System and method for providing a contest-based game

• US 20060160597A1
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Integrated Group Assets Inc.
• Original Assignee: Integrated Group Assets Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US11/347,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160597A1
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A method of multiple pricing for a predetermined shared jackpot in a contest-based game is disclosed. For instance, a contest-based game ticket that is purchased for one dollar can result in a five million dollar win, a contest-based game ticket that is purchased for two dollars can result in a ten million dollar win, a contest-based game ticket that is purchased for three dollars can result in a fifteen million dollar win, etc. Further, different winnings increments can be used. For instance, the three-dollar ticket can result in a twenty million dollar win. In addition, the contest-based game prize can be a variable prize that progressively increases with a percentage of each ticket sold. The determination of the winner of a contest-based game as described herein is made based on the player'"'"'s prediction of occurrences that can transpire in association with a contest such as a sporting event or racing event, or a series of such events.

Claims

1. A method for providing a multi-priced contest-based game, the method comprising:

providing a first-price category in which a first-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a first price, wherein the first-price contest-based game ticket displays a first plurality of player-selected symbols, wherein the first plurality of player-selected symbols is chosen by a first purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential occurrences associated with a sporting contest, wherein the first-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if at least one of the first plurality of player-selected symbols is a winning symbol, wherein the winning symbol corresponds to a potential occurrence that is correctly predicted, wherein the first-price category indicates a first known percentage of a prize that can be won by the first-price contest-based game ticket;

providing a second-price category in which a second-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a second price, wherein the second-price contest-based game ticket displays a second plurality of player-selected symbols, wherein the second plurality of player-selected symbols is chosen by a second purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential occurrences associated with the sporting contest, wherein the second-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if at least one of the second plurality of player-selected symbols is the winning symbol, wherein the winning symbol corresponds to a potential occurrence that is correctly predicted, wherein the second-price category indicates a second known percentage of a prize that can be won by the second-price contest-based game ticket, wherein the prize includes at least a portion of the revenue provided from a plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets and at least a portion of the revenue provided from a plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets;

providing a first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the first category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to a first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula;

providing a second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the second category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to a second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula; and

providing a divided first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize, a divided second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize, and an inter-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket and if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to the divided first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to the divided second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize with each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets according to an inter-sharing distribution formula.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the potential occurrences correspond to a plurality of sporting contests, and wherein The contest-based game is a sport pool game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sporting contest is a soccer match.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sporting contest is a football game, a basketball game, a baseball game, a volleyball game, a hockey game, a tennis match, a rugby match, or a boxing match.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sporting contest is a horse race, a dog race, a car race, a skiing race, a skating race, or a track meet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the prize is a jackpot.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the prize is a progressive jackpot.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the prize is a fixed prize.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sporting contest is a tournament.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selectable symbols further corresponds to potential outcomes of the sporting contest.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the winning ticket wins based on the number of occurrences that were correctly predicted.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the inter-sharing formula is a weighted distribution that provides a larger portion of the first percentage to winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets.

