System and method for pooling lottery chances

Abstract

A system and methods for facilitating player participation in a lottery. The present system and methods provide players with the ability to pool their purchases in order to increase their chances of winning. In addition, the system provides players with the ability to purchase tickets through the Internet and can automatically notify players when they have won, the amount they have won and provides the winnings securely into an electronic account.

1 . An apparatus for facilitating player participation in a lottery, said apparatus comprising: 
 a Web server connected to the Internet containing software that, when executed by said Web server, causes said Web server to: 
 provide the player with access to an account;  
 securely electronically transfer funds between the account and a player's source of funds; and  
 permit said player to participate in a lottery pool wherein said lottery tickets entered and winnings from said tickets are shared among pool participants.  
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said software further causes said Web server to permit said player to enter lottery numbers purchased by said player.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said software further causes said Web server to determine if a ticket won.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said software further causes said Web server to notify the player of an amount that said player won.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said software further causes said Web server to automatically transfer a pool participant's winning share into the account.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a computing interface coupled to said central state lottery computer and to said Web server that submits lottery ticket numbers to said central lottery computer and provides purchase confirmation information of lottery tickets purchased to said Web server.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said software further causes said Web server to automatically purchase a predefined number of tickets for said pool participant.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said software further causes said Web server to automatically purchase tickets for said pool participant when the probabilistic worth of a ticket is more than a price to purchase said ticket.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said pool consists of a single player.  
   
   
       10 . A method of playing a lottery, said method comprising: 
 establishing an account for receipt and withdraw of electronic funds;    purchasing a lottery ticket; and    entering said ticket in a lottery pool, wherein said lottery tickets entered and winnings from said tickets are shared among pool participants.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein entering the ticket comprises entering lottery numbers of a ticket purchased by said player.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising automatically determining if a ticket won.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising automatically notifying the player of an amount that said player won.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising automatically transferring a pool participant's winning share into the account.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the ticket is automatically purchased.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising automatically purchasing a predefined number of tickets for said pool participant.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising automatically purchase tickets for said pool participant when the probabilistic worth of a ticket is more than a price to purchase said ticket.  
   
   
       18 . An electronic media containing a program software product, that, when loaded and executed on a general purpose computer, causes the computer to: 
 establish an account for receipt and withdraw of electronic funds;    permit a player to enter lottery numbers of a ticket purchased by said player;    permit a player to enter said ticket in a lottery pool, wherein said lottery tickets entered and winnings from said tickets are shared among pool participants;    determine if a ticket won; and    notify the player of an amount that said player won.    
   
   
       19 . The electronic media of  claim 18 , wherein the program software product contained thereon, when loaded and executed on a general purpose computer, causes the computer to purchase a lottery ticket for the player using funds from the account.  
   
   
       20 . The electronic media of  claim 18 , wherein the program software product contained thereon, when loaded and executed on a general purpose computer, causes the computer to perform one or more of the following tasks: 
 transfer a pool participant's winning share into the account;    purchase a predefined number of tickets for said pool participant; and    purchase tickets for said pool participant when the probabilistic worth of a ticket is more than a price to purchase said ticket.