WO2001069917A2

WO2001069917A2 - Interactive wagering systems with streamlined telephone-based wagering

Info

Publication number: WO2001069917A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/007119
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas L. Aronson; Rodney J. Gaidies; Ben Springborn; Jay D. Thomas; Wade W. Turner; Hector Montero
Original assignee: Ods Properties, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-03-10
Filing date: 2001-03-05
Publication date: 2001-09-20
Also published as: WO2001069917A3; AU2001242000A1

Abstract

An interactive wagering system is provided that allows users to place wagers over the telephone using a telephone wagering service. The user may customize the service. The service may provide wager odds and race results. Help information may be provided. The sytem may play audio recordings of horse or runner names for the user as the user creates a wager. A streamlined approach may also be used for creating wagers. Tones may be provided after each prompt that is played for the user. Unessential material may be eliminated from the prompts. An accelerated playback rate may be used when playing the prompts. Context-sensitive help may be provided following a certain amount of user inactivity during response to a prompt. Account balance information may be provided to the user automatically during the wager creation process without intervention by the user.

Description

INTERACTIVE WAGERING SYSTEMS WITH STREAMLINED TELEPHONE-BASED WAGERING

Background of the Invention This invention relates to interactive wagering, and more particularly, to interactive wagering systems that support streamlined telephone wagering.

Wagering is a popular leisure activity. For example, many racing fans wager on events such as horse and dog 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. As a result, systems have been developed in which fans may place off-track wagers using personal computers connected to the Internet, telephones, and set-top boxes. Regardless of the type of platform that is used to provide interactive wagering to the user, the process of creating a wager typically involves selecting a racetrack of interest, selecting a race in the racetrack, selecting a wager type, selecting a horse or horses for the wager, and selecting the wager amount .

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved interactive wagering system that allows a user to place wagers by telephone using a streamlined interface.

Summary of the Invention

This and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the present invention by providing an interactive wagering system in which a user may place telephone wagers using a touch-tone telephone. The telephone may be a pay telephone, a cellular telephone, a telephone in the home or office, or any other suitable telephone. The system may have computer equipment that provides the user with audio prompts to which the user may respond by pressing touch-tone keys on the telephone. By pressing the touch-tone keys, the user may send instructions to the computer equipment for creating and placing a wager. The computer equipment may be located at a transaction processing and subscription management system or other suitable location.

The user may be provided with various customization options. For example, the user may be allowed to direct the system to provide horse names during the horse selection process or simply horse numbers. The use may also be provided with an opportunity to choose between hearing complete message prompts and shorter versions of such prompts. Horse odds may be incorporated into a horse selection menu or may be omitted. The user may also choose whether or not to have selections repeated.

Help information may be provided on various topics. The user may also obtain account balance information, current odds, and race results. Various options may be provided to help the user navigate through the system.

In order to streamline the telephone wagering process, nonessential audio prompts need not be provided by the computer and may be omitted. The user may be provided with a wallet card that contains codes and instructions that assist the user in placing wagers when interacting with audio prompts that do not include nonessential material. If desired, the pace at which the audio prompts are provided may be speeded up relative to normal playback speeds. Audio tones may be provided at the end of each audio prompt to emphasize when it is time for the user to press a number key on the telephone. Context-sensitive help information may be automatically played to the user by the computer following a period of user inactivity (e.g., after a few seconds of inactivity). The user's account balance may be provided during the process of selecting the wager amount. Telephone wagering may be supported by a system that also supports on-line wagering from computing devices, wagering from television set-top boxes, and wagering from other suitable platforms.

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative interactive wagering system in accordance with the present invention. FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, and 3b are flow charts of illustrative steps involved in providing telephone wagering services in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an illustrative wallet card of the type that may be provided to the user in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of illustrative steps and actions involved in providing wagering service to the user in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flow chart of illustrative steps involved in providing recorded horse names to the user during telephone wagering in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 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 the racetracks 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. Simulcast videos may also be provided to users by streaming the simulcast video onto the Internet.

System 10 may be used to provide an interactive wagering service to users of various user equipment. Telephone-based wagering may be provided using a telephone wagering service that is supported by running telephone wagering software on a computer (e.g., computer 26) that the user may access by telephone. The telephone wagering service may provide audio prompts for the user to which the user may respond by pressing touch-tone keys on the user's telephone. The telephone wagering service may monitor which touch-tone keys are depressed and may respond accordingly. Wagering services for other platforms may be supported by an interactive wagering application. 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. Real-time videos from racetracks 12 may also be provided to video production system 14 for distribution to users as part of a television wagering service (i.e., a wagering-related television channel or Internet-delivered service or the like) . If desired, multiple simulcast videos may be provided to video production system 14 in real-time. Talent (e.g., commentators) for the television wagering service provided by the interactive wagering application may be located at studio 16. Studio 16 may provide a video feed containing commentary and the like to video production system 14. Graphic overlays for the television wagering service may be added to the service at video production system 14.

The television wagering service may use video production system 14 to combine selected video segments from desired racing simulcasts with the video feed from studio 16 and suitable graphic overlays. If desired, video production system 14 or a separate facility may be used to reformat simulcasts from racetracks 12. For example, if racetracks 12 provide simulcasts as traditional analog television channels, video production system 14 (or a separate facility) may convert these simulcasts or portions of these simulcasts into digital signals (e.g., digital video signals) or into a different number of analog signals. Digital video signals may require less bandwidth than analog video signals and may be appropriate for situations in which videos are to be transmitted over either high or low bandwidth pathways. Low bandwidth pathways may include telephone lines, the Internet, etc. Video production system 14 may be used to provide a television wagering service that includes selected simulcast videos, video from studio 16, and graphic overlays to television distribution facilities 18 (for redistribution to user television equipment 22 and user computer equipment 20) , to user computer equipment 20, and to user telephone equipment 32 (if user telephone equipment 32 has a display capable of displaying moving images) . Television distribution facilities 18 may be any suitable facilities for supplying television to users, such as cable system headends, satellite systems, broadcast television systems, or other suitable systems or combinations of such systems. User computer equipment 20 may be any suitable computer equipment that supports an interactive wagering application. For example, user computer equipment 20 may be a personal computer. User computer equipment 20 may also be based on a mainframe computer, a workstation, a networked computer or computers, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a handheld computing device such as a personal digital assistant or other small portable computer, etc. Each of television distribution facilities 18 is typically located at a different geographic location. Users with user television equipment 22 may receive the television wagering service from an associated television distribution facility. User television equipment 22 may include, for example, a television or other suitable monitor. A television may be used to watch the television wagering service on a traditional analog television channel. User television equipment 22 may also include a digital or analog set- top box connected to a television distribution facility 18 by a cable path. A digital set-top box may be used to receive the television wagering service on a digital channel. If desired, user television equipment 22 may contain a satellite receiver, a WebTV box, a personal computer television (PC/TV) , or hardware similar to such devices into which set-top box capabilities have been integrated. A recording device such as a videocassette recorder or digital recording device (e.g., a personal video recorder or digital video recorder based on hard disk drives or the like) may be used in user television equipment 22 to store videos. The recording device may be separate from or part of the other components of user television equipment 22. User computer equipment 20 may receive the television wagering service using a video card or other video-capable equipment to receive analog or digital (e.g., moving picture experts group or MPEG) videos from a television distribution facility. User computer equipment 20 may also receive the television wagering service directly from video production system 14 using, for example, a modem link. If desired, the video for the television wagering service may be compressed

