Wagering accommodation application

Abstract

An application for accommodating wagering arrangements between users. A set wagering line is presented for an event having first and second opposing outcomes. The set wagering line is generally applicable to wager submissions on the event, whether in support of the first outcome or the second outcome. A wager submission is received from a first user in connection with presented wagering line, for a particular amount in support of the first outcome. It is then determined whether a counterpart wager (a wager on the event for the same amount in support of the second outcome) has already been received or is ultimately received from a second user during an applicability period. A wagering arrangement is accommodated between the first user and the second user when the counterpart wager submission is determined to be present.

1 . A computer implemented method for providing a wagering activity, the method comprising: 
 presenting a set wagering line corresponding to an event that has a first outcome and a second outcome that opposes the first outcome, the set wagering line ostensibly being a house wagering line that is generally applicable to wager submissions on the event;    receiving a wager submission from a first user in connection with the presentation of the set wagering line, the wager submission including a wager amount in support of the first outcome for the event according to the set wagering line;    determining whether a counterpart wager submission from a second user is present, the counterpart wager submission also being for the wager amount, but in support of the second outcome for the event according to the set wagering line; and    accommodating a wagering arrangement between the first user and the second user for the event according to the set wagering line where it is determined that the counterpart wager submission is present.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether a counterpart wager submission is present comprises: 
 determining whether the counterpart wager submission has already been received from the second user in response to receiving the wager submission from the first user;    determining whether the counterpart wager submission is received from the second user before the expiration of an applicability period where it has not been determined that the counterpart wager submission has already been received; and    determining that the counterpart wager submission has been received if it has already been received from the second user or it is received from the second user before the expiration of the applicability period.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein accommodating the wagering arrangement between the first user and the second user entails charging the first user and/or the second user a discounted rate that is substantially lower than a house rate.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein accommodating the wagering arrangement between the first user and the second user entails charging the first user and/or the second user a discounted rate that is substantially lower than a house rate.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 accepting the wager according to the house rate where it is determined that the counterpart wager submission remains unavailable as of the expiration of the applicability period.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 determining that the counterpart wager submission has not been received from the second user;    determining whether the first user accepts an alternative wagering option; and    accepting the wager submission from the first user where it is determined that the user accepts the alternative wagering option.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the alternative wagering option is accepting the wager submission from the first user according to a house rate.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the alternative wagering option is accepting the wager submission from the first user according to a pari-mutuel line in lieu of the set wagering line.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the expiration of the applicability period is determined by a predetermined amount of time lapsing.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the expiration of the applicability period automatically occurs upon a change in the set wagering line.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for providing a wagering activity, the apparatus comprising: 
 means for presenting a set wagering line corresponding to an event that has a first outcome and a second outcome that opposes the first outcome, the set wagering line ostensibly being a house wagering line that is generally applicable to wager submissions on the event;    means for receiving a wager submission from a first user in connection with the presentation of the set wagering line, the wager submission including a wager amount in support of the first outcome for the event according to the set wagering line;    means for determining whether a counterpart wager submission from a second user is present, the counterpart wager submission also being for the wager amount, but in support of the second outcome for the event according to the set wagering line; and    means for accommodating a wagering arrangement between the first user and the second user for the event according to the set wagering line where it is determined that the counterpart wager submission is present.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the means for determining whether a counterpart wager submission is present determines whether the counterpart wager submission has already been received from the second user in response to receiving the wager submission from the first user; determines whether the counterpart wager submission is received from the second user before the expiration of an applicability period where it has not been determined that the counterpart wager submission has already been received; and determines that the counterpart wager submission has been received if it has already been received from the second user or it is received from the second user before the expiration of the applicability period.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 means for determining that the counterpart wager submission has not been received from the second user;    means for determining whether the first user accepts an alternative wagering option; and    means for accepting the wager submission from the first user where it is determined that the user accepts the alternative wagering option.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the alternative wagering option is accepting the wager submission from the first user according to a house rate.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the alternative wagering option is accepting the wager submission from the first user according to a pari-mutuel line in lieu of the set wagering line.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for providing a wagering activity, the apparatus comprising: 
 a line presentation module, which presents a set wagering line corresponding to an event that has a first outcome and a second outcome that opposes the first outcome, the set wagering line ostensibly being a house wagering line that is generally applicable to wager submissions on the event;    an interface module, in communication with the line presentation module, which receives a wager submission from a first user in connection with the presentation of the set wagering line, the wager submission including a wager amount in support of the first outcome for the event according to the set wagering line; and    a wager processing module, which determines whether a counterpart wager submission from a second user is present, the counterpart wager submission also being for the wager amount, but in support of the second outcome for the event according to the set wagering line, and accommodates a wagering arrangement between the first user and the second user for the event according to the set wagering line where it is determined that the counterpart wager submission is present.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the wager processing module determines whether a counterpart wager submission by determining whether the counterpart wager submission has already been received from the second user in response to receiving the wager submission from the first user; determining whether the counterpart wager submission is received from the second user before the expiration of an applicability period where it has not been determined that the counterpart wager submission has already been received; and determining that the counterpart wager submission has been received if it has already been received from the second user or it is received from the second user before the expiration of the applicability period.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the wager processing module accepts the wager according to a house rate where it is determined that the counterpart wager submission remains unavailable as of the expiration of the applicability period.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the wager processing module determines that the counterpart wager submission has not been received from the second user; determines whether the first user accepts an alternative wagering option; and accepts the wager submission from the first user where it is determined that the user accepts the alternative wagering option.  
   
   
       20 . A computer implemented method for engaging in a wagering activity, the method comprising: 
 prompting a presentation of a set wagering line corresponding to an event that has a first outcome and a second outcome that opposes the first outcome, the set wagering line ostensibly being a house wagering line that is generally applicable to wager submissions on the event;    submitting a wager in connection with the presentation of the set wagering line, the wager submission including a wager amount in support of the first outcome for the event according to the set wagering line;    prompting a determination whether a counterpart wager submission from an other user is present, the counterpart wager submission also being for the wager amount, but in support of the second outcome for the event according to the set wagering line; and    entering into a direct wagering arrangement with the other user for the event according to the set wagering line where it is determined that the counterpart wager submission is present.