Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate lottery ticket transactions. A request to purchase a lottery ticket is received, the lottery ticket being associated with a lottery number combination, such as a limited number of lottery tickets or a limited number of players. An indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with a limited number of occurrences is also received. For example, an indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with only a single lottery ticket may be received. A price associated with the lottery ticket is determined based on the received indication. According to one embodiment, the price is increased by a predetermined amount based on the received indication.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating a lottery gaming system. In one embodiment, a player playing an electronic instant lottery game on a player device accumulates occurrences of a bonus symbol during a duration comprising at least two outcomes. The occurrences of the bonus symbol may be tracked by means of a running count. The running count may be increased with each occurrence of a tracked bonus symbol and the player provided with a bonus if the running count is at least equal to a predetermined number. The accumulated occurrences of the bonus symbol may also expire in some embodiments of the present invention. Expiration of an occurrence of a bonus symbol may occur, for example, after a predetermined time period or a predetermined number of outcomes from the time of the occurrence of the bonus symbol.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for facilitating play of a game with user-selected elements. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a set of all possible elements of a game is determined. Each of the elements of the set is associated with at least one of a plurality of locations. A representation of the plurality of locations is displayed to a player, defining a set of selectable locations. At least one selection signal is received, with each selection signal indicating a selectable location from the set of selectable locations, indicating at least one selected element. An outcome is determined based on the at least one selected element.

Abstract: A method and system for connecting a caller to a content provider who provides a service to the caller over the telephone system is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, a transaction processor (i.e., debit card platform) is disclosed which generally receives a telephone call from a caller identifying (a) a first account identifier corresponding to a balance of a first account, the balance of the first account being associated with an amount of available funds, and (b) a content provider identifier corresponding to a telephone number of the content provider. The debit card platform establishes a telephone connection between the caller and the content provider to enable the content provider to provide a service to the caller through the telephone connection.

Abstract: A system and method is provided by which players participating in a primary lottery drawing may elect to participate in a second, or derivative lottery drawing (a “meta-game”). In one embodiment, a meta-game is conducted by first registering a plurality of lottery entries to define a group. The group wins an award in the meta-game if the plurality of lottery entries of the group fail to win an award above a predetermined threshold in the primary lottery drawing.

Abstract: A system and method is provided by which players participating in a primary lottery drawing may elect to participate in a second, or derivative lottery drawing (a “meta-game”). In one embodiment, a meta-game is conducted by first registering a plurality of lottery entries to define a group. The group wins an award in the meta-game if the plurality of lottery entries of the group fail to win an award above a predetermined threshold in the primary lottery drawing.

Abstract: A billing statement according to one aspect of the invention includes a description of a transaction and an offer pointer associated with the transaction, wherein the offer pointer includes information that may be used to review an offer. In one example of this aspect, the offer pointer is a telephone number printed adjacent to a description of a transaction on a credit card billing statement. The telephone number accesses a voice response system presenting conditional branches through which a consumer can navigate to review an offer. In another example, a hyperlink is positioned adjacent to a total amount owed listed on an electronically-displayed billing statement. The hyperlink may be selected to access a website presenting offers for review by the consumer. The offers reviewed in each of these examples may be customized based on details of the transaction such as the product purchased or the amount of the purchase, the identity of the consumer, and/or on other data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for dispensing a product at a toll station. In accordance with the present invention, a first method is disclosed for distributing a product at a toll station. The method includes receiving an account identifier to identify an account. The method further includes outputting an offer to distribute a product. The offer may include offer criteria such as price in the case of a sale, or rental period, rental fee and extra fees such as late fees in the case of a rental. The method further includes detecting acceptance of the offer and dispensing the product. The method also includes processing a transaction based on the account identifier and the offer criteria.

Abstract: A dispensing device is equipped to monitor product demand and consumer traffic that passes by the machine. The dispensing device collects and analyzes product demand data to determine optimal product stocking, to offer products to undecided consumers and to offer substitute products when a selected product is out of stock. The substitute product may be determined according to which alternate product historically has the highest demand when a particular selected product is unavailable. Alternatively, the substitute product may be determined according to which stocked item has an imminent expiration date. Also, the substitute product may be predetermined by an operator of a vending machine or may be determined by other factors. The substitute product may further be offered to the customer at a discounted price.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment of the present invention provides for: receiving data indicating a request by a player for an automated session, in which the automated session comprises a plurality of lottery outcomes; determining at least one parameter associated with the automated session; determining at least one lottery outcome; and providing the at least one lottery outcome based on the at least one parameter.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides for determining a first gaming session; determining a rank of the first gaming session; determining at least one gaming session, each at least one gaming session of the first set having a respective rank that is not higher than the rank of the first gaming session, determining data corresponding to the at least one gaming session; determining at least one bonus based on the data; and applying the at least one bonus to the first gaming session.

Abstract: A dispensing device, such as a vending machine, is equipped to monitor product demand and consumer traffic that passes by the machine. The dispensing device collects and analyzes product demand data to determine optimal product stocking, to offer products to undecided consumers and to offer substitute products when a selected product is out of stock. The substitute product may be determined according to which alternate product historically has the highest demand when a particular selected product is unavailable. Alternatively, the substitute product may be determined according to which stocked item has an imminent expiration date. Also, the substitute product may be predetermined by an operator of a vending machine or may be determined by other factors. The substitute product may further be offered to the customer at a discounted price.

Abstract: An electronic amusement device and method is disclosed for rewarding a player of a game based on the activity of other players. The method includes the step of determining the initiation of a player gaming session in which at least one play has been concluded. Such a play might include the conclusion of the spin of the reels of a slot machine, or the completion of a hand of video poker. The method also includes the step of determining a set of subsequent gaming sessions in which each of these sessions is initiated after the initiation of the player gaming session. Payouts are determined for each of these subsequent gaming sessions and a bonus is determined based on at least one of these payouts, the bonus being applied to the player gaming session. The disclosed slot machine implements the method of the present invention.

Abstract: A gaming device awards the players that hit the jackpot winning combination the base value of the progressive jackpot rather than the current amount. The progressive nature of the jackpot system does not affect a player's winning amount until after the win takes place. A player who wins the progressive jackpot of this invention receives a payout equal to the base value of the jackpot and subsequently continues to earn a percentage of the coins wagered at each of the machines linked to the progressive jackpot from his win until the next win.