Patent ID: 7985134

Claim:
A method for providing an integrated sports wagering and viewing environment, the environment including a content source and a user equipment, wherein the user equipment comprises a user input device, a display, and control circuitry, wherein the content source and the user equipment are in different geographical locations, the method comprising: receiving, from the user input device, a first indication of a sporting contest, wherein: the first indication enables a user to place a wager on the sporting contest; and the sporting contest is a live event received by the user equipment from the content source, wherein the live event is a contest between a plurality of teams having a plurality of human competitors; in response to receiving the first indication, simultaneously: displaying, on the display, (1) information about the sporting contest, (2) bank balance information associated with the user, and (3) odds, spread, or money line data for the sporting contest, wherein said information about the sporting contest, bank balance information associated with a user and odds, spread, or money line data for the sporting contest are generated by and received from the content source; prior to the end of the sporting contest: receiving, from the user input device, an indication of at least one of the plurality of human competitors, at least one of the plurality of teams, or wager type; receiving, from the user input device, a desired wager amount, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the wager amount prior to the end of the sporting contest and while the user is viewing the sporting contest; calculating, using the content source, a payout amount based on the desired wager amount and the odds, spread, or money line; displaying, on the display, the calculated payout amount; and deducting the desired wager amount from the bank balance; after the sporting contest begins: providing, from the content source to the user equipment, an audio or video presentation of the sporting contest to the user; receiving, from the content source at the user equipment, results of the sporting contest; and automatically updating the bank balance based on the received results; and after receiving results of the sporting contest from the content source and updating the bank balance: receiving, from the user input device, a second indication of the sporting contest after the conclusion of the sporting contest; and displaying, on the display, the results of the sporting contest and the updated bank balance in response to receiving the second indication of the sporting contest.