Lottery game reward system and method

Systems and methods for conducting a lottery game that implements a lottery rewards program are disclosed. The system may include a terminal for providing a game ticket to a player for use in a lottery game play. The game ticket has a randomly assigned redemption point value assigned thereto. The redemption point value includes at least one redemption point for use in a lottery rewards program. The system includes a player interface configured to permit a player to enter game ticket data into the lottery gaming system. The system further includes a controller configured to determine whether the game ticket is a winning game ticket eligible for the payout value of the lottery game play and to award the redemption point value of the game ticket to the player when the game ticket is not a winning ticket. In this manner, the rewards program of the present invention permits players to redeem or collect rewards even if the player loses the lottery game.