Lottery gaming with merchandising prizes
First Claim
1. A method for enhancing a lottery game, comprising:
- providing a lottery game that enables a selection of a first subset of symbols from a set of symbols;
providing a player with the opportunity to win full-value prize certificates that are redeemable for merchandise;
providing a player with the opportunity to win partial-value prize certificates, wherein the partial-value prize certificates have a value less than the full-value prize certificates, and the partial-value prize certificates are not individually redeemable for merchandise;
receiving input from the player selecting a first subset of symbols;
generating and displaying winning symbols, wherein the winning symbols comprise a second subset of symbols selected from the set of symbols;
awarding monetary prizes if there is a first number of matches between the first set of symbols and the winning symbols;
awarding full-value prize certificates if there is a second number of matches between the first set of symbols and the winning symbols, wherein the second number of matches is less than the first number of matches; and
awarding partial-value prize certificates if there is a third number of matches between the first set of symbols and the winning symbols, wherein the third number of matches is less than the second number of matches.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for use in or with lottery games (including pull-tabs and the like) is disclosed, which provides a new prize award structure. Lottery prizes are issued as certificates, redeemable only for merchandise (not cash). Certificates may be set to any level desired by a lottery operator. Certificates are enabled to be multi-leveled, having a hierarchical and value relationship between levels. Certificates may also be issued as partial certificates, requiring accumulation until they are traded in for a full certificate; partial certificates cannot be used for merchandise redemption directly. Certificates are redeemed for merchandise at physical locations or on-line. Certificates provide the flexibility to be awarded as prizes for heretofore too-frequent events, such as matching only a single ball out of six, greatly enhancing player satisfaction and involvement in lottery and lottery-style games.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for enhancing a lottery game, comprising:
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providing a lottery game that enables a selection of a first subset of symbols from a set of symbols; providing a player with the opportunity to win full-value prize certificates that are redeemable for merchandise; providing a player with the opportunity to win partial-value prize certificates, wherein the partial-value prize certificates have a value less than the full-value prize certificates, and the partial-value prize certificates are not individually redeemable for merchandise; receiving input from the player selecting a first subset of symbols; generating and displaying winning symbols, wherein the winning symbols comprise a second subset of symbols selected from the set of symbols; awarding monetary prizes if there is a first number of matches between the first set of symbols and the winning symbols; awarding full-value prize certificates if there is a second number of matches between the first set of symbols and the winning symbols, wherein the second number of matches is less than the first number of matches; and awarding partial-value prize certificates if there is a third number of matches between the first set of symbols and the winning symbols, wherein the third number of matches is less than the second number of matches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for enhancing a lottery game, comprising:
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providing a lottery game that enables a selection of a first subset of symbols from a set of symbols, wherein a player is provided with the opportunity to win monetary prizes, full-value prize certificates that are redeemable for merchandise, and partial-value prize certificates, wherein the partial-value prize certificates have a value less than the full-value prize certificates, and the partial-value prize certificates are not individually redeemable for merchandise; providing merchandise that is redeemable for one or more full-value prize certificates; receiving input from the player selecting a first subset of symbols; generating and displaying winning symbols, wherein the winning symbols comprise a second subset of symbols selected from the set of symbols; awarding monetary prizes to the player if there is a first number of matches between the first set of symbols and the winning symbols; awarding full-value prize certificates to the player if there is a second number of matches between the first set of symbols and the winning symbols, wherein the second number of matches is less than the first number of matches; awarding partial-value prize certificates to the player if there is a third number of matches between the first set of symbols and the winning symbols, wherein the third number of matches is less than the second number of matches; and receiving player input selecting merchandise in exchange for one or more full-value prize certificates.
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13. A system for enhancing lottery wins, the system comprising:
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a means for running a lottery; a means for enabling selection of a first subset of symbols from a set of symbols; a means for selecting a second subset of symbols by the lottery, wherein the second subset is the winning symbols; a means for determining a number of matched symbols between the first subset and the second subset, wherein the determining means is capable of issuing monetary prizes, redeemable prize certificates, and partial prize certificates for a predetermined number of matched symbols, wherein the partial prize certificates have a value less than the redeemable prize certificates and the partial prize certificates are not individually redeemable for merchandise; a means for providing a selection of merchandise that is associated with issued prize certificates; and a means for redeeming issued prize certificates for merchandise selected by a player.
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14. A method for enhancing a lottery game, comprising:
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providing a lottery game; providing a player with the opportunity to win full-value certificates that are redeemable for a prize from a selection of merchandise; providing a player with the opportunity to win partial-value certificates that are not individually redeemable for cash or a prize; generating and presenting a game outcome for the lottery game, wherein the game outcome comprises a plurality of symbols; and awarding a monetary prizes, full-value certificates, and partial-value certificates for winning outcomes.
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Specification