Systems and methods for conducting lottery games

Abstract

Described are methods, systems and apparatus for enabling a lottery player to receive information corresponding to a lottery outcome in association with receipt of an incoming communication. In an implementation, the method includes receiving an indication of an incoming communication, determining a lottery entry outcome, and determining an audible output based on the lottery entry outcome and on the indication of the incoming communication. The method also includes outputting the audible output via a player device to indicate both the incoming communication and the lottery entry outcome.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising;
 receiving, by a player device comprising at least one processor, an indication of an incoming communication;   determining, by the player device, a lottery entry outcome of at least one lottery game;   determining, by the player device, an audible output based on the lottery entry outcome and on the indication of the incoming communication; and   outputting the audible output via the player device,
 the audible output indicating both the incoming communication and the lottery entry outcome. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the audible output comprises:
 determining that the lottery entry outcome is a winning lottery entry outcome; and   selecting a ringtone that indicates the winning lottery entry outcome.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the audible output comprises:
 determining that the lottery entry outcome is a losing lottery entry outcome; and   selecting a ringtone that indicates the losing lottery entry outcome.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving an indication of an incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of a text message. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving an indication of an incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of an email. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving an indication of an incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of a telephone call. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving an indication of an incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of a voicemail. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the information associated with the at least one lottery game on the player device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining an initiating party based on the indication of the incoming communication. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein outputting the audible output occurs only if the initiating party corresponds to a party identified by a lottery player. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the lottery entry outcome comprises randomly determining the lottery entry outcome based on a probability associated with the lottery game. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to, prior to outputting the audible output, determine that a player condition has been satisfied. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor; and   a storage device operably connected to the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to:
 receive an indication of an incoming communication; 
 determine a lottery entry outcome of at least one lottery game; 
 determine an audible output based on the lottery entry outcome and on the indication of the incoming communication; and 
 output the audible output via the player device,
 the audible output indicating both the incoming communication and the lottery entry outcome. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein determining the audible output comprises:
 determining that the lottery entry outcome is a winning lottery entry outcome; and   selecting a ringtone that indicates the winning lottery entry outcome.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein determining the audible output comprises:
 determining that the lottery entry outcome is a losing lottery entry outcome; and   selecting a ringtone that indicates the losing lottery entry outcome.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein receiving an indication of an incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of a text message. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein receiving an indication of an incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of an email. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein receiving an indication of an incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of a telephone call. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein receiving an indication of an incoming communication comprises receiving an indication of a voicemail. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to store the information associated with the at least one lottery game on the player device. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to determine an initiating party based on the indication of the incoming communication. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein outputting the audible output occurs only if the initiating party corresponds to a party identified by a lottery player. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein determining the lottery entry outcome comprises randomly determining the lottery entry outcome based on a probability associated with the lottery game. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to, prior to outputting the audible output, determine that a player condition has been satisfied. 
     
     
         25 . A method, comprising:
 receiving an indication of payment for at least one lottery entry outcome;   providing the at least one lottery entry outcome to a player device;   receiving an indication of an incoming communication to the player device,
 wherein the incoming communication comprises at least one of:
 a telephone call, 
 a text message, 
 a voicemail and 
 an email; 
 
   selecting a lottery entry outcome;   determining that the selected lottery entry outcome is a winning lottery entry outcome; and   in response to receiving the indication of the incoming communication to the player device, instructing the player device to provide an audible output that indicates both the incoming communication and the winning lottery entry outcome.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the audible output comprises a ringtone. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor in communication with at least one player device; and   a storage device operably connected to the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to:
 receive an indication of payment for at least one lottery entry outcome; 
 provide the at least one lottery entry outcome to a player device; 
 receive an indication of an incoming communication to the player device,
 wherein the incoming communication comprises at least one of:
 a telephone call, 
 a text message, 
 a voicemail and 
 an email; 
 
 
 select a lottery entry outcome; 
 determine that the selected lottery entry outcome is a winning lottery entry outcome; and 
 in response to receiving the indication of the incoming communication to the player device, instruct the player device to provide an audible output that indicates both the incoming communication and the winning lottery entry outcome. 
   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the audible output comprises a ringtone.