Game and prize method

• US 20070197280A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PartyGaming IA Limited (Entain Plc)
• Original Assignee: Internet Opportunity Entertainment
• Inventors: Vali-Tepper, Ismail
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A game and prize method is described wherein a prize is awarded to a winner of a game, and the prize must be spent by the winner within a certain set time limit. However, in order to obtain the prize within the present invention a player must participate in a game, preferably a tournament style game, with other people, and win the prize. The game may be against the other contestants in a knock-out style game, or may alternatively be against a computer, with a selection of one of the contestants being made based on random or deterministic criteria. Howsoever the winner is determined, the winner receives a money prize which must then be spent by the winner within a set time limit. In preferred embodiments the winner must spend the money in such a way that at the end of the time limit he or she has no assets to show for the money. In other embodiments, however, the winner may spend the prize on assets.

Claims

1. A method for a game, comprising:

providing a game for entry by players;

once players have entered the game, running the game according to game rules to determine at least one of the players as a winner of the game;

awarding the winner a money prize;

setting a time limit for the winner to expend the money prize; and

monitoring the expenditure of the money prize by the winner within the time limit.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the game is provided and run as an on-line game over the Internet, whereby the game is hosted on a game server connected to the Internet.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises observing that the prize is spent within the time limit according to a set of rules.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises observing that the prize is expended such that the winner, at the end of the time limit, has no assets to show for the expenditure of the prize.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring further comprises determining a mode of expenditure of the prize by the winner, and providing said winner with said mode of expenditure.

6. A method according to claim 5, and further comprising observing the expenditure of said winner in accordance with the determined mode of expenditure.

7. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising, providing a pass code to players, the pass code being for entry into the game, the game providing further comprising a step of obtaining the pass code from players prior to allowing entry into the game.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring further comprises recording audio and/or video recordings of said winner expending said prize.

9. A method according to claim 8, and further comprising transmitting said recordings to third parties via a communications medium.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the game is a tournament game against other players.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the game is a game against a simulated opponent, and the winner is selected from a plurality of people who play the game according to one or more predetermined criteria.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the winner is selected based on one of:

at random; and

player performance in the game.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the game is a card game.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the card game is a form of poker.

15. A method of playing a game for a prize, comprising the steps of:

entering a game;

playing the game according to game rules with the object of trying to win the game;

if the game is won;

i) receiving a money prize; and

then

ii) expending the money prize within a set time limit.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the game is an on-line game, and entering and playing the game comprises using a computer to communicate with a game server hosting the game via the Internet.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the expending step further comprises expending the prize within the time limit according to a set of rules.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the expending step further comprises expending the prize such that the winner, at the end of the time limit, has no assets to show for the expenditure of the prize.

19. A method according to claim 15, and further comprising receiving information relating to a mode of expenditure of the prize, wherein the expending step comprises expending the prize in accordance with the mode of expenditure.

20. A method according to claim 15, and further comprising, receiving a pass code to access the game, the pass code being for entry into the game, the entering step further comprising a step of providing the pass code to obtain entry into the game.

21. A method according to claim 15, wherein the game is a tournament game against other players.

22. A method according to claim 15, wherein the game is a game against a simulated opponent, and the winner is selected from a plurality of people who play the game according to one or more predetermined criteria.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the winner is selected based on one of:

at random; and

player performance in the game.

24. A method according to claim 15, wherein the game is a card game.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the card game is a form of poker.

26. A method for a game, comprising:

providing a game for entry by players;

once players have entered the game, running the game according to game rules to determine at least one of the players as a winner of the game; and

awarding the winner a money prize on condition that the winner expend at least a proportion of the prize in such a manner that after the expenditure of the proportion he has no assets to show for the expenditure.

27. A method according to claim 26, and further comprising the step of monitoring the expenditure of the money prize by the winner in accordance with the condition.