Abstract: Systems and methods for providing gaming activities, these particularly relating to gaming activities where a plurality of players provide respective entry fees. Traditional gaming activities necessarily involve the player putting his or her entry fee at risk. The subject disclosure, at least in some of its preferred forms, modifies the traditional approaches of operating such gaming activities so that the player's entry fee is not necessarily placed entirely at risk. Indeed, in some embodiments a player is provided with an option to participate on the basis that his or her entry fee is wholly refundable while retaining the opportunity to win prizes, potentially alongside more risky though still modified participation by other players.

Abstract: Described herein are various systems and methods for providing gaming activities. These particularly relate to “fixed-odds” type gaming activities whereby a player places a bet in relation to an event outcome on the basis of a payout ratio and, in the case that the event outcome is identified as a winning outcome, the player is awarded a prize based on the entry fee and the payout ratio. In overview, the present embodiments focus on situations wherein the player is additionally eligible to receive a secondary prize that is indeterminate at the point in time the bet is placed. The nature and purpose of this secondary prize varies between embodiments. For example, in some embodiments the secondary prize effectively provides a winning player with a more advantageous payout ratio, in some embodiments the secondary prize allows the player to participate in a secondary game.

Abstract: Described herein are various systems and methods for providing gaming activities. These particularly relate to “fixed-odds” type gaming activities whereby a player places a bet in relation to an event outcome on the basis of a payout ratio and, in the case that the event outcome is identified as a winning outcome, the player is awarded a prize based on the entry fee and the payout ratio. In overview, the present embodiments focus on situations wherein the player is additionally eligible to receive a secondary prize that is indeterminate at the point in time the bet is placed. The nature and purpose of this secondary prize varies between embodiments. For example, in some embodiments the secondary prize effectively provides a winning player with a more advantageous payout ratio, in some embodiments the secondary prize allows the player to participate in a secondary game.

Abstract: Described herein are various systems and methods for managing carbon credits. For example, in some embodiments a lottery is used as a means for distributing carbon credits to consumers, optionally to feed a retail-level carbon market. It will be appreciated from the discussion herein that such an approach leverages general notions whereby lotteries have been traditionally used as a vehicle for funding public works.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the location of a location tracking device, employs a satellite based location determining infrastructure and a wireless data communications network. A location tracking device which cannot easily obtain valid ephemeris data from the satellite based location, determining infrastructure, requests the necessary data from a data set stored at a tracking device hub via the wireless communications network. The tracking device hub determines and transmits an estimated position of the location tracking device to the location tracking device, along with the appropriate required valid ephemeris data, to allow the location tracking device to determine its location. If the location tracking device is still unable to make a location determination from the satellite based location determining infrastructure, then the estimated location can be provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing gaming activities, these particularly relating to gaming activities implemented in conjunction with a flexible credit arrangement. A consumer is allocated one or more entries in a gaming activity based on a level of transactable flexible credit held by that consumer. For example, the allocation of entries is increased or decreased subject to a corresponding increase or decrease in transactable flexible credit held by the consumer. In some aspects of the present invention, one or more prizes for the gaming activity are funded in whole, or in part, by way of supplementary contributions realized on the basis of consumers' participation in a flexible credit infrastructure.

Abstract: Described herein are various systems and methods for managing carbon credits. For example, in some embodiments a lottery is used as a means for distributing carbon credits to consumers, optionally to feed a retail-level carbon market. It will be appreciated from the discussion herein that such an approach leverages general notions whereby lotteries have been traditionally used as a vehicle for funding public works.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for conducting sales promotions in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments a retailer offers to consumers an opportunity to win a prize according to predetermined purchasing criteria, this offer being provided as an incentive for the consumers to purchase goods and or services. In overview, and as shown in FIG. (1), a consumer enters into a purchase transaction with a retailer at step (1). In the case that this purchase transaction satisfies predetermined purchasing criteria, an entry in a chance-based gaming activity is defined for the consumer at step (2). This entry is provided to the consumer free of charge. A redemption request is subsequently allowed to be placed in respect of the entry, such a request being received at step (3). Responsive to the redemption request, it is substantially immediately determined whether or not to award a prize to the consumer based on the outcome of the chance-based gaming activity at step (4).