13. The method of claim 1, providing a third-price category in which a third-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a third price, wherein the third-price contest-based game ticket displays a third plurality of player-selected symbols, wherein the third plurality of player-selected symbols is chosen by the purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential occurrences associated with the sporting contest, wherein the third-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if at least one of the third plurality of player-selected symbols is a winning symbol, wherein the winning symbol corresponds to a potential occurrence that is correctly predicted, wherein the third-price category indicates a third known percentage of a prize that can be won by the third-price contest-based game ticket.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a third-price category intra-shared distribution of the third known percentage of the prize if at least one of the contest-based game tickets in a plurality of third-price contest-based game tickets has the winning symbol, wherein the third-price category is the only price category having the winning symbol, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of third-price contest-based game tickets shares the third known percentage of the prize according to a third-price category intra-sharing distribution formula.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing the divided first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize, the divided second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize, the divided third-price category intra-shared distribution of the third known percentage of the prize, and the inter-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the contest-based game tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets has the winning symbol, if at least one of the contest-based game tickets in the plurality of second-price category contest-based game tickets has the winning symbol, and if at least one of the contest-based game tickets in the plurality of third-price contest-based game tickets has the winning symbol, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to the divided first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to the divided second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of third-price contest-based game tickets shares the third known percentage of the prize according to the divided third-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets and each of the winning tickets in the plurality of third-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize with each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets according to a first triplet inter-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of third-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize with each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets according to a second triplet inter-sharing distribution formula.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize is guaranteed by a third party.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize is guaranteed by a third party.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the divided first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize, the divided second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize, and the inter-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize are guaranteed by a third party.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a secondary prize if at least one of the contest-based game tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets has a partially winning symbol, wherein a partially winning symbol represents an occurrence associated with a portion of the sporting contest.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a secondary prize if at least one of the contest-based game tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets has a partially winning symbol, wherein a partially winning symbol represents an occurrence associated with a portion of the sporting contest.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an add-on game in the first-price category contest-based game ticket and the second-price category contest-based game ticket.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the add-on game in the first-price category contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a first pre-established add-on price, and wherein the add-on game in the second-price category contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a second pre-established add-on price.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the add-on game in the first-price category contest-based game ticket can be offered at no additional cost, and wherein the add-on game in the second-price category contest-based game ticket can be offered at no additional cost.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein a winner of the add-on game is determined based on occurrences associated with the sporting contest.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein a winner of the add-on game is determined based on occurrences associated with a secondary sporting contest.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the add-on game is not a contest-based game.

27. A method for providing a multi-priced contest-based game, the method comprising:

providing a first-price category in which a plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets can be purchased at a first price, wherein each of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets displays a first plurality of symbols corresponding to a first selection of sporting contests, wherein a ticket in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a first-price winning ticket if a predetermined number of sporting contests of the first selection of sporting contests have a predetermined outcome, wherein the first-price category indicates a first known percentage of a prize that can be won by the first-price winning ticket;

providing a second-price category in which a plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets can be purchased at a second price, wherein each of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets displays a second plurality of symbols corresponding to a second selection of sporting contests, wherein a ticket in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a second-price winning ticket if a predetermined number of sporting contests of the second selection of sporting contests have a predetermined outcome, wherein the second-price category indicates a second known percentage of a prize that can be won by the second-price winning ticket, wherein the prize includes at least a portion of the revenue provided from the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets and at least a portion of the revenue provided from the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets;

providing a first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the first category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to a first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula;

providing a second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the second category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to a second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula; and

providing a divided first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize, a divided second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize, and an inter-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket and if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to the divided first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to the divided second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize with each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets according to an inter-sharing distribution formula.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first predicted occurrence is different than the second predicted occurrence.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the first predicted occurrence is the same as the second predicted occurrence.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the contest-based game is a sport pool game.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the sporting contest is a soccer match.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the sporting contest is a football game, basketball game, a baseball game, a volleyball game, a hockey game, a tennis match, a rugby match, or a boxing match.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the sporting contest is a horse race, a dog race, a car race, a skiing race, a skating race, or a track meet.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the prize is a jackpot.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the prize is a progressive jackpot.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the prize is a fixed prize.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the inter-sharing formula is a weighted distribution that provides a larger portion of the first percentage to winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets.

38. A method for providing a multi-priced contest-based game, the method comprising:

providing a first-price category in which a first-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a first price, wherein the first-price contest-based game ticket displays a first player-selected symbol, wherein the first player-selected symbol is chosen by a first purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential occurrences associated with a sporting contest, wherein the first-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if the first player-selected symbol is a first winning symbol, wherein the first winning symbol corresponds to a potential occurrence that is correctly predicted, wherein the first-price category indicates a first known percentage of a prize that can be won by the first-price contest-based game ticket;

providing a second-price category in which a second-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a second price, wherein the second-price contest-based game ticket displays a second player-selected symbol, wherein the second player-selected symbol is chosen by a second purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential occurrences associated with the sporting contest, wherein the second-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if the second player-selected symbol is a second winning symbol, wherein the second winning symbol corresponds to a potential occurrence that is correctly predicted, wherein the second-price category indicates a second known percentage of a prize that can be won by the second-price contest-based game ticket, wherein the prize includes at least a portion of the revenue provided from a plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets and at least a portion of the revenue provided from a plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets;

