Video lottery game

• US 6,168,521 B1
• Filed: 09/12/1997
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Art Bunce, Forman, George, Glenn M. Feldman, Jerome Levine, Luciano, Robert A.
• Original Assignee: Art Bunce, Forman, George, Glenn M. Feldman, Jerome Levine, Luciano, Robert A.
• Inventors: Forman, George, Luciano, Robert A., Feldman, Glenn M., Bunce, Art, Levine, Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US08/928,297
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/18, 463/29, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/18
• 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

This invention is directed to an electronic lottery game system utilizing multiple player-activated video terminals that are linked to computers performing centralized game draw and accounting functions. Each player places a wager and selects his lottery draw choices. The system enrolls the player in a future lottery game after the player makes his choices. The system automatically draws the lottery numbers. The result of the selected game is displayed at the player'"'"'s terminal in such a manner as to provide the excitement of a real time game.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming system comprising:

a plurality of player terminals for playing electronic games, each of said player terminals having a display and having data entry controls for entry of player selection information for future lottery games;

first computer programs executable for controlling and managing said terminals;

second computer programs executable independent of said first computer programs for automatically initiating a lottery draw for each new lottery game;

each of said terminals, when operated by a player, providing to said first computer programs the player selection information entered by the player, said first computer programs providing game identification information to the terminal being operated by the player, said terminal being operated by the player issuing a game play ticket including said player selection information and said game identification information; and

said terminal being operable, after the lottery draw for the game identified on said ticket and upon said ticket being entered at said terminal, for displaying a replay of the draw awarding a predetermined prize for the identified game.

2. An electronic gaming system according to claim 1, wherein:

said terminal communicates with said first computer programs, said first computer programs matching the lottery draw for said identified game with said player selection information for receiving said replay.

3. An electronic gaming system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first computer programs match said lottery draw and said player selection information against a prize schedule for awarding said predetermined prize.

4. An electronic gaming system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first computer programs randomly select said replay from a group of game plays associated with said predetermined prize.

5. An electronic gaming system in accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said first computer programs select said group of game plays from a plurality of groups of game plays, each group of said plurality of groups of game plays having a predetermined relationship to lottery prizes.

6. An electronic gaming system according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one other terminal of said plurality of terminals being operable, after the lottery draw for the game identified in said ticket and upon said ticket being entered into said at least one other terminal, for displaying said replay.

7. An electronic gaming system according to claim 1, wherein:

each terminal of said plurality of terminals being operable, after the lottery draw for the game identified in said ticket and upon said ticket being entered into a one of said terminals, for displaying on said one of said terminals said replay.

8. An electronic gaming system in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

said terminals are operable for displaying said replay in an entertaining manner with a predetermined outcome.

9. An electronic gaming system in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

each said group of said plurality of groups of game plays corresponds to predetermined lottery game outcomes.

10. An electronic gaming system in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

a first computer for operating said first computer programs.

11. An electronic gaming system in accordance with claim 10, comprising:

a second computer for operating said second computer programs, said second computer being separate from said first computer.

12. An electronic gaming system in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

said first computer operates said second programs.

13. An electronic gaming system in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

at least one scoreboard display for displaying said lottery draw for general viewing by the players.

14. An electronic gaming system in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

said at least one scoreboard displays the lottery draws for a predetermined number of lottery games.

15. An electronic gaming system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said second computer programs automatically assigns a unique game identifier to each said new lottery game.

16. A method of playing a video lottery game comprising:

a participating player entering player selection information for a future lottery game at a one player terminal of a plurality of player terminals;

a central accounting server receiving said player selection information from said one terminal and game identification information from a central game server and enrolling the player in the future lottery game;

said central accounting server providing to said one player terminal said game identification information concerning the future lottery game in which the player is enrolled;

said one terminal issuing a game play ticket including said player selection information and said game identification information;

said central game server performing a lottery draw for said lottery game and providing the draw information to said central accounting server; and

entering said ticket at any terminal of said plurality of game terminals and, provided said lottery draw had been completed, said any terminal receiving a game replay from said central accounting server corresponding to the player'"'"'s outcome for the enrolled game and displaying said game replay.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

in the ticket entering step, said any terminal rejecting said ticket without displaying said game replay if said lottery draw had not been completed.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

in the ticket entering step, said any one terminal communicates with said central accounting server, said central accounting server matching said lottery draw with said player selection information.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein:

in the ticket entering step, said central accounting server matching said lottery draw and said player selection information against a prize schedule for awarding a predetermined prize.

20. A method of playing a video lottery game according to claim 16, wherein:

in the ticket entering step, said game replay awards a predetermined prize for said enrolled game.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein:

in the ticket entering step, said game replay is randomly selected from a group of game plays awarding said predetermined prize.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein:

in the ticket entering step, said group of game plays is selected from a plurality of groups of game plays, each group of said plurality of groups of game plays having a predetermined relationship to lottery prizes.