Prepaid wagering card

Abstract

A prepaid wagering card and a system and method for playing the lottery over a telephone line using the prepaid wagering card are provided. The prepaid wagering card includes information that makes it convenient to obtain the prepaid wagering card and use it to wager sets of numbers listed thereon, while also ensuring that the information remains secure. Participating in a lottery using the prepaid wagering card simply involves calling a wagering system from a telephone and providing requested information. Thus, a user can purchase a prepaid wagering card and decide on which scheduled lottery to actually wager using the prepaid wagering card.

1 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . A method for facilitating wagering with a lottery system comprising:
 receiving an indication from a traditional lottery retailer or a non-traditional lottery retailer point of sale that a prepaid wagering card has been activated;   updating the prepaid wagering card information in a database, the prepaid wagering card information comprising
 identification information configured to facilitate identification of the prepaid wagering card, 
 an indication the prepaid wagering card has been activated, and 
 a value of the prepaid wagering card; 
   in response to inquiry from the lottery system, verifying activation of the prepaid wagering card;   subsequent to verifying activation, receiving wager information from the lottery system;   transferring funds to the lottery system based on the wager information; and   updating the prepaid wagering card information in the database based on the wager information.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising receiving funds from the traditional lottery retailer or the non-traditional lottery retailer point of sale subsequent to activation of the prepaid wagering card. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the prepaid wagering card is a gift card. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the database contains identification information for a plurality of prepaid wagering cards. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein verifying activation of the prepaid wagering card includes identifying an original value of the prepaid wagering card. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein updating the prepaid wagering card information in the database based on the wager information includes determining a new value of the prepaid wagering card based on an original value of the prepaid wagering card and a wager amount. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein verifying activation of the prepaid wagering card includes identifying the new value of the prepaid wagering card. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising:
 in response to a second inquiry from the lottery system, verifying activation of the prepaid wagering card;   subsequent to verifying activation, receiving second wager information from the lottery system;   transferring funds to the lottery system based on the second wager information; and   updating the prepaid wagering card information in the database based on the second wager information.   
     
     
         71 . A method of wagering with a prepaid card wagering system comprising:
 establishing a communication session between a holder of a prepaid wagering card and the prepaid card wagering system via a user interface of the prepaid card wagering system;   receiving prepaid wager card identification information from the cardholder;   requesting verification of activation of the prepaid wagering card identified by the cardholder from a third party via a network connection;   receiving information regarding the prepaid wagering card activation and value from the third party;   prompting the cardholder to input wager information, the wager information comprising a lottery game selection and a wager amount;   transmitting the cardholder wager information the third party via the network connection; and   providing to the prepaid wagering card cardholder confirmation of completion of the wager.   
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the prepaid wagering card is a gift card. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein prompting the cardholder to input wager information includes listing allowable wager amounts based on the value of the prepaid wagering card transmitted by the third party. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising receiving funds corresponding to the wager amount from the third party. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein establishing a communication session includes establishing a connection via the internet. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the network connection is an internet connection. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the confirmation of completion of wager includes a printable confirmation code. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 78 , further comprising subsequent to conclusion of a lottery game selected by the cardholder, receiving a request for verification of authenticity of confirmation code from the traditional lottery retailer or the non-traditional lottery retailer point of sale asked to redeem a winning wager. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78 , further comprising verifying authenticity of the confirmation code and acknowledging the winning wager, if a winning wager was placed. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein acknowledging the winning wager includes providing a prize amount to be awarded. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the prepaid card wagering system is a state lottery system.