Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time interactive wagering on event outcomes are presented. Clients are first qualified and given wagering limits before being allowed to interactively wager on event outcomes. Event outcomes may be based on, for example, financial markets and indices, sporting and entertainment events, casino games, casino performances, and natural phenomena such as weather and earthquakes. Events on which wagers can be placed include both those with known and unknown outcome probabilities, and wagers can be a fixed-odds type or a spread-bet type. Wager transactions, including acceptances and confirmations, are executed in real time. Clients can customize displays of events on which they are authorized to wager. Real-time client credit management, automatic dealer hedging, automatic price-spread adjustments, and automatic client and dealer defined wagering limits are also provided.

Abstract: A method of managing bets is provided. The method includes receiving win bets and group bets. Each win bet includes a bet that a participant selected from a set of participants in an event will win the event. Each group bet includes a bet that one of a subset of the set of participants will win the event. Results of the event identifying a winning participant from the set of participants are received. An amount of a win bet payout for at least a portion of the win bets that comprise a bet on the winning participant is determined. An amount of a group bet payout for at least one of the group bets is also determined. In this manner, a bettor may bet on all participants in an event other than a particular participant, such as the favorite participant, and thus effectively bet against the particular participant.

Abstract: A method of managing bets is provided. The method includes identifying a set of participants in an event and receiving a group bet for the event. The group bet comprises a bet that one of an undefined subset of the set of participants will win the event. The undefined subset of participants associated with the group bet is defined at some time after receiving the group bet by determining participants for the subset of participants. For example, the undefined subset of participants may be defined after the close of betting on the event. Results of the event that identify a winning participant are received, and an amount of a group bet payout for the group bet is determined based at least on whether the defined subset of participants includes the winning participant.

Abstract: A method of managing bets is provided. The method includes identifying a set of participants in an event and receiving a group bet for the event. The group bet comprises a bet that one of an undefined subset of the set of participants will win the event. The undefined subset of participants associated with the group bet is defined at some time after receiving the group bet by determining participants for the subset of participants. For example, the undefined subset of participants may be defined after the close of betting on the event. Results of the event that identify a winning participant are received, and an amount of a group bet payout for the group bet is determined based at least on whether the defined subset of participants includes the winning participant.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a financial instrument comprises a memory operable to store a plurality of predefined states wherein each of the predefined states corresponds to at least one potential outcome of a probabilistic event. The memory further stores a plurality of predefined termination criteria wherein each predefined state corresponds to at least one predefined termination criteria. The memory further stores a financial instrument that is allocated a value based at least in part upon one of the plurality of predefined states. A processor is coupled to the memory and facilitates the transfer of the financial instrument.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a financial instrument comprises a memory operable to store a plurality of predefined states wherein each of the predefined states corresponds to at least one potential outcome of a probabilistic event. The memory further stores a plurality of predefined termination criteria wherein each predefined state corresponds to at least one predefined termination criteria. The memory further stores a financial instrument that is allocated a value based at least in part upon one of the plurality of predefined states. A processor is coupled to the memory and facilitates the transfer of the financial instrument.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for creating and facilitating the exchange of wagering-based transferable financial instruments. The instruments may be used to embody multiple various positions based upon the ultimate outcomes of uncertain future contingent events, including but not limited to outcomes of games of skill and chance. The invention further provides systems and platforms for monitoring, displaying information, and facilitating trading as to such instruments among multiple investment market participants, and a hosting or house participant, for time-variable buying and selling of such instruments.

Abstract: A method of managing a blackjack game is provided. A blackjack game bet comprising a bet against a house entity on a blackjack hand is received from a player. A pair of cards is determined for a hand for the house entity, and another pair of cards is determined for a hand for the player. The odds of the occurrence of one or more subsequent events are determined based at least in part on one or more of the pair of cards selected for the house entity's hand and one or more of the pair of cards selected for the player's hand. The odds for an additional bet are determined based at least on the determined odds for the one or more subsequent events, and the additional bet is offered to the player at the determined odds for the additional bet.

Abstract: A new and unique method of gambling on horse races uses a predetermined number of races for the game. Preferably, the number of races in the game is significantly lower than the number of races in the racing event. The player then selects which races in the event to use for the game, selects which horses the player believes will win his selected races and places a bet on those horses. The races that the player uses for the game are not determined by the racetrack operators and need not be in consecutive order. Therefore, the player can play again if his selected winner loses. The player may continue to play the game so long as there are equal to or more than the predetermined number of races remaining. Winning players can be paid in a variety of ways and payments can be broken down to pay players whose selections all won and players whose selection did not all win.

