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 from said merchant;
- receivng via said WAN a request from said user device to purchase said item, said request resulting in said item being placed into a virtual shopping cart on a website operated by said merchant, said virtual shopping cart being linked to a session identifier;
- and
- receiving via said WAN a request from said user device to wager on at least a portion of a purchase price of said item in said virtual shopping cart, said request to wager resulting in said merchant device providing to said host device wagering information comprising a wager request, said session identifier, and said purchase price;
- wherein said second set of machine readable instructions are adapted to perform the steps of:
- receiving via said WAN said wagering information from said merchant device;
- receiving via said WAN purchase information, said purchase information comprising (i) payment information, (ii) a wager amount, and (iii) a predictive outcome, wherein at least said wager amount and said predictive outcome are received from said user device and said payment information comprises a first financial account of said user, said first financial account being used to transfer money from said user to said host;
- using said payment 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 second payment information and said session identifier to purchase said item from said merchant when said outcome matches said predictive outcome, said second payment information comprising a second financial account of said host, said second financial account being used to transfer said amount of money from said host to said merchant, said second financial account being separate and distinct from said first financial account;
- and
- using, at least said session identifier to instruct said merchant device to remove said item from said virtual shopping cart, returning said item to inventory, when said outcome differs from said predictive outcome.