Systems and methods for facilitating play of lottery games
Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing lottery outcomes and other types of lottery information to a player (e.g., in accordance with one or more preferences of a player). In some embodiments, lottery information may be provided over a network, via postal mail, via CD-ROM, and/or via a set-top device.
1 . A method comprising:
receiving an indication of a request by a player to purchase a plurality of instant lottery games;
receiving at least one selection by the player for how instant lottery games are to be delivered to the player; and
communicating at least one instant lottery game to the player in accordance with the at least one selection.
2 . A method comprising:
receiving from a player an indication of at least one preference for automatic delivery of instant lottery tickets;
determining a plurality of instant lottery tickets; and
providing the plurality of instant lottery tickets to the player in accordance with the at least one preference for automatic delivery of instant lottery tickets.
3 . The method of claim 2 , in which receiving comprising:
receiving the indication via a set-top device.
4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
storing the at least one preference for delivery.
5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
storing the at least one preference for delivery in a database.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
retrieving the at least one preference for delivery from the database.
7 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
retrieving the at least one preference for delivery from a database.
8 . The method of claim 2 , in which providing the plurality of instant lottery tickets to the player in accordance with the at least one preference for automatic delivery of instant lottery tickets comprises:
providing a first instant lottery ticket to a player device associated with the player; and
providing a second instant lottery ticket to the player device a predetermined period of time after providing the first instant lottery ticket.
9 . The method of claim 2 , in which providing the plurality of instant lottery tickets to the player in accordance with the at least one preference for automatic delivery of instant lottery tickets comprises:
delivering at least one of the plurality of instant lottery tickets to the player in accordance with a schedule.
10 . The method of claim 2 , in which providing the plurality of instant lottery tickets to the player in accordance with the at least one preference for automatic delivery of instant lottery tickets comprises:
providing at least one of the plurality of instant lottery tickets to the player via a set-top device.
11 . The method of claim 2 , in which the at least one preference for automatic delivery indicates at least one time of day.
12 . The method of claim 2 , in which the at least one preference for automatic delivery indicates a period of time.
13 . The method of claim 2 , in which the at least one preference for automatic delivery indicates a format.
14 . The method of claim 2 , in which the at least one preference for automatic delivery comprises a network address.
15 . The method of claim 14 , in which the network address comprises an e-mail address.
16 . The method of claim 14 , in which the network address comprises a telephone number.
17 . The method of claim 14 , in which the network address comprises an internet protocol address.
18 . The method of claim 14 , in which the network address comprises an address of a set-top device.
19 . The method of claim 2 , in which the at least one preference for automatic delivery comprises a postal address.
20 . The method of claim 2 , in which the at least one preference for automatic delivery comprises an address of the player.
21 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining an amount of winnings associated with at least one of the plurality of instant lottery tickets; and
providing the amount of winnings to the player.
22 . The method of claim 21 , in which providing the amount of winnings comprises:
providing a voucher for the amount of winnings to the player.
23 . The method of claim 21 , in which providing the amount of winnings comprises:
mailing a check for the amount of winnings to the player.
24 . The method of claim 21 , in which providing the amount of winnings comprises:
crediting the amount of winnings to an account of the player, in which the account is associated with a service provider.
25 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
charging a wager amount to an account of the player, in which the account is associated with a service provider.
26 . A method comprising:
receiving from a player at least one preference for revealing outcomes of instant lottery tickets;
determining a plurality of instant lottery tickets, each instant lottery ticket having a respective outcome; and
in accordance with the at least one preference, indicating at least one of the plurality of outcomes to the player.
27 . The method of claim 26 ,
in which the at least one preference includes a preference for game format; and
in which indicating comprises:
revealing at least one of the plurality of outcomes based on the preference for game format.
28 . A method comprising:
determining an address that is associated with a player;
determining a plurality of electronic lottery tickets for the player; and
providing the plurality of electronic lottery tickets to the player based on the address.
29 . The method of claim 28 , in which determining the address comprises:
receiving from the player an indication of an address to which the player prefers electronic lottery tickets be delivered.
30 . The method of claim 28 , in which the address is associated with a residence of the player.
31 . The method of claim 28 , in which the address comprises a postal address.
32 . The method of claim 28 , in which providing comprises:
providing at least one of the plurality of electronic lottery tickets via postal mail.
33 . The method of claim 28 , in which providing comprises:
mailing at least one of the plurality of electronic lottery tickets to the player.
34 . The method of claim 28 , in which providing comprises:
providing a storage medium to the player, the storage medium storing the electronic lottery tickets.
35 . The method of claim 34 , in which providing the storage medium to the player comprises:
providing the storage medium to the player via postal mail.
36 . The method of claim 34 , in which the storage medium comprises a CD-ROM.
37 . The method of claim 34 , in which the storage medium comprises a DVD.
38 . The method of claim 34 , in which the storage medium comprises a flash drive.
39 . The method of claim 28 , in which the address comprises a network address.
40 . The method of claim 28 , in which the address comprises an internet protocol address.
41 . The method of claim 28 , in which the address comprises an e-mail address.
42 . The method of claim 28 , in which the address comprises an identifier that identifies a device of the player.
43 . The method of claim 28 , in which determining the address comprises:
determining an address associated with a device of the player.
44 . The method of claim 28 , in which the address comprises a telephone number.
45 . The method of claim 28 , in which the address comprises a number of a mobile telephone.
46 . The method of claim 28 , in which the address is associated with a handheld device.
47 . The method of claim 28 , in which the address is associated with a set-top device.
48 . The method of claim 28 , in which providing comprises:
transmitting at least one of the plurality of electronic lottery tickets to the player via an electronic network.
49 . The method of claim 28 , in which providing comprises:
transmitting at least one of the plurality of electronic lottery tickets to a device of the player.