Abstract: A method and system which facilitate generation and submission of one or more lottery number entry combinations. The system consists of a smart device operated by a lottery player whereby, the smart device is downloaded with a lottery number generation application and the application is used by the lottery player to communicate via an internet connection to a central system. The central system incorporates a database and database management utility. The central system processes requests from the lottery player to establish a system account, manage monetary funds, and process lottery player's N-tuple number set submissions. The central system will also notify the lottery player by way of the player's email address, text message, or through the application of the final outcome of a lottery drawing previously selected by the lottery player if any number entry submission for the lottery drawing resulted in full or partial winning results.

Abstract: A method and system which facilitate generation and submission of one or more lottery number entry combinations. The system consists of a smart device operated by a lottery player whereby, the smart device is downloaded with a lottery number generation application and the application is used by the lottery player to communicate via an internet connection to a central system. The central system incorporates a database and database management utility. The central system processes requests from the lottery player to establish a system account, manage monetary funds, and process lottery player's N-tuple number set submissions. The central system will also notify the lottery player by way of the player's email address, text message, or through the application of the final outcome of a lottery drawing previously selected by the lottery player if any number entry submission for the lottery drawing resulted in full or partial winning results.

Abstract: At least a method and an apparatus are provided for efficiently generating non-redundant machine-generated quick pick lottery game entries. A computer file is created that includes every possible combination of number groups eligible for being selected for a particular lottery game. The every possible combination within the file is randomly shuffled to create a randomized list of non-redundant entries. A file index with a file index pointer is assigned to the randomized list of non-redundant entries. The file index pointer is set to an initial position in the randomized list of non-redundant entries. Each non-redundant machine-generated lottery game entry is generated by only sequentially incrementing or only sequentially decrementing the file index pointer in the randomized list, and outputting the each non-redundant entry indicated by the file index pointer to a ticket request device.

Abstract: A method of operating a machine-implemented casino-style game includes receiving, with a game machine, a first wager from a human player of the machine-implemented casino-style game, the first wager entitling the human player to a payout if the human player wins the casino-style game, receiving a second wager from the player, the second wager entitling the player to view hidden indicia indicative of the status of machine-implemented game after the game is commenced and to receive a payout if the status of the machine-implemented game matches or exceeds a predetermined criteria, displaying to the player the hidden indicia indicating the position of the machine-implemented game and if the status of the machine-implemented game meets or exceeds the predetermined criteria, providing the human player with a payout.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of conducting an online auction includes the steps of receiving listing information from a seller for creating a listing for a product offered for sale by the seller, enabling the seller to select a chance-based incentive to encourage bidders to bid on the product, storing the listing information in a computer searchable database, the listing information identifying those listings having associated chance-based incentives, receiving one or more search requests including search criteria from one or more bidders, searching a database for products matching the search criteria, transmitting information for those products matching the search criteria such that a list of those products matching the criteria can be displayed to one or more bidders and identifying those products having a chance-based incentive, receiving one or more bids for the product from one or more bidders and identifying a successful bid for the product and the successful bidder placing the successful bid and deter

Abstract: Protection is provided against increases in the price of fuel. As an example, the protection may be provided for an agreed in advance quantity of fuel and/or for an agreed in advance duration.