System, method and graphic user interface for simulated gaming experience based on financial transactions

Abstract

A system, method and graphic user interface for providing a user with a simulated gaming experience based on financial transactions has a gaming interface presented to a user who provides, via the gaming interface, a gaming input having a defined cost and a given set of possible returns. A purchase order is then generated on behalf of the user for a set of short-term digital options having substantially the same set of possible returns as the gaming input. When the actual return of the set of digital options of the generated purchase order becomes available, a gaming result is presented to the user via the gaming interface. The gaming result is chosen to have a payout related to the actual return of the set of digital options.

1 . A method for providing a user with a simulated gaming experience based on financial transactions, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) presenting to the user a gaming interface;   (b) receiving from the user via said gaming interface a gaming input having a defined cost and a given set of possible returns;   (c) generating a purchase order on behalf of the user for a set of short-term digital options having substantially the same set of possible returns as said gaming input; and   (d) presenting to the user via said gaming interface a gaming result having a payout related to an actual return of said set of digital options of said generated purchase order.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said set of digital options are chosen to provide a probability of each possible return similar to probabilities of the corresponding possible returns of said gaming input. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said set of digital options are based on at least one publicly available, continuously updated underlying financial instrument. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein, during a first period of a day, said set of digital options are based on at least one underlying financial instrument traded in a first region of the world and, during a second period of the day, said set of digital options are based on at least one underlying financial instrument traded in a second region of the world. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said digital options are over-the-counter options. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said set of digital options includes a plurality of binary options having differing possible returns based on a common underlying financial instrument, said plurality of binary options having the same expiry time and different thresholds. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said digital options is a binary option with a predefined fixed return ratio between its possible returns and its purchase price. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said set of digital options are generated dynamically in response to said gaming input. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said digital options have a lifetime from issue to expiry of less than one minute. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said set of digital options are selected from a pool of pre-published publicly available options including a plurality of options with successive expiry times separated by periods of less than one minute. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming interface is configured to receive at least one possible gaming input having at least three different possible returns. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming interface is a roulette interface, and wherein said gaming input is indicative of a value placed on at least one betting location on said roulette interface. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming interface is a slot machine interface. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming interface is configured to present to the user, and to receive gaming inputs corresponding to bets placed in, a game selected from the group consisting of: Craps; Baccarat; Sic Bo; and Keno. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming interface is configured to present to the user, and to receive gaming inputs corresponding to bets placed in, a game of chance. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming result presented to the user is selected in an apparently unordered manner from a set of possible gaming results having a payout corresponding to said actual return. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing to the user a trading interface providing information regarding said set of digital options. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising debiting a financial account of the user the defined cost of the gaming input and crediting to the financial account of the user any return from said set of digital options. 
   
   
       19 . A method for providing a user with a simulated gaming experience based on financial transactions, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) presenting to the user a roulette gaming interface including a representation of a roulette table having betting locations;   (b) receiving from the user via said roulette gaming interface a gaming input indicative of a value placed on at least one of said betting locations, said gaming input having a given set of possible returns according to the rules of roulette;   (c) generating a purchase order on behalf of the user for a set of short-term digital options having substantially the same set of possible returns as said gaming input; and   (d) presenting to the user via said roulette gaming interface a gaming result having a payout related to an actual return of said set of digital options of said generated purchase order.   
   
   
       20 . A method for providing a user with a simulated gaining experience based on financial transactions, the method comprising the steps of
 (a) presenting to the user a slot machine gaming interface including a representation of a plurality of reels;   (b) receiving from the user via said slot machine gaming interface a gaming input indicative of actuation of the slot machine game, said gaming input having a defined cost and a given set of possible returns;   (c) generating a purchase order on behalf of the user for a set of short-term digital options having substantially the same set of possible returns as said gaming input; and   (d) presenting to the user via said slot machine gaming interface a gaming result having a payout related to an actual return of said set of digital options of said generated purchase order.   
   
   
       21 . A system for providing a user with a simulated gaming experience based on financial transactions, the system comprising:
 (a) a gaming interface operative to receive from the user a gaming input having a defined cost and a given set of possible returns; and   (b) a purchase order generator operative to generate a purchase order on behalf of the user for a set of short-term digital options having substantially the same set of possible returns as said gaming input   
     wherein said gaming interface is further operative to present to the user a gaming result having a payout related to an actual return of said set of digital options of said generated purchase order. 
   
   
       22 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer readable program code for providing a user with a simulated gaming experience based on financial transactions, the program code being operable to:
 (a) present to the user a gaming interface;   (b) receive from the user via said gaming interface a gaming input having a defined cost and a given set of possible returns;   (c) generate a purchase order on behalf of the user for a set of short-term digital options having substantially the same set of possible returns as said gaining input; and   (d) present to the user via said gaming interface a gaming result having a payout related to an actual return of said set of digital options of said generated purchase order.   
   
   
       23 . A method for facilitating financial transactions, the method comprising:
 (a) presenting to a user a brokerage agreement, said presented brokerage agreement providing that a gaming input received by a gaming user interface be considered authorization to purchase on behalf of said user a set of short-term digital options having substantially the same set of possible returns as the gaming input;   (b) receiving via said gaming user interface a user-generated gaming input having a defined cost and a given set of possible returns, thereby authorizing, contingent on acceptance by said user of said brokerage agreement, purchase on behalf of said user of a set of short-term digital options having substantially the same set of possible returns as the gaming input; and   (c) presenting via said gaming interface a gaming result having a payout related to an actual return of said purchased set of digital options purchased on behalf of said user.   
   
   
       24 . A method for facilitating performance of financial transactions by a user, the method comprising:
 (a) entering a brokerage agreement, said brokerage agreement providing that a gaming input received by a gaming user interface be considered authorization to purchase on behalf of the user a set of short-term digital options having substantially the same set of possible returns as the gaming input;   (b) providing via said gaming user interface a user-generated gaming input having a defined cost and a given set of possible returns, thereby authorizing according to said brokerage agreement purchase of said set of short-term digital options having substantially the same set of possible returns as said gaming input; and   (c) receiving via said gaming interface a gaming result having a payout related to an actual return of said purchased set of digital options purchased on behalf of said user.