Number game

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a method to safely manage a number game with the purpose of preventing all participants, even the game organiser (1), from accessing any one of the bets during a round of a game, and to give only the game organiser (1) access to the bets after the closing of said round. An independent third party (2) generates a first key pair with a first encryption key and a first decryption key, and a round certificate comprising the first encryption key. The third party (2) makes this round certificate available to the game organiser (1), which makes it available to at least one device for placing of bets (3). A bet placed through the device for placing of bets (3) is encrypted with the first encryption key, and the device for placing of bets (3) sends the encrypted bet to the game organiser (1). The game organiser (1) closes the round and requests the first decryption key from the third party (2) after the closing of the round and the third party (2) makes the first decryption key available to the game organiser (1) according to the request. The game organiser (1) decrypts any encrypted bet with the first decryption key, which accordingly only is available after the closing of the round.

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method to safely manage a number game with the purpose of preventing all participants, even the game organiser, from accessing any one of the bets during a round of a game, and to give only the game organiser access to the bets after the closing of said round. The invention also relates to a system adapted to manage a number game, and computer program products related to a number game.

Description of the background art

[0002] Games of chance are well known to the art and number games, where each player places a bet on at least one number out of a set of available numbers are known in different forms. A game organiser manages a number game and all bets are placed with the game organiser.

[0003] The game organiser also makes sure that any bets placed by one player are kept secret to other players. The game organiser also makes sure that no one can tamper with any placed bets. In some kinds of number games, the bets placed by the players controls who the winner is.

[0004] A game organiser can make a game available to player in many different ways. Often a game organiser has different representatives where a player may visit local premises and place his/her bets, either through personal service by an attendant of the representative or through computer terminals situated at the premises of the representative.

[0005] It is also possible to allow a player to place bets on line over a computer network, such as Internet, where the player may place his/her bets through any computer unit connected to the computer network.

Summary of the present invention

Problems

[0006] In games where the winner is not decided by chance, or any other factor out of control of the game organiser, such as games where the bets placed by the players controls who the winner is, there is a risk that a person related to the game organiser can obtain information that would increase their chance of winning if they could get access to placed bets. It is thus a problem to provide a security solution that will give the game organiser control of placed bets, so that no player may see how other players has placed their bets, and at the same time prevents the game organiser from getting access to placed bets during a round of the game.

[0007] It is also a problem to prevent the game organiser from tampering with placed bets, or adding new bets to the placed bets, after the closing of a round of the game.

[0008] As bets are sent from a representative of the game organiser, or from a local computer unit through which a player places his/her bets, to the game organiser it is a problem to prevent any unauthorised access to these bets during the transference of the bets to the game organiser.

[0009] If several rounds are played after each other, or even simultaneously in parallel with ach other, it is a problem to manage the placed bets and make sure that each bet is related to the intended round and not by mistake related to another round.

[0010] A game organiser may provide several different games, or products, to the players, and it is a problem to manage the placed bets and make sure that each bet is related to the intended product and not by mistake related to another product.

Solution

[0011] The present invention relates to a method, a system and computer program products for management of games with the intention of solving the above described problems. In the following description of the inventive solution references are made to a method. The system and computer program products will be described together with the method in the detailed description of embodiments.

[0012] With the purpose of providing a method to safely manage a number game where the participants, and even the game organiser, are prevented from accessing any one of the bets during a round of a game, and to give only the game organiser access to the bets after the closing of the round, the present invention teaches that an independent third party generates a first key pair with a first encryption key and a first decryption key, that the third party generates a round certificate, said round certificate comprising the first encryption key, which round certificate is available to the game organiser, and that the game organiser makes the round certificate available to at least one device for placing of bets.

[0013] A bet is placed through the device for placing of bets by encrypting the bet with the first encryption key, and the device for placing of bets sends the encrypted bet to the game organiser. The game organiser closes the round and requests the first decryption key from the third party after the closing of the round, and the third party makes the first decryption key available to the game organiser according to the request, where after the game organiser is able to decrypt any encrypted bet with the first decryption key.

[0014] With the purpose of preventing the game organiser from requesting the first decryption key before the closing of the round the present invention teaches that the round certificate comprises an expiration date and time, and that the third party only responds to a request for the first decryption key if such a request is made after the expiration date and time, or after a predetermined time after the expiration date and time.