providing a first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the first category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to a first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula; and

providing a second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the second category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to a second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising providing a guarantee of payment of the first-price category intra-shared distribution and a guarantee of payment of the second-price category intra-shared distribution, wherein the grantee is in exchange for a stipulation of a percentage of ticket sales revenue from the first-price category contest-based game tickets and from the second-price category contest-based game tickets, wherein the guarantee is provided prior to commencement of ticket sales in the contest-based game.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising receiving the percentage of the ticket sales revenue.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the guarantee ensures that that the payment of the prize will be made even if the ticket sales are not sufficient in amount to satisfy a prize-payment obligation.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the guarantee ensures that the payment of the prize will be made even if the percentage of the ticket sales revenue allocated to prizes is not sufficient in amount to satisfy the prize-payment obligation.

43. A method for providing a multi-priced contest-based game, the method comprising:

providing a first-price category in which a plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets can be purchased at a first price, wherein each of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets displays a first symbol corresponding to a first predicted occurrence associated with a sporting contest, wherein a ticket in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a first-price winning ticket if the predicted occurrence represented by the symbol in the first-price winning ticket occurs in association with the sporting contest, wherein the first-price category indicates a first known percentage of a prize that can be won by the first-price winning ticket;

providing a second-price category in which a plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets can be purchased at a second price, wherein each of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets displays a second symbol corresponding to a second predicted occurrence associated with the sporting contest, wherein a ticket in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a second-price winning ticket if the second predicted occurrence represented by the second symbol in the second-price winning ticket occurs in association with the sporting contest, wherein the second-price category indicates a second known percentage of a prize that can be won by the second-price winning ticket, wherein the prize includes at least a portion of the revenue provided from the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets and at least a portion of the revenue provided from the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets;

providing a first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the first category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to a first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula; and

providing a second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the second category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to a second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula.

44. The method of claim 43, providing a divided first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize, a divided second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize, and an inter-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket and if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to the divided first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to the divided second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, and wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize with each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets according to an inter-sharing distribution formula.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the inter-sharing formula is a weighted distribution that provides a larger portion of the first percentage to winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets.

46. The method of claim 45, providing a guarantee of payment of the first-price category intra-shared distribution and a guarantee of payment of the second-price category intra-shared distribution, wherein the guarantee is in exchange for a stipulation of a percentage of ticket sales revenue from the first-price category contest-based game tickets and from the second-price category contest-based game tickets, wherein the guarantee is provided prior to commencement of ticket sales in the contest-based game.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising receiving the percentage of the ticket sales revenue.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the guarantee ensures that that the payment of the prize will be made even if the ticket sales are not sufficient in amount to satisfy a prize-payment obligation.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the guarantee ensures that the payment of the prize will be made even if the percentage of the ticket sales revenue allocated to prizes is not sufficient in amount to satisfy the prize-payment obligation.

50. A multi-priced contest-based game system, comprising:

a first-price category module that provides a first-price category in which a first-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a first price, wherein the first-price contest-based game ticket displays a player-selected symbol, wherein the player-selected symbol is chosen by the purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential occurrences associated with a sporting contest, wherein the first-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if the player-selected symbol is a winning symbol, wherein the winning symbol corresponds to a potential occurrence that is correctly predicted, wherein the first-price category indicates a first known percentage of a prize that can be won by the first-price contest-based game ticket;

a second-price category module that provides a second-price category in which a second-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a second price, wherein the second-price contest-based game ticket displays a player-selected symbol, wherein the player-selected symbol is chosen by the purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential occurrences associated with the sporting contest, wherein the second-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if the player-selected symbol is the winning symbol, wherein the winning symbol corresponds to a potential occurrence that is correctly predicted, wherein the second-price category indicates a second known percentage of a prize that can be won by the second-price contest-based game ticket, wherein the prize includes at least a portion of the revenue provided from a plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets and at least a portion of the revenue provided from a plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets;

a first price intra-shared distribution module that provides a first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the first category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to a first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula; and

a second price intra-shared distribution module that provides a second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the second category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to a second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising a divided first-price category intra-shared distribution module that provides a divided first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize, a divided second-price category intra-shared distribution module that provides a divided second known price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize, and an inter-shared distribution module that provides an inter-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket and if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to the divided first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to the divided second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize with each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets according to an inter-sharing distribution formula.

