Interactive wagering system with promotions

Abstract

An interactive wagering system is provided that promotes wagering to users at user equipment. The user equipment may be based on a set-top box and television, a personal computer, a cellular telephone with a display, or other such devices. Wagering may be promoted by notifying the user of an opportunity to place a wager on a given race. Wagering may also be promoted by providing the user with an on-screen opportunity to sign up for a wagering television channel or interactive wagering service. The on-screen promotions that are displayed to the user may be targeted based on the television programming that is being displayed or the user's interests. The user's activities may be monitored to collect information on the user's interests. If a particular race or the like is being discussed during a television program, the user may be provided with an opportunity to wager on that race. In this situation, racetrack, race, and horse selections may be made in advance for the user.

1 .- 104 . (canceled)  
     
     
         105 . A method for interactive wagering on races with an interactive wagering application implemented using user equipment, comprising: 
 displaying television programming on the user equipment;    displaying an overlay on top of the television programming wherein the overlay includes user selectable options for creating a wager and a full-screen wagering interface option;    providing a user with an opportunity to select the full-screen wagering interface option; and    displaying a full-screen wagering interface in response to the user selecting the full-screen wagering interface option.    
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 105  wherein displaying the television programming comprises displaying a wagering television channel.  
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 105  wherein the full-screen wagering interface comprises interactive wagering options in which at least a racetrack is preselected.  
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 105  wherein the full-screen wagering interface comprises interactive wagering options in which at least a racetrack and a race are preselected.  
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 105  wherein the full-screen wagering interface comprises interactive wagering options in which at least a racetrack, a race, and a horse are preselected.  
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 105 , further comprising: 
 receiving real-time wagering information at the user equipment that is indicative of a discussion that is related to a particular horse race on the television programming; and    displaying interactive wagering options in the full-screen wagering interface wherein the wagering options are preselected based on the real-time wagering information that is received at the user equipment.    
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 105  wherein the overlay includes options to create a wager.  
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 105  wherein the full-screen wagering interface includes more information than what was displayed on the overlay.  
     
     
         113 . A system for interactive wagering on races with an interactive wagering application, comprising user equipment configured to: 
 display television programming on the user equipment;    display an overlay on top of the television programming wherein the overlay includes user selectable options for creating a wager and a full-screen wagering interface option;    provide a user with an opportunity to select the full-screen wagering interface option; and    display a full-screen wagering interface in response to the user selecting the full-screen wagering interface option.    
     
     
         114 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the user equipment is further configured to display a wagering television channel.  
     
     
         115 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the full-screen wagering interface comprises interactive wagering options in which at least a racetrack is preselected.  
     
     
         116 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the full-screen wagering interface comprises interactive wagering options in which at least a racetrack and a race are preselected.  
     
     
         117 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the full-screen wagering interface comprises interactive wagering options in which at least a racetrack, a race, and a horse are preselected.  
     
     
         118 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the user equipment is further configured to: 
 receive real-time wagering information at the user equipment that is indicative of a discussion that is related to a particular horse race on the television programming; and    display interactive wagering options in the full-screen wagering interface wherein the wagering options are preselected based on the real-time wagering information that is received at the user equipment.    
     
     
         119 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the overlay includes options to create a wager.  
     
     
         120 . The system of  claim 113  wherein the full-screen wagering interface includes more information than what was displayed on the overlay.