[0015] With the purpose of preventing the game organiser from tampering with the bets, or adding new bets, after closing of the game and before decrypting the bets, the present invention teaches that the game organiser calculates a first check sum representing all placed bets in a round after closing the round, which first check sum is sent to the third party together with the request of the first decryption key. The third party makes the first check sum available to the game organiser without allowing any alteration of said first check sum, where after the third party makes the first decryption key available to the game organiser. The game organiser performs the decryption of the bets and the bets are evaluated to determine a winner of the round. The game organiser calculates a second check sum representing all placed bets after the determination and the winner is announced only after an agreement between the first check sum and the second check sum.

[0016] In order to prevent any unauthorised access to the bets during the transference of the bets from the player to the game organiser the present invention teaches that random information is added to the bet before the encryption of the bet. It is also taught that only the bet and the random information is encrypted while other information, such as player identification, is not encrypted together with the bet and random information.

[0017] The present invention teaches that the round certificate comprises an identification of the third party, and that the game organiser verifies that a received round certificate is received from the correct third party before making it available to the device for placing of bets, thereby preventing the use of unauthorised round certificates.

[0018] The present invention teaches that this identification of the third party might be an issuer certificate generated by the third party, that the third party sends this issuer certificate to the game organiser, and that the game organiser makes the issuer certificate available to the device for placing of bets. Thus it is possible for the third party to sign any generated round certificate with the issuer certificate, and the game organiser may verify that a round certificate is issued by the third party by means of the issuer certificate, as well as the device for placing of bets.

[0019] With the purpose of providing a possibility to manage bets from several different rounds of a game the present invention teaches that the round certificate comprises a round number, and that the game organiser verifies that a received round certificate has not been previously used by means of the round number before making the round certificate available to the device for placing of bets.

[0020] If the game organiser organises several games the present invention teaches that the round certificate comprises a product identifier, identifying the game that the round certificate pertains to, and that the product identifier is included with the bet from the device for placing of bets to the game organiser.

[0021] In order to further prevent the misuse of a round certificate the present invention teaches that the round certificate comprises a start date and time and an expiration date and time. The game organiser does not send the round certificate to the device for placing of bets until after the start date and time, and the game organiser closes the round before or at the expiration date and time, and no bets are accepted after the expiration date and time.

[0022] The round certificates can be made available to the game organiser at in different ways. The present invention teaches that one or several round certificates can be made available to the game organiser at a predefined point in time, such as once every day, once every week or once every month, or it can be made available to the game organiser at a flexible point in time, such as just before the start of a round.

[0023] If a device for placing of bets is made out of a local computer terminal located at a representative of the game organiser then it is proposed that the game organiser converts the round certificate to a format adapted to the local computer terminal, thus enabling the local computer terminal to verify the round certificate through the issuer certificate.

[0024] If the game is made available through a computer network, such as the wide area network Internet, and the device for placing of bets is a local computer unit connected to the computer network then it is proposed that a player, when playing the game, downloads an applet from the game organiser to the local computer unit. The present invention teaches that the game organiser converts the round certificate so that it can be interpreted by the applet, and that the applet is run with session information and the round certificate as arguments.

[0025] In order to prevent that an applet is used after the closing of a game, the present invention teaches that the applet is prevented from being cached at the local computer unit so that a player has to download the applet every time a game is to be played.

[0026] A possible way for the third party to generate the first key pair is to use RSA with 1024-bit key length, and a possible way to generate the issuer certificate is to use SHA-1.

Advantages

[0027] The present invention provides a method and a system for the management of games where the placed bets in a round of the game are out of access to all parties, that is any player of the game, the game organiser and the independent third party, so that it is impossible to find out how to place a bet in relation to other placed bets during the round of the game and so that it is impossible to tamper with the placed bets, or add any additional bets, after the closing of the round.

[0028] Security issues can be handled by the game organiser and an independent third party without allowing any of these parties to compromise the game.

Brief description of the drawings.

[0029] A method, system and computer program products according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1

is a schematic and very simplified illustration of a game organiser, a third party and two devices for placing of bets,

Figure 2

is a schematic illustration of a round certificate,

Figure 3

is a schematic illustration of an issuer certificate, and

Figure 4

is a schematic illustration of a computer readable medium.

