Lottery ticket dispensing machine for multiple priced tickets based on variable ratios

• US 7,635,303 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lottery Dynamics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Integrated Group Assets Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wert; Joshua P.
• Application Number:
  US10/879,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20050164769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,003 Days
• Field of Search: 463/17, 463/26, 463/27, 273/138, 273/139
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine is disclose. A price category reception module receives a first price category of a first distribution. The price category reception module receives a second price category of a second distribution. The second distribution is established so that a first association between the first distribution and the first price category has a variable ratio with a second association between the second distribution and the second price category. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine also has a user input module. Further, the multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine has a lottery ticket printer. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine also has a controller that receives the price categories, receives an input from the user, and provides an instruction to the lottery ticket printer.

Claims

1. A multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine comprising:

a controller configured to operate a multi-priced lottery game in which (i) a first price category of a first known potential distribution of a prize is established prior to sale of a plurality of lottery tickets in the multi-priced lottery game and independently of a future quantity of the plurality of lottery tickets sold from the first price category and (ii) a second known price category of a second known potential distribution of the prize is established prior to sale of a plurality of lottery tickets in the multi-priced lottery game and independently of a future quantity of the plurality of lottery tickets sold from the second price category, wherein the second known potential distribution of the prize is established so that a first association being subtracted from a second association results in a fixed non-zero value, wherein the first association is the first known potential distribution of the prize divided by the first price category, wherein the fixed non-zero value is determined for the lottery prior to sale of the plurality of lottery tickets in the multi-priced lottery game, wherein the second association is the second known potential distribution of the prize divided by the second price category, the second known potential distribution of the prize being greater than the first known potential distribution of the prize, wherein the second price category is greater than the first price category, wherein a lottery number of a player is selected in the multi-priced lottery game, wherein a winning lottery number is randomly generated, wherein the lottery number is compared to the winning lottery number to determine if the player has won the multi-priced lottery game, wherein a sum of the first known potential distribution of the prize and the second known potential distribution of the prize is greater than the prize;

a price category reception module, wherein the price category reception module receives the first price category and the second known price category, wherein the price category reception module provides the first price category and the second price category to the controller;

a user input module, wherein the user input module receives an input from a user indicating one of a plurality of price categories in which a lottery ticket is to be purchased, wherein one of the plurality of price categories is the first price category, wherein another one of the plurality of price categories is the second price category, wherein the user input module provides the input to the controller so that the controller provides an instruction to a lottery ticket printer to print the lottery ticket according to the input.

2. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein the price category reception module receives the first price category from a server through a network.

3. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein the price category reception module receives the second price category from a server through a network.

4. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, further comprising a lottery ticket purchase transmission module that transmits a verification code from the lottery ticket that was purchased.

5. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, further comprising a display that receives the input from the user input module, wherein the display displays the input.

6. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 5, wherein the display is a graphical user interface.

7. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, further comprising a payment module that receives payment from a user for the purchase of the lottery ticket.

8. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, further comprising a lottery ticket purchase transmission module that transmits a verification code to a server through a network upon the purchase of a the lottery ticket.

9. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein an inter-sharing formula is utilized to provide payouts of actual distributions of the prize to multiple players that each have the selection of the lottery number that equals the winning lottery number.

10. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein an intra-sharing formula is utilized to provide payouts of actual distributions of the prize to multiple players that each have the selection of the lottery number that equals the winning lottery number.

11. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein an inter-sharing formula and an intra-sharing formula are utilized to provide payouts of actual distributions of the prize to multiple players that each have the selection of the lottery number that equals the winning lottery number.

12. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein the first known potential distribution of the prize is determined based on a potential single winner.

13. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein the first known potential distribution of the prize is the total distribution that is shared by holders of lottery tickets in the plurality of first-price category lottery tickets having a winning lottery number.

14. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein the second known potential distribution of the prize is the total distribution that is shared by holders of lottery tickets in the plurality of second-price category lottery tickets having a winning lottery number.

15. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein the second known potential distribution of the prize is determined based on a potential single winner.

16. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein the prize is a single shared jackpot prize.

17. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein the price category reception module receives a third price category of a third known potential distribution of the prize, which is established prior to sale of the plurality of lottery tickets in the multi-priced lottery and independently of a future quantity of the plurality of lottery tickets sold from the third price category, in which a plurality of third price category lottery tickets are purchased.

18. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 17, wherein the third known potential distribution is determined so that a fixed zero value determined prior to the sale of lottery tickets results from the first association being subtracted from a third association, wherein the third association is the third known potential distribution divided by the third price category.

19. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 1, wherein the first known potential distribution of the prize is a first known percentage of a prize and the second known potential distribution of the prize is a second known percentage of the prize.

20. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 17, wherein the third known potential distribution of the prize is the total distribution that is shared by holders of lottery tickets in the plurality of third price category lottery tickets having a winning lottery number.

21. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 17, wherein the prize is a single shared jackpot prize.

22. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 17, wherein the third price category is greater than the first price category and the second price category.

23. The multi-priced lottery ticket dispensing machine of claim 17, wherein the third known potential distribution of the prize is determined so that a fixed zero value determined prior to the sale of lottery tickets results from the second association being subtracted from a third association, wherein the third association is the third known potential distribution of the prize divided by the third price category.

24. A lottery distribution calculation system comprising:

a controller that is configured to operate a lottery game with a first price category module, a second price category module, and a multi-priced distribution module, wherein the first price category indicates a first price in which a plurality of first price category lottery tickets are purchased, wherein the second price category indicates a second price in which a plurality of second price category lottery tickets are purchased, wherein the multi-priced distribution module calculates a fixed non-zero value for the lottery prior to sale of lottery tickets, wherein the fixed non-zero value equals a first association being subtracted from a second association, wherein the multi-priced distribution module receives a first price category input, wherein the multi-priced distribution module receives a second price category input, wherein the multi-priced distribution module establishes a first known potential distribution of a prize, prior to the sale of the lottery tickets and independently of a future quantity of the plurality of lottery tickets sold from the first price category, that can be won with the lottery tickets in the plurality of first price category lottery tickets having a winning lottery number, wherein the first association is the first known potential distribution of the prize divided by the first price category, wherein the multi-priced distribution module establishes a second known potential distribution of the prize, prior to the sale of the lottery tickets and independently of a future quantity of the plurality of lottery tickets sold from the second price category, that can be won with the lottery tickets in the plurality of second price category lottery tickets having a winning lottery number, wherein the second association is the second known potential distribution of the prize divided by the second price category, wherein the second known potential distribution of the prize is greater than the first known potential distribution of the prize, wherein the second price category is greater than the first price category, wherein a lottery number of a player is selected in the multi-priced lottery game, wherein a winning lottery number is randomly generated, wherein the lottery number is compared to the winning lottery number to determine if the player has won the multi-priced lottery game, wherein a distribution of the prize to the player is calculated based upon a price category selected by the player if the player won the lottery game, wherein a sum of the first known potential distribution of the prize and the second known potential distribution of the prize is greater than the prize.

25. The lottery distribution calculation system of claim 24, wherein an inter-sharing formula is utilized to provide payouts of actual distributions of the prize to multiple players that each have the selection of the lottery number that equals the winning lottery number.

26. The lottery distribution calculation system of claim 24, wherein an intra-sharing formula is utilized to provide payouts of actual distributions of the prize to multiple players that each have the selection of the lottery number that equals the winning lottery number.

27. The lottery distribution calculation system of claim 24, wherein an inter-sharing formula and an intra-sharing formula are utilized to provide payouts of actual distributions of the prize to multiple players that each have the selection of the lottery number that equals the winning lottery number.

