System and method for facilitating recurring series of drawings

Abstract

Aspects of the invention provide systems and methods for facilitating a recurring series of distinct drawings (e.g., lottery, sweepstakes, raffles, etc.), for a prize or a variety of prizes (e.g., from one source or a variety of sources), over an extended period of time, or for an open-ended period of time. In addition, a user can enter the recurring series of drawings through a single registration (e.g., entry into a drawing database). The entrant will be continuously entered into the series of recurring drawings until the entrant is removed from the database, e.g., opts out of the system. In one embodiment, preferences and attributes can be determined for each entrant and these preferences and attributes can be used to enter the entrant into a customized series of recurring drawings.

1 . A computer-implemented method of facilitating a recurring series of drawings, the method comprising:
 entering at least one entrant into a database of eligible drawing entrants;   entering the at least one entrant into a drawing in a recurring series of drawings based on inclusion of the at least one entrant in the database; and   automatically continuing to enter the at least one entrant into subsequent drawings in the recurring series of drawings until the entrant is removed from the database.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 setting at least one preference for the at least one entrant; and   determining a customized subset of the recurring series of drawings in which to enter the entrant based on the at least one preference.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one preference is provided by direct input from the at least one entrant. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one preference is determined from available information related to the at least one entrant. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 setting at least one attribute for the at least one entrant; and   determining a customized subset of the series of recurring drawings in which to enter the entrant based on the at least one attribute.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one attribute is provided by direct input from the at least one entrant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one attribute is determined from available information related to the at least one entrant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting a winner of at least one drawing from all entrants included in the database at a given point in time. 
     
     
         9 . A computer system for facilitating a recurring series of drawings, the computer system comprising:
 a component configured to enter at least one entrant into a database of eligible drawing entrants;   a component configured to enter the at least one entrant into a drawing in a recurring series of drawings based on inclusion of the at least one entrant in the database; and   a component configured to automatically continue to enter the at least one entrant into subsequent drawings in the recurring series of drawings until the entrant is removed from the database.   
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a component configured to set at least one preference for the at least one entrant; and   a component configured to determine a customized subset of the recurring series of drawings in which to enter the entrant based on the at least one preference.   
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one preference is provided by direct input from the at least one entrant. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one preference is determined from available information related to the at least one entrant. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a component configured to set at least one attribute for the at least one entrant; and   a component configured to determine a customized subset of the recurring series of drawings in which to enter the entrant based on the at least one attribute.   
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one attribute is provided by direct input from the at least one entrant. 
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one attribute is determined from available information related to the at least one entrant. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 9 , further comprising selecting a winner of at least one drawing from all entrants included in the database at a given point in time. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program comprising program code embodied in at least one computer-readable medium, which when executed, enables a computer system to implement a method of facilitating a recurring series of drawings, the method comprising:
 entering at least one entrant into a database of eligible drawing entrants;   entering the at least one entrant into a drawing in a recurring series of drawings based on inclusion of the at least one entrant in the database; and   automatically continuing to enter the at least one entrant into subsequent drawings in the recurring series of drawings until the entrant is removed from the database.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 setting at least one of: a preference and an attribute for the at least one entrant; and   determining a customized subset of the recurring series of drawings in which to enter the entrant based on the preference or the attribute.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the preference and the attribute are provided by direct input from the at least one entrant or are determined from available information related to the at least one entrant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising selecting a winner of at least one drawing from all entrants included in the database at a given point in time.