Method and apparatus for providing separate prizes in a multi-priced lottery game

Abstract

A process provides a lottery game. The process indicates a first price category and a second price category from which a lottery player can purchase a lottery ticket. The second price is a maximum price. Further, the process indicates a first prize distribution that can be won with a lottery ticket purchased from the first price category that has a match of a predetermined quantity of numbers between a set of player numbers appearing on the lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and a randomly selected set of numbers. In addition, the process indicates a second prize distribution that can be won with a lottery ticket purchased from the second price category that has a match between the set of player numbers appearing on the lottery ticket purchased from the second price category and the randomly selected set of numbers.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing a lottery game;   indicating a first price category and a second price category from which a lottery player can purchase a lottery ticket, the second price category having a second price that is greater than a first price in the first price category, the second price being a maximum price;   indicating a first prize distribution that can be won with a lottery ticket purchased from the first price category that has a match of a predetermined quantity of numbers between a set of player numbers appearing on the lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and a randomly selected set of numbers, the first prize distribution being a first known percentage of a prize;   indicating a second prize distribution that can be won with a lottery ticket purchased from the second price category that has a match between the set of player numbers appearing on the lottery ticket purchased from the second price category and the randomly selected set of numbers, the second prize distribution being a second known percentage of the prize, the second known percentage of the prize being less than the prize, the second known percentage of the prize being greater than the first known percentage of the prize;   generating the randomly selected set of numbers;   providing the first prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category is the only winning lottery ticket in the lottery game;   providing an intra-shared distribution of the first prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category if the winning lottery tickets purchased from the first price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game;   providing the second prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category is the only winning lottery ticket in the lottery game;   providing an intra-shared distribution of the second prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery tickets purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game;   providing the first prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game;   providing the first prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second intra-shared prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the plurality of winning lottery tickets purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game;   providing the first intra-shared prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second prize distribution to a to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the plurality of lottery tickets purchased from the first price category and the lottery ticket purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game; and   providing the first intra-shared prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second intra-shared prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the plurality of lottery tickets purchased from the first price category and the plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category have winning lottery tickets in the lottery game.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prize equals a sum of the first prize distribution and the second prize distribution. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prize is a jackpot prize. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prize is a fixed prize. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein payment of the prize is guaranteed by a third party entity. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a progressive prize in addition to the prize such that a lottery player with a winning lottery ticket wins a percentage of the prize and a percentage of the progressive prize. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is a same percentage as the percentage of the prize associated with the price category from which the winning lottery ticket was purchased. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is determined independently from the price category from which the winning lottery ticket was purchased. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is one hundred percent for a lottery player with a winning lottery ticket irrespective of which price category the winning lottery ticket was purchased from by the lottery player. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is one hundred percent and is shared evenly by a plurality of lottery players with winning lottery tickets irrespective of the price categories from which the plurality of lottery players purchased the winning lottery tickets. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first association between the first prize distribution and the first price category has a variable ratio with a second association between the second prize distribution and the second price category, the first association being the first prize divided by the first price category, the second association being the second prize divided by the second price category, the variable ratio being a non-zero value that results from the difference between the second association and the first association. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first association between the first prize distribution and the first price category has a constant ratio with a second association between the second prize distribution and the second price category, the first association being the first prize divided by the first price category, the second association being the second prize divided by the second price category, the constant ratio being a zero value that results from the difference between the second association and the first association. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prize includes at least a portion of revenue received from lottery ticket sales from the first price category and at least a portion of revenue received from lottery ticket sales from the second price category. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating the randomly selected set of numbers is performed in a single drawing. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the single drawing includes a single set of balls. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the single drawing includes a single ball hopper. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the single drawing includes multiple sets of balls. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the single drawing includes multiple ball hoppers. 
   
