Lottery game based on letter puzzles

• US 20060046825A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games LLC (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games International Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Bozeman, Alan Kyle, Penrice, Stephen Gerard
• Granted Patent: US 7,819,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A system and method for a lottery game. The game includes a plurality of puzzles, where each puzzle is a concatenation of characters including letters, wherein some characters are missing from each puzzle. A player selects a set of characters from a predefined set of characters and if the select set of characters includes a solution for at least one puzzle, the player may receive a prize.

Claims

1. A method for playing a lottery game, comprising the steps of:

accepting an entry composed of a set of characters;

drawing a set of puzzles, each puzzle being a concatenation of characters,

wherein a subset of characters is missing from at least one puzzle;

comparing the entry with each puzzle to determine if the entry solves that puzzle, wherein an entry solving a puzzle if the entry contains the missing letters for that puzzle;

determining if the entry is a winning entry based upon if the entry solves one or more puzzles; and

awarding a prize to a winning entry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of drawing further comprising randomly selecting a set of puzzles based on a probability distribution of sets of puzzles that is either explicit or implicit in the drawing mechanism.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein there is a probability distribution such that the return to the player is the same for all entries.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of drawing further comprising the steps of:

selecting sets of letters; and

for each set of letters, retrieving a puzzle from a database such that the set of letters comprises the missing letters for that puzzle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of selecting sets of letters further comprising the steps of:

randomly selecting permutations from groups of letters;

randomly selecting a function subject to a probability distribution;

taking as input to the function the permutations of letters; and

the function outputting sets of letters.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of issuing a ticket listing the entry.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of drawing occurs at predetermined intervals and the drawn set of puzzles applies to a group of entries.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of drawing occurs instantly and applies to an individual player.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the drawn set of puzzles is disclosed on a paper ticket.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the drawn set of puzzles is disclosed electronically.

11. A method for playing a lottery game, comprising the steps of:

receiving a game entry at a game station, the game entry having a plurality of characters;

a set of puzzles being produced and displayed at the game station, a puzzle being a concatenation of letters wherein some characters are missing;

comparing the game entry against each at least one puzzle;

determining if the game entry is a winning entry based upon the entry solving one or more puzzles; and

awarding a prize if the game entry contains the missing letters for certain or enough puzzles.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of issuing a ticket from the game station listing the game entry.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the set of puzzles being produced and displayed step of drawing occurs at predetermined intervals.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the set of puzzles being produced and displayed occurs instantly and applies to an individual player.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the set of puzzles is disclosed on the ticket.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the set of puzzles is displayed at the game station.

17. A method for playing a lottery game, comprising:

a step for accepting an entry composed of a set of characters;

a step for drawing a set of puzzles, each puzzle being a concatenation of characters, wherein a subset of characters is missing from at least one puzzle;

a step for comparing the entry with each puzzle to determine if the entry solves that puzzle, wherein an entry solving a puzzle if the entry contains the missing letters for that puzzle; and

a step for determining if the entry is a winning entry based upon the entry solving one or more puzzles; and

a step for awarding a prize to a winning entry.