System and method for applying lottery multipliers

• US 7,641,548 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Multi-State Lottery Association
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Tulley, Stephen C., Santisi, Steven M., Walker, Jay S., Mik, Magdalena, Packes, John M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mosser; Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/425,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20060246997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 16- 20, 463 23- 27
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/006 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, methods, computer readable media and apparatus are provided for processing lottery ticket sales. In one example, a request by a player is received to purchase at least one hidden size multiplier. Play indicia are associated with the multiplier by storing data related to the at least one set of play indicia and the multiplier, and a price is determined for the multiplier.

Claims

1. A method of processing lottery ticket sales comprising the steps of:

receiving, via a lottery terminal, a request to purchase at least one set of play indicia;

receiving, via the lottery terminal, a request by a player to purchase at least one hidden size multiplier having a size that is not disclosed to the player until it is applied to a winning set of indicia;

in which the hidden size multiplier is applied to a winning set of indicia at a predetermined magnitude if applied to a predetermined specific redemption value and

in which the hidden size multiplier is applied to a winning set of indicia at a randomly selected magnitude if applied to a predetermined redemption value range;

associating the play indicia with the hidden size multiplier by storing data related to the at least one set of play indicia and the hidden size multiplier;

transmitting the stored data from a lottery server to at least one of a player terminal and the lottery terminal; and

determining, via the lottery terminal, a price for the hidden size multiplier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disclosing to the player the size of the hidden size multiplier upon redemption of a winning set of indicia.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the size of the hidden size multiplier based on at least one condition defined by the lottery provider.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

increasing the size of the hidden size multiplier based on a location at which the at least one set of play indicia is redeemed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

increasing the size of the hidden size multiplier based on a type of ticket associated with the at least one set of play indicia.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one hidden size multiplier is associated with an instant-type lottery.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the at least one hidden size multiplier is associated with a drawing-type lottery.

8. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a computing device to perform a method comprising:

receiving, via a lottery terminal, a request to purchase at least one set of play indicia;

receiving, via the lottery terminal, a request by a player to purchase at least one hidden size multiplier having a size that is not disclosed to the player until it is applied to a winning set of indicia;

in which the hidden size multiplier is applied to a winning set of indicia at a predetermined magnitude if applied to a predetermined specific redemption value and

in which the hidden size multiplier is applied to a winning set of indicia at a randomly selected magnitude if applied to a predetermined redemption value range;

associating the play indicia with the hidden size multiplier by storing data related to the at least one set of play indicia and the hidden size multiplier;

transmitting the stored data from a lottery server to at least one of a player terminal and the lottery terminal; and

determining, via the lottery terminal, a price for the hidden size multiplier.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

disclosing to the player the size of the hidden size multiplier upon redemption of a winning set of indicia.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, storing instructions further configured to direct the computing device to perform:

adjusting the size of the hidden size multiplier based on at least one condition defined by the lottery provider.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, storing instructions further configured to direct the computing device to perform:

increasing the size of the hidden size multiplier based on a location at which the at least one set of play indicia is redeemed.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, storing instructions further configured to direct the computing device to perform:

increasing the size of the hidden size multiplier based on a type of instant ticket associated with the at least one set of play indicia.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8, in which the at least one hidden size multiplier is associated with an instant-type lottery.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 8, in which the at least one hidden size multiplier is associated with a drawing-type lottery.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 8, in which the at least one hidden size multiplier is associated with an instant-type lottery.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 8, in which the at least one hidden size multiplier is associated with a drawing-type lottery.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method comprising;

receiving, via a lottery terminal, a request to purchase at least one set of play indicia;

receiving, via the lottery terminal, a request by a player to purchase at least one hidden size multiplier having a size that is not disclosed to the player until it is applied to a winning set of indicia;

in which the hidden size multiplier is applied to a winning set of indicia at a predetermined magnitude if applied to a predetermined specific redemption value and

in which the hidden size multiplier is applied to a winning set of indicia at a randomly selected magnitude if applied to a predetermined redemption value range;

associating the play indicia with the hidden size multiplier by storing data related to the at least one set of play indicia and the hidden size multiplier;

transmitting the stored data from a lottery server to at least one of a player terminal and the lottery terminal; and

determining, via the lottery terminal, a price for the hidden size multiplier.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, the method further comprising:

disclosing to the player the size of the hidden size multiplier upon redemption of a winning set of indicia.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, the storage device storing instructions further configured to direct the processor to perform:

adjusting the size of the hidden size multiplier based on at least one condition defined by the lottery provider.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, the storage device storing instructions further configured to direct the processor to perform:

increasing the size of the hidden size multiplier based on a location at which the at least one set of play indicia is redeemed.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, the storage device storing instructions further configured to direct the processor to perform:

increasing the size of the hidden size multiplier based on a type of ticket associated with the at least one set of play indicia.