System and method for playing a game having online and offline elements

• US 8,109,828 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games LLC (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Holdings Ltd (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kane, Steven N., Hardy, Dow, Herrmann, Mark E., LaRocca, Paul, Sabet, Bijan, Yanowitz, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US11/325,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20060172799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,225 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 463/25, 463/29, 463 42- 46
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A system and method are provided for playing a game of chance. The game of chance may include, for example, a lottery-type or casino-based game. A partial result of the game of chance is revealed to a player in an offline portion of the game. The remaining portion of the result is revealed to the player in an online portion of the game. In one example, the online/offline game includes a slot machine game. In one example, the online/offline game includes a bingo game. In yet another example, the online/offline game includes a game of roulette. In one example, particular game features are associated with either the online or offline portions of the game. In this way, players are motivated to participate in both portions of the game, enhancing and prolonging the game experience.

Claims

1. A method for administering a game of chance, the method comprising:

issuing a ticket to a player, the ticket including an offline portion of a game including a first set of elements associated with the game, corresponding to a first set of areas of the game ticket, the first set of elements indicative of a partial result of the game of chance, all elements included on the ticket associated with the game and indicative of the partial result of the game of chance being unrevealed when the ticket is issued;

providing a code printed on a surface of the ticket;

providing for the player to reveal one or more elements of the first set of elements, the one or more elements of the first set of elements revealed by the player visually, and indicating to the player a partial result of the game of chance;

providing for the player to obtain a second set of elements from an online portion of the game, the second set of elements corresponding to a second set of areas of the game ticket that are incapable of being revealed offline, the second set of elements revealed on the online portion of the game, accessible on a computer system;

presenting, by computer system to the player, a website interface in which the player is permitted to input the code to obtain security access to the second set of elements; and

providing to the player a result of the game, wherein the result is based upon a combination of at least one elements from the first set of elements and at least one element from the second set of elements.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of presenting, by computer system to the player, a website interface in which the player is permitted to input the code further comprises an act of using the code to gain security access to obtain results of the game of chance.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of issuing a ticket includes an act of issuing at least one of a lottery ticket, a scratch ticket, or a pull-tab ticket.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the act of providing for the player to obtain the second set of elements further comprises an act of providing a computer-based game which the player plays to reveal the second set of elements.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the act of providing to the player the result of the game further comprises an act of permitting access to the result of the game of chance by using the code as a decryption key to obtain the result.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of storing, on a server, the result of the game of chance.

7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising an act of storing, in a database of a computer system, a portion of a decryption key, the portion being used along with the code by the computer system to obtain the second set of elements.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the act of providing for the player to obtain the second set of elements includes an act of permitting access to a website to play the game.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the game is at least one of a group comprising a slot machine game, a bingo game and a roulette game.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising an act of obtaining, from the database of the computer system, the portion of the decryption key based on an identifier printed on the ticket.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the identifier is a serial number associated with the ticket.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the online portion of the game is a computer-based game involving a plurality of instances of an online game, and wherein the player plays the plurality of instances of the online game within an interface of the computer-based game.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the ticket discloses the number of game instances of the game provided to the player.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the player is permitted to play, with each one of the game instances, a plurality of bingo games.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the player is permitted to play, with each one of the game instances, a plurality of roulette games.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the player is permitted to play, with each one of the game instances, a plurality of slot machine games.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ticket includes a plurality of areas indicating the first set of elements.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of areas is covered by a scratchable coating adapted to be removed by the player.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising an act of removing, by the player, the scratchable coating during the offline portion of the game.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the result of the game is predetermined.

21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of providing, in the online portion of the game, one or more reveals associated with the second set of elements.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the one or more reveals are predetermined.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the one or more reveals are randomly determined by a client computer.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the one or more reveals are stored in a database of a server.

25. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining, based on the combination of at least one element from the first set and at least one element from the second set, whether the player wins a prize.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein, if it is determined that the player wins a prize, the method further comprises an act of awarding the prize to the player.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the prize awarded to the player is at least one of cash, merchandise, or credit.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein an indication of the prize won by the player is stored in a database of a server, and is downloaded to a computer presenting the computer-based game to the player.

29. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of issuing a ticket includes an act of issuing at least one of a bingo ticket or a keno ticket.

30. A method for administering a game of chance, the method comprising:

issuing a ticket to a player, the ticket including an offline portion of a game including a first set of elements associated with the game;

assigning a result of the game associated with the ticket after the ticket is sold, the result assigned by a game operator and including a determination of whether the ticket is a winner or loser prior to obtaining a second set of elements from the online portion of the game associated with the ticket;

providing for the player to obtain a second set of elements from an online portion of the game, the second set of elements revealed on a medium independent from the game ticket; and

providing to the player the result of the game, wherein the result is based upon a combination of at least one element from the first set of elements and at least one element from the second set of elements.

31. A method for administering a game of chance, the method comprising:

issuing a ticket to a player, the ticket including an offline portion of a game including a first set of elements associated with the game;

assigning a result of the game associated with the ticket after the ticket is sold, the result assigned by a game operator and including a determination of whether the ticket is a winner or loser prior to obtaining a second set of elements from an online portion of the game associated with the ticket;

providing for the player to obtain the second set of elements from the online portion of the game, the second set of elements revealed on a medium independent from the game ticket, an interface of the online portion of the game displaying a graphic representation of the ticket used in the offline portion of the game, the graphic representation of the ticket displaying the first set of elements;

providing for the player access to a website to obtain the second set of elements from the online portion of the game; and

providing to the player the result of the game, wherein the result is based upon a combination of at least one element from the first set of elements and at least one element from the second set of elements.