(e.g., using MPEG techniques). This may be useful, for example, if the path to user computer equipment 20 is a modem connection using telephone links. If video production system 14 is only used to serve user computer equipment 20 without traditional analog television capabilities, video production system 14 may only need to supply such digitally-compressed video signals and not analog television signals.

Video clips of races and other simulcast information may be provided to users in the form of a television wagering service or by an intaractive wagering service provided by the interactive wagering application. If desired, race-related videos may be provided to the user by using video production system 14 or other suitable equipment to route appropriate video clips from the simulcasts to the user in real time. Video clips may also be stored for later viewing. For example, one or more video servers located at racetracks 12, video production system 14, television distribution facilities 18, or other suitable locations may be used to store video clips. The stored videos may then be played back in real time or downloaded for viewing at user television equipment 22, user computer equipment 20, or user telephone equipment 32. The video clips may contain videos of races, commentary, interviews with jockeys, or any other suitable race-related information. If desired, real-time or stored videos may be provided from racetracks 12 directly to user television equipment 22, user computer equipment 20, or user telephone equipment 32 over the Internet or other suitable communications paths without involving video production system 14. Videos may also be provided by routing video signals through equipment located elsewhere in system 10. For example, videos may be routed through transaction processing and subscription management system 24. Transaction processing and subscription management system 24 may contain computer equipment 26. Computer equipment 26 or other suitable computer equipment that is in communication with transaction processing and subscription management system 24 may be used to handle telephone-based wagers. In particular, such computer equipment may receive telephone calls from users. The computer equipment may be used to play audio prompts for users over the telephone to which users may respond over the telephone by pressing corresponding touch-tone keys. This arrangement allows computer equipment 26 to provide users with the ability to obtain racing and account information and to create and place wagers over the telephone.

Computer equipment 26 or other equipment associated with transaction processing and subscription management system 24 may also be used for handling users who are using other platforms such as a set-top box platform or personal computer or the like.

Transaction processing and subscription management system 24 handles functions such as transaction processing (e.g., handling tasks related to wagers, product purchasing, adjusting the amount of funds in user accounts based on the outcomes of wagers, video clip ordering, etc.), data distribution (e.g., for distributing racing data to the users) , and subscriber management (e.g., features related to opening an account for a user, closing an account, allowing a user to add or withdraw funds from an account, changing the user's address or personal identification number, etc.).

Databases within transaction processing and subscription management system 24 or associated with system 24 may be used to store racing data, wagering data and other transaction data, and subscriber data such as such as information on the user's current account balance, past wagering history, individual wager limits, personal identification number, billing addresses, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, social security numbers, etc. Using such databases may allow the user to access information more quickly and allows for central administration of the wagering service .

If desired, racing videos and other services may be provided using servers and other equipment located at transaction processing and subscription management system 24. For example, video clips may be provided to the user on-demand. Interactive advertisements may be provided to the user. When the user selects a desired advertisement, transaction processing and subscription management system 24 may provide additional information or other services related to the advertisement to the user.

Product ordering services may be implemented using computer equipment at transaction processing and subscriber management system 24 to handle orders and to assist in adjusting the appropriate account of the user accordingly. Orders may be fulfilled using merchandise fulfillment facilities 34. Merchandise fulfillment facilities 34 may be operated solely to provide merchandise fulfillment or may be associated with independently-operated mail-order or on-line businesses. Similar facilities may be used to allow users to order services. Statistical racing data such as the post times for each race, jockey names, runner names and the number of races associated with each track, handicapping information (e.g., information on past performances such as the number of wins and losses for the past year, etc.), and weather conditions at various tracks may be provided by racing data collection and processing system 28. Some of the data may be collected from racetracks 12 and some may be provided by third party information sources such as Axcis Pocket Information Network, Inc. of Santa Clara, California or other suitable data sources. Racing data may also be provided from totalisators 30. Totalisators 30 are the computer systems that may be used to handle wagers made at the racetracks, made at off-track betting establishments, and made using interactive wagering system 10. Totalisators 30 generate wagering odds in real time. Totalisators 30 generate these odds based on information on which wagers are being placed (e.g., based on information on which wagers are being placed on races at racetracks 12) . Totalisators 30 are available from companies such as Amtote International, Inc. of Hunt Valley, Maryland. Totalisators 30 may be associated with individual racetracks 12 or groups of racetracks 12. Totalisators 30 may communicate with one another using a communication protocol known as the Intertote Track System Protocol (ITSP) . This allows totalisators 30 to share wagering pools. Totalisators 30 may provide racing data including information on the current races at racetracks 12, the number of races associated with each racetrack, win, place, and show odds and pool totals for each horse or other runner, and exacta, trifecta, and quinella payoff predictions and pool totals for every possible combination of runners. Totalisators 30 may also provide current odds and other real-time racing data for other types of wagers. Totalisators 30 may provide the time until post time for each race. Totalisators 30 may provide race results, such as the order-of-finish list for at least the first three positions and payoff values versus a standard wager amount for win, place, and show, for each runner in the finish list. Payoff values may be provided for winning complex wager types such as exacta, trifecta, quinella, pick-n (where n is the number of races involved in the pick-n wager), and daily double. The payoff values may be accompanied by a synopsis of the associated finish list.

Totalisators 30 may also provide program information of the type typically provided in printed racing programs. Such program information may include early odds, early scratches, race descriptions (including the distance of each race and the race surface - grass, dirt, artificial turf, etc.), allowed class ratings (based on a fixed ratio of external criteria) , purse value (payoff to winning runner) , allowed age range of runners, and the allowed number of wins and starts for each runner.

If desired, some of the information provided to transaction processing and subscription management system 24 by totalisators 30 (such as the program information or other suitable racing data) may be provided by racing data collection and processing system 28. Similarly, some of the information provided to transaction processing and subscription management system 24 by racing data collection and processing system 28 may be provided by totalisators 30. Moreover, the foregoing examples of different suitable types of racing data are merely illustrative. Any suitable data related to racing may be provided to transaction processing and subscription management system if desired.

