Sports betting apparatus and method

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor, wherein the processor further comprises:
• a central processing computer;
• and
• a distributed ledger and Blockchain technology system,
• wherein the central processing computer is specially programmed to provide an electronic forum capable of providing a video or audio broadcast of a sporting event to a plurality of users, wherein the electronic forum is capable of allowing at least some of the plurality of users to communicate with one another before, during, or after, the sporting event via text messaging or via video conferencing or audio conferencing, post comments or messages in the electronic forum before, during, or after, the video or audio broadcast, place a bet or any number of bets on an outcome of, or on an event which occurs during the sporting event, receive information regarding bets available, betting odds, changes in betting odds, or analytics information, before, during, or after, the video or audio broadcast, and report an instance of suspected game fixing, match fixing, fraud, or cheating, involving the sporting event;
• a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits the electronic forum to a first user communication device associated with a first user of the plurality of users;
• and
• a receiver, wherein the receiver receives information transmitted from the first user communication device associated with the first user of the plurality of users,
• wherein the apparatus provides, via or in the electronic forum, player performance tracking data and betting activity information or betting market activity information, associated with the sporting event or associated with a second sporting event, and further wherein the player performance tracking data is obtained with or from an optical camera based player performance tracking system, a local positioning player performance tracking system, or a GPS/GNSS player performance tracking system, wherein the optical camera based player performance tracking system, the local positioning player performance tracking system, or the GPS/GNSS player performance tracking system, is deployed at a venue of the sporting event,
• wherein the distributed ledger and Blockchain technology system processes information regarding an outcome of a bet on or for the sporting event or on an in-game occurrence during the sporting event and determines if the bet is a winning bet or if the bet is a losing bet, and further wherein the distributed ledger and Blockchain technology system processes information for effectuating a settlement or payment, or for withholding a settlement, for or regarding the bet,
• wherein the betting apparatus processes information regarding a proposed or offered second bet transmitted to the betting apparatus and posted to a betting exchange by the first user of the plurality of users, and further wherein the betting apparatus generates a proposed or offered bet notification message containing information regarding the proposed or offered second bet, and further wherein the betting apparatus transmits the proposed or offered bet notification message to a second user communication device associated with a second user of the plurality of users.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor, wherein the processor is specially programmed to provide an electronic forum capable of providing a video or audio broadcast of a sporting event to a plurality of users, wherein the electronic forum is capable of allowing at least some of the plurality of users to communicate with one another before, during, or after, the sporting event via text messaging or via video conferencing or audio conferencing, post comments or messages in the electronic forum before, during, or after, the video or audio broadcast, place a bet or any number of bets on an outcome of, or on an event which occurs during, the sporting event, receive information regarding bets available, betting odds, changes in betting odds, or analytics information, before, during, or after, the video or audio broadcast, and report an instance of suspected game fixing, match fixing, or cheating, involving the sporting event;
• a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits the electronic forum to a first user communication device associated with a first user of the plurality of users;
• and
• a receiver, wherein the receiver receives information transmitted from the first user communication device associated with the first user of the plurality of users,
• wherein the apparatus provides, via or in the electronic forum, player performance tracking data and betting activity information or betting market activity information, and further wherein the player performance tracking data is obtained with or from an optical camera based player performance tracking system, a local positioning player performance tracking system, or a GPS/GNSS player performance tracking system, wherein the optical camera based player performance tracking system, the local positioning player performance tracking system, or the GPS/GNSS player performance tracking system, is deployed at a venue of the sporting event,
• wherein the processor processes an outcome of a bet on the sporting event or on an in-game occurrence during the sporting event and determines if the bet is a winning bet or a losing bet, and further wherein the processor processes information for settling the bet or for withholding a settlement of the bet,
• wherein the sports betting apparatus processes information regarding a proposed or offered second bet transmitted to the sports betting apparatus and posted to a betting exchange by the first user of the plurality of users, and further wherein the sports betting apparatus generates a proposed or offered bet notification message containing information regarding the proposed or offered second bet, and further wherein the sports betting apparatus transmits the proposed or offered bet notification message to a second user communication device associated with a second user of the plurality of users.