Method and apparatus for playing one game and using elements from the one game to play at least another game

• US 6,616,531 B1
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wayne L. Mullins
• Original Assignee: Wayne L. Mullins
• Inventors: Mullins, Wayne L.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/258,669
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 463/27, 463/16-20, 463/28, 463/39-42, 273/269, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/292
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/065 Tickets or accessories for use therewith A63F3/0625 takes precedence

Abstract

Method and apparatus for playing one game and using elements from the one game to play at least another game. One game may be a lottery ticket game 11A and at least another game may be a symbol collection game 21A. Lottery ticket game 11A involves defining and using various symbols. Symbol collection game 21A involves using and collecting at least some of the symbols from lottery ticket game 11A. Game 5C comprises a TRILOGY BINGO lottery ticket game 11B and a TRILOGY BINGO letters collection game 21B. One of the letters of TRILOGY or other word or symbols is collected by collecting all of the BINGO letters 65 or one of the wild symbols from lottery ticket game 11B. A jackpot is won by collecting all TRILOGY letters or such and calling out a win notification or activating a button. The jackpot is won by only one winning player or split among other winning players. Game 5C also allows players to wager for a table jackpot among other players as to certain elements 13B being collected after a play of the lottery ticket game 11B. Game 5C may be played electronically in entirety. Table 70 having a plurality of table player stations 72 are used in conjunction with the game 5C. Table player stations 72 are linked together at a table, house, or network level. Table player stations 72 each have indicator lights to light up respective symbol images as the symbols are collected from the lottery tickets 60.

Claims

1. A method for playing one game and using elements from the one game to play at least another game, comprising the steps of:

defining rules and the elements for the one game,

providing and using the elements for the one game,

playing the one game,

defining the rules for the at least another game,

providing and using at least some of the elements from the one game to play the at least another game,

playing the at least another game,

wherein the one game is a lottery ticket game and the at least another game is a symbol collection game,

wherein the lottery ticket game is further defined by the steps of;

defining symbols for the lottery ticket game,

printing the symbols on lottery tickets for the lottery ticket game,

using the symbols to define winning indices for the lottery tickets,

wherein the symbol collection game is further defined by the steps of;

using and collecting at least some of the symbols from the lottery ticket game to play the symbol collection game,

wherein the step of using and collecting at least some of the symbols for the lottery ticket game to play the symbol collection game further comprises the step of;

using and collecting BINGO letters and wild symbols by playing a play of the lottery ticket game, and

wherein the symbol collection game further comprises the steps of;

collecting and spelling letters of TRILOGY,

obtaining one of the letters of TRILOGY by collecting all of the BINGO letters from plays of the lottery ticket game,

obtaining one of the letters of TRILOGY by obtaining one of the wild symbols from plays of the lottery ticket game, and

winning a jackpot for the symbol collection game by collecting all of the letters of TRILOGY.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the winning step further comprises the step of:

calling out a win notification when a player has collected all of the letters of TRILOGY.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the calling step further comprises the step of:

determining a sole winner of a jackpot when all of the letters of TRILOGY have been collected by the player and the player first calls out the win notification.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the calling step further comprises the step of:

determining winners of a jackpot when all of the letters of TRILOGY have been collected by a number of players after a play of the lottery ticket game and the players have appropriately called out the win notification after the play of the respective lottery ticket game.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the jackpot is a progressive jackpot.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the progressive jackpot is determined based on sales of the lottery tickets from the lottery ticket game.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

wagering for a table jackpot among other players as to certain BINGO letters being collected after a play of the lottery ticket game.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the wild symbol is a clown symbol.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the wild symbol is a star symbol.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the wild symbol is a wild letters symbol for a word that provides all remaining letters of the word.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method is played electronically in entirety.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of using the symbols to define wins for the lottery tickets further comprises the step of:

defining appearances of various combinations of the symbols on the lottery tickets as various win possibilities for various win amounts.

