Game and prizing method

• US 7,867,082 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PartyGaming IA Limited (Entain Plc)
• Original Assignee: Internet Opportunity Entertainment
• Inventors: Vali-Tepper, Ismail
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARNER, WERNER G
• Application Number:
  US11/358,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20070197280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A game and prize method includes a prize awarded to a winner of a game, and the prize must be spent by the winner within a certain set time limit. However, in order to obtain the prize a player must participate in a game, preferably a tournament style game, with other people, and win the prize. The game may be against the other contestants in a knock-out style game, or may alternatively be against a computer, with a selection of one of the contestants being made based on random or deterministic criteria. However the winner is determined, the winner receives a money prize which must then be spent by the winner within a set time limit.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

operating an on-line game server connected to the Internet, so as to;

host an on-line game for entry by players;

once players have entered the game, run the on-line game over the Internet according to game rules to determine at least one of the players as a winner of the on-line game;

award the winner a money prize;

set a time limit for the winner to expend the money prize; and

monitor the expenditure of the money prize by the winner within the time limit;

wherein the monitoring comprises observing that the prize is spent within the time limit according to a set of rules and that the prize is expended such that the winner, at the end of the time limit, has no assets to show for the expenditure of the prize, and wherein the rules concerning expenditure of the money prize stipulate that the money has to be expended in a different way on different activities from how previous winners of the game have expended the prize.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring further comprises determining a mode of expenditure of the prize by the winner, and providing said winner with said mode of expenditure.

3. A method according to claim 2, and further comprising observing the expenditure of said winner in accordance with the determined mode of expenditure.

4. A method according to claim 1, and further comprising, providing a pass code to players, the pass code being for entry into the game, the game providing further comprising a step of obtaining the pass code from players prior to allowing entry into the game.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring further comprises recording audio and/or video recordings of said winner expending said prize.

6. A method according to claim 5, and further comprising transmitting said recordings to third parties via a communications medium.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the game is a tournament game against other players.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the game is a game against a simulated opponent, and the winner is selected from a plurality of people who play the game according to one or more predetermined criteria.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the winner is selected based on one of:

at random; and

player performance in the game.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the game is a card game.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the card game is a form of poker.

12. A method, comprising:

operating a computer connected to the Internet, so as to play an on-line game for a prize, the operating comprising communicating with an on-line game server hosting the on-line game via the Internet so as to;

enter the on-line game;

play the on-line game according to game rules with the object of trying to win the game;

if the game is won;

i) receiving a money prize; and

then

ii) expending the money prize within a set time limit;

wherein the expending step further comprises expending the prize within the time limit according to a set of rules and

in a manner such that the winner, at the end of the time limit, has no assets to show for the expenditure of the prize, and wherein the rules concerning expenditure of the money prize stipulate that the money has to be expended in a different way on different activities from how previous winners of the game have expended the prize.

13. A method according to claim 12, and further comprising receiving information relating to a mode of expenditure of the prize, wherein the expending step comprises expending the prize in accordance with the mode of expenditure.

14. A method according to claim 12, and further comprising, receiving a pass code to access the game, the pass code being for entry into the game, the entering step further comprising a step of providing the pass code to obtain entry into the game.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the game is a tournament game against other players.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the game is a game against a simulated opponent, and the winner is selected from a plurality of people who play the game according to one or more predetermined criteria.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the winner is selected based on one of:

at random; and

player performance in the game.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein the game is a card game.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the card game is a form of poker.