Method and system for determining prizewinning status and awarding a prize

摘要

Method for determining prizewinning status and awarding a prize. Most consumer marketing programs which employ a sweepstakes mechanism with prizes depend on game pieces preprinted with codes or words to signify prizewinning status. Furthermore, if such status is determined to be “winning” the holder of the game piece must still physically mail the game piece in for verification before the corresponding prize is awarded. The game pieces themselves are subject to duplication, forgery, manipulation, and other forms of fraud. The number of winners in such programs depends on the number of prizes, the number of game pieces, the flow of the game pieces into distribution, and the number of participants. The method provided herein eliminates the opportunity for fraud associated with game pieces, simplifies the calculation of the number of winnres, and increases the efficiency of determining prizewinning status and awarding prizes.