Interactive financial transactions

A gaming platform, comprising:

• an intermediary business system that, in operation:
• receives, from a client device of a user via one or more computer networks, a request to initiate a wagering session with the client device for play of a wagering game, wherein the request specifies an amount of funds for use in the wagering session;
• transmits, to a financial institution via the one or more computer networks in response to the received request, a block request to place a block on the specified amount of funds in a financial account associated with the user;
• receives, via the one or more computer networks, a notification from the financial institution that the block has been placed on the specified amount of funds in the associated financial account;
• provides, to an interactive gaming server and in response to the received notification, an indication that the requested wagering session is authorized for the specified amount of funds;
• and
• settles, responsive to an indication from the interactive gaming server that the requested wagering session is concluded and via one or more electronic communications with the financial institution over the one or more computer networks, a transaction corresponding to the requested wagering session, wherein settling the transaction includes a release of the financial block on the specified amount of funds;
• and
• an interactive gaming server that, in operation:
• in response to an indication from the intermediary business system that a requested wagering session is authorized for a specified amount of funds, initiates the requested wagering session;
• provides, for each of one or more gaming outcomes associated with the requested wagering session, a notification to the intermediary business system regarding the gaming outcome;
• and
• notifies the intermediary business system that the requested wagering session is concluded.

An intermediary system for controlling access to an interactive gaming server, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• at least one memory, the memory including instructions that, upon execution by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the intermediary system to:
• receive, from a client device of a user via one or more computer networks and the interactive gaming server, a request to initiate a wagering session with the client device for play of a wagering game, wherein the request specifies an amount of funds for use in the wagering session;
• transmit, to a financial institution via the one or more computer networks in response to the received request, a block request to place a block on the specified amount of funds in a financial account associated with the user;
• initiate, via the interactive gaming server over the one or more computer networks and in response to a notification from the financial institution that the block has been placed, the requested wagering session;
• and
• settle, responsive to a conclusion of the requested wagering session and via one or more electronic communications with the financial institution over the one or more computer networks, a transaction corresponding to the requested wagering session, wherein settling the transaction includes a release of the financial block on the specified amount of funds.

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• receiving, from a user device of a user via one or more computer networks and the interactive gaming server, a request to initiate a wagering session with the user device for play of a wagering game, the request specifying an amount of funds for use in the wagering session;
• transmitting, to a financial institution via the one or more computer networks in response to the received request, a block request to place a block on the specified amount of funds in a financial account associated with the user;
• initiating, via the interactive gaming server over the one or more computer networks and in response to a notification from the financial institution that the block has been placed, the requested wagering session;
• and
• settling, responsive to a conclusion of the requested wagering session and via one or more electronic communications with the financial institution over the one or more computer networks, a transaction corresponding to a net result of the requested wagering session, wherein settling the transaction includes a release of the financial block on the specified amount of funds.