Systems, Apparatus and Methods for Player Accounts for On-Line Lotteries and On-Line Games

Abstract

Systems and methods for player accounts for on-line lotteries and on-line games are described. A player establishes a player account and may associate tickets with the player account by identifying the player's account when purchasing a ticket. The player identifies the account by marking an account identification code unique to the player account on an account identification region of a selection slip, The player may then use an account checking service to obtain information about tickets associated with the player's account. The information provided may include results information, allowing a player to learn whether a ticket is winning ticket without manually checking the ticket. The system is operated using a lottery computer system that includes a lottery database. The lottery database is used to store ticket information relating to tickets, player account information relating to player accounts and ticket association information relating to associations between player account and tickets.

1 - 115 . (canceled) 
   
   
       116 . A method of providing an account checking service, the method comprising:
 providing a lottery computer system including a lottery database;   recording player account information relating to a plurality of player accounts including a first player account in the lottery database, wherein the player account information includes first player account information relating to the first player account;   recording ticket information relating to a plurality of tickets in the lottery database, wherein the tickets include at least a first ticket and a second ticket;   recording ticket association information relating to an association between at least the first and second tickets and the first player account; and   transmitting ticket result information relating to at least some of the tickets associated with the first player account to a player terminal coupled to the lottery computer system.   
   
   
       117 . The method of  claim 116  wherein the ticket result information includes a summary of results for two or more tickets associated with the first player account. 
   
   
       118 . The method of  claim 116  wherein the ticket result information relates to a particular ticket and identifies played numbers that match corresponding winning numbers. 
   
   
       119 . The method of  claim 116  wherein the ticket information is recorded in the lottery database in response to ticket issue requests received from a ticketing vending terminal. 
   
   
       120 . The method of  claim 119  wherein at least some of the ticket issue requests identify a player account, and wherein, with respect to each ticket issue request that identifies a player account, the method includes (i) recording new ticket information in the lottery database based on the ticket issue request and (ii) recording ticket association information between the new ticket information and identified player account. 
   
   
       121 . The method of  claim 116  further including:
 providing a player interface at the player terminal, wherein the player interface is adapted to display the ticket result information.   
   
   
       122 . The method of  claim 116  further including:
 providing a player interface at the player terminal; and   within the player interface, displaying some or all of the ticket result information.   
   
   
       123 . The method of  claim 116  further including:
 providing a player interface at the player terminal; and   within the player interface, displaying information about at least some of the tickets associated with the first player account.   
   
   
       124 . The method of  claim 116  further including:
 providing a player interface at the player terminal; and   within the player interface, displaying summary information about two or more tickets associated with the first player account.   
   
   
       125 . The method of  claim 116  further including:
 providing a player interface at the player terminal; and   within the player interface, displaying a ticket status report about a specific ticket associated with the first player account.   
   
   
       126 . The method of  claim 125  wherein the ticket status report identifies a prize won by the specific ticket. 
   
   
       127 . The method of  claim 116  further including:
 providing a player interface at the player terminal; and   within the player interface, displaying a version of a specific ticket associated with the first player account.   
   
   
       128 . The method of  claim 127  wherein the displayed version of the specific ticket is based at least in part on a printed version of the specific ticket. 
   
   
       129 . The method of  claim 127  wherein displaying the ticket status report includes displaying a comparison of played numbers on the specific ticket and corresponding winning numbers. 
   
   
       130 . The method of  claim 127  wherein the specific ticket is valid for two or more draws and wherein the method includes displaying a comparison of played numbers on the specific ticket and corresponding winning numbers for each of the draws. 
   
   
       131 . A method of providing an account checking service, the method comprising:
 providing a selection slip having a play region and an account identification region   providing a ticket vending terminal adapted to scan the play region and the account identification region;   providing a lottery computer system including a lottery database;   recording player account information relating to a plurality of player accounts including a first player account in the lottery database, wherein the player account information includes first player account information relating to the first player account;   receiving a ticket issue request from the ticket vending terminal, wherein the ticket issue request is based on information marked on the play region and the account identification region, and wherein the information marked on the account identification region identifies the first player account;   recording ticket information relating to a ticket in the lottery database, wherein the ticket corresponds to the ticket issue request;   recording ticket association information relating to an association between the ticket and the first player account; and   transmitting ticket result information relating to a player terminal coupled to the lottery computer system.   
   
   
       132 . The method of  claim 131  further including:
 providing a player interface at the player terminal; and   within the player interface, displaying some or all of the ticket result information.   
   
   
       133 . The method of  claim 131  further including:
 providing a player interface at the player terminal; and   within the player interface, displaying a ticket status report about the ticket.   
   
   
       134 . The method of  claim 133  wherein the ticket status report identifies a prize won by the ticket. 
   
   
       135 . The method of  claim 133  wherein displaying the ticket status report includes displaying a comparison of played numbers on the specific ticket and corresponding winning numbers. 
   
   
       136 . The method of  claim 131  further including:
 providing a player interface at the player terminal; and   within the player interface, displaying a version of the ticket based on a version of the ticket printed at the ticket vending terminal.   
   
   
       137 . The method of  claim 131  wherein the specific ticket is valid for two or more draws and wherein the method includes displaying a comparison of played numbers on the specific ticket and corresponding winning numbers for each of the draws.