28. The lottery distribution calculation system of claim 24, wherein the first known potential distribution of the prize is determined based on a potential single winner.

35. The lottery distribution calculation system of claim 24, wherein the second known potential distribution of the prize is determined based on a potential single winner.

29. A multi-priced shared lottery system comprising:

a first price category module that provides, with a controller, prior to sale of plurality of lottery tickets in a multi-priced shared lottery game, a first price category in which a plurality of first price category lottery tickets can be purchased, wherein the first price category indicates a first known potential distribution of a prize, which is determined independently of a future quantity of the plurality of lottery tickets sold from the first price category, that can be won with lottery tickets in the plurality of first price category lottery tickets having a winning lottery number;

a second price category module that provides, with the controller, prior to sale of the plurality of lottery tickets in the multi-priced shared lottery game, a second price category in which a plurality of second price category lottery tickets can be purchased, wherein the second price category ticket indicates a second known potential distribution of the prize, which is determined independently of a future quantity of the plurality of lottery tickets sold from the second price category, that can be won with lottery tickets in the plurality of second price category lottery tickets having the winning number, wherein the second known potential distribution is determined so that a first association being subtracted from a second association results in a fixed non-zero value, wherein the first association is the first known potential distribution of the prize divided by the first price category, wherein the fixed non-zero value is determined for the multi-priced shared lottery prior to sale of the plurality of lottery tickets in the multi-priced shared lottery, wherein the second association is the second known potential distribution of the prize divided by the second price category, wherein the second known potential distribution of the prize is greater than the first known potential distribution of the prize, wherein the second price category is greater than the first price category, wherein a lottery number of a player is selected in the multi-priced shared lottery game, wherein a sum of the first known potential distribution of the prize and the second known potential distribution of the prize is greater than the prize, wherein the controller compares the lottery number with the winning lottery number to determine if the player has won the multi-priced shared lottery game;

a random number selection module that randomly selects the winning lottery number;

a first price intra-shared distribution module that provides, with the controller, a first price category intra-shared distribution of the first known potential distribution of the prize if at least one of the lottery tickets in the plurality of first price category lottery tickets has a winning number, wherein the first category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first price category lottery tickets shares actual payout of the prize according to a first price category intra-sharing distribution formula; and

a second price category intra-shared distribution module that provides, with the controller, a second price category intra-shared distribution of the second known potential distribution of the prize if at least one of the lottery tickets in the plurality of second price category lottery tickets has a winning number, wherein the second category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second price category lottery tickets shares actual payout of the prize according to a second price category intra-sharing distribution formula.

30. The multi-priced shared lottery system of claim 29, wherein the first known potential distribution of the prize is determined based on a potential single winner.

31. The multi-priced shared lottery system of claim 29, wherein the second known potential distribution of the prize is determined based on a potential single winner.

32. A multi-priced shared lottery system comprising:

a server that randomly generates a winning lottery number for a multi-priced shared lottery game, receives a lottery number of a player, and compares a lottery number of a player to the winning lottery number to determine if the player has won the multi-priced shared lottery game, wherein a sum of a first known potential distribution of a prize and a second known potential distribution of the prize is greater than the prize;

