System for facilitating participation in the outcome of competitive events

Abstract

A system for facilitating participation in rewards arising from the outcome of a competitive event, including at least one computer server carrying a share issuance website accessible via a computer network. On request by one or more participants, the website issues shares to the said one or more participants from a set of shares in each of a plurality of players or teams who are to compete in a competitive event. After completion of the competitive event, the website issues a dividend to each of the participants who at a defined point in time hold shares in the player or team who has won the competitive event, which dividend is in proportion to the number of shares in the player or team held by the respective participants.

1 . A system for facilitating participation in rewards arising from the outcome of a competitive event, including:
 creating a set of shares in each of a plurality of players or teams who are to compete in a competitive event;   issuing shares from each set to one or more participants; and,   after completion of the competitive event, issuing a dividend to each of the participants who at a defined point in time hold shares in the player or team who has won the competitive event, which dividend is in proportion to the number of shares in the player or team held by the respective participants.   
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1  further including overseeing or managing conduct of the competitive event. 
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1  further including a step, before creating the sets of shares, of contracting the plurality of players or teams to compete in the competitive event. 
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 3  wherein a controller of the system has said contracts with said players or teams and oversees or manages conduct of the competitive event, and said issuance of shares includes issuance of parcels of shares to each of a number of other entities who operate websites at which services include said issuance of those shares to participants via a computer network. 
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said participants include intermediate entities and the system further includes said intermediate entities purchasing one or more of the sets of shares and then issuing shares to a plurality of further participants. 
   
   
       6 . A system according to  claim 5  wherein said issuance of shares to the participants, or to the further participants by said intermediate entities, is by an online transaction from a website at a computer server via a computer network. 
   
   
       7 . A system according to  claim 6  wherein said computer network is the Internet. 
   
   
       8 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said issuance of shares to the participants is by an online transaction from a website at a computer server via a computer network. 
   
   
       9 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said issuance of the shares is for a fee or price per share. 
   
   
       10 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said issuance of shares is for redemption of loyalty or frequent customer points. 
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 6  including operating an online share register for trading the issued shares prior to, or during, or up to and during, a defined event. 
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 11  wherein said defined event is the final outcome of said competitive event. 
   
   
       13 . A system according to  claim 8  including operating an online share register for trading the issued shares prior to, or during, or up to and during, a defined event. 
   
   
       14 . A system according to any  claim 1  further including operating an online broadcast and or telecast of said competitive event. 
   
   
       15 . A system according to  claim 14  wherein said broadcast or telecast is time-delayed. 
   
   
       16 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said competitive event is a sporting tournament. 
   
   
       17 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said competitive event is a card game tournament. 
   
   
       18 . A system according to  claim 6  wherein said issuance of the dividend to each of the participants who are at the defined point in time holds shares in the player or team who has won the competitive event, is by electronic funds transfer or a similar process to an account in the name of the participant. 
   
   
       19 . A system according to  claim 18  wherein said participants include intermediate entities and the system further includes said intermediate entities purchasing one or more of the sets of shares and then issuing shares to a plurality of further participants, and said account is with said intermediate entity operating a website through which the shares have been issued. 
   
   
       20 . A system according to  claim 8  wherein said issuance of the dividend to each of the participants who are at the defined point in time holds shares in the player or team who has won the competitive event, is by electronic funds transfer or a similar process to an account in the name of the participant. 
   
   
       21 . A system for participating in rewards arising from the outcome of a competitive event, including:
 receiving shares from one or more sets of shares that have respectively been created in each of a plurality of players or teams who are to compete in a competitive event;   and, after completion of the competitive event, receiving a dividend for shares held at a defined point in time in the player or team who has won the competitive event, which dividend is in proportion to the number of shares held in the player or team.   
   
   
       22 . A system according to  claim 21  wherein said receipt of shares is by an online transaction from a website at a computer server via a computer network. 
   
   
       23 . A system according to  claim 22  wherein said computer network is the Internet. 
   
   
       24 . A system for facilitating participation in rewards arising from the outcome of a competitive event, including at least one computer server carrying a share issuance website accessible via a computer network that, on request by one or more participants, issues shares to said one or more participants from a set of shares in each of a plurality of players or teams who are to compete in a competitive event, and that after completion of the competitive event, issues a dividend to each of the participants who at a defined point in time hold shares in the player or team who has won the competitive event, which dividend is in proportion to the number of shares in the player or team held by the respective participants. 
   
   
       25 . A system according to  claim 24  including a further computer server carrying a website in relation to said competitive event, at which website said participants may access an online broadcast and or telecast of the event. 
   
   
       26 . A system according to  claim 25  wherein said broadcast and or telecast is time-delayed. 
   
   
       27 . A system according to  claim 24  wherein said computer network is the Internet. 
   
   
       28 . A system according to  claim 24  wherein there are a plurality of said share issuance websites operated by intermediate entities for issuing shares from respective parcels of shares issued by a controller of the system. 
   
   
       29 . A system according to  claim 28  further including an online share register for trading the issued shares prior to, or during, or up to and during, a defined event. 
   
   
       30 . A system according to  claim 24  further including an online share register for trading the issued shares prior to, or during, or up to and during, a defined event. 
   
   
       31 . A system according to  claim 24  wherein said competitive event is a sporting tournament. 
   
   
       32 . A system according to  claim 24  wherein said competitive event is a card game tournament. 
   
   
       33 . A system according to  claim 24  further including an account at said share issuance website(s) for the or each said participant to which said dividends are issued by electronic funds transfer or a similar process. 
   
   
       34 . A system according to  claim 27  further including an account at said share issuance website(s) for the or each said participant to which said dividends are issued by electronic funds transfer or a similar process. 
   
   
       35 . A system according to  claim 24  further including a computer or other network accessing device for the or each participant.