Patent ID: 7996297

Claim:
A method comprising the steps of: receiving by at least one processor from a first user a first order, wherein the first order comprises a bet on at least one sporting event, and wherein the first user has an associated account; determining by the at least one processor a risk factor associated with the at least one sporting event, wherein the risk factor comprises an amount that a user could lose by wagering one unit of currency on the at least one sporting event, and wherein the risk factor is determined based at least in part on statistical data regarding the at least one sporting event; based at least in part on the risk factor, determining by the at least one processor a risk value for the first user's first order, wherein the risk value comprises an amount that the first user could lose on the bet on the at least one sporting event; comparing by the at least one processor the risk value to at least one balance associated with the account and/or to at least one value determined from the at least one balance; approving by the at least one processor the first user's first order based at least in part on the comparison of the risk value to the at least one balance and/or to the at least one value determined from the at least one balance; based at least in part on approving the first user's first order, making by the at least one processor the first user's first order available for matching with other orders; receiving by the at least one processor from the first user a second order, wherein the second order comprises another bet, and comprises or defines a wager amount; receiving by the at least one processor from a second user an order, the second user's order comprising a bet on the at least one sporting event; matching by the at least one processor at least a portion of the first user's first order with at least a portion of the second user's order; and based at least in part on matching the at least portion of the first user's first order with the at least portion of the second user's order, automatically reducing by the at least one processor the wager amount of the first user's second order.