Method and apparatus for conducting a game of chance

• US 20060068876A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gamelogic Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Mark E., Kane, Steven N., Sabet, Bijan, Hardy, Dow
• Granted Patent: US 8,025,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A system and method are provided for playing a game of chance. The game of chance may include, for example, a lottery-type game. A result of the game of chance is revealed to a player in another medium. In one example, the result is revealed during multiple game instances of one or more online games. In one example, the online game includes a game similar to the well-known game of BEJEWELED.

Claims

1. A method for playing a game of chance comprising acts of:

issuing a ticket associated with the game of chance to a player, the ticket including a code printed on a surface of the ticket;

providing for the player to play another game on a different medium than the issued ticket;

wherein conducting the another game comprises acts of;

providing a plurality of elements arranged in a grid;

associating, with at least one of the elements, at least one result;

providing for a selection, by the player, to exchange at least two elements adjacent to each other among the plurality of elements;

removing three or more similar elements arranged linearly within the grid; and

revealing the at least one result associated with the play of the another game.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the three or more similar elements each share a common characteristic.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of revealing results of the game of chance to the player, wherein the code is used to gain security access to the results of the game of chance, and wherein the code is used to gain security access to play the another game.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of revealing the at least one result to the player when the at least one of the elements associated with the at least one result is removed.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of moving an element selected by the player to a location within the grid selected by the player.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the location is adjacent to at least one location occupied by an element that shares a common characteristic with the element selected by the player.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the three or more similar elements are matching elements.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising acts:

permitting the player to select a first element displayed in a first location in the grid;

permitting the player to select a second element displayed in a second location in the grid; and

displaying the first element in the second location and displaying the second element in the first location following a selection of the first element and a selection of the second element by the player.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the another game is a computer-based game and the different medium is a computer.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one result is at least a partial result of the game of chance.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one of the elements associated with the at least one result includes indicia indicating that the at least one of the elements is associated with the at least partial result of the game of chance.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising an act of revealing the at least partial result of the game of chance when the at least one of the elements associated with the at least one result is removed from the grid.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one of the elements associated with the at least one result is included in the three or more similar elements.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least partial result is an amount of prize money.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least partial result is a total amount of prize money associated with a game instance of the another game.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the results of the game of chance include points.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least partial result is one of a multiplier used to multiply a point total accumulated by the player.

18. The method according to claim 9, further comprising an act of providing a plurality of matching elements upon completion of a game instance of the another game to reveal at least a partial result of the game of chance.

19. The method according to claim 9, further comprising acts of:

permitting the player to select both a first element located at a first location within the grid and a second element located at a second location within the grid; and

moving the first element to the second location and moving the second element to the first location following a selection of the first element and the second element.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the first element and the second element are included among the three or more similar elements.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the three or more similar elements are arranged linearly in one of a column and a row in the grid.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein at least one of the three or more similar elements is associated with a prize, and wherein the method further comprises an act of awarding the prize to the player.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising an act of associating the prize with a corresponding pay table entry.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the prize awarded to the player is predetermined.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein an act of removing an element associated with the prize is independent of an act of determining the prize awarded by the act of awarding.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein the computer-based game is timed, and wherein the act of awarding the prize to the player comprises an act of adding playing time to the game.

27. The method according to claim 22, wherein the player is awarded points when an element is removed from within the interface, and wherein the act of awarding the prize to the player comprises an act of increasing a point total of the player.

28. The method according to claim 22, wherein, prior to the act of selecting, an element associated with the prize includes a visual indication that it is associated with the prize.

29. The method according to claim 9, further comprising an act of revealing to the player an item associated with a second level game.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the item associated with the second level game is used by the player to play the second level game, and wherein the item is used to reveal a prize won by the player.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the item associated with the second level game is a spin provided in the another game, and wherein the method further comprises acts of:

permitting the player, in the second level game, to spin a slot machine game, the slot machine game having an associated pay table;

determining and displaying an outcome of the slot machine game; and

awarding a prize to the player if the slot machine outcome matches at least one entry of the associated pay table.

32. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of providing the player with an additional opportunity to reveal results of the game of chance outside of the another game.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the act of providing the player with the additional opportunity comprises an act of providing a separate game in which the player reveals results of the game of chance.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the act of providing a separate game comprises an act of providing a number matching game, and wherein the method further comprises acts of:

associating one or more numbers with the player;

associating one or more numbers with a win opportunity; and

determining whether the one or more numbers associated with the player match the one or more numbers associated with the win opportunity.