Games, lotteries, and sweepstakes and tickets, systems, technologies, and methods related thereto

A game entry and access granting apparatus comprising:

• a game network comprising data transmission equipment, at least one data processor, and at least one data storage device;
• said game network including hardware and/or software particularly configured to control said game network such that it operates to provide a game network access granting hub on which the following method steps are performed:
• an applicant-game-contestant electronically submitting applicant access credentials comprising identifying information to said game network access granting hub, accompanied by a request for access to a network of a plurality of games which are selectively accessible to applicant-game-contestants which have been approved for access to said game network access granting hub;
• said game network access granting hub receiving said applicant access credentials, processing said applicant access credentials, performing steps to verify a true identity of said applicant-game-contestant, and screening said applicant-game-contestant for criteria to permit or deny entry into said network of a plurality of games for participating in game play;
• wherein when said applicant-game-contestant is approved for access to said network of a plurality of games, said applicant-game-contestant is granted access to a plurality of third-party electronic lotteries, sweepstakes, or other games, administered by a third-party electronic game provider;
• and
• wherein said applicant access credentials comprise the face of said applicant-game-contestant, which is detectable using facial recognition technology and is compared to a facial image of said applicant-game-contestant stored in a screening database associated with said game network access granting hub.