Internet golf sweepstakes game

摘要

A method for running a sweepstake-type game whereby the players seeks to win the sweepstakes by accurately predicting a portion of the result of a golf tournament such as the weekly PGA golf tournaments. In preferred embodiments the sweepstakes players are asked to predict the winner of the tournament and also the golfers who will shoot par on the last day of the tournament. In a preferred embodiment a control computer is able to determine the winners of the sweepstakes quickly enough that their names can be announced as the winning golfer is walking off the 18th green. In preferred embodiments provisions are made so that sweepstakes player can make their predictions directly through the web sites of the sponsors or of the operator of the sweepstakes. The sweepstakes players are required to furnish their name and a unique identifier, such as their social security number, special code or password to control the number of participants and the number of predictions available to each participant to assure that each participant has been authorized to participate in the contest with respect to each prediction.

主权项

1. A method of conducting a sweepstakes game by a sweepstakes operator utilizing a communication network and a plurality of web sites of sweepstake sponsors, wherein the winner of the sweepstakes is a player in the game who correctly predicts a portion of the results of a golf tournament, such method comprising the steps of:
A) providing a central control computer with software adapted to permit a sweepstakes operator to communicate with sweepstakes sponsors so as to permit the sponsors to make the sweepstake available to visitors to their web sites and to permit controlled communication between the sponsors web site and a central control computer, B) programming the central control computer to analyze the predictions of sweepstakes players in comparison to the actual results of the tournament to determine the winner of the tournament, C) furnishing prior to each tournament names of golfers expected to participate in the tournament, D) with respect to each tournament, requiring each sweepstakes player to:
1) communicate with a sponsor's web site with an electronic device,2) provide the web site via the electronic device with one or more unique identifiers identifying the sweepstakes player,3) predict the winner of the tournament and the golfers who will shoot par on the final day of the tournament and to document those predictions with the electronic device, E) with respect to each tournament, requiring the sponsors to transmit to the central control computer via the communication network the predictions of sweepstakes players documented at the sponsor's web sites, F) with respect to each tournament, entering the results of the tournament into the control computer and G) with respect to each tournament, reporting the sweepstakes winner or winners.