Method and system for globally accessible offshore lottery game

Abstract

A lottery game and system that is accessible online, is played only when predetermined participation related conditions are satisfied and has a tiered or pyramid-like distribution method for distributing jackpots.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A lottery game system having a set of processor readable instructions, said system comprising: 
 means for communicating with a processor for processing said set of processor readable instructions;    a website accessible on a network of computers and processable from a central processing unit capable of reading and processing said set of processor readable instructions;    at least one database for storing data related to the game system, said data including preselected state lottery numbers from at least one preselected state, at least one game to be selected for play, participant related information including authorization to play and account information for receiving and distributing funds, said account information including information related to at least one financial institution account;    means for receiving finds from at least one participant;    means for dispersing a predetermined percentage of funds to a predetermined account of the participant and an account of an operator of said system;    means for selecting previously drawn state lottery winning number combinations;    means for randomly drawing numbers from said state lottery winning number combinations to derive a winning number combination;    means for allowing participants to pick play number combinations;    means for comparing said play number combinations with said winning number combination; and    means for determining a winner based on said comparison.    
     
     
         2 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said website comprises: 
 means for contractually binding participants;    a plurality of web pages including a home page, registration page, contact information page, membership page for receiving new members, a play page for selecting and initiating a game and a rules and regulations page.    
     
     
         3 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said system comprises: 
 security means for controlling access to preselected pages within said website so as to prevent access to unauthorized visitors or participants.    
     
     
         4 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said system comprises: 
 means for registering participants and forming a list of registered participants eligible to play said at least one game.    
     
     
         5 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said account data comprises: 
 merchant account information for processing funds related to the game operator;    escrow account information for processing funds related to the participant; and    host account information for receiving and distributing funds to said merchant account and said escrow account and for processing financial account information related to the participants and operators.    
     
     
         6 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said system comprises: 
 means for transferring funds from said host account to said escrow account and said merchant account.    
     
     
         7 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said means for determining a winner comprises: 
 determining which participants match the most play number combinations with said winning number combination.    
     
     
         8 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said system comprises: 
 means for tracking and fixing the number of tickets of tickets that can and must be purchased for each game before initiating a drawing.    
     
     
         9 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said system comprises: 
 means for guaranteeing at least one winner per game so long as at least one correct number is selected by the player and comprises the most numbers picked.    
     
     
         10 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said system comprises: 
 means for providing a credit to participants that played a previous game where there were no winners when they play again.    
     
     
         11 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said system comprises: 
 means for managing player account player information and verifying the status of a participant's previously identified and selected financial account that is used for making payments to play.    
     
     
         12 . A system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said system comprises: 
 means for preventing unauthorized persons from playing said game and accessing account information.    
     
     
         13 . A system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said system comprises: 
 means for securing communication with s aid accounts so as to prevent access from unauthorized persons.    
     
     
         14 . A method for providing and playing a lottery game that is played on a computer network, said method comprising the steps of: 
 facilitating the selection of a predetermined number of numbers from a predetermined set of numbers by participants so as to define play number combinations;    selecting a winning number combination from at least one state drawn winning number combination;    comparing said participants' play number combinations with said winning number combination; and    determining a winner based on the participants' play number combinations that match the most numbers from the participants' play number combinations with the winning number combinations.    
     
     
         15 . A game as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said method further comprises: 
 providing a credit at a predetermined percentage to players that play a subsequent game when there were no winners in the previously played game.    
     
     
         16 . A game as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said step of selecting a winning number combination comprises: 
 randomly selecting a winning number combination from a plurality of state drawn winning number combinations.    
     
     
         17 . A game as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said method further comprises: 
 electronically dispersing funds to a winning participant's predetermined financial account.