Abstract: A system and method for automatically enrolling users of a website or other network-based service in sweepstakes. A user of 4 user computer system connects to a host computer system hosting a website or other network-based service and is awarded points for accessing features of the website or service. The points are displayed in real-time on the user's computer and transmitted to a database server, which maintains the user's point totals. The user is then automatically given a number of entries in a sweepstakes based on the number of points he or she has been awarded. Users may also be awarded points for accessing features of websites or services of third-party host computer systems.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, means, computer code, and method may include receiving data indicative of information associated with a user, determining a value of a metric associated with the user based on the data indicative of information associated with the user, verifying that the value of the metric associated with the user is valid, selecting an offer from a plurality of offers where each of the offers has a score associated with the value of the metric, and providing data indicative of the selected offer.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically enrolling users of a website or other network-based service in sweepstakes. A user of 4 user computer system connects to a host computer system hosting a website or other network-based service and is awarded points for accessing features of the website or service. The points are displayed in real-time on the user's computer and transmitted to a database server, which maintains the user's point totals. The user is then automatically given a number of entries in a sweepstakes based on the number of points he or she has been awarded. Users may also be awarded points for accessing features of websites or services of third-party host computer systems.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically enrolling users of a website or other network-based service in sweepstakes. A user of a user computer system connects to a host computer system hosting a website or other network-based service and is awarded points for accessing features of the website or service. The points are displayed in real-time on the user's computer and transmitted to a database server, which maintains the user's point totals. The user is then automatically given a number of entries in a sweepstakes based on the number of points he or she has been awarded. Users may also be awarded points for accessing features of websites or services of third-party host computer systems.

Abstract: A game of skill played simultaneously by several players (for example, a live television quiz game) whereby each participant player effectively competes only against players having a similar skill level in order to provide a strong motivation. The system includes a central computer system with each remote participant having a control unit. The control unit either stores and has supplied to it the particular skill level of the player and at the end of the game, only the relative scores at that particular skill level are indicated to that player. The system also provides for effective promotion or updating to a higher skill level of successful players of the game.

Abstract: A game of skill or chance played simultaneously by several participants remote from each other also provides for interleaved interactive advertising. Each participant has a control unit or a personal computer or processor which can handle the interleaved advertising as a separate computer task which means that the other game task can always continue to operate in the background.

Abstract: A method of determining the winners of, for example, a game of skill in conjunction with a football or baseball game without the input of all the scores is provided. By the use of statistical sampling a small fraction of the remote players upload their scores to a central station via a telephone line, for example. Then, when the tentative winners are determined from this small statistical sample, the mass communications link of the system downloads the statistical curve to all of the players and only those players who are equal or better than the winning score telephone. Thus, time and money are saved for the telephone up-link. Furthermore, overcrowding of the telephone system is avoided by a proper delay given the individual remote sources.

Abstract: A game of skill or chance playable by several participants remote from each other in conjunction with a common event, such as a computer game, provides the basic format or template of the game on a floppy disk suitable for use with the remote users' personal computers. Then by connection to a mass communications one way channel, such as an FM SCA channel, variations in the game parameters and characteristics are broadcast at the same time to all of the individual remote players. These characteristics both initialize characteristics of the game and when the game is being played, provide updated playing parameters. A score can later be uploaded to the central station by, for example, telephone lines or any other convenient means.

Abstract: A method of determining the winners of, for example, a game of skill in conjunction with a football or baseball game without the input of all the scores is provided. By the use of statistical sampling a small fraction of the remote players upload their scores to a central station via a telephone line, for example. Then, when the tentative winners are determined from this small statistical sample, the mass communications link of the system downloads the statistical curve to all of the players and only those players who are equal or better than the winning score telephone. Thus, time and money are saved for the telphone up-link. Furthermore, overcrowding of the telephone system is avoided by a proper delay given the individual remote sources.