Sony might be attempting to scope out the idea of implementing an e-sports betting platform on Playstation systems, going off of patent they filed. The patent, which was filed back in 2019, but only made public as of this May, proposes a system that would allow players to bet on winners of game matches, complete with varying betting odds, calculated by a player's previous performance history. There's also mention of varying types of bets, like flat outcomes, or more specific wagers, such as how long a match might take before a given player loses. Sony's possible plans also account for prospective betters offering up not only real-world money, but also bitcoin or digital in-game items. It's worth remembering that patents don't always guarantee that a company will go through with those concepts, but it is a curious thing to see, especially coupled with the fact that Sony bought out the e-sports tournament EVO earlier this year.

SUMMARY
Accordingly, a system includes at least one computer simulation controller and at least one computer simulation source configured to receive input from the computer simulation controller to control presentation of a computer simulation presented on at least one display. The computer simulation source, which may be established by a network server or a simulation console, includes at least one processor and at least one storage accessible to the processor with instructions executable by the processor to establish, for at least one simulation proposition, wagering odds. The instructions are executable to overlay on the computer simulation at least one user interface (UI) configured to enable input, using the simulation controller, of a bet using the wagering odds. Further, the instructions are executable to, based on an outcome of the simulation proposition, present indication of a winner of the bet.
The instructions can be executable to remove the UI from the computer simulation responsive to input from the simulation controller. In some examples the instructions are executable to present recommended wagers output by a recommendation engine. If desired the instructions may be executable to present a list of available bets. The instructions can be executable to accept input of a custom bet.
The wagering odds may be established parimutuelly. The wagering odds may be established using past simulation play statistics.
In another aspect, a method includes establishing odds for at least one future event in a computer simulation, and overlaying onto at least one presentation of the computer simulation at least one user interface (UI) showing the odds and indicating the event to permit a viewer to select to bet on the future event occurring or not.
In another aspect, an apparatus includes at least one computer storage that is not a transitory signal and that includes instructions executable by at least one processor to overlay on a computer simulation being presented on a display at least one wagering proposition related to the computer simulation. The instructions are executable to send acceptance of the wagering proposition to a wagering source.
The details of the present application, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

Source

 

[Teletron1]

damn gambling now really .. can’t wait for little Bobby to bet the parents house

 

[MikaDubbz]

Bet it works, though.

Only if you want to change. Why would someone that wants to keep gambling put themselves in such a system though? It's not really a good solution to helping those with gambling addictions at all. Seems like a dumb law all around honestly.

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I’d rather gamble my money on the stock market

In general that's a smarter way to wager money as it is, so long as you do your research and are willing to play the long game.

 

[Deleted member 534570]

Sony? More line $ony...

 

[sloppycrap]

Bet it works, though.

I can't find a list of people jailed under this law, so I don't know. It sounds like a bad idea to me, though, that the only way the state actually advertises to get help for a mental disease is to put yourself in prison.

 

[sloppycrap]

[deleted, I don't have it in me to argue about this]

 

[Codemastershock]

are there any esports that use ps4/5 only games? or do any professional esports events that use PlayStation?

Fighting games.

 

[anhminh]

So a mobile gacha game?

 

[Xzi]

Surely this makes someone out there happy, but I watch barely any e-sports, so I wouldn't be confident enough to bet on them. For that matter, I almost never bet on actual sports, maybe $50 a year on a paid fantasy football league.

 

[RedBlueGreen]

Yaaay, gambling.

I wonder what the legality of this is, and what hastily-written new laws get put in place once there's a public outcry.
Technically Sony can limit it to ages 18+ and areas where online betting/gambling is legal, but VPNs are a thing, and the usual age protection on the internet is "Are you 18+? You sure? Okay then." So yeah.

Probably depends on where you live, but I'd say it's a terrible idea. Allowing a minor to gamble will get them in trouble, and "they agreed they were 18" isn't likely won't hold up in court, especially when one of their major business territories, North America, has some areas with very strict gaming regulation. A lot of places you can't even walk into a casino if you're underage. I speak as someone who has experience in gaming. If I don't have my gaming license on me it's illegal for me to work.

There's no way they'll be able to operate this service within Canada without getting licensed by each province they want to operate in, and I'm sure the same can be said about the US since their government shuts down plenty of poker sites that allow you to wager real money.

Maybe they'll do something like have you wager a made up currency, or something equivalent to Steam trading cards where you get PSN credit but they're in deep shit if they allow wagering real money without being licensed or if minors are able to bet actual money, or something representing actual money like chips.

damn gambling now really .. can’t wait for little Bobby to bet the parents house

While this is a joke plenty of casinos do let you leverage your house or car through an in-house loan office.

 

[Xzi]

"they agreed they were 18" isn't likely won't hold up in court

All the sports betting sites at least require you to upload a driver's license or ID, as well as verify your location, so I imagine that would also be the case here.

There's no way they'll be able to operate this service within Canada without getting licensed by each province they want to operate in, and I'm sure the same can be said about the US since their government shuts down plenty of poker sites that allow you to wager real money.

I don't know about Canada, but online sports betting is big business in the states where it's legal now, there's a ton of advertisement for it here in Colorado. It's only within the last few years that laws have been changing. I suppose Sony wants to get in on the ground floor in case more states start allowing it.

 

[BitMasterPlus]

I don't gamble in any way, so if people want to possible risk and ruin themselves financially based on luck, then that's their choice.

 

[raging_chaos]

So Sony is trying to create a generation of gamblers out of our younger gamers. This will end well.

 

[Bladexdsl]

e-sports and loot boxes the cancer to gaming

 

[DavidBut]

Frankly, in order to bet on sports online, it is necessary to know well how each sports team plays. Sometimes people who don't know sports at all take risks and win. In any case, luck has a place here too, but it depends more on your knowledge and the conditions of the athletes. In fact, betting has become a popular activity among soccer fans all over the world. I use wild card city mobile casino slots for betting. I think that learning to bet like a professional is quite possible. But sometimes even the coach himself is not able to predict the result.