Systems and methods for providing enhanced sports watching media guidance

1. A method for providing an integrated sports wagering and viewing environment, the environment including a content source and a user equipment, wherein the user equipment comprises a user input device, a display, and control circuitry, wherein the content source and the user equipment are in different geographical locations, the method comprising:

receiving, from the user input device, a first indication of a sporting contest, wherein:

the first indication enables a user to place a wager on the sporting contest; and

the sporting contest is a live event received by the user equipment from the content source, wherein the live event is a contest between a plurality of teams having a plurality of human competitors;

in response to receiving the first indication, simultaneously:

displaying, on the display, (1) information about the sporting contest,

(2) bank balance information associated with the user, and

(3) odds, spread, or money line data for the sporting contest, wherein said information about the sporting contest, bank balance information associated with a user and odds, spread, or money line data for the sporting contest are generated by and received from the content source;

prior to the end of the sporting contest:

receiving, from the user input device, an indication of at least one of the plurality of human competitors, at least one of the plurality of teams, or wager type;

receiving, from the user input device, a desired wager amount, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the wager amount prior to the end of the sporting contest and while the user is viewing the sporting contest;

calculating, using the content source, a payout amount based on the desired wager amount and the odds, spread, or money line;

displaying, on the display, the calculated payout amount; and

deducting the desired wager amount from the bank balance;

after the sporting contest begins:

providing, from the content source to the user equipment, an audio or video presentation of the sporting contest to the user;

receiving, from the content source at the user equipment, results of the sporting contest; and

automatically updating the bank balance based on the received results; and

after receiving results of the sporting contest from the content source and updating the bank balance:

receiving, from the user input device, a second indication of the sporting contest after the conclusion of the sporting contest; and

displaying, on the display, the results of the sporting contest and

the updated bank balance in response to receiving the second indication of the sporting contest.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically updating the bank balance based on the received results comprises adding the wager amount to the bank balance if the received results indicate that the wager was not lost.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically updating the bank balance based on the received results comprises adding the calculated payout amount to the bank balance if the received results indicate that the wager was won.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising preventing the user from accessing wagering features if the bank balance is less than a predetermined amount.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the wager type is selected from the group consisting of final score, half-time score, and over/under.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the bank balance comprises a bank balance of pretend money.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the user can use the pretend money to purchase the right to view programming.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the user can use the pretend money to purchase merchandise.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising paying interest on the bank balance.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the user an option to reset the bank balance when it falls below a first predetermined amount, wherein resetting the bank balance comprises setting the bank balance to a second, larger predetermined amount.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising offering the user an incentive to create wagers.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the incentive comprises an entry into a drawing.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising increasing the bank balance as an incentive for the user to perform another action.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the other action comprises subscribing to a package of sports programming.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the other action comprises completing a survey.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the other action comprises answering a trivia question.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining a ranked list of the bank balances associated with a plurality of users;

displaying at least a portion of the ranked list; and

displaying the user's position on the ranked list.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a request from the user to view a list of recent wagers, and, in response to the request, displaying a list of recent wagers placed by the user.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request to restrict access to wagering features;

receiving a first access code from the user;

storing the first access code;

requiring the entry of a second access code prior upon the user's subsequent selection of a wagering feature;

comparing the second access code to the stored first access code;

if the access codes are the same, allowing the user to access the selected wagering feature; and

if the access codes are not the same, preventing the user from accessing the selected wagering feature.

20. A system for providing an integrated sports wagering and viewing environment comprising:

memory to store bank balance information associated with a user; and

user equipment comprising control circuitry, a user input device and a display, wherein:

a content source and the user equipment are in different geographical locations; and

the control circuitry is configured to:

receive, from the user, a first indication of a sporting contest, wherein:

the first indication enables the user to place a wager on the sporting contest; and

the sporting contest is a live event received by the user equipment from the content source, and wherein the live event is a contest between a plurality of teams having a plurality of human competitors;

in response to receiving the first indication, simultaneously:

display information about (1) the sporting contest,

(2) the bank balance information and

(3) odds, spread, or money line data for the sporting contest, wherein said information about the sporting contest, bank balance information and odds, spread, or money line data for the sporting contest are generated by and received from the content source;

prior to the end of the sporting contest:

receive from the user an indication of at least one of the plurality of human competitors, at least one of the plurality of teams, or wager type;

receive from the user a desired wager amount, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the wager amount prior to the end of the sporting contest and while the user is viewing the sporting contest;

calculate, using the content source, a payout amount based on the desired wager amount and the odds, spread, or money line;

display the calculated payout amount; and

deduct the desired wager amount from the bank balance;

after the sporting contest begins:

provide an audio or video presentation of the sporting contest received from the content source to the user;

receive results of the sporting contest from the content source; and

automatically update the bank balance based on the received results; and

after receiving results of the sporting contest from the content source and updating the bank balance:

receive from the user a second indication of the sporting contest after the conclusion of the sporting contest; and

display the results of the sporting contest and

the updated bank balance in response to receiving the second indication of the sporting contest.