Description of embodiments

[0030] With reference to figure 1 a method to safely manage a number game with the purpose of preventing all participants, even the game organiser 1, from accessing any one of the bets during a round of a game, and to give only the game organiser access to the bets after the closing of the round.

[0031] The present invention teaches that an independent third party 2 is independent from the game organiser and any player of the game, so that it can be trusted with security issues related to the game.

[0032] The invention teaches that third party 2 generates a first key pair with a first encryption key a1 and a first decryption key a2. The third party also generates a round certificate a, according to figure 2, comprising the first encryption key a1.

[0033] This round certificate a is made available by the third party 2 to the game organiser 1, and the game organiser makes it available to at least one device for placing of bets3.

[0034] A bet is placed through the device for placing of bets by encrypting the bet with the first encryption key a1, where after the device for placing of bets 3 sends the encrypted bet to the game organiser 1.

[0035] After that the game organiser 1 has closed a round a request for the first decryption key a2 is sent to the third party 2 and the third party 2 makes the first decryption key a2 available to the game organiser 1 according to the request.

[0036] As the first decryption key is received the game organiser 1 decrypts any encrypted bet using the first decryption key a2.

[0037] The present invention also teaches that the round certificate "a" comprises an expiration date and time a3, and that the third party 2 only responds to a request for the first decryption key a2 if such a request is made after the expiration date and time a3, or after a predetermined time after the expiration date and time.

[0038] One proposed embodiment teaches that the game organiser 1 calculates a first check sum representing all placed bets in a round after closing the round. This first check sum is sent to the third party 2 together with the request of the first decryption key a2. The third party 2 makes the first check sum available to the game organiser 1 without allowing any alteration of the first check sum. As the third party 2 has made the first decryption key a2 available to the game organiser 1, and as the game organiser 1 has performed the decryption of the bets, the bets are evaluated to determine a winner of the round. After this determination is performed the game organiser 1 calculates a second check sum representing all placed bets and a winner is announced only after an agreement between the first check sum and the second check sum, which prevents any tampering with the bets after closing of the game.

[0039] The present invention also teaches that the device for placing of bets 3 adds random information to the bet before the encryption of the bet. Only the bet and the random information is encrypted while other information, such as player identification, is not encrypted together with the bet and random information.

[0040] One proposed embodiment of the inventive round certificate "a" comprises an identification of the third party, enabling the game organiser to verify that a received round certificate "a" is received from the correct third party 2 before making it available to the device for placing of bets 3.

[0041] It is possible that the third party 2 generates a second key pair with second encryption key b1 and a second decryption key b2, and that the third party generates an issuer certificate "b, according to figure 3, comprising the second encryption key b1. This issuer certificate "b" would then be this identification of the third party. It is sent to the game organiser 1, and the game organiser makes it available to the device for placing of bets 3.

[0042] The third party 2 signs any generated round certificate "a" with the issuer certificate "b". The game organiser 1, and the device for placing of bets 3, verifies that a round certificate "a" is issued by the third party 2 by means of the issuer certificate "b".

[0043] Another embodiment of the present invention teaches that an inventive round certificate "a" comprises a round number a4, and that the game organiser 1 verifies that a received round certificate "a" has not been previously used by means of the round number a4 before making the round certificate "a" available to the device for placing of bets 3.

[0044] If the situation is that the game organiser 1 organises several different kinds of games, or products, it is proposed that the round certificate "a" comprises a product identifier a5, identifying the game that the round certificate "a" pertains to, and that the product identifier a5 is included with the bet from the device for placing of bets 3 to the game organiser 1.

[0045] Another embodiment of the present invention teaches that the round certificate "a" comprises a start date and time a6 and an expiration date and time a3. This specifies the game period of a round so that the game organiser 1 does not send the round certificate "a" to the device for placing of bets 3 until after the start date and time a6, and that the game organiser 1 closes the round before or at the expiration date and time a3, where no bets are accepted after the expiration date and time a3.

[0046] Round certificates may be distributed to the game organiser at different points in time in relation to a game. One embodiment proposes that one or several round certificates "a" are made available to the game organiser 1 at a predefined point in time, such as once every day, once every week or once every month. Another embodiment proposes that a round certificate "a" is made available to the game organiser 1 at a flexible point in time, such as just before the start of a round. There is nothing that prevents both of these embodiments from being used simultaneously for different games.

