System and a method for operating on-line state lottery games

• US 6,322,446 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1999
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: eLottery, Inc. (eLOT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eLOT, Inc.
• Inventors: Yacenda, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US09/458,326
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16-18, 463/25, 463/29-31, 463/40-42, 463/43
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/00 Generating random numbers; Lottery apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and a method for facilitating state lottery games with a screening and a verification function. A lottery agent system of the present invention includes a plurality of player terminals on which lottery players can play lottery games, including purchasing and receiving lottery tickets, an agent server for facilitating the purchase and screening of players and winning tickets, and a state lottery administrator for providing security or serial numbers for verification. The present invention further discloses a method for claiming awards for the winning tickets upon a drawing of winning numbers. Upon receiving information of the winning tickets, the state provides the agent server with claim validation numbers associated with the winning tickets for claims on lottery awards by winning players.

Claims

1. A lottery agent system for facilitating state lottery play over an electronic network, comprising:

an agent server connected via said electronic network to a plurality of player terminals and to a state lottery administrator, said agent server being configured for receiving player and ticket information transmitted from said player terminals, for transmitting said ticket information to said state lottery administrator, and for receiving serial numbers issued by said state lottery administrator in association with each lottery ticket;

a database in said agent server for storing said player and ticket information and said serial numbers associated with each lottery ticket; and

a screening unit in said agent server, having criteria required by the state pre-stored therein, for verifying that each player satisfies said criteria prior to transmitting said ticket information to said state lottery administrator.

2. The system according to claim 1, further including a verification unit in said agent server for receiving winning numbers drawn by the state and for comparing said winning numbers with said ticket information stored in said database to determine if there are any winning lottery tickets of which numbers match said winning numbers.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said verification unit verifies serial numbers of said winning lottery tickets with said serial numbers previously stored in said database.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said agent server includes means for transmitting information of said winning lottery tickets to said state lottery administrator, and for receiving claim validation numbers associated with said winning lottery tickets from said state lottery administrator.

5. The system according to claim 1, further including a banking server and a banking database for storing player account information, said banking server for debiting a player'"'"'s account when said player purchases a lottery ticket and for crediting said player'"'"'s account with a winning amount upon a win from said lottery ticket, said banking server for communicating and transmitting debits and credits of money with said state lottery administrator.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said banking server communicates with a credit card provider of said player and debits and credits a credit card account of said player upon purchase of a lottery ticket or a win from a lottery ticket purchased by said player.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said criteria includes a minimum age and residency within the border of the state.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said agent server is configured to transmit to said player terminals lottery game data upon confirmation of purchase of a lottery ticket from said state lottery administrator, whereby an image in the form of a lottery ticket including ticket numbers selected by said player and said associated serial numbers is displayed on said player terminal of said player.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic network is Internet.

10. A method for conducting state lottery play over an electronic network, comprising the steps of:

receiving player and ticket information entered by lottery players;

verifying that said lottery players satisfy criteria required by the state;

storing said player and ticket information of said verified lottery players;

receiving serial numbers issued by a state, each serial number being associated with each lottery ticket;

receiving winning numbers from said state;

determining winning tickets by comparing said winning numbers with ticket numbers entered by said verified lottery players; and

verifying said winning tickets with said serial numbers.

11. The method according to claim 10, further including the step of crediting a winning amount of each winning ticket to an account of each corresponding winning player.

12. The method according to claim 10, further including the step of debiting accounts of said verified players for purchases of said lottery tickets.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein said criteria includes a minimum age and residency within border of said state.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of verifying includes comparing said player information with said criteria.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said serial numbers are issued by said state upon receiving said ticket information by said state.

16. The method according to claim 10, further includes the steps of:

transmitting information of said winning tickets to the state, said information including said serial numbers associated with said winning tickets; and

receiving claim validation numbers associated with said winning tickets from the state, said claim validation numbers being issued by and stored in the state.

17. The method according to claim 16, further including the steps of:

providing said claim validation numbers to each winning player;

claiming a predetermined winning amount by submitting said claim validation numbers;

verifying said submitted claim validation numbers with said claim validation numbers stored in the state; and

rewarding said winning amount to said each winning player.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of providing said claim validation numbers includes determining whether said winning amount is over a certain amount of money.

19. The method according to claim 17, further includes the steps of:

providing a claim form to said each winning player via said electronic network;

printing and completing said claim form; and

submitting said claim form to claim said winning amount.