Method of playing a game of chance combining number and symbol matching and system for facilitating the play thereof

• US 8,128,473 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT Rhode Island LLC (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: GTECH Rhode Island Corporation (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Finnochio, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US10/410,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20040204224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,254 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 16- 29, 463 40- 43, 463/46, 273/236, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/144.R, 273/144.A, 273/144.B, 273/292, 273/293, 273/148.R, 273303-307, 273/149.R, 273/149.P
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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

A method for playing a game of chance and system for facilitating the play of the game are disclosed. The method of playing the game of chance includes choosing a selected symbol. The method of playing the game of chance further includes choosing a set of selected numbers. The method of playing the game further includes receiving a prize if a predetermined number the selected symbols matches the drawn symbol for each selected number.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of facilitating a game of chance, comprising:

receiving a wager in the game of chance at a terminal;

as part of receiving the wager, receiving information indicating a set of player-selected numbers from a pool of numbers;

as part of receiving the wager, receiving information indicating a player-selected symbol;

after receiving the wager, generating a set of drawn numbers from said pool of numbers;

after receiving the wager, generating a set of drawn symbols with a computer, at least one symbol being drawn for each number in the pool of numbers;

after receiving the wager, displaying on a video display the set of drawn symbols and the set of drawn numbers;

responsive to the player-selected numbers matching at least a first predetermined quantity of the drawn numbers, awarding a first prize;

and

responsive to the player-selected symbol matching at least a second predetermined quantity of the drawn symbols corresponding to the player-selected numbers, awarding a second prize.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

printing a ticket including said set of player-selected numbers and said player-selected symbol.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the ticket contains an authentication code, the method further comprising:

receiving a tender of the ticket for at least one of the first prize or the second prize; and

responsive to a validation of the authentication code, paying at least one of the first prize or the second prize.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein

the amount of the second prize is a function of the quantity of symbols in the set of drawn symbols corresponding to said player selected numbers that are matched by said player-selected symbol.

5. The method of chance of claim 2, wherein

the amount of the first prize is a function of the quantity of said player-selected numbers matched with said drawn numbers.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information indicating a second player-selected symbol;

and

responsive to said second player-selected symbol matching at least a third predetermined quantity of symbols in the set of drawn symbols for each of said player-selected numbers, awarding a third prize.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first prize is received if said player-selected symbol matches exactly the predetermined quantity of symbols in the set of drawn symbols corresponding to the player-selected numbers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined quantity is at least two.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined quantity is more than five.

10. A computer-implemented method of facilitating a game of chance, comprising:

receiving a wager in the game of chance;

as part of receiving the wager, receiving information indicating a set of player-selected numbers from a pool of numbers;

as part of receiving the wager, receiving information indicating a player-selected symbol for each selected number;

after receiving the wager, generating a set of drawn numbers;

after receiving the wager, generating, with a computer, a set of drawn symbols including a separate symbol for each number in the pool of numbers,

displaying on a video display the set of drawn numbers and the set of drawn symbols;

awarding a first prize if a first predetermined quantity of the selected symbols matches the drawn symbols corresponding to the same selected numbers.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

awarding a second prize conditioned on said selected numbers matching a second predetermined quantity of the set of drawn numbers.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the amount of the second prize is a function of the quantity of said selected numbers matched with said drawn numbers.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a ticket including the set of selected numbers, the selected symbols for each selected number, and an authentication code;

receiving a tender of the ticket for a prize; and

paying the prize if the authentication code is validated.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the amount of the first prize is a function of the quantity of said selected symbols matched with said drawn symbols corresponding to the same selected numbers.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the prize is received if exactly the predetermined quantity of player-selected symbols matches the drawn symbol for the same player-selected numbers.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first predetermined quantity is at least two.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first predetermined quantity is more than five.

18. A system for facilitating the play of a game of chance, comprising:

a display terminal configured to display a set of drawn symbols corresponding to each of the numbers in a pool of numbers and a set of drawn numbers chosen from the pool of numbers;

a ticket machine generating tickets having a player-selected symbol and a set of player-selected numbers chosen from the pool of numbers;

a storage device storing information regarding the tickets generated by the ticket machine;

an operations controller generating the set of drawn symbols and the set of drawn numbers; and

a ticket redemption device in communication with the operations controller, the ticket redemption device receiving a ticket tendered for a prize and paying the prize for a tendered ticket if the player-selected symbol matches a predetermined quantity of the drawn symbols corresponding to the set of player-selected numbers.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the predetermined quantity is at least two.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the predetermined quantity is more than five.