Abstract: A method and associated system for automatically determining game characteristics for a game of skill, the method comprising: (a) determining or accepting a first numerical rating associated with said first participant; (b) determining or accepting a further numerical rating associated with a further participant in said game; wherein said first and further ratings are indicative of an ability level of said first and further participants, to the extent said ability level is known; (c) calculating a likelihood of a scenario, said scenario being representative of a specific outcome to said game, said likelihood being a mathematical function of said first and further numerical ratings; (d) generating betting odds based on said calculated likelihood. One application of the invention can be found in turn-based games of skill such as chess or the like.