METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN INSTANT ONLINE LOTTERY TICKET

• US 20080254851A1
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lottery Dynamics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lottery Dynamics, LLC
• Inventors: Frick, Michael D., Wright, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,460,080 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 process provides a first price category and a second price category in which an instant online lottery ticket can be purchased for an instant online lottery game. The first price category is distinct from the second price category. In addition, the process randomly generates an assortment of the set of instant online game numbers in an instant online matrix of numbers. The process also determines a linear subset of the set of instant online game numbers such that each number in the linear subset is matched with corresponding numbers in the instant online matrix of numbers.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a first price category and a second price category in which an instant online lottery ticket can be purchased for an instant online lottery game, the first price category being distinct from the second price category, the first price category corresponding to a first known portion of a linear prize and a first known portion of a non-linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game, the second price category corresponding to a second known portion of a linear prize and a second known portion of a non-linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game, the second known portion of the linear prize being more than the first known portion of the linear prize, the second known portion of the non-linear prize being more than the first known portion of the non-linear prize;

selecting a set of instant online game numbers;

randomly generating an assortment of the set of instant online game numbers in an instant online matrix of numbers;

determining a subset of the set of instant online game numbers;

providing the first known portion of the linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to a player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the first price category and a linear match in the instant online matrix of numbers is displayed, the linear match being a linear display in the instant online matrix of numbers of at least four numbers from the subset;

providing the second known portion of the linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the second price category and a linear match is displayed in the instant online matrix of numbers; and

providing the first known portion of the non-linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the first price category and a non-linear match in the instant online matrix of numbers is displayed, the non-linear match being a predetermined arrangement of numbers from the plurality of numbers in the subset that is not a linear display in the instant online matrix of numbers of at least four numbers from the subset; and

providing the second known portion of the non-linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the second price category and a non-linear match is displayed in the instant online matrix of numbers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the subset of the set of instant online game numbers is randomly generating the subset of the set of instant online game numbers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the subset of the set of instant online game numbers is receiving a selection of the subset of the set of instant online game numbers from the player.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the first known portion of the non-linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player is restricted if a linear match has been displayed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the second known portion of the non-linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player is restricted if a linear match has been displayed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear prize is more than the non-linear prize.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-linear prize is more than the linear prize.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a variable ratio is established between the first price category and the second price category for distribution of the linear prize.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a constant ratio is established between the first price category and the second price category for distribution of the linear prize.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a variable ratio is established between the first price category and the second price category for distribution of the non-linear prize.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a constant ratio is established between the first price category and the second price category for distribution of the non-linear prize.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear match includes a consecutive linear display in the instant online matrix of a plurality of numbers in the subset.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear match includes a non-consecutive linear display in the instant online matrix of a plurality of numbers in the linear subset such that a number that is not within the subset is between numbers that are within the subset.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-linear match includes a plurality of corners in the instant online matrix of numbers.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-linear match includes a plurality of corners a center number in the instant online matrix of numbers.

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

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

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the prize is guaranteed by a third party.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear match is a row in the instant online matrix.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear match is a portion of a row in the instant online matrix.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear match is a column in the instant online matrix.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear match is a portion of a column in the instant online matrix.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear match is a diagonal in the instant online matrix.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear match is a portion of a diagonal in the instant online matrix.

25. A method comprising:

providing a first price category and a second price category in which an instant online lottery ticket can be purchased for an instant online lottery game, the first price category being distinct from the second price category, the first price category corresponding to a first known portion of a linear prize, the second price category corresponding to a second known portion of a linear prize, the second known portion of the linear prize being more than the first known portion of the linear prize;

selecting a set of instant online game numbers;

randomly generating an assortment of the set of instant online game numbers in an instant online matrix of numbers;

determining a linear subset of the set of instant online game numbers such that each number in the linear subset is matched with corresponding numbers in the instant online matrix of numbers;

providing the first known portion of the linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to a player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the first price category and a linear match in the instant online matrix of numbers is displayed, the linear match being a linear display in the instant online matrix of numbers of at least four numbers from the linear subset; and

providing the second known portion of the linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the second price category and a linear match is displayed in the instant online matrix of numbers.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the determining the linear subset of the set of instant online game numbers is randomly generating the subset of the set of instant online game numbers.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the determining the linear subset of the set of instant online game numbers is receiving a selection of the linear subset of the set of instant online game numbers from the player.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein a variable ratio is established between the first price category and the second price category for distribution of the linear prize.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein a constant ratio is established between the first price category and the second price category for distribution of the linear prize.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the linear match includes a consecutive linear display in the instant online matrix of a plurality of numbers in the linear subset.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the linear match includes a non-consecutive linear display in the instant online matrix of a plurality of numbers in the linear subset such that a number that is not within the subset is between numbers that are within the subset.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the prize is a fixed prize.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the prize is a progressive prize.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the prize is guaranteed by a third party.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein the linear match is a row in the instant online matrix.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein the linear match is a portion of a row in the instant online matrix.