12. A method for playing one game and using elements from the one game to play at least another game, comprising the steps of:

using symbols as the elements to define wins for the one game,

providing and using the symbols to play the one game,

playing the one game,

using at least some of the symbols from the one game to play the at least another game,

playing the at least another game,

wherein the one game is a lottery ticket game and the at least another game is a symbol collection game,

wherein the lottery ticket game is further defined by the steps of;

printing the symbols on lottery tickets for the lottery ticket game,

using the symbols to define wins for the lottery tickets, and

wherein the symbol collection game is further defined by the steps of;

using and collecting at least some of the symbols from the lottery ticket game to play the symbol collection game,

wherein the step of using and collecting at least some of the symbols for the lottery ticket game to play the symbol collection game further comprises the step of;

using and collecting BINGO letters and wild symbols by playing a play of the lottery ticket game, and

wherein the symbol collection game further comprises the steps of;

collecting and spelling letters of TRILOGY,

obtaining one of the letters of TRILOGY by collecting all of the BINGO letters from plays of the lottery ticket game,

obtaining one of the letters of TRILOGY by obtaining one of the wild symbols from plays of the lottery ticket game, and

winning a jackpot for the symbol collection game by collecting all of the letters of TRILOGY.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the winning step further comprises the step of:

calling out a win notification when a player has collected all of the letters of TRILOGY.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the method is played electronically in entirety.

16. A lottery ticket game and letters collection game comprising:

lottery tickets having defined play symbols wherein the defined play symbols include at least symbols to be collected for the letters collection game,

various winning combinations of the play symbols printed for the lottery ticket game, and

at least one letters collection combination obtained from the symbols that is defined as at least one winning situation for the letters collection game,

wherein the various winning combinations include at least a combination of BINGO letters,

wherein the at one winning situation is a collection of all letters for TRILOGY wherein one of the letters for TRILOGY is obtained and collected when all letters for BINGO have been collected from at least one of the lottery tickets and wherein on of the letters for TRILOGY is obtained and collected when a wild symbol has been collected from at least one of the lottery tickets.

17. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 16 further comprising:

a table having a plurality of table player stations wherein the table player stations each have indicator lights to light up respective symbol images as the symbols are collected from the lottery tickets.

18. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 17 wherein the table player stations are linked together to at least one table computer wherein the at least one table computer controls and manages play of the games for the table.

19. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 17 wherein the table further comprises:

a dispenser and reader for dispensing the lottery tickets and reading bar codes on the lottery tickets.

20. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 17 wherein the table further comprises:

a dealer chip tray for holding and organizing playing chips for the table.

21. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 17 wherein the table further comprises:

at least one ticket validation and win drop box for receiving and reading the lottery tickets that are alleged winning tickets and validating and recording winning tickets and invalidating non-winning tickets.

22. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 21 wherein the at least one ticket validation and win drop box is placed at a dealer station.

23. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 21 wherein the at least one ticket validation and win drop box is placed at each of the table player stations and at least one ticket win record button is located at each of the table player stations that is depressed by a player who has inserted at least one ticket into the at least one ticket validation and win drop box to validate the at least one ticket.

24. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 17 wherein the table further comprises:

a cash drop box for receiving and holding monies received from players.

25. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 17 wherein the table further comprises:

at least one ticket purchase button to dispense a predetermined number of tickets at a time for a single depression.

26. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 17 wherein the table further comprises:

a plurality of player station buttons that are depressed by a dealer to activate and deactivate the respective player stations.

27. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 17 wherein the table further comprises:

a win and lock reset button that is depressed by a dealer when a win occurs to at least record the win and at least reset the player station at which the win occurred.

28. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 17 wherein the table further comprises:

a dealer monitor that allows a dealer to view and monitor play of the player stations and overall game play.

29. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 28 wherein the dealer monitor displays same images displayed at each of the player stations.

30. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 28 wherein the dealer monitor displays lottery ticket total win amounts for each of the player stations.

31. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 30 wherein the dealer monitor further comprises:

a win and clear button for each of the player stations wherein the win and clear button is depressed when a player wish to be paid out a respective lottery ticket total win amount.

32. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 17 wherein each of the table player stations further comprises:

a play station monitor for displaying various game displays to a player while playing the game.

33. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 32 wherein the play station monitor at least displays lottery ticket total win amount for a respective player.

34. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 33 further comprising:

a pay out button located near the play station monitor that is depressed by the respective player to receive pay out of the lottery ticket total win amount.

35. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 18 wherein the at least one table computer is a plurality of table computers in a house and the plurality of table computers are linked together to at least one house computer wherein the at least one house computer controls and manages play of the games within the house.

36. The lottery ticket game and letters collection game according to claim 35 wherein the at least one house computer is a plurality of house computers that are linked together in a network and the plurality of house computers are linked together to at least one network computer wherein the at least one network computer controls and manages play of the games within the network.