Methods and systems for interactive wagering using multiple types of user interface

Abstract

The present invention is methods and systems for interactive wagering user interfaces. Preferred embodiments of these systems and methods incorporate a wagering data hub which controls the flow of data relating to wagers, wagering events, and wagering account and facilitates the use of a variety of user interfaces such as graphical user interfaces and interactive voice response interfaces. For example, a user of the present invention may use a television set-top box, a computer, a telephone, and/or any other suitable device. To communicate with the wagering data hub, television set-top boxes preferably use a two-way cable system, computers preferably use a computer network, and telephones preferably use a telephone network, although each may use any suitable mechanism or combination of mechanisms to communicate with wagering data hub.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method for interactive wagering on races, comprising:
 displaying a plurality of racing events in a display screen;   receiving a user selection of one of the displayed plurality of racing events; and   in response to receiving the user selection, automatically: (1) displaying an interactive wagering interface; and (2) setting at least one prompt in the displayed interactive wagering interface to a default entry associated with the selected racing event.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein receiving a user selection of one of the displayed plurality of racing events comprises receiving user input to navigate a highlight to one of the displayed plurality of racing events. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising displaying an indicator in the display screen, the indicator associated with one of the displayed plurality of racing events. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the indicator comprises at least one of the track name and the race number corresponding to the associated one of the displayed plurality of racing events. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32  wherein setting at least one prompt in the displayed interactive wagering interface to a default entry comprises setting a track name to the default entry. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32  wherein setting at least one prompt in the displayed interactive wagering interface to a default entry comprises setting a race number to the default entry. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising receiving a user input to change the at least one prompt from the default entry to another entry. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32  wherein displaying a plurality of racing events in a display screen comprises displaying four racing events in a grid in the display screen. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising receiving user input to build a wager using the default entry. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising placing the wager using the interactive wagering interface. 
     
     
         42 . A system for interactive wagering comprising:
 a display screen; and   control circuitry configured to:
 display, in the display screen, a plurality of racing events; 
 receive a user selection of one of the displayed plurality of racing events; and 
 in response to receiving the user selection, automatically: (1) display, in the display screen, an interactive wagering interface; and (2) set at least one prompt in the displayed interactive wagering interface to a default entry associated with the selected racing event. 
   
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the control circuitry is configured to navigate a highlight to one of the displayed plurality of racing events. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to display an indicator in the display screen, the indicator associated with one of the displayed plurality of racing events. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the indicator comprises at least one of the track name and the race number corresponding to the associated one of the displayed plurality of racing events. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the control circuitry is configured to set at least one prompt in the displayed interactive wagering interface to a default entry by setting a track name to the default entry. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the control circuitry is configured to set at least one prompt in the displayed interactive wagering interface to a default entry by setting a race number to the default entry. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive a user input to change the at least one prompt from the default entry to another entry. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the control circuitry is configured to display four racing events in a grid in the display screen. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive user input to build a wager using the default entry. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50  wherein the control circuitry is further configured to place the wager using the interactive wagering interface.