a database operably connected to the server, wherein the database stores a first price category module, a second price category module, a first price intra-shared distribution module, and a second price intra-shared distribution module, wherein the first price category module establishes, prior to sale of the plurality of lottery tickets in the multi-priced shared lottery game and independently of a future quantity of the plurality of lottery tickets sold from the first price category, the first known potential distribution of the prize that can be won with lottery tickets in a plurality of first-price category lottery tickets having a winning lottery number, wherein the second price category module establishes, prior to sale of the plurality of lottery tickets in the multi-priced shared lottery game, the second known potential distribution of the prize that can be won with lottery tickets in a plurality of second-price category lottery tickets having a winning lottery number and independently of a future quantity of the plurality of lottery tickets sold from the second price category, wherein the second known potential distribution of the prize is determined so that a first association being subtracted from a second association results in a fixed non-zero value, wherein the first association is the first known potential distribution of the prize divided by the first price category, wherein the fixed non-zero value is determined for the multi-priced shared lottery game prior to sale of the plurality of lottery tickets in the multi-priced shared lottery game, wherein the second association is the second known potential distribution of the prize divided by the second price category, wherein the second known potential distribution of the prize is greater than the first known potential distribution of the prize, wherein the second price category is greater than the first price category, wherein a sum of the first known potential distribution of the prize and the second known potential distribution of the prize is greater than the prize, wherein the first price intra-shared distribution module provides a first price category intra-shared distribution of the first known potential distribution of the prize if at least one of the lottery tickets in the plurality of first price category lottery tickets has a winning number, wherein the first category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of first price category lottery tickets shares actual payout of the prize according to a first price category intra-sharing distribution formula, wherein the second price category intra-shared distribution of the second known potential distribution of the prize if at least one of the lottery tickets in the plurality of second price category lottery tickets has a winning number, wherein the second category is the only price category having a winning ticket, wherein each of the winning tickets in the plurality of second price category lottery tickets shares actual payout of the prize according to a second price category intra-sharing distribution formula; and

a lottery ticket dispensing machine that communicates with the server through a network, wherein the lottery ticket dispensing machine receives the first known potential distribution of the prize and the second known potential distribution of the prize from the server.

33. The multi-priced shared lottery system of claim 32, wherein the first known potential distribution of the prize is determined based on a potential single winner.

34. The multi-priced shared lottery system of claim 32, wherein the second known potential distribution of the prize is determined based on a potential single winner.

36. A method comprising:

operating, with a lottery ticket dispensing machine, a lottery game having a first price category that indicates a first price in which a plurality of first price category lottery tickets are purchased and a second price in which a plurality of second price category lottery tickets are purchased;

calculating, with the lottery ticket dispensing machine, a fixed non-zero value for the lottery game prior to sale of lottery tickets, wherein the fixed non-zero value equals a first association being subtracted from a second association;

establishing, with the lottery ticket dispensing machine, a first known potential distribution of a prize, prior to the sale of the lottery tickets and independently of a future quantity of the plurality of lottery tickets sold from the first price category, that can be won with the lottery tickets in the plurality of first price category lottery tickets having a winning lottery number, wherein the first association is the first known potential distribution of the prize divided by the first price category;

establishing, with the lottery ticket dispensing machine, a second known potential distribution of the prize, prior to the sale of the lottery tickets and independently of a future quantity of the plurality of lottery tickets sold from the second price category, that can be won with the lottery tickets in the plurality of second price category lottery tickets having a winning lottery number, wherein the second association is the second known potential distribution of the prize divided by the second price category, wherein the second known potential distribution of the prize is greater than the first known potential distribution of the prize, wherein the second price category is greater than the first price category, wherein a sum of the first known potential distribution of the prize and the second known potential distribution of the prize is greater than the prize;

determining a lottery number of a player in the lottery game;

randomly generating a winning lottery number;

comparing the lottery number to the winning lottery number to determine if the player has won the lottery game;

calculate a distribution of the prize to the player based upon a price category selected by the player if the player was won the lottery game; and

provide a distribution of the prize to the player based upon the price category selected by the player if the player was won the lottery game.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein an inter-sharing formula is utilized to provide payouts of actual distributions of the prize to multiple players that each have the selection of the lottery number that equals the winning lottery number.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein an intra-sharing formula is utilized to provide payouts of actual distributions of the prize to multiple players that each have the selection of the lottery number that equals the winning lottery number.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein an inter-sharing formula and an intra-sharing formula are utilized to provide payouts of actual distributions of the prize to multiple players that each have the selection of the lottery number that equals the winning lottery number.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the first known potential distribution of the prize is determined based on a potential single winner.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the second known potential distribution of the prize is determined based on a potential single winner.