[0047] Games may be made available to a player in different ways. If for instance the device for placing of bets 3 is made out of at least one local computer terminal 41 located at a representative 4 of the game organiser 1, then it is proposed that the game organiser 1 converts the round certificate "a" to a format adapted to the local computer terminal 41, in which case the local computer terminal 41 verifies a round certificate "a" through the issuer certificate "b".

[0048] If a game is made available through a computer network (5), such as the wide area network Internet, then the device for placing of bets 3' may be a local computer unit 51 connected to the computer network 5. in this case it is proposed that a player, when playing the game, downloads an applet 34' from the game organiser 1 to the local computer unit 51, and that the game organiser 1 converts the round certificate "a" so that it can be interpreted by the applet 34'. The applet 34' is then run with session information and the round certificate "a" as arguments. It is proposed that such an applet is 34' prevented from being cached at the local computer unit 51.

[0049] The third party 2 may use different algorithms for the generation of keys. It is proposed that the third party uses RSA with 1024-bit key length for the generation of the first key par, a1, a2, and the SHA-1 for the generation of the second key par b1, b2.

[0050] The present invention also relates to a system that will be described with a renewed reference to figure 1.

[0051] The purpose of the inventive system is to safely manage a number game with the purpose of preventing all participants, even the game organiser 1, from accessing any one of the bets during a round of a game, and to give only the game organiser 1 access to the bets after the closing of the round.

[0052] The system comprises three main units, a game organiser 1, an independent third party 2, and at least one device for placing of bets 3.

[0053] The third party 2 comprises a generating unit 21 which is adapted to generate a first key pair with a first encryption key a1 and a first decryption key a2. The first key pair is stored in a first memory storage device 22, belonging to the third party 2.

[0054] The generating unit 21 is also adapted to generate a round certificate "a", according to figure 2, comprising the first encryption key a1. This round certificate "a" is made available to the game organiser 1 through a first communicating unit 23, belonging to the third party 2, and the game organiser 1 is adapted to make the round certificate "a" available to at least one device for placing of bets 3 through a second communicating unit 11.

[0055] The device for placing of bets 3 is adapted to enable a player to place a bet and a first encrypting unit 31, belonging to the device for placing of bets 3, is adapted to encrypt the bet with the first encryption key a1, and a third communicating unit 32 is adapted to send the encrypted bet to game organiser.

[0056] The game organiser 1 is adapted to close the round and request the first decryption key a2 from the third party 2 after the closing of the round. The third party 2 is adapted to retrieve the first decryption key a2 from the first memory storage device 22 and make it available to the game organiser 1 according to the request.

[0057] A first decrypting unit 12, belonging to the game organiser 1, is adapted to decrypt any encrypted bet with the first decryption key 1 b.

[0058] The generating unit 21 is adapted to include an expiration date and time a3 in the round certificate "a", and the third party 2 is adapted to only respond to a request for the first decryption key a2 if such a request is made after the expiration date and time a3, or after a predetermined time after the expiration date and time.

[0059] A calculating unit 13 belonging to the game organiser 1 is adapted to calculate a first check sum representing all placed bets in a round after closing the round, and the second communicating unit 11 is adapted to send the first check sum to the third party 2 together with the request of the first decryption key a2.

[0060] The third party 2 is adapted to store the first check sum in a second memory storage device 24, and to make the check sum available to the game organiser 1 without allowing any alteration of the first check sum.

[0061] The third party 2 is adapted to make the first decryption key a2 available to the game organiser 1 after the reception of the first check sum, and a determining unit 14, belonging to the game organiser 1, is adapted to evaluate the bets and to determine a winner of the round after the decryption of the bets.

[0062] The calculating unit 13 is adapted to calculate a second check sum representing all placed bets after the determination, and a comparing unit 15, belonging to the game organiser 1, is adapted to compare the first check sum, as made available from the third party 2, with the second check sum. An announcing unit 16, belonging to the game organiser 1, is adapted to announce the winner only after an agreement between the first and second check sum.

[0063] The first encrypting unit 31 is adapted to add random information to the bet before the encryption of the bet. It is adapted to only encrypt the bet and the random information while other information, such as player identification, is not encrypted together with the bet and random information.

[0064] The generating unit 21 is adapted to include an identification of the third party in the round certificate. The game organiser 1 verifies that a received round certificate "a" is received from the correct third party before making it available to the device for placing of bets 3.

