SYSTEMS AND METHODS WHEREIN A LOTTERY NUMBER COMBINATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH A LIMITED NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES
Systems and methods are provided to facilitate lottery ticket transactions. A request to purchase a lottery ticket is received, the lottery ticket being associated with a lottery number combination, such as a limited number of lottery tickets or a limited number of players. An indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with a limited number of occurrences is also received. For example, an indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with only a single lottery ticket may be received. A price associated with the lottery ticket is determined based on the received indication. According to one embodiment the price is increased by a predetermined amount based on the received indication.
1 - 55 . (canceled)
56 . A method, comprising:
receiving, from a player device, an indication of a request by a player to purchase a lottery ticket for a lottery drawing;
receiving, from the player device, an indication of at least one first number defining a first subset of a lottery number combination to be associated with the lottery ticket; and
determining, automatically and on behalf of the player, at least one second number defining a second subset of the lottery number combination to be associated with the lottery ticket.
57 . The method of claim 56 , wherein the determining comprises:
determining a set of available lottery number combinations, such that each lottery number combination of the set is associated with a number of occurrences that is less than a maximum number of occurrences defined by a request associated with a previous player; and
selecting an available lottery number combination from the set of available lottery number combinations, wherein the available lottery number combination comprises the first subset of the lottery number combination to be associated with the lottery ticket.
58 . The method of claim 56 , wherein the determining is conducted based at least in part on a request by the player.
59 . The method of claim 56 , further comprising:
determining a lottery ticket identifier associated with the lottery ticket.
60 . The method of claim 59 , further comprising:
providing, to the player device, an indication of the lottery ticket identifier.
61 . The method of claim 56 , further comprising:
storing an indication of a price for the lottery ticket.
62 . The method of claim 56 , further comprising:
causing a printing of the lottery ticket, the printed lottery ticket comprising indicia of the first and second subsets of the lottery number combination.
63 . The method of claim 56 , wherein the determining is conducted by at least one of the player device and a controller.
64 . The method of claim 56 , wherein the player device comprises a lottery terminal.
65 . The method of claim 64 , wherein the player device comprises a lottery terminal at a retail store.
66 . A lottery system apparatus, comprising:
a processor; and
a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:
receive, from a player device, an indication of a request by a player to purchase a lottery ticket for a lottery drawing;
receive, from the player device, an indication of at least one first number defining a first subset of a lottery number combination to be associated with the lottery ticket; and
determine, automatically and on behalf of the player, at least one second number defining a second subset of the lottery number combination to be associated with the lottery ticket.
67 . A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:
receive, from a player device, an indication of a request by a player to purchase a lottery ticket for a lottery drawing;
receive, from the player device, an indication of at least one first number defining a first subset of a lottery number combination to be associated with the lottery ticket; and
determine, automatically and on behalf of the player, at least one second number defining a second subset of the lottery number combination to be associated with the lottery ticket.
68 . A system comprising:
a user interface; and
a controller operatively coupled to the user interface and adapted to:
receive, from the user interface, an indication of a request by a player to purchase a lottery ticket for a lottery drawing;
receive, from the user interface, an indication of at least one first number defining a first subset of a lottery number combination to be associated with the lottery ticket; and
determine, automatically and on behalf of the player, at least one second number defining a second subset of the lottery number combination to be associated with the lottery ticket.
69 . The system of claim 68 , wherein the system is embodied in a mobile terminal.
70 . The system of claim 68 , wherein the user interface is embodied in a mobile terminal.
71 . The system of claim 70 , wherein the mobile terminal comprises one or more of a PDA, a pager, a telephone, and a smart card.