52. The method of claim 50, a third-price category module that provides a third-price category in which a third-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a third price, wherein the third-price contest-based game ticket displays a player-selected symbol, wherein the player-selected symbol is chosen by the purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential occurrences associated with the sporting contest, wherein the third-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if the player-selected symbol is a winning symbol, wherein the winning symbol corresponds to a potential occurrence that is correctly predicted, wherein the third-price category indicates a third known percentage of a prize that can be won by the third-price contest-based game ticket;

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising a third-price category intra-shared distribution module that provides a third-price category intra-shared distribution of the third known percentage of the prize if at least one of the contest-based game tickets in a plurality of third-price contest-based game tickets has the winning symbol, wherein the third-price category is the only price category having the winning symbol, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of third-price contest-based game tickets shares the third known percentage of the prize according to a third-price category intra-sharing distribution formula.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising a divided third-price category intra-shared distribution module that provides a divided third-price category intra-shared distribution of the third known percentage of the prize, if at least one of the contest-based game tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets has a winning symbol, if at least one of the contest-based game tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based same tickets has a winning symbol, and if at least one of the contest-based game tickets in the plurality of third-price contest-based game tickets has a winning symbol, wherein the inter-shared distribution module provides an inter-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to the divided first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to the divided second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of third-price contest-based game tickets shares the third known percentage of the prize according to the divided third-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets and each of the winning tickets in the plurality of third-price contest-based game tickets shares the fist known percentage of the prize with each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets according to a first triplet inter-sharing distribution formula, and wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of third-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize with each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets according to a second triplet inter-sharing distribution formula.

55. A method for providing a multi-priced contest-based game, the method comprising:

providing a first-price category in which a first-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a first price, wherein the first-price contest-based game ticket displays a first player-selected symbol, wherein the first player-selected symbol is chosen by a first purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential occurrences associated with a contest, wherein the first-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if the first player-selected symbol is a winning symbol, wherein the winning symbol corresponds to a potential occurrence that is correctly predicted, wherein the first-price category indicates a first known percentage of a prize that can be won by the first-price contest-based game ticket;

providing a second-price category in which a second-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a second price, wherein the second-price contest-based game ticket displays a second player-selected symbol, wherein the second player-selected symbol is chosen by a second purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential occurrences associated with the contest, wherein the second-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if the second player-selected symbol is the winning symbol, wherein the winning symbol corresponds to a potential occurrence that is correctly predicted, wherein the second-price category indicates a second known percentage of a prize that can be won by the second-price contest-based game ticket, wherein the prize includes at least a portion of the revenue provided from a plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets and at least a portion of the revenue provided from a plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets;

providing a first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the first category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to a first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula;

providing a second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of second-place contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the second category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to a second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula; and

providing a divided first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize, a divided second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize, and an inter-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price content-based game tickets is a winning ticket and if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to the divided first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to the divided second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize with each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets according to an inter-sharing distribution formula.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the contest-based game is a sport pool game.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the contest is a soccer match, a football game, a basketball game, a baseball game, a volleyball game, a hockey game, a tennis match, a rugby match, or a boxing match.

58. The method of claim 55, wherein the contest is a horse race, a dog race, a car race, a skiing race, a skating race, or a track meet.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein the prize is a jackpot.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein the prize is a progressive jackpot.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein the prize is a fixed prize.

62. The method of claim 55, wherein the contest is a tournament.

63. The method of claim 55, wherein the plurality of selectable symbols further corresponds to potential outcomes of the contest.

64. The method of claim 55, wherein the winning ticket wins based on the number of occurrences that were correctly predicted.

