Patent ID: 7727063

Claim:
A method comprising: determining, by a lottery server comprising a processer, a total number of occurrences of a first symbol in at least two predetermined outcomes for a player in an instant lottery game, in which determining the total number of occurrences of the first symbol comprises determining, by a lottery server for each occurrence of the first symbol in the at least two predetermined outcomes for the player in the instant lottery game, a period of time of a predetermined fixed length, wherein after the respective period of time following a respective time of the occurrence, the respective occurrence expires, and determining, by a lottery server, for each occurrence of the first symbol, whether the respective period of time has passed following the respective time of the respective occurrence; determining, by the lottery server, that the total number of occurrences of the first symbol is not less than a first minimum number of occurrences greater than one; and providing a bonus to the player in response to determining that the total number of occurrences of the first symbol in the at least two predetermined outcomes for the player is not less than the first minimum number of occurrences.