[0065] The generating unit 21 is also adapted to generate a second key pair, with a second encryption key b1 and a second decryption key, and an issuer certificate "b", according to figure 3, comprising the second encryption key b1. The first communicating unit 23 is adapted to send the issuer certificate "b" to the game organiser 1, and the game organiser makes the issuer certificate "b" available to the device for placing of bets 3.

[0066] A signing unit 25, belonging to the third party 2, is adapted to sign any generated round certificate "a" with the issuer certificate "b". A first verifying unit 17, belonging to the game organiser 1, is adapted to verify that a round certificate "a" is issued by the third party by means of the issuer certificate "b", and a second verifying unit 33, belonging to the device for placing of bets 3, is adapted to verify the received round certificate "a" through the issuer certificate "b".

[0067] The generating unit 21 is adapted to include a round number a4 in the round certificate "a", and the first verifying unit 17 is adapted to verify that a received round certificate "a" has not been previously used by means of the round number a4 before making the round certificate "a" available to the device for placing of bets 3.

[0068] If the game organiser 1 is adapted to organise several games, then it is proposed that the generating unit 21 is adapted to include a product identifier a5 in the round certificate, which product identifier a5 is adapted to identify the game that the round certificate pertains to. The first encrypting unit 31 is adapted to include the product identifier a5 with the bet from the device for placing of bets 3 to the game organiser 1.

[0069] The generating unit 21 is adapted to include a start date and time a6 and an expiration date and time a3 in the round certificate "a". The game organiser 1 is then adapted to not send the round certificate "a" to the device for placing of bets 3 until after the start date and time a6, and the game organiser 1 is adapted to close the round before or at the expiration date and time a3, and to accept no bets after the expiration date and time a3.

[0070] The third party 2 is adapted to make one or several round certificates "a" available to the game organiser 1 at a predefined point in time, such as once every day, once every week or once every month, or to make a round certificate "a" available to the game organiser 1 at a flexible point in time, such as just before the start of a round, or both.

[0071] A device for placing of bets 3 may be made out of at least one local computer terminal 41 located at a representative 4 of the game organiser 1 where through the game is made available to a player. In this case, a first converting unit 18, belonging to the game organiser 1, is adapted to convert the round certificate to a format adapted to the local computer terminal 4. The local computer terminal 41 may be adapted to verify a round certificate "a" through the issuer certificate "b".

[0072] The game may be made available through a computer network 5, such as the wide area network Internet, in which case the device for placing of bets 3' is a local computer unit 51 connected to the computer network 5. A player, when playing the game, downloads an applet 34' from the game organiser 1 to the local computer unit 51, and a second converting unit 19, belonging to the game organiser, is adapted to convert the round certificate "a" so that it can be interpreted by the applet 34'. The applet 34' is adapted to run with session information and the round certificate "a" as arguments. The applet 34' is adapted to prevent from being cached at the local computer unit 51.

[0073] The generating unit 21 is adapted to use RSA with 1024-bit key length for the generation of the first key par a1, a2 and to use SHA-1 for the generation of the second key par b1, b2.

[0074] The present invention also relates to a computer program product 6 comprising computer program code 61, which, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to act as an inventive game organiser 1.

[0075] The present invention also relates to a computer program product 7 comprising computer program code 71, which, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to act as an inventive third party 2.

[0076] The present invention also relates to a computer program product 8 comprising computer program code 81, which, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to act as an inventive device for placing of bets 3 in the form of a local computer terminal 41 located at a representative 4 of the game organiser 1.

[0077] The present invention also relates to a computer program product 9 comprising computer program code 91, which, when executed by a computer, enables the computer to act as a device for placing of bets 3' in the form of a local computer unit 51 connected to a computer network 5.

[0078] The present invention also relates to a computer readable medium 19, in figure 4 schematically illustrated as a compact disc, carrying inventive computer program code 61, 71, 81, 91 according to any inventive computer program product.

[0079] It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the aforedescribed and illustrated exemplifying embodiments thereof and that modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept as illustrated in the accompanying Claims.

