Method and apparatus for operating lotteries and for generating and processing lottery entries

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a lottery entry,

the lottery entry being active in at least a first lottery drawing;

receiving an indication that the lottery entry is to be active in at least one second lottery drawing if the lottery entry fails to qualify for a prize in the first lottery drawing,

each second lottery drawing being subsequent to the first lottery drawing;

determining a result of the first lottery drawing with respect to the lottery entry; and

activating the lottery entry in each second lottery drawing, in turn, until the lottery entry is a winner.

2. A method comprising:

receiving from a terminal a request of a customer to purchase a lottery entry for a first lottery drawing,

in which if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing the lottery entry is to be eligible automatically for a second lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing,

in which if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing the lottery entry is to be eligible automatically for subsequent lottery drawings until the lottery entry is a winner, and

in which each lottery drawing is associated with a plurality of lottery entries;

registering the lottery entry for the customer; and

transmitting information about the registration of the lottery entry to the terminal.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining that the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing; and

automatically entering the lottery entry in the second lottery drawing.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

determining that the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing; and

automatically entering the lottery entry in a subsequent lottery drawing.

5. A computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform steps of:

receiving from a terminal a request of a customer to purchase a lottery entry for a first lottery drawing,

in which if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing the lottery entry is to be eligible automatically for a second lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing,

in which if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing the lottery entry is to be eligible automatically for subsequent lottery drawings until the lottery entry is a winner, and

in which each lottery drawing is associated with a plurality of lottery entries;

registering the lottery entry for the customer; and

transmitting information about the registration of the lottery entry to the terminal.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform steps of:

receiving from a terminal a request of a customer to purchase a lottery entry for a first lottery drawing,

in which if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing the lottery entry is to be eligible automatically for a second lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing,

in which if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing the lottery entry is to be eligible automatically for subsequent lottery drawings until the lottery entry is a winner, and

in which each lottery drawing is associated with a plurality of lottery entries;

registering the lottery entry for the customer; and

transmitting information about the registration of the lottery entry to the terminal.

7. A method comprising:

registering a lottery entry for a first lottery drawing;

transmitting information about the registration of the entry to a terminal;

if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing, entering the lottery entry into a second lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing; and

if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing, entering the lottery entry into further subsequent lottery drawings until the lottery entry is identified as a winning entry,

in which each lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing is associated with a plurality of different lottery entries.

8. A computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform steps of:

registering a lottery entry for a first lottery drawing;

transmitting information about the registration of the entry to a terminal;

if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing, entering the lottery entry into a second lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing; and

if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing, entering the lottery entry into further subsequent lottery drawings until the lottery entry is identified as a winning entry,

in which each lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing is associated with a plurality of different lottery entries.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform steps of:

registering a lottery entry for a first lottery drawing;

transmitting information about the registration of the entry to a terminal;

if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the first lottery drawing, entering the lottery entry into a second lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing; and

if the lottery entry is not a winning entry in the second lottery drawing, entering the lottery entry into further subsequent lottery drawings until the lottery entry is identified as a winning entry,

in which each lottery drawing subsequent to the first lottery drawing is associated with a plurality of different lottery entries.