Abstract: A convenience gaming system is provided. The convenience gaming system allows users to access applications via gaming communication devices coupled to a communication network. At least a portion of the network may be wireless. The gaming applications include gambling, financial, entertainment service, and other types of transactions. The system may include a user location determination feature to prevent users from conducting transactions from unauthorized areas.

Abstract: Systems and methods of evaluating rules. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method may include receiving an indication of a price of an item to be purchased by a person from a merchant, receiving an indication of an amount tendered by the person, determining an amount of change due to the person based on the price and based on the amount tendered, receiving from the person an indication that the person wants to use the change as a bet in a game in which the person specifies desired probability of winning outcome in the game, determining the rules of a game, generating an outcome of one or more games using a random number generator, determining based on the rules whether the outcome is winning or losing, authorizing, if the outcome is winning, that the amount tendered be returned to the person and that the person be allowed to keep the item, and authorizing, if the outcome is losing, that the amount tendered be kept by the merchant.

Abstract: A first portion of data is selected. The first portion of data is capable of being converted from a human-readable format to an electronically readable format. The first portion of data is capable of being stored in an optical bar code. A printed publication includes the first portion of data in the human-readable format. The first portion of data is encrypted. The first portion of data is stored on the optical bar code. The optical bar code is incorporated into the printed publication. The first portion of data is read from the optical bar code using a bar code scanner without removing the optical bar code from the printed publication.

Abstract: A roulette apparatus enables and enhances roulette gaming. The roulette apparatus comprises a roulette wheel assembly, a ball-delivery tower, ball-conducting conduit, and disguised wheel monitoring equipment. The ball-delivery tower comprises a tower support portion and a tower arm. The tower arm may enclose and partially disguise the wheel-monitoring equipment. The tower support portion provides a certain vertical dimension for maximizing roulette ball potential energy. The ball-conducting conduit extends intermediate a ball inlet and a ball outlet. The ball outlet is positioned for outletting the roulette ball upon an upper wheel surface of the roulette wheel assembly. The tower and the ball-conducting conduit convert roulette ball potential energy to roulette ball kinetic energy and further function to effect a self-launching roulette ball for enhancing the roulette gaming experience.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method may include receiving an indication of a price of an item to be purchased by a person from a merchant, receiving an indication of an amount tendered by the person, determining an amount of change due to the person based on the price and based on the amount tendered, determining the rules of a game, generating a first outcome of the game using a random number generator, determining based on the rules whether the first outcome is winning or losing, authorizing, if the first outcome is winning, that the amount tendered be returned to the person and that the person be allowed to keep the item, and authorizing, if the first outcome is losing, that the amount tendered be kept by the merchant.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing valid responses to requests for quotations are provided. In one embodiment of the invention, a system according to the invention preferably includes a server. The server includes a server storage device and a server processor connected to the server storage device. The server storage device preferably stores a server program for controlling the server processor. The server processor is preferably operative to receive a request from a requesting participant for a market-validated offer to sell an item; receive an offer price from a responding participant in response to the request; and provide a bid to an electronic marketplace, the bid including a price that is lower than the received offer price.