Claims

1. Method to safely manage a number game with the purpose of preventing all participants, even the game organiser (1), from accessing any one of the bets during a round of a game, and to give only said game organiser access to the bets after the closing of said round, characterised in, that an independent third party (2) generates a first key pair with a first encryption key (a1) and a first decryption key (a2), that said third party generates a round certificate (a), said round certificate (a) comprising said first encryption key (a1), that said third party (2) makes said round certificate (a) available to said game organiser (1), that said game organiser (1) makes said round certificate available to at least one device for placing of bets (3), that a bet is placed through said device for placing of bets by encrypting said bet with said first encryption key (a1), that said device for placing of bets (3) sends said encrypted bet to said game organiser (1), that said game organiser (1) closes said round and requests said first decryption key (a2) from said third party (2) after the closing of said round, that said third party (2) makes said first decryption key (a2) available to said game organiser (1) according to said request, and that said game organiser (1) decrypts any encrypted bet with said first decryption key (a2).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in, that said round certificate (a) comprises an expiration date and time (a3), and that said third party (2) only responds to a request for said first decryption key (a2) if such a request is made after said expiration date and time (a3), or after a predetermined time after said expiration date and time.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in, that said game organiser (1) calculates a first check sum representing all placed bets in a round after closing the round, that said first check sum is sent to said third party (2) together with the request of said first decryption key (a2), that said third party (2) makes said first check sum available to said game organiser (1) without allowing any alteration of said first check sum, where after said third party (2) makes said first decryption key (a2) available to said game organiser (1), that said game organiser (1) performs said decryption of said bets, that said bets are evaluated to determine a winner of said round, that said game organiser (1) calculates a second check sum representing all placed bets after said determination, and that said winner is announced only after an agreement between said first check sum and said second check sum.

4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in, that random information is added to said bet before the encryption of said bet, that only said bet and said random information is encrypted while other information, such as player identification, is not encrypted together with said bet and random information.

5. Method according to claim any preceding claim, characterised in, that said round certificate (a) comprises an identification of said third party, and that said game organiser verifies that a received round certificate (a) is received from the correct third party (2) before making it available to said device for placing of bets (3).

6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in, that said third party (2) generates a second key pair with second encryption key (b1) and a second decryption key (b2), that said third party generates an issuer certificate (b), comprising said second encryption key (b1), that said third party (2) sends said issuer certificate (b) to said game organiser (1), that said game organiser makes said issuer certificate (b) available to said device for placing of bets (3), that said third party (2) signs any generated round certificate (a) with said issuer certificate (b), that said game organiser (1) verifies that a round certificate (a) is issued by said third party (2) by means of said issuer certificate (b), and that said device for placing of bets (3) verifies the received round certificate (a) through said issuer certificate (b).

7. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, that said round certificate (a) comprises a round number (a4), and that said game organiser (1) verifies that a received round certificate (a) has not been previously used by means of said round number (a4) before making said round certificate (a) available to said device for placing of bets (3).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in, that said game organiser (1) organises several games, that said round certificate (a) comprises a product identifier (a5), identifying the game that said round certificate (a) pertains to, and that said product identifier (a5) is included with the bet from said device for placing of bets (3) to said game organiser (1).

9. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, that said round certificate (a) comprises a start date and time (a6) and an expiration date and time (a3), that said game organiser (1) does not send said round certificate (a) to said device for placing of bets (3) until after said start date and time (a6), and that said game organiser (1) closes said round before or at said expiration date and time (a3), and that no bets are accepted after said expiration date and time (a3).

10. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, that one or several round certificates (a) are made available to said game organiser (1) at a predefined point in time, such as once every day, once every week or once every month.

11. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, that a round certificate (a) is made available to said game organiser (1) at a flexible point in time, such as just before the start of a round.

12. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, a device for placing of bets (3) made out of at least one local computer terminal (41) located at a representative (4) of the game organiser (1) where through said game is made available to a player, and that said game organiser (1) converts said round certificate (a) to a format adapted to said local computer terminal (41).

13. Method according to claims 6 and 12, characterised in, that said local computer terminal (41) verifies a round certificate (a) through said issuer certificate (b).

14. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, that said game is made available through a computer network (5), such as the wide area network Internet, that said device for placing of bets (3') is a local computer unit (51) connected to said computer network (5), that a player, when playing said game, downloads an applet (34') from said game organiser (1) to said local computer unit (51), that said game organiser (1) converts said round certificate (a) so that it can be interpreted by said applet (34'), and that said applet (34') is run with session information and said round certificate (a) as arguments.