65. A method for providing a multi-priced contest-based game, the method comprising:

providing a first-price category in which a first-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a first price, wherein the first-price contest-based game ticket displays a first player-selected symbol, wherein the first player-selected symbol is chosen by a first purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential outcomes of a contest, wherein the first-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if the first player-selected symbol is a winning symbol, wherein the winning symbol corresponds to a potential outcome that is correctly predicted, wherein the first-price category indicates a first known percentage of a prize that can be won by the first-price contest-based game ticket;

providing a second-price category in which a second-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a second price, wherein the second-price contest-based game ticket displays a second player-selected symbol, wherein the second player-selected symbol is chosen by a second purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential outcomes of the contest, wherein the second-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if the second player-selected symbol is the winning symbol, wherein the winning symbol corresponds to a potential outcome that is correctly predicted, wherein the second-price category indicates a second known percentage of a prize that can be won by the second-price contest-based game ticket, wherein the prize includes at least a portion of the revenue provided from a plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets and at least a portion of the revenue provided from a plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets;

providing a first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the first category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to a first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula;

providing a second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the second category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to a second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula; and

providing a divided first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize, a divided second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize, and an inter-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket and if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to the divided first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to the divided second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize with each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets according to an inter-sharing distribution formula.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the contest-based game is a sport pool game.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein the contest is a soccer match.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein the contest is a football game, a basketball game, a baseball game, a volleyball game, a hockey game, a tennis match, a rugby match, or a boxing match.

69. The method of claim 65, wherein the contest is a horse race, a dog race, a car race, a skiing race, a skating race, or a track meet.

70. The method of claim 65, wherein the prize is a jackpot.

71. The method of claim 65, wherein the prize is a progressive jackpot.

72. The method of claim 65, wherein the prize is a fixed prize.

73. The method of claim 65, wherein the contest is a tournament.

74. The method of claim 65, wherein the plurality of selectable symbols further corresponds to potential occurrences associated with the contest.

75. The method of claim 65, wherein the winning ticket wins based on the number of outcomes that were correctly predicted.

76. A method for providing a multi-priced contest-based game, the method comprising:

providing a first-price category in which a first-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a first price, wherein the first-price contest-based game ticket displays a first player-selected symbol, wherein the first player-selected symbol is chosen by a first purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential occurrences associated with a plurality of contests, wherein the first-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if the first player-selected symbol is a winning symbol, wherein the winning symbol corresponds to a potential occurrence that is correctly predicted, wherein the first-price category indicates a first known percentage of a prize that can be won by the first-price contest-based game ticket;

providing a second-price category in which a second-price contest-based game ticket can be purchased at a second price, wherein the second-price contest-based game ticket displays a second player-selected symbol, wherein the second player-selected symbol is chosen by a second purchaser from a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to potential occurrences associated with the plurality of contests, wherein the second-price contest-based game ticket is a winning ticket if the second player-selected symbol is the winning symbol, wherein the winning symbol corresponds to a potential occurrence that is correctly predicted, wherein the second-price category indicates a second known percentage of a prize that can be won by the second-price contest-based game ticket, wherein the prize includes at least a portion of the revenue provided from a plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets and at least a portion of the revenue provided from a plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets;

providing a first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the first category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to a first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula,

providing a second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein the second category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to a second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula; and

providing a divided first-price category intra-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize, a divided second-price category intra-shared distribution of the second known percentage of the prize, and an inter-shared distribution of the first known percentage of the prize if at least one of the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets is a winning ticket and if at least one of the plurality of second-price contest-price game tickets is a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize according to the divided first-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the second known percentage of the prize according to the divided second-price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second-price contest-based game tickets shares the first known percentage of the prize with each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first-price contest-based game tickets according to an inter-sharing distribution formula.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the contest-based game is a sport pool game.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein a contest in the plurality of contests can be any one of a soccer match, a football game, a basketball game, a baseball game, a volleyball game, a hockey game, a tennis match, a rugby match, or a boxing match.

79. The method of claim 76, wherein a contest in the plurality of contests can be any one of a horse race, a dog race, a car race, a skiing race, a skating race, or a track meet.

80. The method of claim 76, wherein the prize is a jackpot.

81. The method of claim 76, wherein the prize is a progressive jackpot.

82. The method of claim 76, wherein the prize is a fixed prize.

83. The method of claim 76, wherein the plurality of contests is a tournament.

84. The method of claim 76, wherein the plurality of selectable symbols further corresponds to potential outcomes of the plurality of contests.

85. The method of claim 76, wherein the winning ticket wins based on the number of occurrences that were correctly predicted.