Scratch-ticket lottery and promotional games

• US 7,429,044 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games International Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: O'Brien, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US11/215,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 273/139, 273/269, 283/901, 283/903
• US Class Current: 273/139
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/005 Poker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0665 having a message becoming legible after rubbing-off a coating or removing an adhesive layer for educational purposes G09B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/901 Concealed data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/903 Lottery ticket

Abstract

A scratch-ticket game card simulating a instant Texas Hold'"'"'Em Poker game card with multiple chances of winning for a player. The instant game card includes plurality sets of player hands and a set of opponent hands, a set of community cards, and at least two prizes. The player can combine the set of community cards with each set of player hands to form a strongest hand for that set of player hands. The strongest hand for each set of player hands is compared against the strongest hand for the opponent hand. If the player wins, the player wins the prize associated with the winning player hand.

Claims

1. A method for making a scratch-off instant game card, comprising the steps of:

placing a set of community game elements on a game card, the set of community game elements including at least five game elements;

placing at least a first set and a second set of player game elements on the game card, each set of player game elements including at least two game elements;

placing a set of opponent game elements on the game card, the set of opponent game elements including at least two game elements;

covering with a removable covering the set of community game elements, the first and second sets of player game elements, and the set of opponent game elements; and

placing at least two prize elements on the game card and associated prize instructions, wherein each prize element is associated with one of the first and second set of player game elements and the prize instructions direct that if a highest player winning set from made from the set of community game elements and each of the first set and second set of player game elements according to defined game rules wins over the highest opponent winning set, the prize for the player is a combination of the prizes associated with each of the first and second sets of player game elements.

2. A scratch-off instant game card, comprising:

a set of community game elements, the set of community game elements including five game elements;

at least a first set and a second set of player game elements, each set of player game elements including two game elements; and

a set of opponent game elements, the set of opponent game elements including two game elements; and

at least two prize elements on the game card and associated prize instructions, wherein each prize element is associated with one of the first and second set of player game elements and the prize instructions direct that if a highest player winning set from made from the set of community game elements and each of the first set and second set of player game elements according to defined game rules wins over the highest opponent winning set, the prize for the player is a combination of the prizes associated with each of the first and second sets of player game elements.

3. The scratch-off instant game card of claim 2, wherein the set of community game elements, the at least first and second of player game elements, and the set of opponent game elements are covered with a removable covering.

4. A method for playing an instant lottery game, comprising the steps of:

displaying a set of community game elements to a player, the set of community game elements including five game elements;

displaying a plurality of sets of player game elements to the player, each set of player game elements including two game elements;

displaying a set of opponent game elements to the player, the set of opponent game elements including two game elements;

displaying a plurality of prize elements, each prize element is associated with one of the plurality of sets of player game elements;

determining a highest player winning set for each of the plurality of sets of player game elements according to a predefined rule;

determining a highest opponent winning set for the set of opponent game elements according to the predefined rule;

comparing the highest player winning set for each of the plurality of sets of player game elements with the highest opponent winning set;

if the highest player winning set for at least one set of player game elements wins over the highest opponent winning set, awarding the prize for the respective set of player game elements to the player; and

if more than one highest player winning set wins over the highest opponent winning set, awarding a prize for the player by combining the prizes for the respective sets of player game elements.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining a highest player winning set for each of the plurality of sets of player game elements further comprising the step of combining each of the plurality of sets of player game elements with three game elements selected from the set of community game elements.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the predefined rule is the rule for a Texas Hold'"'"'Em Poker game.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising steps of:

covering the set of community game elements with a removable covering prior to the step of displaying the set of community game elements to a player;

covering the plurality sets of player game elements with a removable covering prior to the step of displaying the plurality sets of player game elements to the player; and

covering the set of opponent game elements with a removable covering prior to the step of displaying the set of opponent game elements to the player.