   
       19 . A method comprising:
 providing a lottery game;   indicating a first price category and a second price category from which a lottery player can purchase a lottery ticket, the second price category having a second price that is greater than a first price in the first price category, the second price being a maximum price;   indicating a first prize distribution that can be won with a lottery ticket purchased from the first price category that has a match of a predetermined quantity of numbers between a set of player numbers appearing on the lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and a randomly selected set of numbers;   indicating a second prize distribution that can be won with a lottery ticket purchased from the second price category that has a match between the set of player numbers appearing on the lottery ticket purchased from the second price category and the randomly selected set of numbers;   generating the randomly selected set of numbers;   providing the first prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category is the only winning lottery ticket in the lottery game;   providing an intra-shared distribution of the first prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category if the winning lottery tickets purchased from the first price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game;   providing the second prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category is the only winning lottery ticket in the lottery game;   providing an intra-shared distribution of the second prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery tickets purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game;   providing the first prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game;   providing the first prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second intra-shared prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the plurality of winning lottery tickets purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game;   providing the first intra-shared prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second prize distribution to a to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the plurality of lottery tickets purchased from the first price category and the lottery ticket purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game; and   providing the first intra-shared prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second intra-shared prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the plurality of lottery tickets purchased from the first price category and the plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category have winning lottery tickets in the lottery game.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second prize distribution includes at least a portion of revenue received from lottery ticket sales from the first price category and at least a portion of revenue received from lottery ticket sales from the second price category. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first prize distribution includes at least a portion of revenue received from lottery ticket sales from the first price category and at least a portion of revenue received from lottery ticket sales from the second price category. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing a progressive prize in addition to the first prize distribution and the second prize distribution such that a lottery player with a winning lottery ticket wins a prize distribution based on the price category from which the lottery ticket was purchased in addition to a percentage of the progressive prize. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is a percentage equaling a percentage representing the prize distribution associated with the price category from which the lottery ticket was purchased in comparison with a sum of each prize distribution provided for each price category, the sum of each prize distribution provided for each price category excluding the progressive prize. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is determined independently from the price category from which the winning lottery ticket was purchased. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is one hundred percent for a lottery player with a winning lottery ticket irrespective of which price category the winning lottery ticket was purchased from by the lottery player. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is one hundred percent and is shared evenly by a plurality of lottery players with winning lottery tickets irrespective of the price categories from which the plurality of lottery players purchased the winning lottery tickets. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is one hundred percent and is shared evenly by a plurality of lottery players with winning lottery tickets irrespective of the price categories from which the plurality of lottery players purchased the winning lottery tickets. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the generating the randomly selected set of numbers is performed in a single drawing. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the single drawing includes a single set of balls. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the single drawing includes a single ball hopper. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the single drawing includes multiple sets of balls. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the single drawing includes multiple ball hoppers. 
   
   
       33 . A method comprising:
 providing a lottery game;   indicating a first price category and a second price category from which a lottery player can purchase a lottery ticket, the second price category having a second price that is greater than a first price in the first price category;   indicating a first prize distribution that can be won with a lottery ticket purchased from the first price category that has a match of a predetermined quantity of numbers between a set of player numbers appearing on the lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and a randomly selected set of numbers, the first prize distribution being a first known percentage of a prize;   indicating a second prize distribution that can be won with a lottery ticket purchased from the second price category that has a match between the set of player numbers appearing on the lottery ticket purchased from the second price category and the randomly selected set of numbers, the second prize distribution being a second known percentage of the prize, the second known percentage of the prize being less than the prize, the second known percentage of the prize being greater than the first known percentage of the prize;   generating the randomly selected set of numbers;   providing the first prize distribution if a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category is the only winning lottery ticket in the lottery game;   providing an intra-shared distribution of the first prize distribution if a plurality of lottery tickets purchased from the first price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game;   providing the second prize distribution if a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category is the only winning lottery ticket in the lottery game;   providing an intra-shared distribution of the second prize distribution if a plurality of winning lottery tickets purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game;   providing the first prize distribution and a second prize distribution if a winning lottery ticket is purchased from the first price category and a winning lottery ticket is purchased from the second price category without any other lottery tickets being winning lottery tickets;   providing the first prize distribution and the second intra-shared prize distribution if a winning lottery ticket is purchased from the first price category and a plurality of winning lottery tickets are purchased from the second price category without any other lottery tickets being winning lottery tickets;   providing the first intra-shared prize distribution and the second prize distribution if a plurality of winning lottery tickets are purchased from the first price category and a winning lottery ticket is purchased from the second price category without any other lottery tickets being winning lottery tickets; and   providing the first intra-shared prize distribution and the second intra-shared prize distribution if a plurality of winning lottery tickets are purchased from the first price category and a plurality of winning lottery tickets are purchased from the second price category.   
   
   
       34 . A method comprising:
 providing a lottery game;   indicating a plurality of distinct price categories from which a lottery player can purchase a lottery ticket, each of the plurality of distinct price categories having a distinct associated price;   indicating, for each distinct price category, a distinct prize distribution that can be won with a lottery ticket purchased if the lottery ticket has a match of a predetermined quantity of numbers between a set of player numbers appearing on the lottery ticket purchased from the distinct price category and a randomly selected set of numbers;   generating the randomly selected set of numbers;   providing the distinct prize distribution associated with a price category if a winning lottery ticket purchased from the price category is the only winning lottery ticket in the lottery game;   providing an intra-shared distribution of the distinct prize distribution associated with a price category if a plurality of lottery tickets purchased from the price category has the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game;   providing the distinct prize distribution associated with a price category and the intra-shared distribution of the distinct prize distribution associated with a different price category if a winning lottery ticket purchased from the price category is a winning lottery ticket in the lottery game and a plurality of winning lottery tickets purchased from the different price category has winning lottery tickets; and   providing the intra-shared distribution of the distinct prize distribution associated with a price category and the intra-shared distribution of the distinct prize distribution associated with the different price category if a plurality of winning lottery tickets purchased from the price category has winning lottery tickets and a plurality of winning lottery tickets purchased from the different price category has winning lottery tickets.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the distinct prize distribution is a known percentage of a prize. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the prize includes at least a portion of revenue received from lottery ticket sales from the plurality of distinct price categories 
   