Transaction processing and subscription management system 24 provides the racing data to users at user television equipment 22, user computer equipment 20, and user telephone equipment 32 for use in following race results and developing wagers. If desired, racing data may be provided to users using paths that do not directly involve transaction processing and subscription management system 24. For example, racing data may be provided from racing data collection and processing system 28 to user television equipment 22, user computer equipment 20, or user telephone equipment 32 using the Internet or other suitable communications paths.

User telephone equipment 32 may be a conventional telephone, a cordless telephone, a cellular telephone or other portable wireless telephone, or any other suitable telephone equipment. Users at user television equipment 22 and user computer equipment 20 may view information on the racing data on a television or other suitable monitor. Users at user telephone equipment 32 may listen to racing data using an interactive voice system. User telephone equipment 32 may be based on cellular telephones with displays. Users may view racing data displayed on such displays. Users who wish to place wagers may establish an account at transaction processing and subscription management system 24. An account may also be established at one of totalisators 30. The user and the interactive wagering services may have their own bank accounts at financial institutions 38. A user may set up an account electronically by using user television equipment 22, user computer equipment 20, or user telephone equipment 32 to interact with the subscriber management functions of transaction processing and subscription management system 24. If desired, accounts may be established with the interactive wagering service with the assistance of customer service representatives at customer service facility 36. Customer service facility 36 may be at the same location as transaction processing and subscription management system 24, may be part of system 24, or may be located remote from system 24. Customer service representatives at customer service facility 36 may be reached by telephone. If user telephone equipment 32 is used to access the interactive wagering service, for example, user telephone equipment 32 may be used to reach the customer service representative using communications path 42. If user television equipment 22 or user computer equipment 20 is being used with the service, a telephone at the same location as that equipment may be used to reach the customer service representative. The user's identity may be checked using social security number information or other identification information with the assistance of subscriber verification facility 40. The services of subscriber verification facility 40 are used to ensure that the user lives in a geographic area in which wagering is legal, that the user is of a legal age, and that the identification information (e.g., the user's social security number) matches the name provided by the user. If the user is using a cellular telephone or handheld computing device, the user's present physical location may be determined by determining which general part of the cellular telephone network is being accessed by the user or by using the cellular network or a handset-based location device such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver in the body of the cellular telephone to pinpoint the user's location. This location information may be used to verify that the user is located in a geographic area where wagering is legal.

In a typical enrollment process, the user provides personal information to the interactive wagering service and provides funds with a credit card or funds from the user's bank account. The interactive wagering service sets up an account for the user at transaction processing and subscription management system 24 and directs one of totalisators 30 to set up a new account for the user at the totalisator. The totalisator is also directed to credit the user's account to reflect the amount of funds provided by the user. After the user places a wager and wins or loses, the totalisator adjusts the user's totalisator account to reflect the outcome of the wager. The totalisator may periodically inform the interactive wagering service of the adjusted balance in the user's account. This may be accomplished using any suitable technique (e.g., periodically, continuously, on-request, etc.). For example, reports may be collected periodically (e.g., once a day in an end-of-day report) and provided to the interactive wagering service to reconcile the account balances at transaction processing and subscription management system 24 with the account balances at totalisators 30.

If the user makes a balance inquiry, the inquiry may be passed to the appropriate totalisator by transaction processing and subscription management system 24. If the user is charged a fee for subscribing to the service, the service may debit the fee from the user's account at the transaction processing and subscription management system 24. The accounts at totalisators 30 and transaction processing and subscription management system 24 are typically maintained separately, because the business entities that operate totalisators 30 and transaction processing and subscription management system 24 are independent. If desired, financial functions related to opening and maintaining user accounts and the like may be handled using computer equipment at another location such as one of financial institutions 38 or other location remote from totalisators 30 and system 24. Such financial functions may also be implemented primarily at a totalisator 30 or primarily at the transaction processing and subscription management system 24 if desired. Users at user television equipment 22, user computer equipment 20, and user telephone equipment 32 may place wagers by providing wageri.ig data and otherwise interacting with transaction processing and subscription management system 24. The interactive wagering service may provide a user at user television equipment 22, user computer equipment 20, or user telephone equipment 32 that has display capabilities with screens containing various racing data. For example, the user may be presented with screens that allow the user to view the current odds for horses in an upcoming race at a given track. The service may provide the user with interactive screens containing menus and selectable options that allow the user to specify the type of wager in which the user is interested and the desired wager amount. With a set-top box arrangement, for example, the user may use a remote control or wireless keyboard to navigate the various menus and selectable options. With a personal computer, the user may use a keyboard, mouse, trackball, touch pad, or other suitable input or pointing device. With a cellular telephone with a display, the user may use buttons on the telephone. When the user has made appropriate selections to define a desired wager, the user television equipment, user computer equipment, or user telephone equipment may transmit wagering data for the wager to transaction processing and subscription management system 24.

Users with telephones may interact with the service using an interactive voice response system implemented using computer equipment such as computer equipment 26 at transaction processing and subscription management system 24. The interactive voice response system may present menu options to the user in the form of audio prompts. The user may interact with the service by pressing the corresponding buttons on a touch-tone telephone. User telephone equipment 32 that is based on cellular telephones allows the user to interact with the wagering service in this way. User telephone equipment 32 that is based on cellular telephones with messaging and display capabilities also allows the user to interact visually with the interactive wagering service. The components of system 10 may be interconnected using various communications paths 44. Communications paths 44 may include satellite paths, coaxial cable paths, fiber-optic paths, twisted pair paths, other wire or cable-based links, wireless paths through free space, or any other suitable paths or combination of such paths. Communications over paths 44 may involve analog transmissions, digital transmissions, wireless transmissions, microwave transmissions, radio-frequency transmissions, optical transmissions, audio transmissions, or any other suitable type of transmissions or combination of such transmissions. Communications may involve Internet transmissions, private network transmissions, packet- based transmissions, television channel transmissions, transmissions in the vertical blanking interval of a television channel or on a television sideband, MPEG transmissions, touch-tone signals, etc. Communications may involve wireless pager or other messaging transmissions. Communications paths 44 may include cable connected to cable modems, digital subscriber lines, integrated services digital network (ISDN) lines, or any other suitable paths. Examples of suitable communications paths are described below. Those examples are, however, merely illustrative. Any of the communications path arrangements described above or other suitable arrangements may be used if desired. Communications paths that carry video and particularly uncompressed analog video or lightly- compressed or full-screen digital video generally use more bandwidth than communications paths that carry only data or that carry partial-screen digital video. For example, if it is desired to transmit high-quality simulcasts of races from racetracks 12 to video production system 14, analog or digital videos may be transmitted from racetracks 12 to video production system 14 over path 44a using satellite links. Video may be transmitted from studio 16 to video production system 14 over path 44b using a satellite link or a high-speed terrestrial path such as a fiber-optic path. Studio 16 may also be located at the same site as video production system 14, thereby avoiding the need for a long-haul transmission path. Videos may be transmitted from video production system 14 to user computer equipment 20 over path 14c using a modem link (using, for example, a digital subscriber line, a telephone network link, a wireless link etc.) The modem link may be made over a private network.

