Abstract: A method for creating, selling and servicing a contract for financing a homeowner's residential real estate property. The homeowner supplies a down-payment to fund a first portion of the purchase price of the homeowner's residential real estate property. A mortgage funds a second portion of the purchase price. The contract provides equity participation to a contract holder in the homeowner's residential real estate property in return for the contract holder funding a third portion of the purchase price. A total purchase price of the residential real estate property comprises a sum of the first portion, the second portion and the third portion.

Abstract: A method for creating and selling a contract that provides equity participation to an investor in a homeowner's residential real estate property. A contract is executed between the homeowner and an originator in which the mortgage originator purchases an equity portion of the residential real estate property from the homeowner. In connection with the purchasing, the homeowner grants a lien on the homeowner's residential real estate property to the originator in order to secure a future payment obligation of the homeowner. The future payment obligation has an amount that is determined in accordance with a value of the purchased equity portion of the homeowner's residential real property at a time of the future payment. A security is created by pooling the contract with other contracts sold to a plurality of other homeowners each of whom owns at least one of a plurality of residential real estate properties, and selling the security to an institutional investor in a secondary market.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for conducting a game by a gambling operator or casino in which a plurality of players bet. A set of rules are established for the game, wherein the rules define at least one winner based on at least one financial market data value that fluctuates based on market activity in a financial market that is distinct from the game. Updates to the financial market data value are received electronically from a third-party data source. A forum is electronically coupled to the third-party data source, where the players play the game and bet against a house, in accordance with the established set of rules and the at least one financial market data value. The forum is electronically coupled to one or more third-party market makers who establish odds for the game and provide liquidity for bets of all players.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method used by a casino for conducting a casino game in which a plurality of players bet against each other. A set of rules is established for the game. The rules define a winner based on at least one financial market data value that fluctuates based on market activity in a financial market that is distinct from the game. Updates to the financial market data value are electronically received from a third-party data source. A forum that is electronically coupled to the third-party data source is provided where the players play the game against each other in accordance with the established set of rules and the at least one financial market data value. The casino collects a fee for conducting the game.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for conducting a game in which a plurality of players bet. A set of rules is established for the game. The rules define a winner based on at least one financial market data value that fluctuates based on market activity in a financial market that is distinct from the game. Updates to the financial market data value are electronically received from a third-party data source. A forum that is electronically coupled to the third-party data source is provided where the players play the game in accordance with the established set of rules and the at least one financial market data value. A gambling operator or casino collects a fee for conducting the game.