Abstract: Described herein are various systems and methods for providing gaming activities, these particularly relating to gaming activities implemented in conjunction with a flexible credit arrangement. In overview, a consumer is allocated one or more entries in a gaming activity based on a level of transactable flexible credit held by that consumer. For example, the allocation of entries is increased or decreased subject to a corresponding increase or decrease in transactable flexible credit held by the consumer. In some embodiments, one or more prizes for the gaming activity are funded in whole, or in part, by way of supplementary contributions realized on the basis of consumers' participation in a flexible credit infrastructure.

Abstract: Described herein are various systems and methods for providing gaming activities, these particularly relating to gaming activities where a plurality of players provide respective entry fees. Traditional gaming activities necessarily involve the player putting his or her entry fee at risk. The present invention, at least in some of its preferred forms, modifies the traditional approaches of operating such gaming activities so that the player's entry fee is not necessarily placed entirely at risk. Indeed, in some embodiments a player is provided with an option to participate on the basis that his or her entry fee is wholly refundable while retaining the opportunity to win prizes, potentially alongside more risky though still modified participation by other players.

Abstract: Described herein are various systems and methods for providing gaming activities, these particularly relating to gaming activities where a plurality of players provide respective entry fees. Traditional gaming activities necessarily involve the player putting his or her entry fee at risk. The present invention, at least in some of its preferred forms, modifies the traditional approaches of operating such gaming activities so that the player's entry fee is not necessarily placed entirely at risk. Indeed, in some embodiments a player is provided with an option to participate on the basis that his or her entry fee is wholly refundable while retaining the opportunity to win prizes, potentially alongside more risky though still modified participation by other players.

Abstract: Described herein are various systems and methods for providing gaming activities, these particularly relating to gaming activities where a plurality of players provide respective entry fees. Traditional gaming activities necessarily involve the player putting his or her entry fee at risk. The present invention, at least in some of its preferred forms, modifies the traditional approaches of operating such gaming activities so that the player's entry fee is not necessarily placed entirely at risk. Indeed, in some embodiments a player is provided with an option to participate on the basis that his or her entry fee is wholly refundable while retaining the opportunity to win prizes, potentially alongside more risky though still modified participation by other players.

Abstract: Described herein are various systems and methods for providing gaming activities, these particularly relating to gaming activities where a plurality of players provide respective entry fees. Traditional gaming activities necessarily involve the player putting his or her entry fee at risk. The present invention, at least in some of its preferred forms, modifies the traditional approaches of operating such gaming activities so that the player's entry fee is not necessarily placed entirely at risk. Indeed, in some embodiments a player is provided with an option to participate on the basis that his or her entry fee is wholly refundable while retaining the opportunity to win prizes, potentially alongside more risky though still modified participation by other players.

Abstract: Described herein are various systems and methods for providing gaming activities, these particularly relating to gaming activities where a plurality of players provide respective entry fees. Traditional gaming activities necessarily involve the player putting his or her entry fee at risk. The present invention, at least in some of its preferred forms, modifies the traditional approaches of operating such gaming activities so that the player's entry fee is not necessarily placed entirely at risk. Indeed, in some embodiments a player is provided with an option to participate on the basis that his or her entry fee is wholly refundable while retaining the opportunity to win prizes, potentially alongside more risky though still modified participation by other players.

Abstract: Described herein are various systems and methods for providing gaming activities. These particularly relate to “fixed-odds” type gaming activities whereby a player places a bet in relation to an event outcome on the basis of a payout ratio and, in the case that the event outcome is identified as a winning outcome, the player is awarded a prize based on the entry fee and the payout ratio. In overview, the present embodiments focus on situations wherein the player is additionally eligible to receive a secondary prize that is indeterminate at the point in time the bet is placed. The nature and purpose of this secondary prize varies between embodiments. For example, in some embodiments the secondary prize effectively provides a winning player with a more advantageous payout ratio, in some embodiments the secondary prize allows the player to participate in a secondary game.