Abstract: A method of determining whether to approve trading order requests is provided. A request to place a first trading order is received from a user using a trading account associated with the user. A risk value is determined for the first trading order. A plurality of balances associated with the trading account are determined. The balances may include an available cash balance, an available credit balance, and an available waived margin balance for the trading account. A determination of whether to approve the first trading order is made based at least in part on the risk value for the first trading order and the available cash balance, the available credit balance, and the available waived margin balance determined for the trading account. If the first trading order is approved, the first trading order is placed.

Abstract: A method of providing an account is provided. The method includes receiving identification information associated with a user during a communication session and communicating a request for credit information, the request including at least a portion of the identification information. The requested credit information is received and an account is approved and opened based at least on the received credit information. During the communication session, a request made using the opened account to place a first order to trade a first product is received. A risk value for the first order is determined. One or more current balances for the account are also determined. The method further includes determining whether to approve the first order based at least on the risk value determined for the first order and one or more of the current balances for the account, and if the first order is approved, placing the first order.

Abstract: A method of providing an account is provided. The method includes receiving identification information associated with a user during a communication session. The method further includes communicating a request for credit information. The request includes at least a portion of the identification information. The method further includes receiving the requested credit information, and for each of a plurality of different types of accounts, determining whether to approve that type of account based at least in part on the received credit information. The method further includes communicating an indication of at least a portion of the approved types of accounts, and receiving a selection of at least one of the approved types of accounts. The method further includes opening at least one of the selected types of accounts and providing access to at least one of the opened accounts during the communication session.

Abstract: A method of providing an account is provided. The method includes receiving identification information associated with a user during a communication session. The method further includes communicating a request for credit information, wherein the request includes at least a portion of the identification information. The requested credit information is received and an account is approved based at least in part on the received credit information. The account is opened and access is provided to the opened account during the communication session.

Abstract: A method of managing trading orders is provided. The method includes receiving a request to place a first order to trade a first product, the request being made using an account having one or more current balances. The method further includes determining a risk value for the first order based at least in part on the first product. The method further includes determining whether to approve the first order based at least in part on the risk value determined for the first order and one or more of the current balances for the account, and if the first order is approved, placing the first order.

Abstract: A method of providing an intermediary for a transaction is provided. The method includes receiving a first request to place a first order to trade a first product at a first price, the first product being associated with one or more events. The first order is placed. The method further includes receiving a second request to place a second order to trade the first product at a second price. The second order is placed. A match between the first order and the second order is identified based at least in part on the first price of the first order and the second price of the second order. A first set of one or more obligations is established based at least in part on the first order, and a second set of one or more obligations is established based at least in part on the second order.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for creating and facilitating the exchange of wagering-based transferable financial instruments. The instruments may be used to embody multiple various positions based upon the ultimate outcomes of uncertain future contingent events, including but not limited to outcomes of games of skill and chance. The invention further provides systems and platforms for monitoring, displaying information, and facilitating trading as to such instruments among multiple investment market participants, and a hosting or house participant, for time-variable buying and selling of such instruments.

Abstract: A method of managing bets includes receiving first types of bets and second types of bets. Each first type of bet comprises a bet that the number of units earned by a participant in a plurality of events will fall within a first range of numbers. Each second type of bet comprises a bet that the number of units earned by the participant over a course of a plurality of events will fall within a second range of numbers. The total number of units earned by the participant is determined based on the positioning of the participant in each event. The method includes determining whether the first or second type of bets are winning bets. A betting pool is determined based on the total amounts associated with the first and second types of bets. A payout is determined based on the betting pool and the total amounts of the winning bets.

Abstract: A method of managing bets includes receiving a first bet at a first quote, the first bet having an associated first unit stake, the first quote corresponding with the total number of units potentially earned by a participant in a plurality of events. Results of each of the plurality of events are received, which may include the positioning of the particular participant in each of the plurality of events. The total number of units earned by the participant in the plurality of events may be determined based at least in part on the results of each of the plurality of events. An amount of a payout for the first bet may be determined based at least in part on the first unit stake, the first quote, and the total number of units earned by the participant in the plurality of events.