15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in, that said applet is (34') prevented from being cached at said local computer unit (51).

16. Method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, that said third party (2) uses RSA with 1024-bit key length for the generation of said first key par, (a1, a2).

17. Method according to claim 6, characterised in, that said third party (2) uses SHA-1 for the generation of said second key par (b1, b2).

18. System to safely manage a number game with the purpose of preventing all participants, even the game organiser (1), from accessing any one of the bets during a round of a game, and to give only said game organiser (1) access to the bets after the closing of said round, characterised in, that a generating unit (21), belonging to an independent third party (2), is adapted to generate a first key pair with a first encryption key (a1) and a first decryption key (a2), that said third party (2) is adapted to store said first key pair in a first memory storage device (22), that said generating unit (21) is adapted to generate a round certificate (a), said round certificate comprising said first encryption key (a1), that said third party (2) is adapted to make said round certificate (a) available to said game organiser (1) through a first communicating unit (23), that said game organiser (1) is adapted to make said round certificate (a) available to at least one device for placing of bets (3) through a second communicating unit (11), that said device for placing of bets (3) is adapted to enable a player to place a bet, that a first encrypting unit (31), belonging to said device for placing of bets (3), is adapted to encrypt said bet with said first encryption key (a1), that said device for placing of bets (3) is adapted to send said encrypted bet to said game organiser through a third communicating unit (32), that said game organiser (1) is adapted to close said round and request said first decryption key (a2) from said third party (2) after the closing of said round, that said third party (2) is adapted to retrieve said first decryption key (a2) from said first memory storage device (22) and make it available to said game organiser (1) according to said request, and that a first decrypting unit (12), belonging to said game organiser (1), is adapted to decrypt any encrypted bet with said first decryption key (1 b).

19. System according to claim 18, characterised in, that said generating unit (21) is adapted to include an expiration date and time (a3) in said round certificate (a), and that said third party (2) is adapted to only respond to a request for said first decryption key (a2) if such a request is made after said expiration date and time (a3), or after a predetermined time after said expiration date and time.

20. System according to claim 18 or 19, characterised in, that a calculating unit (13) belonging to said game organiser (1) is adapted to calculate a first check sum representing all placed bets in a round after closing the round, that said second communicating unit (11) is adapted to send said first check sum to said third party (2) together with the request of said first decryption key (a2), that said third party (2) is adapted to store said first check sum in a second memory storage device (24), that said third party (2) is adapted to make said check sum available to said game organiser (1) without allowing any alteration of said first check sum, that said third party (2) is adapted to make said first decryption key (a2) available to said game organiser (1) after the reception of said check sum, that, after said decryption of bets, a determining unit (14), belonging to said game organiser (1), is adapted to evaluate said bets and to determine a winner of said round, that said calculating unit (13) is adapted to calculate a second check sum representing all placed bets after said determination, that a comparing unit (15), belonging to said game organiser (1), is adapted to compare said first check sum, as made available from said third party (2), with said second check sum, and that an announcing unit (16), belonging to said game organiser (1), is adapted to announce said winner only after an agreement between said first check sum and said second check sum.

21. System according to claim 18, 19 or 20, characterised in, that said first encrypting unit (31) is adapted to add random information to said bet before the encryption of said bet, that said first encrypting unit (31) is adapted to only encrypt said bet and said random information while other information, such as player identification, is not encrypted together with said bet and random information.

22. System according to claim any one of claims 18 to 21, characterised in, that said generating unit (21) is adapted to include an identification of said third party in said round certificate, and that said game organiser (1) verifies that a received round certificate (a) is received from the correct third party before making it available to said device for placing of bets (3).

23. System according to claim 22, characterised in, that said generating unit (21) is adapted to generate a second key pair, with a second encryption key (b1) and a second decryption key (b2), and an issuer certificate (b), comprising said second encryption key (b1), that said first communicating unit (23) is adapted to send said issuer certificate (b) to said game organiser (1), that said game organiser makes said issuer certificate (b) available to said device for placing of bets (3), that a signing unit (25), belonging to said third party (2), is adapted to sign any generated round certificate (a) with said issuer certificate (b), that a first verifying unit (17), belonging to said game organiser (1), is adapted to verify that a round certificate (a) is issued by said third party by means of said issuer certificate (b), and that a second verifying unit (33), belonging to said device for placing of bets (3), is adapted to verify the received round certificate (a) through said issuer certificate (b).