   
       37 . A lottery ticket dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a payment module that receives payment for purchase of a lottery ticket that provides participation in a lottery game, the lottery game indicating (i) a first price category and a second price category from which a lottery player can purchase a lottery ticket, the second price category having a second price that is greater than a first price in the first price category, (ii) a first prize distribution that can be won with a lottery ticket purchased from the first price category that has a match of a predetermined quantity of numbers between a set of player numbers appearing on the lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and a randomly selected set of numbers, the first prize distribution being a first known percentage of a prize, (iii) a second prize distribution that can be won with a lottery ticket purchased from the second price category that has a match between the set of player numbers appearing on the lottery ticket purchased from the second price category and the randomly selected set of numbers, the second price being a maximum price, the second prize distribution being a second known percentage of the prize, the second known percentage of the prize being less than the prize, the second known percentage of the prize being greater than the first known percentage of the prize, the first prize distribution being provided to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category is the only winning lottery ticket in the lottery game, an intra-shared distribution of the first prize distribution being provided to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category if the winning lottery tickets purchased from the first price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game, the second prize distribution being provided to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category is the only winning lottery ticket in the lottery game, an intra-shared distribution of the second prize distribution being provided to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery tickets purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game, the first prize distribution being provided to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game, the first prize distribution being provided to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second intra-shared prize distribution being provided to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the plurality of winning lottery tickets purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game, the first intra-shared prize distribution being provided to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the plurality of lottery tickets purchased from the first price category and the lottery ticket purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game, the first intra-shared prize distribution being provided to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second intra-shared prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the plurality of lottery tickets purchased from the first price category and the plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category have winning lottery tickets in the lottery game; and   a lottery ticket printer that prints a lottery ticket for the lottery game.   
   
   
       38 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the prize equals a sum of the first prize distribution and the second prize distribution. 
   
   
       39 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the prize is a jackpot prize. 
   
   
       40 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the prize is a fixed prize. 
   
   
       41 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein payment of the prize is guaranteed by a third party entity. 
   
   
       42 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein a progressive prize is provided in addition to the prize such that a lottery player with a winning lottery ticket wins a percentage of the prize and a percentage of the progressive prize. 
   
   
       43 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is a same percentage as the percentage of the progressive prize associated with the price category from which the winning lottery ticket was purchased. 
   
   
       43 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is determined independently from the price category from which the winning lottery ticket was purchased. 
   
   
       44 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is one hundred percent for a lottery player with a winning lottery ticket irrespective of which price category the winning lottery ticket was purchased from by the lottery player. 
   
   
       45 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is one hundred percent and is shared evenly by a plurality of lottery players with winning lottery tickets irrespective of the price categories from which the plurality of lottery players purchased the winning lottery tickets. 
   
   
       46 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein a first association between the first prize distribution and the first price category has a variable ratio with a second association between the second prize distribution and the second price category, the first association being the first prize divided by the first price category, the second association being the second prize divided by the second price category, the variable ratio being a non-zero value that results from the difference between the second association and the first association. 
   
   
       47 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein a first association between the first prize distribution and the first price category has a constant ratio with a second association between the second prize distribution and the second price category, the first association being the first prize divided by the first price category, the second association being the second prize divided by the second price category, the constant ratio being a zero value that results from the difference between the second association and the first association. 
   
   
       48 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the prize includes at least a portion of revenue received from lottery ticket sales from the first price category and at least a portion of revenue received from lottery ticket sales from the second price category. 
   
   
       49 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the generating the randomly selected set of numbers is performed in a single drawing. 
   
   
       50 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the single drawing includes a single set of balls. 
   
   
       51 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the single drawing includes a single ball hopper. 
   
   
       52 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the single drawing includes multiple sets of balls. 
   
   
       53 . The lottery ticket dispensing apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the single drawing includes multiple ball hoppers. 
   
