System and method for wagering based on the movement of financial markets

Abstract

A system for wagering comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores a bet regarding a plurality of outcomes associated with financial market indicators. The bet comprises a first bet component indicating whether a value of a first financial market indicator will go up or go down in a first predetermined period of time, and a second bet component indicating whether a value of a second financial market indicator will go up or go down in a second predetermined period of time. The processor is coupled to the memory and is operable to determine an outcome of the first bet component, the second bet component, and the overall bet.

1 . A method for wagering, comprising:
 receiving a bet regarding a plurality of outcomes associated with financial market indicators, the bet comprising:
 a first bet component indicating whether a value of a first financial market indicator will be up or down at an end of a first predetermined period of time as compared to the value of the first financial market indicator at a beginning of the first predetermined period of time; and 
 a second bet component indicating whether a value of a second financial market indicator will be up or down at an end of a second predetermined period of time as compared to the value of the second financial market indicator at a beginning of the second predetermined period of time; 
   determining by a computing system an outcome of the first bet component based at least in part upon whether the value of the first financial market indicator is up or is down at the end of the first predetermined period of time;   determining by the computing system an outcome of the second bet component based at least in part upon whether the value of the second financial market indicator is up or is down at the end of the second predetermined period of time; and   determining by the computing system an outcome of the bet based at least in part upon the outcome of the first bet component and the outcome of the second bet component.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the outcomes of the first bet component and the second bet component and is a loss and the outcome of the bet is a loss. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the outcomes of the first bet component and the second bet component is a win and the outcome of the bet is a win. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first bet component is a loss if the value of the first financial market indicator is unchanged at the end of the first predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a payout for the bet based at least in part upon a number of bet components that are determined to be a win. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first financial market indicator is associated with at least one of:
 the Dow Jones Industrial Average;   the NASDAQ;   the Financial Times Stock Exchange;   the S&P 500; and   the New York Stock Exchange.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bet identifies at least the first predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined period of time equals the second predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bet specifies a source of at least the first financial market indicator. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the bet further comprises a third bet component indicating whether a value of a third financial market indicator will be up or down at an end of a third predetermined period of time as compared to the value of the third financial market indicator at a beginning of the third predetermined period of time; and   determining the outcome of the bet is further based at least in part upon an outcome of the third bet component.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing a financial instrument embodying at least the bet, the financial instrument comprising a price based at least in part upon a point count that varies according to the outcomes of at least a portion of the bet components; and   facilitating a transfer of the financial instrument for the price.   
     
     
         12 . A system for wagering, comprising:
 a memory operable to store a bet regarding a plurality of outcomes associated with financial market indicators, the bet comprising:
 a first bet component indicating whether a value of a first financial market indicator will be up or down at an end of a first predetermined period of time as compared to the value of the first financial market indicator at a beginning of the first predetermined period of time; and 
 a second bet component indicating whether a value of a second financial market indicator will be up or down at an end of a second predetermined period of time as compared to the value of the second financial market indicator at a beginning of the second predetermined period of time; and 
   at least one processor coupled to the memory and operable to:
 determine an outcome of the first bet component based at least in part upon whether the value of the first financial market indicator is up or is down at the end of the first predetermined period of time; 
 determine an outcome of the second bet component based at least in part upon whether the value of the second financial market indicator is up or is down at the end of the second predetermined period of time; and 
 determine an outcome of the bet based at least in part upon the outcome of the first bet component and the outcome of the second bet component. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the outcomes of the first bet component and the second bet component is a loss and the outcome of the bet is a loss. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the outcomes of the first bet component and the second bet component is a win and the outcome of the bet is win. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first bet component is a loss if the value of the first financial market indicator is unchanged at the end of the first predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further operable to determine a payout for the bet based at least in part up on a number of bet components that are determined to be a win. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first financial market indicator is associated with at least one of:
 the Dow Jones Industrial Average;   the NASDAQ;   the Financial Times Stock Exchange;   the S&P 500; and   the New York Stock Exchange.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the bet identifies at least the first predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first predetermined period of time equals the second predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         20 . The system apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the bet specifies a source of at least the first financial market indicator. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the bet further comprises a third bet component indicating whether a value of a third financial market indicator will be up or down at an end of a third predetermined period of time as compared to the value of the third financial market indicator at a beginning of the third predetermined period of time; and   determining the outcome of the bet is further based at least in part upon an outcome of the third bet component.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further operable to:
 establish a financial instrument embodying at least the bet, the financial instrument comprising a price based at least in part upon a point count that varies according to the outcomes of at least a portion of the bet components; and   facilitate a transfer of the financial instrument for the price.