On-line lottery game in which supplemental lottery-selected indicia are available for purchase

• US 7,824,257 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games International Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Penrice, Stephen, Jubinville, Chantal
• Primary Examiner(s): McClellan; James S
• Assistant Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US11/330,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20060151944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 273/139, 273/269, 463/17, 463/18, 463/25
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0605 Lottery games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/0615 based on sporting events, e.g. football pools
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

There is provided a lottery game with a supplemental game. The player plays the lottery game by selecting a plurality of numbers and the player also has the option of playing the supplemental game. The lottery authority selects a set of winning numbers for the lottery game and also selects a set of supplemental numbers. If the player has opted to play the supplemental game, his numbers will not only be compared with the winning numbers but also with the supplemental numbers. The total number of matches between the player'"'"'s numbers and winning numbers and supplemental numbers determines the player'"'"'s prize.

Claims

1. A method for playing a lottery game with a plurality of game machines in communication with a game server via a communications network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a wager and a first plurality of primary player indicia from a player via one of the game machines for play in a single lottery game;

receiving an indication from the player via the game machine of selection of an option to play one or more supplemental game indicia in the single lottery game for an increased wager by the player;

wherein the wager increases as a function of the number of supplemental game indicia selected to be played by the player;

randomly generating a plurality of primary game indicia via the server for play of the single lottery game;

randomly generating a plurality of supplemental game indicia via the server also for play of the single lottery game;

determining a first number of matches between the plurality of primary game indicia and the plurality of primary player indicia;

determining a second number of matches between the supplemental game indicia and the plurality of primary player indicia;

determining a total number of matches for the player in play of the single lottery game according to the first number of matches and any of the second number of matches the player is entitled to as a result of the player'"'"'s option to play one or more of the supplemental game indicia; and

awarding a prize to the player for play of the single lottery game based on the total number of matches.

2. The method for playing a lottery game of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of primary game indicia is selected from a plurality of sets, wherein one primary game indicia is selected from each of the plurality of sets,

the plurality of primary player indicia is selected from the plurality of sets, wherein one primary player indicia is selected from each of the plurality of sets, and

the supplemental plurality of game indicia is selected from the plurality of sets, wherein one supplemental game indicia is selected from each of the plurality of sets.

3. The method for playing a lottery game of claim 1, wherein the step of randomly generating a plurality of primary game indicia further comprises the step of obtaining the plurality of primary game indicia from a third party.

4. The method for playing a lottery game of claim 1, wherein the step of randomly generating a plurality of primary game indicia further comprises the step of generating the primary game indicia from a random number generator.

5. A system for playing a lottery game, comprising:

a communication network;

at least one gaming machine in communication with the communication network; and

a server in communication with the at least one gaming machine through the communication network, wherein the server hosts the lottery game and is capable of

receiving a wager and a first plurality of primary player indicia from the at least one game machine for play in a single lottery game;

receiving an indication from the at least one game machine of selection of an option to play one or more supplemental game indicia in the single lottery game for an increased wager;

wherein the wager increases as a function of the number of supplemental game indicia selected for play by a player;

randomly generating a plurality of primary game indicia via the server for play of the single lottery game;

randomly generating a plurality of supplemental game indicia via the server also for play of the single lottery game;

determining a first number of matches between the plurality of primary game indicia and the plurality of primary player indicia;

determining a second number of matches between the supplemental game indicia and the plurality of primary player indicia;

determining a total number of matches for the player in play of the single lottery game according to the first number of matches and any of the second number of matches the player is entitled to as a result of the player'"'"'s option to play one or more of the supplemental game indicia; and

awarding a prize to the player for play of the single lottery game based on the total number of matches.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of primary game indicia is selected from a plurality of sets, wherein one primary game indicia is selected from each of the plurality of sets,

the plurality of primary player indicia is selected from the plurality of sets, wherein one primary player indicia is selected from each of the plurality of sets, and

the supplemental plurality of game indicia is selected from the plurality of sets, wherein one supplemental game indicia is selected from each of the plurality of sets.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the gaming machine issues to the player a ticket containing the plurality of primary player indicia and the indication of supplemental selection.

8. A system for playing a lottery game, comprising:

communication network means;

means for playing the lottery game in communication with the communication network means; and

server means in communication with the means for playing the lottery game through the communication network means, wherein the server means hosts the lottery game and is capable of

receiving a wager and a first plurality of primary player indicia from the means for playing the lottery game for play in a single lottery game;

receiving an indication from the means for playing the lottery game of selection of an option to play one or more supplemental game indicia in the single lottery game for an increased wager;

wherein the wager increases as a function of the number of supplemental game indicia selected for play by a player;

randomly generating a plurality of primary game indicia for play of the single lottery game;

randomly generating a plurality of supplemental game indicia for play of the single lottery game;

determining a first number of matches between the plurality of primary game indicia and the plurality of primary player indicia;

determining a second number of matches between the supplemental game indicia and the plurality of primary player indicia;

determining a total number of matches for the player in play of the single lottery game according to the first number of matches and any of the second number of matches the player is entitled to as a result of the player'"'"'s option to play one or more of the supplemental game indicia; and

awarding a prize to the player for play of the single lottery game based on the total number of matches.