Systems and methods for rewarding group participation in lottery games

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to:

determine a set of winning numbers for a first lottery drawing;

determine a set of winning numbers for a second lottery drawing;

determine a group of participants in the first and second lottery drawings, the group of participants having at least two members and in which the group of participants is one of a plurality of groups;

determine a first plurality of lottery entries associated with the group of participants, in which each of the first plurality of lottery entries is eligible for the first lottery drawing;

determine a second plurality of lottery entries associated with the group of participants, in which each of the second plurality of lottery entries is eligible for the second lottery drawing;

determine a performance score of the group of participants based on

the first plurality of lottery entries associated with the group of participants,

the set of winning numbers for the first lottery drawing,

the second plurality of lottery entries associated with the group of participants and

the set of winning numbers for the second lottery drawing; and

determine an award for the group of participants based on the performance score of the group of participants, in which the award for the group of participants based on the performance score of the group of participants is different than a sum of any respective payouts associated with the first and second pluralities of lottery entries.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to facilitate pooling by the members of the group of participants of the first plurality of lottery entries for the first lottery drawing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the group of participants is one of a plurality of groups registered with a central controller.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the group of participants is one of a plurality of groups participating in at least the first lottery drawing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to determine that the group of participants is eligible to receive the award for the group.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a minimum number, greater than one, of lottery drawings that the group of participants must participate in to be eligible for the award; and

determine that the group of participants participated in at least the minimum number of lottery drawings.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a plurality of lottery drawings that the group of participants must participate in to be eligible for the award; and

determine that the group of participants participated in each of the plurality of lottery drawings.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a minimum number, greater than one, of lottery drawings that the group of participants must participate in during a pre-defined period of time to be eligible for the award; and

determine that the group of participants participated in at least the minimum number of lottery drawings during the pre-defined period of time.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a minimum number, greater than one, of lottery entries that must be associated with the group of participants for the group to be eligible for the award; and

determine that at least the minimum number of lottery entries are associated with the group of participants.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

receive an indication of a payment by the group of participants in exchange for eligibility for a group-based secondary game.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which determining the performance score of the group of participants comprises:

determining a total number of lottery numbers of the first plurality of lottery entries and the second plurality of lottery entries;

determining a total number of winning lottery numbers of the first lottery drawing and of the second lottery drawing; and

determining a difference between the total number of lottery numbers and the total number of winning lottery numbers.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which determining the performance score of the group of participants comprises:

determining a total number of lottery numbers of the first plurality of lottery entries and the second plurality of lottery entries;

determining a total number of winning lottery numbers of the first lottery drawing and of the second lottery drawing; and

determining a ratio of the total number of winning lottery numbers to the total number of lottery numbers.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which determining the performance score of the group of participants comprises:

determining a total value of prizes won for the first plurality of lottery entries and the second plurality of lottery entries.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which determining the performance score of the group of participants comprises:

determining a total number of winning lottery entries of the first plurality of lottery entries and the second plurality of lottery entries.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which determining an award based on the performance score comprises:

evaluating the performance score of the group of participants based on a predetermined rule for a group-based secondary game.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a first performance score of the group of participants based on the first plurality of lottery entries and the set of winning numbers for the first lottery drawing.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the central controller is embodied in a web-based group play management system.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the central controller is operated on behalf of at least one lottery authority.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the central controller is operated on behalf of at least one lottery vendor.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the central controller is operated by a third party that is not a lottery authority and is not a lottery vendor.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a second group of participants in the first lottery drawing, the second group having at least two members, in which the second group of participants is not identical to the group of participants;

determine a first plurality of lottery entries associated with the second group of participants, in which each of the first plurality of lottery entries associated with the second group of participants is eligible for the first lottery drawing;

determine a performance score of the second group of participants based on

the first plurality of lottery entries associated with the second group of participants, and

the set of winning numbers for the first lottery drawing; and

in which determining the award for the group of participants based on the performance score of the group of participants comprises:

comparing the performance score of the group of participants to the performance score of the second group of participants.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

an output device in communication with the processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to:

receive an indication of at least a first entry and a second entry associated with a first group of players and eligible for a first lottery drawing of a lottery game,

in which the first entry is associated with a first set of numbers,

in which the second entry is associated with a second set of numbers, and

in which the first group of players is one of a plurality of groups of players eligible for participation in a secondary game;

receive an indication of at least a third entry and a fourth entry associated with the first group of players and eligible for a second lottery drawing of the lottery game,

in which the third entry is associated with a third set of numbers, and

in which the fourth entry is associated with a fourth set of numbers;

determine a set of winning numbers for the first lottery drawing;

determine a set of winning numbers for the second lottery drawing;

determine a group total of numbers matched by the collective entries of the first group of players in the first and second lottery drawings by

comparing the set of winning numbers for the first lottery drawing with the first set of numbers and the second set of numbers, and

comparing the set of winning numbers for the second lottery drawing with the third set of numbers and the fourth set of numbers; and

determine a payout for the first group of players for the secondary game based on the group total of numbers matched in the first and second lottery drawings.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , in which the payout for the first group of players for the secondary game is different than a sum of any respective payouts associated with the first, second, third and fourth entries of the lottery game.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to facilitate pooling of the first, second, third and fourth entries by the members of the first group of players.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to determine that the first group of players is eligible for participation in the secondary game.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a minimum number, greater than one, of lottery drawings that the first group of players must participate in to be eligible for participation in the secondary game; and

determine that the first group of players participated in at least the minimum number of lottery drawings.

27. The apparatus of claim 22 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a plurality of lottery drawings that the first group of players must participate in to be eligible for participation in the secondary game; and

determine that the first group of players participated in each of the plurality of lottery drawings.

28. The apparatus of claim 22 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a minimum number, greater than one, of lottery drawings that the first group of players must participate in during a pre-defined period of time to be eligible for participation in the secondary game; and

determine that the first group of players participated in at least the minimum number of lottery drawings during the pre-defined period of time.

29. The apparatus of claim 22 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a minimum number, greater than one, of lottery entries that must be associated with the first group of players for the first group of players to be eligible for participation in the secondary game; and

determine that at least the minimum number of lottery entries are associated with the first group of players.

30. The apparatus of claim 22 , the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

receive an indication of a payment by the first group of players in exchange for eligibility for participation in the secondary game.