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 first player to provide an amount of funds to purchase an undisclosed number of first lottery tickets for a lottery drawing, each of the undisclosed number of first lottery tickets to be associated with one of a plurality of lottery number combinations;
receiving, from the player device, an indication of a minimum number of occurrences in the lottery drawing to be associated with each of the plurality of lottery number combinations; and
determining, after the receiving of the indications and based at least in part on the indication of the minimum number of occurrences in the lottery drawing to be associated with each of the plurality of lottery number combinations, the number of first lottery tickets.
57 . The method of claim 56 , further comprising:
selling the determined number of first lottery tickets to the first player in exchange for the provided amount of funds.
58 . The method of claim 56 , further comprising:
determining the one lottery number combination from the plurality of lottery number combinations that is associated with each of the determined number of first lottery tickets.
59 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the determining of the one lottery number combination from the plurality of lottery number combinations that is associated with each of the determined number of first lottery tickets comprises:
determining the plurality of lottery number combinations, such that each lottery number combination of the plurality is to be associated with a number of occurrences that is greater than or equal to the indicated minimum number of occurrences; and
selecting the one lottery number combination from the plurality of lottery number combinations.
60 . The method of claim 59 , wherein the selection is random.
61 . The method of claim 56 , further comprising:
selling at least one second lottery ticket to a second player, the second lottery ticket being associated with one of the plurality of lottery number combinations such that the one of the plurality of lottery number combinations is associated with at least the minimum number of occurrences.
62 . The method of claim 56 , wherein the determining is conducted at least in part based on the receiving of the indications occurring when a winning amount of the lottery drawing is less than a predetermined amount.
63 . The method of claim 56 , wherein the determining is conducted at least in part based on the receiving of the indications occurring before a predetermined number of tickets have been sold for the lottery drawing.
64 . The method of claim 56 , wherein the determining is conducted at least in part based on a status of the first player.
65 . The method of claim 56 , wherein the player device comprises a lottery terminal.
66 . The method of claim 65 , wherein the player device comprises a lottery terminal at a retail store.
67 . 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 first player to provide an amount of funds to purchase an undisclosed number of first lottery tickets for a lottery drawing, each of the undisclosed number of first lottery tickets to be associated with one of a plurality of lottery number combinations;
receive, from the player device, an indication of a minimum number of occurrences in the lottery drawing to be associated with each of the plurality of lottery number combinations; and
determine, after the receiving of the indications and based at least in part on the indication of the minimum number of occurrences in the lottery drawing to be associated with each of the plurality of lottery number combinations, the number of first lottery tickets.
68 . A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to:
receive, from a player device, an indication of a request by a first player to provide an amount of funds to purchase an undisclosed number of first lottery tickets for a lottery drawing, each of the undisclosed number of first lottery tickets to be associated with one of a plurality of lottery number combinations;
receive, from the player device, an indication of a minimum number of occurrences in the lottery drawing to be associated with each of the plurality of lottery number combinations; and
determine, after the receiving of the indications and based at least in part on the indication of the minimum number of occurrences in the lottery drawing to be associated with each of the plurality of lottery number combinations, the number of first lottery tickets.
69 . 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 first player to provide an amount of funds to purchase an undisclosed number of first lottery tickets for a lottery drawing, each of the undisclosed number of first lottery tickets to be associated with one of a plurality of lottery number combinations;
receive, from the user interface, an indication of a minimum number of occurrences in the lottery drawing to be associated with each of the plurality of lottery number combinations; and
determine, after the receiving of the indications and based at least in part on the indication of the minimum number of occurrences in the lottery drawing to be associated with each of the plurality of lottery number combinations, the number of first lottery tickets.
70 . The system of claim 69 , wherein the system is embodied in a mobile terminal.
71 . The system of claim 69 , wherein the user interface is embodied in a mobile terminal.
72 . The system of claim 71 , wherein the mobile terminal comprises one or more of a PDA, a pager, a telephone, and a smart card.