Methods and systems for metered raffle-style gaming
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of playing a game of chance having a plurality of players, comprising the steps of:
- selecting at least one winning number according to a predefined criterion known to players of the game, the predefined criterion based upon a specific sequential number of selection, and the at least one winning number having an award associated therewith;
providing an opportunity for each of a plurality of players to request at least one number from a series of numbers including the at least one winning number, wherein each request by a player affects winning odds of the plurality of players;
issuing at least one number to each player in substantially an order of request time, each of the at least one number issued being different from any other number issued; and
paying the award to a player with a number which matches the at least one winning number.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for metered, raffle-style gaming implemented over a distributed network of locations and suitable for use in lottery and casino gaming environments. Potential winning numbers are issued in an order determined by relative time of a request for a number as received by a central controller, in comparison to the timing of other requests received by the controller, and matched to one or more known or predictable winning numbers. Time entries placed by players and compared to one or more target times may also be used to determine winning outcomes.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A method of playing a game of chance having a plurality of players, comprising the steps of:
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selecting at least one winning number according to a predefined criterion known to players of the game, the predefined criterion based upon a specific sequential number of selection, and the at least one winning number having an award associated therewith; providing an opportunity for each of a plurality of players to request at least one number from a series of numbers including the at least one winning number, wherein each request by a player affects winning odds of the plurality of players; issuing at least one number to each player in substantially an order of request time, each of the at least one number issued being different from any other number issued; and paying the award to a player with a number which matches the at least one winning number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A gaming system, comprising:
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a plurality of game terminals; and a central controller accessible by each of the game terminals via a communication link associated therewith, the central controller including a winning criterion known to players of the game, the predefined criterion based upon a specific sequential number of selection; wherein each game terminal includes; a device for recording a player wager; an actuator and circuitry responsive to recordation of a player wager for making a request for at least one number of a series of number in association with the recorded player wager and a moment in time and transmitting the request to the central controller via the associated communication link; and wherein the central controller includes a circuitry for receiving requests for numbers via the communication links from each of the game terminals, comparing the received requests as to order of request time, issuing at least one number from a series of numbers responsive to each received request in an order based on a time associated with each of the requests, each received request affecting winning odds of other received requests, comparing the at least one issued number to at least one winning number in the series having a monetary award associated therewith, the at least one winning number selected according to the winning criterion and transmitting the at least one issued number via the communication link back to a game terminal from which a request associated with the at least one issued number was received, each at least one issued number differing from any other issued number. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of playing a game of chance, comprising the steps of:
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selecting at least one target time to occur in a future segment of the game of chance and having an award associated therewith; providing an opportunity for each of a plurality of players to place at least one time entry in a range in time including the at least one target time, each time entry of the at least one time entry having a value of the actual time it is placed, wherein the at least one target time is selected before the plurality of players placing placing their respective at least one time entry; and making the award to a player who placed a time entry from the range of time which matches the at least one target time. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A gaming system, comprising:
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a plurality of game terminals; and a central controller accessible by each of the game terminals of the plurality via a communication link associated therewith; wherein each game terminal includes; a device for recording a player wager; an actuator and circuitry responsive to recordation of the player wager for placing a time entry in association with the recorded player wager and a moment in time and transmitting the placed time entry to the central controller via the associated communication link; and wherein the central controller include a circuitry for receiving time entries via the communication links from game terminals of the plurality and comparing the time entries to at least one target time having a monetary award associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification