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A contest of predictions regarding sports competitions comprises the
totalling of bets made relating to the results of a series of national or
international sports events. This type of contest has been adopted in
various European countries, under different names. In Italy, for example,
it is called "TOTOCALCIO", and in Portugal "TOTOBOLA". In Brazil, it is
known as "LOTERIA DEPORTIVA FEDERAL" by the Law Act No. 594, dated May 27,
1969, which established it, regulated by Act No. 66,118, dated Jan. 26,
1970, and considered as a public service, a prerogative of the Nation, to
be executed by the Federal Department of Savings.
The systems of conducting lotteries in those countries which have them are
similar to each other, but they differ substantially from the system
described in the present application, which is very simple and unique. The
difference is brought out in the first step, which is the taking of the
bet. Electronic methods are used in the system described herein, which
utilizes computers, and the taking of the bets is recorded on punch cards
of the Hollerith type (international model), which constitutes its
principal characteristic.
Other countries do not use an electronic system, with the exception of
England, which uses an optical reading system which is completely
different from the present system.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide an efficient and
accurate system of recording bets placed in a public lottery by means of
recording the data on punch cards which are recorded in a central office
by means of computers on magnetic tapes.
Other objects will be apparent with reference to the following description
and brief description of the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an entry sheet filled out by the
person placing a bet.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, composite view of the entry sheet and two computer
cards to which the data appearing on the entry sheet is transferred.
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a manual perforating device used to
transfer the data from the entry sheet to the punch cards.
The particular form of recording bets according to the present system,
which is applicable to the "LOTERIA DEPORTIVE FEDERAL" or to any other
sporting event betting competition, consists of the following:
The bettor marks down his predictions on a piece of paper comprising an
entry sheet which lists the sporting games included in the contest; also
he fills in his name, address, the column indicating the double and triple
bets, the space to indicate the number of bets and the amount to be paid,
in the manner shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. In said Figure, the
bettor's name is entered in space 1, and his address in space 2. The word
"CLUB" is printed at space 3, the word "TIE" at space 4, the word "CLUB"
again at space 5. In space 6 there appears the words "NUMBER OF BETS", and
at 7 "AMOUNT TO BE PAID". At 8, "PREDICTION", at 9 "DOUBLE" and at 10
"TRIPLE". This paper is placed by the person in charge of recording the
bets on top of two punch cards of the Hollerith type adapted to operate in
electronic computers, said cards being made in such a manner that the
spaces indicating the bets coincide with the spaces of the paper on which
the predictions were initially marked, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
In said FIG. 2, A is the list of predictions of the bettor; B is the
Hollerith card for the computer, and C is the Hollerith card receipt. As
mentioned above, said cards shall contain spaces to mark down the name and
address of the bettor, amount received for the bet and authentication
thereof. The cards may also contain more spaces reserved for control by
the contest organization, such as the bet number, salesman's code number,
the state and city, as well as any other data deemed necessary.
Arranged in the manner described above, the paper listing the predictions
and the Hollerith cards are inserted into a manual, portable, perforating
device D, known as the "PORT-A-PUNCH", which is manufactured by IBM and
illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 3. The paper A and cards B and C are
then perforated by means of a puncher similar to a pencil (FIG. 3) by the
person taking the bets, at the places on the paper A where the bettor
marked his predictions, in such a manner that, upon punching, the same
hole will also be recorded on the two cards B and C which were placed
under the paper A provided with coinciding spaces. The bet taker then
fills out the spaces on the punch cards corresponding to the name and
address of the bettor, and immediately gives him one of the perforated
cards as a receipt for payment of the amount corresponding to his bets,
the value of which will have been previously set by the sponsor or by the
regulations. The bet taker retains the other punch card.
This other card will subsequently be taken, along with additional cards
recording other bets, to a central office, where they are then recorded by
means of computers on magnetic tapes, preferably more than two, as a
safety measure. After the recording, the tapes containing all of the bets
made will be kept in a safe and the cards filed in a safe place.
During the recording, and without the necessity of any other processes, the
computer will also store electronically other data necessary for the
contest, such as how it was organized, by means of accounting and
statistical data, and will indicate the objections and wrong or fraudulent
bets.
After the sporting events listed in the program have been held, and they
may be weekly, biweekly or monthly, in accordance with the rules, a model
or master card is composed from the results and it is inserted into the
computer, which can then determine the winners without needing more than
one operator. In Spain, for example, 5,800 checkers or card examiners are
needed. The result according to the present invention is thus obtained
with electronic rapidity and is exempt from material failures of a manual
process.
The system described above is therefore simple, fast and economical, as has
been proven, and with its undeniable advantages over the other processes,
it constitutes an authentically original solution.
It is to be noted that in European betting contests, the program of the
sports events is printed in duplicate, the first sheet with the spaces to
be filled out being a carbon, so that when the bettor marks down his
predictions, he records them also on the second copy.
In the system according to my invention, this does not occur, which
simplifies the task of the bettor when writing down his bets.
In the European system, after making the entries on his betting paper, the
bettor buys a stamp in the amount corresponding to the value of his bet,
sticks it on the first copy, heads for the receiving counter and turns in
this first copy. The second copy is then authenticated by machines
provided for this purpose, and it remains in his possession as receipt and
proof.
The organization running the contest collects this first copy and
microfilms it on machines provided for this purpose, which does not occur
in my system in which the bets already recorded on a punch card are
transferred by the computer on magnetic tapes. After this operation, the
microfilms are kept in a safe and the first copy is filed in an
appropriate place.
Once the results of the games are known, the officials make out a model
result sheet and proceed to compare it manually with the first copies
filed, selecting and counting also manually the first copies which have
the most accurate predictions and which ultimately designate the winner or
winners.
The above verification process which is necessary in the European system,
in addition to being tiresome and requiring a considerable number of
checkers, 370 in Portugal, for example, has disadvantages in that errors
in manual processes tend to be great. Other winners show up frequently
after the results have been checked. This is so true that, to solve the
problem of this situation, the date for settlement and payment of the
winners is extended, so as to deal with the possible appearance of other
winners and compare their results with the microfilms.
As we can see, it is obvious that the system of the present invention is
much more efficient, rapid, economical and simple, and requires only one
person for the verification of the winner or winners of the contest.
By comparison, the present system offers, among others, the following
advantages:
a. It avoids having to import machines for the authentication of the bets
(there are no domestic machines for same).
b. It avoids having to import machines for the microfilming of the bets.
c. It avoids having to hire specialized foreign staff.
d. It reduces the physical space that would be taken by checkers.
e. It would not be necessary to import any other machinery.
f. Checking of errors, frauds or irregularities before the results of the
contest.
g. The verification is totally electronic and therefore reduces the
possibility of errors.
h. Greater rapidity in the introduction of the services and in the checking
of the bets.
i. Greater simplicity in the making of the bet, as far as the bettor is
concerned.
It should be noted, as an observation and without going into details, that
if any of the systems presently in use are introduced into Brazil, a
minimum period of 24 months would be needed for its introduction, in
addition to a large administration with much personnel, without even
mentioning the cost of the imported machinery, space needed and
specialized labor.
In conclusion, the system described above has specific characteristics,
qualities and undeniable advantages over the existing systems. It
constitutes a practical solution in modern cybernetics in the field of
lotteries where the results of sporting events are predicted by the
public.
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