A user with a cable modem may connect a personal computer or other such user computer equipment 20 to an associated cable system headend using path 44d. (The headend in such an arrangement would be one of the television distribution facilities 18 shown in FIG. 1.) The user may then receive videos from the headend via cable modem. Videos may be provided to the headend over path 44e using a network link, fiber optic links, cable links, microwave links, satellite links, etc. A user with a set-top box or similar device (shown in FIG. 1 as user television equipment 22) may also receive videos from a cable system headend using a cable modem or other such communications device over path 44f. In addition, a user with user television equipment may receive videos over the Internet or a private network using a telephone-based modem or other such communications device using path 44g. In a system with distributed processing, interactive wagering services may be provided using a television distribution facility 18 that includes equipment that supplements or replaces at least some of the equipment at transaction processing and subscription management system 24.

If desired, user television equipment 22 or user computer equipment 20 may receive analog or digital videos from an associated television distribution facility over the communications paths normally used to distribute television programming (e.g., paths 44f and 44d) . For example, videos may be received as part of a dedicated interactive wagering service television channel. If videos are provided as digital signals (e.g., MPEG signals), 10 or more digital videos may be carried on a single analog channel (or one digital video may be carried on one- tenth of the bandwidth of an analog channel) . If the videos are not full-screen videos, even more videos may be simultaneously provided without a loss of image quality.

Racing videos may be provided to user telephone equipment 32 over a partially-wireless telephone Internet link or other telephone link using path 44n. If desired, racing data may accompany the racing videos along any of these paths. Moreover, racing videos may be provided by routing them directly from racetracks 12 to user television equipment 22, user computer equipment 20 (e.g., over the Internet or a private network, etc.), or user telephone equipment 32. Racing videos may also be provided by routing them through transaction processing and subscription management system 24. If a cellular telephone or portable computing device has sufficient display capabilities to support moving images, racing videos may be displayed. Such videos may be provided using any suitable path, such as a direct path from racetracks 12, a path through video production system 14 or other suitable video processing equipment, through a hub such as transaction processing and subscription management system 24, etc. Racing videos may be provided in real time or may be recorded for later distribution. Videos that are not provided in real-time may be downloaded by user television equipment 22, user computer equipment 20, a cellular telephone, or other suitable user equipment at a lower data rate than would otherwise be required and may be downloaded in the background if desired. Such videos may also be provided to the user at real-time video rates for direct viewing by the user.

Racing data and other information related to the interactive wagering service may be provided to users over paths connected to transaction processing and subscription management system 24. For example, racing data and other data for the service may be provided to user computer equipment 20 over path 44h using a modem link. Path 44h may be a private network path or an Internet path. Path 44h may use telephone lines, digital subscriber lines, ISDN lines, wireless data paths, or any other suitable type of communications links. User television equipment 22 may receive data for the wagering service over communications path 44i, which may be a telephone line, digital subscriber line, ISDN line, or other suitable type of communications path and which may use a private network path or an Internet path, etc.

Data for the wagering service may be provided to users of the interactive wagering application via communications path 44 and paths 44f and 44d. Communications path 4 may be provided over a private network, using the public telephone network, using satellite links, or any other suitable type of links. Data from paths such as path 44j may be routed to paths such as paths 44f and 44d directly by associated television distribution facilities 18, or may be buffered at television distribution facilities 18 if desired. Paths 44f and 44d may include coaxial cable and use of paths 44f and 44d may involve the use of cable modems or the like. If data is provided over path 44j and path 44f or path 44d using an Internet protocol, a web browser or similar software running on user television equipment 22 or user computer equipment 20 may be used to access the data. Such software may be integrated into the interactive wagering application or may be used separately. Software may also be used to view videos and may be used on other platforms (e.g., advanced cellular telephones) if desired. The communications paths 44k that are used to connect various other components of the system typically do not carry high-bandwidth video signals. Accordingly, paths 44k may be telephone-like paths that are part of the Internet or a private network. Such paths and various other paths 44 may be dedicated connections for security, reliability, and economy.

User telephone equipment 32 may receive information for the wagering service via path 44m. If user telephone equipment 32 is a standard (non- cellular) telephone, such information may be in the form of audio prompts ("press 1 to place a wager") and audio racing data ("the current win odds for horse 2 are 5-1") . Transaction data processing and subscription management system 24 may contain interactive voice response equipment that provides such information to the user and that responds to touch-tone signals from the user when the user responds to prompts by pressing buttons on the user's telephone. If user telephone equipment is a cellular telephone, racing data and other information for the interactive wagering service may be provided to the user by using a cellular wireless connection as part of path 44m. Users with cellular telephones may be provided with audio prompts using an interactive voice response system located at transaction processing and subscription management system 24 to which the users may respond by pressing cellular telephone buttons to generate touch-tone signals. Racing data and other information for the interactive wagering service may be provided to cellular telephones in the form of alphanumeric messages. Such messages may be transmitted to the user by using paging or other alphanumeric messaging formats or any other suitable data communications scheme. If desired, data may be provided to the cellular telephones over the voice channel and decoded by the cellular telephone using modem circuitry or other suitable circuitry. Data may also be provided using any other suitable cellular or wireless path. Regardless of the way in which racing data and other information for the interactive wagering service are provided to the cellular telephone, such information may be provided to the user by displaying it on the cellular telephone display screen or by presenting it in audible form through the speaker of the cellular telephone.

Racing data and other interactive wagering service information for the users may be provided in one or more continuous data streams, may be provided periodically (e.g., once per hour or once per day), or may be provided using a client-server arrangement in which data is requested by a client processor (e.g., user television equipment 22, user computer equipment 20, user telephone equipment 32, or any other such equipment) from a server (e.g., a server implemented using computer equipment 26 at transaction processing and subscription management system 24 or computer equipment at another suitable location. Videos may also be provided using any of these techniques.

A return communications path between the user and the interactive wagering service may be used to allow the user to place wagers and otherwise interact with the interactive wagering service. For example, a user with a standard telephone or a cellular telephone may interact with the service by pressing touch-tone keys on the telephone in response to audio prompts provided by an interactive voice response system (e.g., a system based on computer equipment 26) at transaction processing and subscription management system 24. If desired, users may call customer service representatives at customer service facility 36 and place wagers with manual assistance. The user of a cellular telephone may interact with the wagering service by selecting menu options and otherwise interacting with information displayed on the cellular telephone. When a selection is made, software implemented on the telephone may be used to assist the user in transmitting appropriate data (e.g., wagering data) to the wagering service. Such data may be transmitted using any suitable technique. For example, data may be transmitted using a wireless data link that is separate from the cellular voice channels. Data may also be transmitted over the voice channel (e.g., using a modem built into the cellular telephone, by automatically generating touch-tone signals that may be recognized by the interactive voice response system at transaction processing and subscription management system 24, or using any other suitable arrangement) .

These approaches may be used even if the user receives racing data and other information for the service using a platform other than a telephone-based platform.

Users with user television equipment 22 may interact with the service by sending data (e.g., wager data) to transaction processing and subscription management system 24 using path 44i or using paths 44f and 44j . Users with user computer equipment 20 may send data (e.g., wager data) to transaction processing and subscription management system 24 via path 44h or paths 44d and 44j. Users at any user equipment may send data for the service to locations other than transaction processing and subscription management system 24. For example, the user may provide information directly to customer service facility 36, etc. If desired, the user may send data to the service at transaction processing and subscription management system 24 using different paths than those used to receive data from transaction processing and subscription management system 24. For example, racing data may be received at user television equipment 22 via paths 4 and 44f, whereas data may be sent by the user from user television equipment 22 to transaction processing and subscription management system 24 using path 44i, etc. Moreover, the paths used to receive certain video information may be different from those used to receive racing data. For example, user television equipment 22 may receive racing videos using path 44f, but may receive racing data using path 44i. These examples are merely illustrative. Any suitable combination of paths may be used to distribute racing data and other information for the interactive wagering service, any suitable combination of paths may be used to receive videos, and any suitable combination of paths may be used to send data to the wagering service. If desired, the user may interact with the wagering service using more than one platform. For example, the user may place a wager using a cellular telephone while the user is driving home. When the user arrives home, the user may determine the outcome of the wager by watching a video of the race on user television equipment. Later in the day, the user may check the user's account balance using a personal computer. This is merely an illustrative example. The various wagering platforms may be used in any suitable combination.

Although system 10 has been described in the context of a system that supports multiple wagering platforms, system 10 may support fewer platforms if desired. For example, aspects of the invention may be implemented using a system 10 that only supports telephone wagering. If desired, system 10 may be configured so that it does not support personal computer wagering, wagering with cellular telephones, or wagering with user television equipment. The system may support telephone wagering and wagering using handheld computing devices such as personal digital assistants, palm-sized computers, etc. in combination with any other suitable platform.

Flow charts of steps involved in handling telephone-based wagers using telephone wagering systems are shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c. At step 46 of FIG. 2a, an interactive voice response system provides a welcome message to the user. At step 48, a detailed prompt may be provided that instructs the user to enter the user's account number followed by the pound key. At step 50, the user may be provided with a detailed prompt directing the user to provide the user's personal identification number (PIN) and to press the pound key.

At steps 52 and 54 and the steps of FIG. 2c, the user may be provided with a main menu. The main menu presents the user with various options, such as an option to obtain information on odds, an option to obtain race results, an option to obtain account balance information, etc. Detailed audio prompts are used to provide these options. One of these options may be an option to place a wager (step 54) .

If the user opts to place a wager, the user may be presented with track selection options during steps 56 and 58. At step 56, the user may be provided with the prompt "enter a track number followed by the pound key." At step 58, the user may be provided with a detailed list of all of the available tracks (e.g., 15 or more individual tracks) and their corresponding track numbers. The user may enter one of the track numbers followed by the pound key to select the desired track.

Steps 60 and 62 involve selection of a desired horse race. At step 60, the user may be provided with a prompt stating "enter a race number followed by the pound key." At step 62, the user may be provided with a detailed list of all open races at the selected track.

At steps 64 and 66 the user may be provided with detailed prompts that allow the user to select a desired wager type. Illustrative wager types include win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, and quinella, etc. As shown in FIG. 2b, the user may be provided with a horse selection options in steps 68, 70, 72, and 74. The user may be provided with a horse selection menu at step 68. The horse selection menu provides the user with a prompt directing the user to "enter the horse selection number followed by the pound key" and to "use the star key to separate horses and use the pound key after entering the last number." Another prompt directs the user not to use the star key after the last horse number entered. At step 70 the user may be informed of how many horses are available to wager on. At step 72 a list of all of the available horses may be presented. At step 74, the user's horse selection may be played back as a confirmation.

Steps 76 and 78 relate to selecting a wager amount. At step 76, the user may be instructed to enter the wager amount followed by the pound key.

Steps 76 and 78 also provide the user with a list of available wager amounts. The user may not be provided with information on the user's account balance.

At step 80 the user may be informed that the user has built a certain type of wager. Information on the wager amount, track, track name, race number, horse name, and wager cost are provided using a detailed prompt format .

Steps 82, 84, 86, and 88 relate to submitting the wager. At step 82, the user may be provided with a detailed prompt that provides the user with an opportunity to submit the wager or to not submit the wager. At step 84, the system submits the wager to totalisator 30 for processing and holds while waiting for a response from the totalisator. At step 86, the user may be informed of whether the totalisator accepted the wager or whether the wager was canceled. At step 88 the user may be provided with options that allow the user to wager again on a new race or to wager again on the same race.

Additional prompts that may be provided following the main menu prompt of step 52 and the wager submission prompt of step 54 are shown in FIG. 2c. At step 152, the user may be provided with a prompt asking the user to enter two to access account balance information. If the user enters two (e.g., by pressing 2 # on the telephone key pad) , the system may play back the user's account balance (e.g., using voice synthesis) .

At step 154, the user may be provided with a prompt asking the user to enter three to obtain information on current win odds. If the user enters three (e.g., by pressing 3 # on the telephone key pad), the user may be provided with additional prompts that provide the user with an opportunity to select a desired racetrack and an opportunity to select a desired race at the selected racetrack. For example, the user may be asked to enter a track code and a race number. The system may then provide odds for each horse in the selected race.

At step 156, the user may be provided with a prompt asking the user to enter four to obtain information on current race results. If the user enters four, the user may be provided with additional prompts that provide the user with an opportunity to select a desired racetrack and an opportunity to select a desired race at the selected racetrack. For example, the user may be asked to enter a track code and a race number. The system may then provide the user with information on the results of the selected race.

