System and method for applying lottery multipliers

• US 7,740,537 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• 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 E
• Application Number:
  US11/425,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20060246995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 16- 22, 463/23, 463/24, 463/25, 463 26- 27, 273/143.R, 273/138.1
• US Class Current: 463/24
• 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 a set of play indicia for a lottery game and to purchase eligibility for a multiplier for the lottery game. The multiplier may be applied to a winning set of play indicia at a predetermined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a predetermined specific redemption value, and the multiplier may be applied to a winning set of play indicia at a randomly determined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a predetermined range of redemption values.

Claims

1. A system for processing lottery ticket sales for a lottery game having a multiplier option, comprising:

a plurality of lottery terminals, each lottery terminal comprising;

a first processor; and

a first storage device in communication with the first processor, the first storage device storing a first program for directing the first processor to;

receive a request by a player to purchase a set of play indicia for a lottery game and to purchase eligibility for a multiplier for the lottery game for a price,

in which the multiplier is applied to a winning set of play indicia at a predetermined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a predetermined specific redemption value,

in which the multiplier is applied to a winning set of play indicia at a randomly determined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a predetermined range of redemption values,

wherein the predetermined range does not include the predetermined specific redemption value, and

transmit an indication of the request by the player to a lottery server; and

the lottery server in communication via a network with each of the plurality of lottery terminals, the lottery server comprising;

a second processor; and

a second storage device in communication with the second processor, the second storage device storing a second program for directing the second processor to;

receive the indication of the request by the player, and

associate the set of play indicia of the player with the eligibility of the player for the multiplier.

2. The system of claim 1, in which the lottery game is a drawing-type lottery game.

3. The system of claim 1, in which the lottery game is an instant-type lottery game.

4. The system of claim 1, the first program for directing the first processor further to record the play indicia on a lottery ticket.

5. The system of claim 4, in which the lottery ticket is in the form of at least one of paper, cardboard, plastic, magnetic, optical, and electronic medium.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the randomly determined magnitude is determined prior to determining a set of drawn indicia for the lottery game.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing a program for directing the processor to;

receive a request to purchase eligibility for a multiplier and an associated set of play indicia,

in which the multiplier is applied to a winning set of play indicia at a predetermined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a predetermined specific redemption value,

in which the multiplier is applied to a winning set of play indicia at a randomly determined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a predetermined range of redemption values,

wherein the predetermined range does not include the predetermined specific redemption value;

after receiving the request, determine a price for a lottery ticket associated with the eligibility for the multiplier and the associated set of play indicia

and store an indication of the price for the lottery ticket.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the randomly determined magnitude is determined prior to determining a set of drawn indicia for a lottery game in which the set of play indicia is entered.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing a program for directing the processor to;

determine a price for eligibility for a multiplier and a set of play indicia

store an indication of the price for eligibility for a multiplier; and

receive a request to purchase eligibility for a multiplier and the set of play indicia,

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

in which the multiplier is applied to a winning set of play indicia at a randomly determined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a predetermined range of redemption values,

wherein the predetermined range does not include the predetermined specific redemption value.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the randomly determined magnitude is determined prior to determining a set of drawn indicia for a lottery game in which the set of play indicia is entered.