System and Method for Incorporating a Wagering Activity into an Electronic Commerce Transaction

Abstract

A system and method is provided for incorporating a wagering activity into an electronic commerce transaction. The system preferably includes a host device in communication with at least a user device and a merchant device via the Internet. If the merchant does not offer the wagering activity, the user may shop for items offered by the merchant via the host's website. When an item is selected by the user, the item is placed in the host's shopping cart (i.e., the host's virtual shopping cart on the merchant's website). If the user decides to participate in a wagering activity, user payment information is used to transfer funds (e.g., a wagering amount) to the host. If the user wins, host payment information is provided to the merchant and used to purchase the item from the merchant. The item is then provided (shipped) to the user.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for incorporating at least one wager activity into an electronic commerce transaction, comprising:
 a merchant device associated with a merchant, said merchant device comprising at least one server device and at least one memory device for storing a first set of machine readable instructions; and   a host device associated with a host, said host device comprising at least one other server device and at least one other memory device for storing a second set of machine readable instructions;   wherein said first set of machine readable instructions are adapted to perform the steps of:
 receiving via a wide area network (WAN) a selection from a user device operated by a user, said selection selecting an item from a plurality of items available for purchase, said purchase of said item being linked to a unique identifier; and 
 receiving via said WAN a request from said user device to wager on at least a portion of a purchase amount for said item, said request to wager resulting in said merchant device providing to said host device a first set of information comprising at least said unique identifier and said purchase amount; 
   wherein said second set of machine readable instructions are adapted to perform the steps of:
 receiving via said WAN said first set of information from said merchant device; 
 receiving via said WAN a second set of information from said user device, said second set of information comprising a wager amount and a predictive outcome, wherein first financial information is used to transfer money from said user to said host; 
 using said first financial information to secure payment of at least said wager amount from said user; 
 performing a wager activity resulting in an outcome; 
 comparing said outcome with said predictive outcome to determine whether there is a match therebetween; 
 using at least said unique identifier to purchase said item from said merchant when said outcome matches said predictive outcome, second financial information being used to transfer money sufficient to purchase said item from said host, said second financial information being separate and distinct from said first financial information. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said first financial information is received from said user device. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said first financial information is received prior to receiving said first set of information and linked to a user account with said host. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said first financial information is received from said merchant device. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said wager amount is a confirmation of an amount set by said host device based on said purchase amount. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said second set of machine readable instructions are further adapted to provide said user with an option of wagering again if said outcome differs from said predictive outcome. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said purchase amount comprises an amount due to said merchant for said item plus at least one of applicable tax and shipping. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said money sufficient to purchase said item comprises said purchase amount. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said money sufficient to purchase said item comprises said purchase amount minus a commission fee. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said second set of machine readable instructions are further adapted to use said first financial information to charge said user said wager amount when said outcome differs from said predictive outcome. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said second set of machine readable instructions are further adapted to use said first financial information to charge said user an added vigorous when said outcome differs from said predictive outcome. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said step of using said first financial information to secure payment from said user comprises using said first financial information to secure payment of said purchase amount from said user. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said second set of machine readable instructions are further adapted to use said first financial information to charge said user an amount equal to said purchase amount minus said wager amount when said outcome matches said predictive outcome. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said wager activity is flipping a virtual coin. 
     
     
         35 . A method for incorporating at least one wager activity into an electronic commerce transaction between a user device operated by a user and a merchant device operated by a merchant and comprising at least one server device, said wager activity being performed by a host device operated by a host and comprising at least one other server device, comprising:
 receiving by said merchant device a selection from said user device, said selection being received over a wide area network (WAN) and selecting an item from a plurality of items available for purchase from said merchant, said purchase of said item being linked to a unique identifier; and   receiving by said merchant device via said WAN a request from said user device to wager on at least a portion of a purchase price of said item, said request to wager resulting in said merchant device providing to said host device a first set of information comprising at least said unique identifier and said purchase price;   receiving by said host device via said WAN said first set of information from said merchant device;   receiving by said host device via said WAN a second set of information from said user device, said second set of information comprising a wager amount and a predictive outcome, wherein first financial information is used to transfer money from said user to said host;   using by said host device said first financial information to secure payment of at least said wager amount from said user;   performing by said host device a wager activity resulting in an outcome;   comparing by said host device said outcome with said predictive outcome to determine whether there is a match therebetween;   using by said host device said unique identifier to purchase said item from said merchant when said outcome matches said predictive outcome, second financial information being used to transfer money sufficient to purchase said item from said host, said second financial information being separate and distinct from said first financial information.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said wager activity is flipping a virtual coin. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said money sufficient to purchase said item comprises one of said purchase price and said purchase price minus a commission fee. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising using said first financial information to charge said user said wager amount when said outcome differs from said predictive outcome. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said step of using said first financial information to secure payment further comprises using said first financial information to secure payment of said purchase price prior to performing said wager activity. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising using said first financial information to charge said user an amount equal to said purchase price minus said wager amount when said outcome matches said predictive outcome.