Methods and apparatus wherein a lottery entry is entered into lottery drawings until the lottery entry is identified as a winner

An apparatus for operating a lottery, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory connected to said processor, said memory storing
• a result of a lottery drawing, and
• a plurality of stored lottery entries;
• said processor operative to
• (a) identify, if said result corresponds to one of said plurality of stored lottery entries, said one of said plurality of stored lottery entries as a winning lottery entry,
• (b) identify a first lottery entry of said plurality of stored entries as a non-winning lottery entry,
• (c) repeat operations (a) and (b) for results of subsequent lottery drawings until said first lottery entry is identified as a winning lottery entry, and
• (d) after said first lottery entry is identified as a winning lottery entry, arranging for said first lottery entry to not be included in subsequent lottery drawings.

An apparatus for operating a lottery, comprising:

• first means for receiving a result of a lottery drawing;
• second means for comparing said result to a plurality of stored lottery entries;
• third means, if said result matches one of said plurality of stored lottery entries, for identifying said one of said plurality of stored lottery entries as a winning lottery entry;
• fourth means for identifying a first lottery entry of said plurality of stored lottery entries as a non-winning lottery entry;
• said first, second, third and fourth means continuing to operate for subsequent lottery drawings until said first lottery entry is identified as a winning lottery entry;
• and
• fifth means for, after said first lottery entry is identified as a winning lottery entry, arranging for said first lottery entry to not be included in subsequent lottery drawings.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer useable medium having program code thereon for operating a lottery, said program code comprising:
• first program code for receiving a result of a lottery drawing;
• second program code for comparing said result to a plurality of stored lottery entries;
• third program code, if said result matches one of said plurality of stored lottery entries, for identifying said one of said plurality of stored lottery entries as a winning lottery entry;
• fourth program code for identifying a first lottery entry of said plurality of stored lottery entries as a non-winning lottery entry;
• said first, second, third and fourth program code continuing to operate for subsequent drawings until said first lottery entry is identified as a winning lottery entry;
• and
• fifth program code for, after said first lottery entry is identified as a winning lottery entry, arranging for said first lottery entry to not be included in subsequent lottery drawings.

A method for processing lottery entries usable in a plurality of lottery drawings, comprising:

• receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry;
• receiving with said request an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• and
• storing said lottery entry.

An apparatus for processing lottery entries usable in a plurality of lottery drawings, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory connected to said processor;
• said processor operative to
• receive a lottery entry, and
• receive with said lottery entry an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a final lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner, and
• store said lottery entry in said memory.

An apparatus for processing lottery entries usable in a plurality of lottery drawings, comprising:

• means for receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry;
• means for receiving with said request an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a final lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• and
• means for storing said lottery entry.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer useable medium having program code thereon for processing lottery entries, said program code comprising:
• program code for receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry;
• program code for receiving with said request an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a final lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• and
• program code for storing said lottery entry.

A method for processing lottery entries usable in a plurality of lottery drawings, comprising:

• receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry;
• receiving with said request an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• and
• transmitting said request with said indicator to a remote lottery authority.

An apparatus for processing lottery entries usable in a plurality of lottery drawings, comprising;

• a processor;
• a memory connected to said processor and storing
• a request to purchase a lottery entry,
• an indicator, with said request, that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• and
• said processor operative to
• transmit said request with said indicator to a remote lottery authority.

An apparatus for processing lottery entries usable in a plurality of lottery drawings, comprising:

• means for receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry;
• means for receiving with said request an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• and
• means for transmitting said request with said indicator to a remote lottery authority.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer useable medium having program code thereon for processing lottery entries, said program code comprising:
• program code for receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry;
• program code for receiving with said request an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• and
• program code for transmitting said request with said indicator to a remote lottery authority.

A method for generating lottery entries usable in a plurality of lottery drawings, comprising:

• receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry;
• receiving with said request an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• generating a ticket number for said lottery entry to validate said lottery entry and said indicator;
• and
• transmitting said ticket number to a remote terminal.

An apparatus for generating lottery entries usable in a plurality of lottery drawings, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory connected to said processor and storing
• a request to purchase a lottery entry, and
• an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• said processor operative to
• generate a ticket number for said lottery entry to validate said lottery entry and
• said indicator, and
• transmit said ticket number to a remote terminal.

An apparatus for generating lottery entries usable in a plurality of lottery drawings, comprising:

• means for receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry;
• means for receiving with said request an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• means for generating a ticket number for said lottery entry to validate said lottery entry and said indicator;
• and
• means for transmitting said ticket number to a remote terminal.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer useable medium having program code thereon for generating lottery entries, said program code comprising:
• program code for receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry;
• program code for receiving with said request an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• program code for generating a ticket number for said lottery entry to validate said lottery entry and said indicator;
• and
• program code for transmitting said ticket number to a remote terminal.

An apparatus for pricing a lottery entry, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory connected to said processor and storing a request to purchase a lottery entry, said request including an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• said processor operative to
• calculate a price for said lottery entry, said price based at least in part on the
• inclusion of said indicator, and
• store said price in said memory.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer useable medium having program code thereon for pricing lottery entries, said program code comprising:
• program code for receiving a request to purchase a lottery entry, said request including an indicator that said lottery entry is to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• and
• program code for calculating a price for said lottery entry, said price based at least in part on the inclusion of said indicator.

An apparatus for reporting the status of a lottery entry, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory connected to said processor and storing a lottery entry of a type to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• said processor operative to
• receive a request for a status of said lottery entry, and
• output said status of said lottery entry.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a computer useable medium having program code thereon for reporting a status of lottery entries, said program code comprising:
• program code for receiving a request for a status of a lottery entry, said lottery entry of a type to (i) be entered into a plurality of lottery drawings until a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner and (ii) not be entered into lottery drawings after a lottery drawing identifies said lottery entry as a winner;
• and
• program code for outputting said status of said lottery entry.

A method of operating a lottery, comprising:

• arranging for each of a plurality of players to be associated with a plurality of lottery entries, the plurality of players providing payment of a plurality of entry fees;
• conducting a lottery drawing to determine that a first lottery entry is a winning lottery entry;
• arranging for a player associated with the first lottery entry to receive a payment including at least a portion of the plurality of entry fees;
• and
• automatically entering a second lottery entry in at least one subsequent lottery drawing based on the performance of the second lottery entry in at least one previous lottery drawing.