Games, and methods and apparatus for game play in games of chance

• US 6,811,484 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Original Assignee: Milestone Entertainment LLC
• Inventors: Dawson, Gary, Katz, Randall Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/965,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/10, 463/11, 463/12, 463/13, 463/18, 463/19, 463/20, 463/21, 463/22, 463/25, 463/26, 463/27, 463/28, 463/29, 273/19, 273/269, 273/237, 273/139
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/06 Lottos or bingo games; Systems, apparatus or devices for checking such games small boxes with balls used for generating random numbers A63F7/048; lottery apparatus G07C15/00; lottery gaming stations, online lottery or bingo G07F17/329; printing processes for lottery tickets B41M3/005
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/081 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

The inventions herein relate to novel games of chance and apparatus and methods for their play. In one embodiment, a multi-level game of chance is played by presenting the player with multiple options, where there is at least one positive option and at least one negative option. By way of example, at each level the player selects one of four boxes, where two have a monetary amount, and one has a strike. Optionally, the fourth box may comprise a ‘mystery box’, which requires a decision within a decision. When presented with the mystery box, the player may elect to open it or not. If they do not open it, game play resumes at the existing game level. If they open it, one of multiple options is presented, including a positive option and a negative option. In the preferred embodiment, the positive option could include: a multiplier of the winnings of the player, e.g., a double of the money in the player'"'"'s account, or the updating of the safe level for the player. A negative result could be an additional strike. Preferably, the probability of a negative outcome from the opening of the mystery box should be the same as the probability of a negative event the general playing of the game. In studio participation, casino based play, or play over an electronic network, such as the Internet, is contemplated. In another embodiment, a series of numbers are randomly drawn for the player and the system, and a win determined based upon predefined rules, e.g., four of a kind beats three of a kind. In yet another embodiment, an ancillary game is performed using the substantially real time determination of the number of lottery players still remaining in the game.

Claims

1. A method for lottery game play comprising the steps of:

randomly selecting a target number from a first range of numbers having a minimum and maximum number,

presenting a indication of the target number to the player,

selecting a number for the player, the number being selected from a second range, having a minimum and maximum, where the maximum is equal to or less than ½

of the minimum of the first range,

receiving an indication from the player whether to draw again, and if so, randomly selecting a number from the second range, accumulating the total of the player'"'"'s draws, and repeating this step until either the player declines to draw or the total exceeds the target number, and

in the event the player declines to draw, randomly selecting numbers from the second range, accumulating those numbers, comparing them to the player'"'"'s accumulated amount, and

assigning as to the winner whomever has a total closest to, but not exceeding, the target.

2. The lottery game of claim 1 wherein the first range has a minimum of 20.

3. The lottery game of claim 1 wherein the first range has a minimum of 21.

4. The lottery game of claim 1 wherein the first range is from 20 to 50.

5. The lottery game of claim 1 wherein the maximum of the first range is less than 100.

6. The lottery game of claim 1 wherein the system indicates the odds that a draw will cause the player'"'"'s total to exceed the target number.

7. The lottery game of claim 1 wherein the result is a push if the player'"'"'s number and the system number are equal.