SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REWARDING GROUP PARTICIPATION IN LOTTERY GAMES

• US 20100105462A1
• Filed: 10/23/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital Management LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Palumbo, Nancy, Tulley, Stephen C., Walker, Jay S., Ellenthal, Jon E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,226,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/006 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3274 wherein the players cooperate, e.g. team-play
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

In accordance with some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, a system, a method, an apparatus and a computer readable medium are provided for determining sets of winning numbers for a first lottery drawing and a second lottery drawing, determining a performance score of a group of participants based on entries of the group eligible for the first lottery drawing and for the second lottery drawing, and determining an award (e.g., a secondary award) based on the performance score of the group.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to;

determine a set of winning numbers for a first lottery drawing;

determine a set of winning numbers for a second lottery drawing;

determine a group of participants in the first and second lottery drawings, the group having at least two members and in which the group is one of a plurality of groups;

determine a first plurality of lottery entries associated with the group, in which each of the first plurality of lottery entries is eligible for the first lottery drawing;

determine a second plurality of lottery entries associated with the group, in which each of the second plurality of lottery entries is eligible for the second lottery drawing;

determine a performance score of the group based on

the first plurality of lottery entries associated with the group,

the set of winning numbers for the first lottery drawing,

the second plurality of lottery entries associated with the group and

the set of winning numbers for the second lottery drawing; and

determine an award for the group based on the performance score of the group, in which the award for the group based on the performance score of the group is different than a sum of any respective payouts associated with the first and second pluralities of lottery entries.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to facilitate pooling by the members of the group of the first plurality of lottery entries for the first lottery drawing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the group is one of a plurality of groups registered with a central controller.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the group is one of a plurality of groups participating in at least the first lottery drawing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to determine that the group is eligible to receive the award for the group.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a minimum number, greater than one, of lottery drawings that the group must participate in to be eligible for the award;

and

determine that the group participated in at least the minimum number of lottery drawings.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a plurality of lottery drawings that the group must participate in to be eligible for the award;

and

determine that the group participated in each of the plurality of lottery drawings.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a minimum number, greater than one, of lottery drawings that the group must participate in during a pre-defined period of time to be eligible for the award;

and

determine that the group participated in at least the minimum number of lottery drawings during the pre-defined period of time.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a minimum number, greater than one, of lottery entries that must be associated with the group for the group to be eligible for the award;

and

determine that at least the minimum number of lottery entries are associated with the group.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

receive an indication of a payment by the group in exchange for eligibility for a group-based secondary game.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, in which determining the performance score of the group comprises:

determining a total number of lottery numbers of the first plurality of lottery entries and the second plurality of lottery entries;

determining a total number of winning lottery numbers of the first lottery drawing and of the second lottery drawing; and

determining a difference between the total number of lottery numbers and the total number of winning lottery numbers.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, in which determining the performance score of the group comprises:

determining a total number of lottery numbers of the first plurality of lottery entries and the second plurality of lottery entries;

determining a total number of winning lottery numbers of the first lottery drawing and of the second lottery drawing; and

determining a ratio of the total number of winning lottery numbers to the total number of lottery numbers.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, in which determining the performance score of the group comprises:

determining a total value of prizes won for the first plurality of lottery entries and the second plurality of lottery entries.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, in which determining the performance score of the group comprises:

determining a total number of winning lottery entries of the first plurality of lottery entries and the second plurality of lottery entries.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, in which determining an award based on the performance score comprises:

evaluating the performance score of the group based on a predetermined rule for a group-based secondary game.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a first performance score of the group based on the first plurality of lottery entries and the set of winning numbers for the first lottery drawing.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the central controller is embodied in a web-based group play management system.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the central controller is operated on behalf of at least one lottery authority.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the central controller is operated on behalf of at least one lottery vendor.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the central controller is operated by a third party that is not a lottery authority and is not a lottery vendor.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a second group of participants in the first lottery drawing, the second group having at least two members, in which the second group is not identical to the group;

determine a first plurality of lottery entries associated with the second group, in which each of the first plurality of lottery entries associated with the second group is eligible for the first lottery drawing;

determine a performance score of the second group based on

the first plurality of lottery entries associated with the second group, and

the set of winning numbers for the first lottery drawing; and

in which determining the award for the group based on the performance score of the group comprises;

comparing the performance score of the group to the performance score of the second group.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

an output device in communication with the processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to;

receive an indication of at least a first entry and a second entry associated with a group of players and eligible for a first lottery drawing of a lottery game,

in which the first entry is associated with a first set of numbers,

in which the second entry is associated with a second set of numbers, and

in which the group of players is one of a plurality of groups of players eligible for participation in a secondary game;

receive an indication of at least a third entry and a fourth entry associated with the group of players and eligible for a second lottery drawing of the lottery game,

in which the third entry is associated with a third set of numbers, and

in which the fourth entry is associated with a fourth set of numbers;

determine a set of winning numbers for the first lottery drawing;

determine a set of winning numbers for the second lottery drawing;

determine a group total of numbers matched by the collective entries of the group in the first and second lottery drawings by

comparing the set of winning numbers for the first lottery drawing with the first set of numbers and the second set of numbers, and

comparing the set of winning numbers for the second lottery drawing with the third set of numbers and the fourth set of numbers; and

determine a payout for the group for the secondary game based on the group total of numbers matched in the first and second lottery drawings.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, in which the payout for the group for the secondary game is different than a sum of any respective payouts associated with the first, second, third and fourth entries of the lottery game.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to facilitate pooling of the first, second, third and fourth entries by the members of the group.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to determine that the group is eligible for participation in the secondary game.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a minimum number, greater than one, of lottery drawings that the group must participate in to be eligible for participation in the secondary game;

and

determine that the group participated in at least the minimum number of lottery drawings.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a plurality of lottery drawings that the group must participate in to be eligible for participation in the secondary game;

and

determine that the group participated in each of the plurality of lottery drawings.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a minimum number, greater than one, of lottery drawings that the group must participate in during a pre-defined period of time to be eligible for participation in the secondary game;

and

determine that the group participated in at least the minimum number of lottery drawings during the pre-defined period of time.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

determine a minimum number, greater than one, of lottery entries that must be associated with the group for the group to be eligible for participation in the secondary game;

and

determine that at least the minimum number of lottery entries are associated with the group.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, the instructions being configured further to direct the processor to

receive an indication of a payment by the group in exchange for eligibility for participation in the secondary game.