Method and apparatus for electronic random prize distribution with fixed prize inventory and unknown participant count

An apparatus for dynamically adjusting a probability of winning at least one of a plurality of prizes for a contest, given a fixed prize inventory and an a priori unknown number of participants, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to:
• determine a variable probability of winning at least one of said prizes by approximately dividing a current number of participants in said contest by a current number of prizes awarded;
• dynamically adjust said variable probability based on a variable probability multiplier, wherein said variable probability multiplier is obtained by dividing a current number of winners in a predefined time interval by a remaining number of prizes in said predefined time interval, wherein said current number of winners in said predefined time interval is substantially equal to said current number of prizes awarded divided by an elapsed number of said predefined time intervals in said contest, and wherein said remaining number of prizes in said predefined time interval is substantially equal to the fixed prize inventory minus said current number of prizes awarded divided by the total number of said predefined time intervals in said contest minus said elapsed number of said predefined time intervals in said contest;
• and
• award one or more of said at least one of said plurality of prizes based on said adjusted variable probability.

An article of manufacture for dynamically adjusting a probability of winning at least one of a plurality of prizes for a contest, given a fixed prize inventory and an a priori unknown number of participants, comprising a tangible computer readable recordable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:

• determining a variable probability of winning at least one of said prizes by approximately dividing a current number of participants in said contest by a current number of prizes awarded;
• dynamically adjusting said variable probability based on a variable probability multiplier, wherein said variable probability multiplier is obtained by dividing a current number of winners in a predefined time interval by a remaining number of prizes in said predefined time interval, wherein said current number of winners in said predefined time interval is substantially equal to said current number of prizes awarded divided by an elapsed number of said predefined time intervals in said contest, and wherein said remaining number of prizes in said predefined time interval is substantially equal to the fixed prize inventory minus said current number of prizes awarded divided by the total number of said predefined time intervals in said contest minus said elapsed number of said predefined time intervals in said contest;
• and
• awarding one or more of said at least one of said plurality of prizes based on said adjusted variable probability.