24. System according to any one of claims 18 to 23, characterised in, that said generating unit (21) is adapted to include a round number (a4) in said round certificate (a), and that said first verifying unit (17) is adapted to verify that a received round certificate (a) has not been previously used by means of said round number (a4) before making said round certificate (a) available to said device for placing of bets (3).

25. System according to claim 24, characterised in, that said game organiser (1) is adapted to organise several games, that said generating unit (21) is adapted to include a product identifier (a5) in said round certificate, which product identifier (a5) is adapted to identify the game that said round certificate pertains to, and that said first encrypting unit (31) is adapted to include said product identifier (a5) with the bet from said device for placing of bets (3) to said game organiser (1).

26. System according to any one of claims 18 to 25, characterised in, that said generating unit (21) is adapted to include a start date and time (a6) and an expiration date and time (a3) in said round certificate (a), that said game organiser (1) is adapted to not send said round certificate (a) to said device for placing of bets (3) until after said start date and time (a6), and that said game organiser (1) is adapted to close said round before or at said expiration date and time (a3), and that said game organiser (1) is adapted to accept no bets after said expiration date and time (a3).

27. System according to any one of claims 18 to 26, characterised in, that said third party (2) is adapted to make one or several round certificates (a) available to said game organiser (1) at a predefined point in time, such as once every day, once every week or once every month.

28. System according to any one of claims 18 to 27, characterised in, that said third party (2) is adapted to make a round certificate (a) available to said game organiser (1) at a flexible point in time, such as just before the start of a round.

29. System according to any one of claims 18 to 28, characterised in, that a device for placing of bets (3) made out of at least one local computer terminal (41) located at a representative (4) of the game organiser (1) where through said game is made available to a player, and that a first converting unit (18), belonging to said game organiser (1), is adapted to convert said round certificate to a format adapted to said local computer terminal (4).

30. System according to claims 23 and 29, characterised in, that said local computer terminal (41) is adapted to verify a round certificate (a) through said issuer certificate (b).

31. System according to any one of claims 18 to 30, characterised in, that said game is made available through a computer network (5), such as the wide area network Internet, that said device for placing of bets (3') is a local computer unit (51) connected to said computer network (5), that a player, when playing said game, downloads an applet (34') from said game organiser (1) to said local computer unit (51), that a second converting unit (19), belonging to said game organiser, is adapted to convert said round certificate (a) so that it can be interpreted by said applet (34'), and that said applet (34') is adapted to run with session information and said round certificate (a) as arguments.

32. System according to claim 31, characterised in, that said applet (34') is adapted to prevent from being cached at said local computer unit (51).

33. System according to any one of claims 18 to 32, characterised in, that said generating unit (21) is adapted to use RSA with 1024-bit key length for the generation of said first key par (a1, a2).

34. Method according to claim 23, characterised in, that said generating unit (21) is adapted to use SHA-1 for the generation of said second key par (b1, b2).

35. A computer program product (6), characterised in, that said computer program product (6) comprises computer program code (61), which, when executed by a computer, enables said computer to act as a game organiser (1) according to any one of claims 1, 3, 5 to 9, 12, 14, 18, 20, 22 to 26, 29 and 31.

36. A computer program product (7), characterised in, that said computer program product (7) comprises computer program code (71), which, when executed by a computer, enables said computer to act as a third party (2) according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 5 to 11, 16 to 20, 22 to 28, 33 and 34.

37. A computer program product (8), characterised in, that said computer program product (8) comprises computer program code (81), which, when executed by a computer, enables said computer to act as a device for placing of bets (3) according to any one of claims 1, 4, 6, 8, 12 to 15, 18, 21, 23, 25, 29 and 30.

38. A computer program product (9), characterised in, that said computer program product (9) comprises computer program code (91), which, when executed by a computer, enables said computer to act as a device for placing of bets (3') according to any one of claims 1, 4, 6, 8, 12 to 15, 18, 21, 23, 25, 31 and 32.

39. A computer readable medium (19), characterised in, that computer program code (61, 71, 81, 91) according to any one of claims 35 to 38 is carried by said computer readable medium (19).

Drawing