At step 158, the user may be provided with a prompt asking the user to enter five to obtain help information. If the user enters five, the user may be provided with a help menu. For example, the user may be provided with a help menu having options for obtaining help on the following subjects: (1) making an entry, (2) making a wager, (3) system navigation, (4) customizing the system, (5) responsible wagering,

(6) data sources, and (7) account assistance. The user may also be provided with an opportunity to press a number to return to the main menu.

At step 160, the user may be provided with a prompt asking the user to enter six to access system customization features. If the user enters six (e.g., the user presses 6 # in response to the prompt or at any other suitable time during use of the system) , the system may provide the user with options that allow the user to modify the way in which the voice prompts are played back to the user. If desired, any modifications made by the user may be retained until changed by the user.

After the user enters six, the user may enter one to choose between hearing horse names or simply horse numbers.

The user may enter two to choose between hearing complete message prompts and shorter versions. When complete message prompts are chosen, the system may provide complete prompts of the type shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. When shorter prompts are chosen, the system may provide prompts of the type shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b or any other suitable shortened prompts.

The user may enter three to choose between hearing horse odds while wagering or not hearing odds. If the user opts not to hear odds, prompts such as the prompts of step 72 (FIG. 2b) or step 108 (FIG. 3b) or horse number prompts may be presented to the user when the user is selecting horses for a wager. If the user opts to hear odds, prompts may be provided such as "to select horse 1 with odds 3:1, press 1" (when horse numbers are used to identify the horses) or "to select Seattle Slew with odds 2:1, press 1" (when horse names are used to identify the horses as shown in step 72) , etc. The user may enter four to choose between having selections repeated or not repeated.

At step 162, the user may be provided with a prompt informing the user that the user may enter seven to exit the main menu. If desired, the telephone wagering system may support options that assist the user in navigating through the system. For example, the user may be allowed to press * # to be taken back one level in the menu structure or to cancel an entry. The user may also be allowed to press * * # to be taken back to the main menu. The user may be allowed to press * 0 # to listen to help. The user may be allowed to press the # key to replay a menu. The user may be allowed to press the * key between horse numbers, so that the user may select multiple horses. The user may select all horses by selecting 0 #. These are merely illustrative examples. Any other suitable commands may be used to access these functions or to access other navigational functions if desired.

Telephone-based wagers may be handled using a telephone wagering service that uses a shortened prompt format as a default arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

At step 90, an interactive voice response system implemented on computer equipment 26 of transaction processing and subscription management system 24 or other suitable equipment provides a welcome message to a user who has called the wagering service over the telephone. The welcome message may, for example, inform the user that the user has reached a streamlined version of the telephone wagering service (e.g., a "proBet" service).

At step 92, a streamlined prompt may be provided asking for the user's account number. The prompt may be, for example, the identifying phrase "account number" followed immediately by a beep or other suitable tone or audio indicator. The audio indicator (e.g., the beep) makes it clear to the user that the user is to respond to the prompt. The beep feature may be used after each prompt, so that the user becomes accustomed to the sound and timing of the beep. The beep feature helps the user respond to the audio prompts provided by the system faster than might otherwise be possible.

The audio prompts of step 92 and the other steps of FIGS. 3a and 3b need not include instructions regarding use of the pound key. Instructions for use of the pound key and other information regarding the use of the telephone wagering system may be provided to the user on a wallet card (e.g., a laminated wallet- size card for the user's wallet or the like). Accordingly, the user may be assumed to either know the proper procedure for using the pound key and other such keys or to have access to a wallet card that provides instructions.

At step 94, the user may be provided with a streamlined prompt directing the user to provide the user's personal identification number (PIN). Use of a detailed prompt such as "enter your PIN number followed by the pound key" is avoided.

It is assumed that the user who calls the appropriate number for the streamlined wagering service (e.g., the proBET number) is interested in placing a wager. Accordingly, the use of a main menu such as the main menu provided at steps 52 and 54 of FIG. 2a may be bypassed completely. The user need not listen to options regarding odds, race results, account balance information, etc. The user may be presented with a streamlined prompt directing the user to enter a track code at step 96. The user may provide a track code from memory or may consult the wallet card for information on the track code for the desired track. Because prompts such as the prompt of step 96 are relatively brief compared with the prompts of FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c the user may occasionally need automatic real-time assistance from the system. Such assistance may be provided in the form of context-sensitive help. Context-sensitive help messages may be played after a certain amount of user inactivity. For example, if the user does not provide a track code at step 96 within three seconds (or any other suitable interval) , the user may be provided with context sensitive help at step 98. In particular, the user may be provided with information on the various available track names and corresponding track codes that may be selected.

After the user has selected a desired track, the user may be provided with an opportunity to select a desired race at the selected track. At step 100, for example, the user may be provided with the streamlined prompt "race number" followed by a beep. If the user does not provide a race number at step 100 within a certain time period (e.g., 3 seconds), the user may be provided with context sensitive help at step 102. In particular, the system may provide the user with information on all open races at the selected track. After the user has selected a desired race, the user may be provided with an opportunity to select a wager type (e.g., win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, daily double, etc.). For example, the user may be provided with the streamlined prompt "wager type" followed by a beep at step 104. If the user does not respond within a given time period (e.g., 3 seconds), context-sensitive help may be provided at step 106. In particular, the user may be provided with information on which touch-tone number keys correspond to the various different wager types.

When the user has selected a desired wager type, the user may be provided with a streamlined horse selection option at step 108 of FIG. 3b. In particular, the user may be provided with the streamlined prompt "horse numbers" followed by a beep. If the user does not respond within a given time period (e.g., 3 seconds), context-sensitive help may be provided at step 110. In particular, the user may be provided with information on which horses are available and -which horses have scratched in the current race at step 110. Detailed instructions and prompts such as those provided at steps 68, 70, 72, and 74 of FIG. 2b are not needed with the approach of FIG. 3b. Non- essential information such as instructions on how to enter horse numbers, how to use the pound key, how many horses are running in the race, which numbers to press for which horse names, and confirmation information on the selected horse need not be provided.

After the horses have been selected, the system may automatically provide the user with information on the user's current account balance at step 112. This information may be obtained by computer equipment 26 from totalisators 30 while the user is responding to earlier steps in the telephone wagering process. The user need not respond to any particular prompt to receive the account balance information.

This information is provided automatically, because it is assumed to be of interest to the experienced wagerer .

At step 114, a streamlined prompt may be provided to the user that allows the user to enter a desired wager amount. For example, a prompt such as "wager amount" may be provided followed by a beep. In response, the user may enter a desired wager amount from one of the available wager amounts at the selected track.

