fixed in a tangible medium and configured to cause said controller of said game presentation device to transmit player identification information to said game server;
• machine readable code fixed in a tangible medium and configured to cause said processor of said game server to determine, using said identification information received from said game presentation device, a player skill level assigned to said player;
• machine readable code fixed in a tangible medium and configured to cause said processor of said game server to determine a difficultly level for said skill-based gaming event;
• machine readable code fixed in a tangible medium and configured to cause said processor of said game server to determine odds of said player achieving a successful outcome of said event based upon said difficultly of said event and said player skill level;
• machine readable code fixed in a tangible medium and configured to cause said processor of said game server to determine a payout value for a winning outcome of said event;
• machine readable code fixed in a tangible medium and configured to cause said processor of said game server to transmit said payout value from said game server to said game presentation device;
• machine-readable code fixed in a tangible medium and configured to cause said controller of said game presentation device to, upon placement of a wager by said player, present at least one skill-based gaming event to said player, comprising displaying game event information to said player via said at least one video display;
• machine-readable code fixed in a tangible medium and configured to cause said controller of said game presentation device to determine an outcome of said at least one skill-based gaming event based at least in part upon input by said player to said at least one player input device;
• and
• machine-readable code fixed in a tangible medium and configured to cause said controller of said game presentation device to award an award to said player in the event of a winning outcome of said at least one skill-based gaming event, a size of said award dependent upon said payout.