37. The method of claim 25, wherein the linear match is a column in the instant online matrix.

38. The method of claim 25, wherein the linear match is a portion of a column in the instant online matrix.

39. A method comprising:

providing a first price category and a second price category in which an instant online lottery ticket can be purchased for an instant online lottery game, the first price category being distinct from the second price category, the first price category corresponding to a first known portion of a linear prize, the second price category corresponding to a second known portion of a linear prize, the second known portion of the linear prize being more than the first known portion of the linear prize;

selecting a set of instant online game numbers;

randomly generating an assortment of the set of instant online game numbers in an instant online arrangement of numbers;

randomly generating a linear subset of the set of instant online game numbers such that each number in the linear subset is matched with corresponding numbers in the instant online arrangement of numbers;

providing the first known portion of the linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to a player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the first price category and a linear match in the instant online arrangement of numbers is displayed, the linear match being a linear display in the instant online arrangement of numbers of at least four numbers from the linear subset; and

providing the second known portion of the linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the second price category and a linear match is displayed in the instant online arrangement of numbers.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the instant online arrangement of numbers is a matrix.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the instant online arrangement of numbers is a circular configuration.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the instant online arrangement of numbers is a triangular configuration.

43. An apparatus comprising:

a price category module that provides a first price category and a second price category in which an instant online lottery ticket can be purchased for an instant online lottery game, the first price category being distinct from the second price category, the first price category corresponding to a first known portion of a linear prize, the second price category corresponding to a second known portion of a linear prize, the second known portion of the linear prize being more than the first known portion of the linear prize;

a selection module that selects a set of instant online game numbers;

a first random number generator that randomly generates an assortment of the set of instant online game numbers in an instant online matrix of numbers;

a second random number generator that randomly generates a linear subset of the set of instant online game numbers such that each number in the linear subset is matched with corresponding numbers in the instant online matrix of numbers; and

a prize distribution module that provides the first known portion of the linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to a player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the first price category and a linear match in the instant online matrix of numbers is displayed and the second known portion of the linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the second price category and a linear match is displayed in the instant online matrix of numbers, the linear match being a linear display in the instant online matrix of numbers of at least four numbers from the linear subset.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein a variable ratio is established between the first price category and the second price category for distribution of the linear prize.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein a constant ratio is established between the first price category and the second price category for distribution of the linear prize.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the linear match includes a consecutive linear display in the instant online matrix of a plurality of numbers in the linear subset.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the linear match includes a non-consecutive linear display in the instant online matrix of a plurality of numbers in the linear subset such that a number that is not within the subset is between numbers that are within the subset.

48. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the prize is a fixed prize.

49. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the prize is a progressive prize.

50. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the prize is guaranteed by a third party.

51. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the linear match is a row in the instant online matrix.

52. The method of claim 43, wherein the linear match is a portion of a row in the instant online matrix.

53. The method of claim 43, wherein the linear match is a column in the instant online matrix.

54. The method of claim 43, wherein the linear match is a portion of a column in the instant online matrix.

55. A method comprising:

providing a first price category and a second price category in which an instant online lottery ticket can be purchased for an instant online lottery game, the first price category being distinct from the second price category, the first price category corresponding to a first known portion of a linear prize and a first known portion of a non-linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game and the second price category corresponding to a second known portion of a linear prize and a second known portion of a non-linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game, the second known portion of the linear prize being more than the first known portion of the linear prize, the second known portion of the non-linear prize being more than the first known portion of the non-linear prize;

selecting a set of instant online game numbers;

randomly generating an assortment of the set of instant online game numbers in an instant online matrix of numbers;

randomly generating a linear subset of the set of instant online game numbers such that each number in the linear subset is matched with corresponding numbers in the instant online matrix of numbers;

randomly generating a non-linear subset of the set of instant online game numbers such that each number in the non-linear subset is matched with corresponding numbers in the instant online matrix of numbers, the non-linear subset having a different quantity of numbers than the linear subset;

providing the first known portion of the linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to a player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the first price category and a linear match in the instant online matrix of numbers is displayed, the linear match being a linear display in the instant online matrix of numbers of at least four numbers from the linear subset;

providing the second known portion of the linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the second price category and a linear match is displayed in the instant online matrix of numbers; and

providing the first known portion of the non-linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the first price category and a non-linear match in the instant online matrix of numbers is displayed, the non-linear match being a predetermined arrangement of numbers from the plurality of numbers in the non-linear subset that is not a linear display in the instant online matrix of numbers of at least three numbers from the non-linear subset; and

providing the second known portion of the non-linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player if the player purchased the instant online lottery ticket from the second price category and a non-linear match is displayed in the instant online matrix of numbers.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the providing the first known portion of the non-linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player is restricted if a linear match has been displayed.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the providing the second known portion of the non-linear prize associated with the instant online lottery game to the player is restricted if a linear match has been displayed.