   
       54 . An electronic lottery game apparatus comprising:
 a display module that indicates price categories for an electronic lottery game, the electronic lottery game indicating (i) a first price category and a second price category from which a lottery player can purchase an electronic lottery ticket, the second price category having a second price that is greater than a first price in the first price category, (ii) a first prize distribution that can be won with an electronic lottery ticket purchased from the first price category that has a match of a predetermined quantity of numbers between a set of player numbers appearing on the electronic lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and a randomly selected set of numbers, the first prize distribution being a first known percentage of a prize, (iii) a second prize distribution that can be won with an electronic lottery ticket purchased from the second price category that has a match between the set of player numbers appearing on the electronic lottery ticket purchased from the second price category and the randomly selected set of numbers, the second price being a maximum price, the second prize distribution being a second known percentage of the prize, the second known percentage of the prize being less than the prize, the second known percentage of the prize being greater than the first known percentage of the prize, the first prize distribution being provided to a lottery player having a winning electronic lottery ticket purchased from the first price category if the winning electronic lottery ticket purchased from the first price category is the only winning electronic lottery ticket in the lottery game, an intra-shared distribution of the first prize distribution being provided to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning electronic lottery ticket purchased from the first price category if the winning lottery tickets purchased from the first price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game, the second prize distribution being provided to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category is the only winning electronic lottery ticket in the lottery game, an intra-shared distribution of the second prize distribution being provided to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning lottery tickets purchased from the second price category are the only winning electronic lottery tickets in the lottery game, the first prize distribution being provided to a lottery player having a winning electronic lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning electronic lottery electronic ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning electronic lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the winning electronic lottery ticket purchased from the second price category are the only winning electronic lottery tickets in the lottery game, the first prize distribution being provided to a lottery player having a winning electronic lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second intra-shared prize distribution being provided to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning electronic lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the winning electronic lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the plurality of winning electronic lottery tickets purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game, the first intra-shared prize distribution being provided to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning electronic lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second prize distribution to a lottery player having a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the plurality of electronic lottery tickets purchased from the first price category and the electronic lottery ticket purchased from the second price category are the only winning lottery tickets in the lottery game, the first intra-shared prize distribution being provided to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning electronic lottery ticket purchased from the first price category and the second intra-shared prize distribution to a plurality of lottery players that each have a winning electronic lottery ticket purchased from the second price category if the plurality of lottery tickets purchased from the first price category and the plurality of lottery players that each have a winning lottery ticket purchased from the second price category have winning electronic lottery tickets in the electronic lottery game;   a payment module that receives payment from a lottery player for the electronic lottery ticket; and   a processor that compares the set of player numbers to the set of drawn numbers to determine a potential match.   
   
   
       55 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the prize equals a sum of the first prize distribution and the second prize distribution. 
   
   
       56 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the prize is a jackpot prize. 
   
   
       57 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the prize is a fixed prize. 
   
   
       58 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein payment of the prize is guaranteed by a third party entity. 
   
   
       59 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein a progressive prize is provided in addition to the prize such that a lottery player with a winning lottery ticket wins a percentage of the prize and a percentage of the progressive prize. 
   
   
       60 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is a same percentage as the percentage of the progressive prize associated with the price category from which the winning lottery ticket was purchased. 
   
   
       61 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 59 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is determined independently from the price category from which the winning lottery ticket was purchased. 
   
   
       62 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is one hundred percent for a lottery player with a winning lottery ticket irrespective of which price category the winning lottery ticket was purchased from by the lottery player. 
   
   
       63 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 61 , wherein the percentage of the progressive prize is one hundred percent and is shared evenly by a plurality of lottery players with winning lottery tickets irrespective of the price categories from which the plurality of lottery players purchased the winning lottery tickets. 
   
   
       64 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein a first association between the first prize distribution and the first price category has a variable ratio with a second association between the second prize distribution and the second price category, the first association being the first prize divided by the first price category, the second association being the second prize divided by the second price category, the variable ratio being a non-zero value that results from the difference between the second association and the first association. 
   
   
       65 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein a first association between the first prize distribution and the first price category has a constant ratio with a second association between the second prize distribution and the second price category, the first association being the first prize divided by the first price category, the second association being the second prize divided by the second price category, the constant ratio being a zero value that results from the difference between the second association and the first association. 
   
   
       66 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the prize includes at least a portion of revenue received from lottery ticket sales from the first price category and at least a portion of revenue received from lottery ticket sales from the second price category. 
   
   
       67 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the generating the randomly selected set of numbers is performed in a single drawing. 
   
   
       68 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein the single drawing includes a single set of balls. 
   
   
       69 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 68 , wherein the single drawing includes a single ball hopper. 
   
   
       70 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein the single drawing includes multiple sets of balls. 
   
   
       71 . The electronic lottery game apparatus of  claim 70 , wherein the single drawing includes multiple ball hoppers.