System and method for purchasing game and lottery tickets

Abstract

A system and method for buying tickets for games or lotteries in which a seller receives predicted game or lottery outcome data communicated from a buyer over a communication path. The seller generates a printed ticket based on the received outcome data and the seller transfers the printed ticket to a custodian that holds the printed ticket on behalf of the buyer. The custodian transmits data relating to the printed ticket to the buyer over the communication path and notifies the buyer if the printed ticket corresponds to an actual game or lottery outcome.

1 . A method for a ticket buyer to buy a bearer ticket for a game or lottery, comprising:
 accessing a web-site of a ticket seller;   indicating acceptance of an agreement providing that a custodian will receive the bearer ticket from the ticket seller and hold the bearer ticket in custody for the ticket buyer's benefit, the custodian being a separate legal entity from the ticket seller and the ticket buyer; and   supplying ticket purchase information to buy the bearer ticket.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the agreement further provides that the ticket seller will deliver the bearer ticket to the custodian. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the agreement further provides that the ticket seller will redeem a winning ticket of less than a certain monetary amount. 
     
     
         4 . A method for a ticket seller to sell a bearer ticket for a game or lottery comprising:
 displaying an agreement to a ticket buyer accessing a web-site selling the bearer ticket, the agreement providing that a custodian will receive the bearer ticket from the ticket seller and hold the bearer ticket in custody for the ticket buyer's benefit, the custodian being a separate legal entity from the ticket seller and the ticket buyer;   receiving a signal indicating the ticket buyer's acceptance of the agreement; and   receiving ticket purchase information from the ticket buyer to buy the bearer ticket.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the agreement further provides that the ticket seller will deliver the bearer ticket to the custodian. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the agreement further provides that the seller will redeem a winning ticket of less than a certain monetary amount. 
     
     
         7 . A storage medium on which executable instructions for performing the method of  claim 4  are tangibly embodied. 
     
     
         8 . A method for a ticket seller to sell a bearer ticket for a game or lottery comprising:
 receiving ticket purchase information to buy the bearer ticket, the ticket purchase information being communicated over the internet from a ticket buyer;   printing out the bearer ticket; and   transferring the printed bearer ticket to a custodian that is a separate legal entity from the ticket seller and the ticket buyer, the custodian holding the printed bearer ticket in custody for the ticket buyer's benefit.