Method and apparatus for redeeming keno tickets

• US 20060178197A1
• Filed: 01/25/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Holdings Ltd (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Holdings Ltd (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Mark E., Kane, Steven N., Sabet, Bijan, Hardy, Dow, LaRocca, Paul, Yanowitz, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 7,934,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• 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 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provide for playing keno-type games wherein a player can redeem a winning ticket remotely (e.g., over the Internet, by email or phone, etc.) instead of having to return to a point of purchase of the ticket to redeem the ticket. The keno-type game can be played using paper tickets or on a computer system, for example, coupled to the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for processing a winning keno ticket purchased at a Point of Sale (POS), comprising an act of:

redeeming the winning keno ticket using electronic communication between the player and the gaming operator.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic communication is performed using the Internet.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic communication is performed using e-mail.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic communication is performed using instant messaging on the Internet.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic communication is performed using text messaging.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the game operator is a land-based casino.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the game operator is at least one of a state lottery and a national lottery.

8. A keno game having a plurality of tickets purchased by a plurality of players at a Point of Sale (POS), the keno game comprising:

at least one winning ticket of the plurality of tickets; and

an electronic communication means for a player to redeem the winning ticket.

9. A game according to claim 8, wherein the electronic communication means is over the Internet.

10. The game according to claim 8, wherein the electronic communication means is by e-mail.

11. The game according to claim 8, wherein the electronic communication is by instant messaging on the Internet.

12. The game according to claim 8, wherein the electronic communication is by text messaging.

13. The game according to claim 8, wherein the game operator is a land-based casino.

14. The game according to claim 8, wherein the game operator is at least one of a state and a national lottery.