At step 116, the user may be provided with a streamlined confirmation message informing the user of which track, race, wager amount, wager type, and horse numbers have been selected for the wager.

Steps 118, 120, 122, and 124 involve submission of the wager for processing. At step 118, the user may be provided with a prompt followed by a beep that provides the user with an opportunity to submit the wager or to not submit the wager. At step 120, the system may submit the wager to a totalisator for processing and hold while waiting for a response from the totalisator. At step 122, the user may be informed of whether the totalisator accepted the wager or whether the wager was canceled. At step 124, the user may be provided with options followed by a beep that allow the user to wager again on a new race or to wager again on the same race.

An illustrative wallet card that may be provided to the user for use when wagering over the telephone is shown in FIG. 4. Wallet card 126 may have a logo 128 that identifies the wagering service provider. Information 130 may be provided that identifies which number the user should call to wager using the streamlined telephone service. The number may be, for example, an "800" number.

Information 132 may also be provided on the track codes that the user supplies at step 96 of FIG. 3a. Information 134 may be provided on the wager type codes that the user supplies at step 104 of FIG. 3a. Other information 136 may also be included on card 126. For example, information may be included on how to use the system (e.g., when to press the pound key), how to contact customer service, etc. Illustrative steps involved in providing the telephone wagering service to the user are shown in FIG. 5. At step 138, the interactive wagering service provider associated with transaction processing and subscription management 24 or other suitable entity may provide wallet cards such as wallet card 126 of FIG. 4 to users. For example, the interactive wagering service provider may mail such cards to regular wagering account holders. This is merely an example. Any suitable technique may be used for distributing the wallet cards to the users if desired.

At step 140, the user may be provided with an opportunity to place a streamlined telephone wager. The process involved in allowing the user to place the streamlined wager include actions 142, 144, 146, and 148. Actions such as actions 142, 144, 146, and 148 may be performed separately or concurrently and may be performed in any suitable order.

During action 142, tones such as a beep tone or other suitable audible signal or word or phrase may be automatically provided by the system following each prompt. The audible signal indicates that the prompt is over. The audible signal may be provided immediately after the prompt is over (e.g., within a second or a fraction of a second or other suitable time interval) . Providing the audible signal helps to streamline the wagering process because the signal provides the user with a cue that clearly emphasizes that the user may provide the information requested in the prompt. If desired, such information may be provided at any time, even before the beep. Nonetheless, the beep or other audible indication is satisfying to users who want to know that it is an acceptable time to provide the information requested in the prompt.

During action 144, unessential material in the prompts may be skipped or eliminated or otherwise not used during playback of the prompts. For example, instructions on how to use the pound key or other keys may be skipped. And the lengths of the prompts may be shortened by providing only a minimal amount of information in the prompts. This approach streamlines the wagering process, because prompts are shorter and unessential instructions are bypassed.

During action 146, the speed at which the prompts are played back to the user may be increased relative to a normal (unaccelerated) playback rate. Any suitable amount of acceleration may be used. For example, the playback rate may be accelerated by 10%- 20% or more or less than these amounts. Accelerating the speed of the prompts decreases the amount of time it takes to complete the wagering process, because the user spends less time listening to the prompts.

During step 148, the system falls back to context sensitive help after a period of user inactivity. For example, if the user does not respond to a prompt within a predetermined amount of time

(e.g., 3 seconds), additional prompts and instructions may be provided to the user.

At step 150, after the wager has been built, the system may process the wager. As described above in connection with step

160, one of the system shortcuts that the user may establish relates to horse numbers. The user may configure the system to either play back recorded horse names or to play back simply horse numbers during horse selection menus. Using horse names may be preferable for inexperienced users. Horse numbers may be preferable for more experience users. An illustrative horse selection menu in which horse names are presented to the user is shown in step 72 of FIG. 2b.

Illustrative steps involved in using the telephone wagering system to handle horse names are shown in FIG. 6. At step 164, horse names may be collected (e.g., from various industry sources). Horse name information may be collected using any suitable scheme, either manual or automatic. Automatic collection may involve electronically collecting horse name information from computers over a communications network (e.g., the Internet).

At step 166, the horse names may be recorded at a studio.

At step 168, the horse name recordings may be stored (e.g., digitally) in a horse name recordings database at transaction processing and subscription management system 24 or any other suitable location. At step 170, the system may access certain recorded horse names from the database and may play them back to the user at step 170. For example, if the user has selected a racetrack and a race at that racetrack, the system may determine which horses are to run in the selected race. The system may then retrieve the appropriate horse name recordings from the database and play those horse name recordings to the user in the form of a horse selection menu. Although the present invention has been described primarily in the context of wagering on horses for clarity and simplicity, the interactive wagering systems described above may be used for any suitable type of wagering. For example, wagers may be place on races with runners other than horses. Wagers may be placed on dog races. Wagers may be placed on events that do not involve races.

Wagering events that involve races such as horse races typically allow wagers to be placed on certain "betting interests." A betting interest may represent more than one horse. For example, two horses in a race that are owned by the same owner may be classified as a single betting interest, even though two horses are involved. Betting interests are the entities on which odds pools are generally based. Although the system has been described as supporting wagering on individual horses, this is merely illustrative. The system of the present invention may operate by allowing users to wager based on betting interests if desired.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

What Is Claimed is:

1. A method for allowing a user to create a wager for a race using a telephone in communication with computer equipment, comprising: providing audio prompts to the user at the telephone with the computer equipment that ask the user for information for the wager; providing an audio tone with the computer equipment following at least some of the prompts that indicates when each of those prompts is over; and receiving instructions from the user with the computer equipment to create the wager as the user presses touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

2. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a wager type as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

3. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a wager amount as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

4. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a horse number as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

5. The method defined in claim 1 - further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a racetrack as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

6. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a race as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

7. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive wagers from users at set-top boxes.

8. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive wagers from users at handheld computing devices.

9. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising using the computer equipment to pass wagers to totalisators.

10. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing a horse number prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired horse without providing a horse selection menu.

11. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing a wager type prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired wager type without providing a wager type menu.

12. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing a track code prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired racetrack without providing a track selection menu.

13. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing a wallet card to the user for the user to refer to when creating the wager.

14. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising: providing a wallet card that includes track codes to the user for the user to refer to when creating the wager; and providing a track code prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired racetrack, wherein the user may obtain the track codes from the wallet card.

15. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing a race number prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired race without providing a race selection menu.

16. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising allowing the user to create the entire wager without providing a main menu of prompts to the user.

17. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing the audio prompts for the user over the telephone at an accelerated playback speed.

18. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the audio prompts contain only substantially essential material for informing the user of the nature of the prompts.

19. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising providing context-sensitive help to the user when the user does not respond to one of the prompts within a predetermined time interval.

20. The method defined in claim 1 further comprising automatically providing account balance information to the user during the audio prompts without intervention by the user.

21. A method for allowing a user to create a wager for a race using a telephone in communication with computer equipment, comprising: providing audio prompts to the user at the telephone with the computer equipment at an accelerated playback speed that ask the user for information for the wager; and receiving instructions from the user with the computer equipment to create the wager as the user presses touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

22. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a wager type as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

23. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a wager amount as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

24. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a horse number as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

25. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a racetrack as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

26. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a race as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

27. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive wagers from users at set-top boxes.

28. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive wagers from users at handheld computing devices.

29. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising using the computer equipment to pass wagers to totalisators.

30. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising providing a horse number prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired horse without providing a horse selection menu.

31. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising providing a wager type prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired wager type without providing a wager type menu.

32. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising providing a track code prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired racetrack without providing a track selection menu.

33. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising providing a wallet card to the user for the user to refer to when creating the wager.

34. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising: providing a wallet card that includes track codes to the user for the user to refer to when creating the wager; and providing a track code prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired racetrack, wherein the user may obtain the track codes from the wallet card.

35. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising providing a race number prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired race without providing a race selection menu.

36. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising allowing the user to create the entire wager without providing a main menu of prompts to the user.

37. The method defined in claim 21 wherein the audio prompts contain only substantially essential material for informing the user of the nature of the prompts .

38. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising providing context-sensitive help to the user when the user does not respond to one of the prompts within a predetermined time interval.

39. The method defined in claim 21 further comprising automatically providing account balance information to the user during the audio prompts without intervention by the user.

40. A method for allowing a user to create a wager for a race using a telephone in communication with computer equipment, comprising: providing audio prompts for the user at the telephone with the computer equipment that ask the user for information for the wager, wherein the audio prompts contain only substantially essential material for informing the user of the nature of the prompt; and receiving instructions from the user with the computer equipment to create the wager as the user presses touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

41. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a wager type as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

42. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a wager amount as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

43. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a horse number as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

44. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a racetrack as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

45. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a race as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

46. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive wagers from users at set-top boxes.

47. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive wagers from users at handheld computing devices.

48. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising using the computer equipment to pass wagers to totalisators.

49. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising providing a horse number prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired horse without providing a horse selection menu.

50. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising providing a wager type prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired wager type without providing a wager type menu.

51. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising providing a track code prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired racetrack without providing a track selection menu.

52. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising providing a wallet card to the user for the user to refer to when creating the wager.

53. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising: providing a wallet card that includes track codes to the user for the user to refer to when creating the wager; and providing a track code prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired racetrack, wherein the user may obtain the track code from the wallet card.

54. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising providing a race number prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired race without providing a race selection menu.

55. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising allowing the user to create the entire wager without providing a main menu of prompts to the user.

56. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising providing context-sensitive help to the user when the user does not respond to one of the prompts within a predetermined time interval.

57. The method defined in claim 40 further comprising automatically providing account balance information to the user during the audio prompts without intervention by the user.

58. A method for allowing a user to create a wager for a race using a telephone in communication with computer equipment, comprising: providing audio prompts for the user at the telephone with the computer equipment that ask the user for information for the wager; receiving instructions from the user with the computer equipment to create the wager as the user presses touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts; and providing context-sensitive help to the user when the user does not respond to one of the prompts within a predetermined time interval.

59. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a wager type as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

60. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a wager amount as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

61. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a horse number as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

62. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a racetrack as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

63. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a race as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

64. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive wagers from users at set-top boxes.

65. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive wagers from users at handheld computing devices.

66. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising using the computer equipment to pass wagers to totalisators.

67. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising providing a horse number prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired horse without providing a horse selection menu.

68. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising providing a wager type prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired wager type without providing a wager type menu.

69. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising providing a track code prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired racetrack without providing a track selection menu.

70. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising providing a wallet card to the user for the user to refer to when creating the wager.

71. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising: providing a wallet card that includes track codes to the user for the user to refer to when creating the wager; and providing a track code prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired racetrack, wherein the user may obtain the track codes from the wallet card.

72. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising providing a race number prompt for the user to respond to in selecting a desired race without providing a race selection menu.

73. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising allowing the user to create the entire wager without providing a main menu of prompts to the user.

74. The method defined in claim 58 further comprising using the computer equipment to receive instructions from the user for selecting a wager type as the user presses the touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

75. A method for allowing a user to create a wager for a race using a telephone in communication with computer equipment, comprising: providing audio prompts for the user at the telephone with the computer equipment that ask the user for information for the wager; receiving instructions from the user with the computer equipment to create the wager as the user presses touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts; and automatically providing account balance information to the user during the audio prompts without intervention by the user.

76. An interactive wagering system in which wagers on races may be placed by a user with a telephone, comprising computer equipment configured to: provide audio prompts for the user at the telephone that ask the user for information for the wager; provide an audio tone following at least some of the prompts that indicates when each of those prompts is over; and receive instructions from the user to create the wager as the user presses touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

77. An interactive wagering system in which wagers on races may be placed by a user with a telephone, comprising computer equipment configured to: provide audio prompts for the user at the telephone at an accelerated playback speed that ask the user for information for the wager; and receive instructions from the user to create the wager as the user presses touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

78. An interactive wagering system in which wagers on races may be placed by a user with a telephone, comprising computer equipment configured to: provide audio prompts for the user at the telephone that ask the user for information for the wager, wherein the audio prompts contain only substantially essential material for informing the user of the nature of the prompt; and receive instructions from the user to create the wager as the user presses touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts.

79. An interactive wagering system in which wagers on races may be placed by a user with a telephone, comprising computer equipment configured to: provide audio prompts for the user at the telephone that ask the user for information for the wager; receive instructions from the user to create the wager as the user presses touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts; and provide context-sensitive help to the user when the user does not respond to one of the prompts within a predetermined time interval.

80. An interactive wagering system in which wagers on races may be placed by a user with a telephone, comprising computer equipment configured to: provide audio prompts for the user at the telephone that ask the user for information for the wager; receive instructions from the user to create the wager as the user presses touch-tone buttons on the telephone in response to the prompts; and automatically provide account balance information to the user during the audio prompts without intervention by the user.