System and method for applying lottery multipliers

• US 8,298,063 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Multi-State Lottery Association
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Packes, John M. Jr., Tulley, Stephen C., Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Mik, Magdalena, Walker, Jay S., Santisi, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US12/820,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20100261516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 463/17, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/17
• 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

Some systems, processes, apparatus and articles of manufacture provide for selling lottery entries. In one example, a request is received to purchase a multiplier and a set of play indicia for a lottery game.

Claims

1. A system for providing a lottery game, 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 to purchase a set of play indicia for a lottery game and to purchase eligibility for a multiplier for the lottery game,

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

in which the multiplier is to be applied to a winning set of play indicia at a second predetermined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a second predetermined specific redemption value that is different than the first predetermined specific redemption value, wherein the second predetermined magnitude is different than the first predetermined magnitude,

in which the multiplier is to be applied to a winning set of play indicia at a third predetermined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a third predetermined specific redemption value that is different than the first predetermined specific redemption value and is different than the second predetermined specific redemption value, wherein the third predetermined magnitude is different than the first predetermined magnitude and is different than the second predetermined magnitude,

in which the multiplier is to be applied to a winning set of play indicia at a fourth predetermined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a predetermined range of redemption values, wherein the predetermined range does not include the first, second or third predetermined specific redemption values, and transmit an indication of the request 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, and

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

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth predetermined magnitude is equal to the first predetermined magnitude.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth predetermined magnitude is different than the second predetermined magnitude and is different than the third predetermined magnitude.

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

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

6. The system of claim 1, the first program including instructions that when executed by the first processor direct the first processor further to:

record the play indicia on a lottery ticket.

7. The system of claim 6, in which the lottery ticket is in the form of at least one of paper, cardboard, plastic, magnetic, optical and electronic medium.

8. The system of claim 1, the first program including instructions that when executed by the first processor direct the first processor further to:

determine that the set of play indicia is a winning set of play indicia; and

determine a payout for the winning set of play indicia by applying the multiplier to a redemption value of the winning set of play indicia.

9. The system of claim 1, the second program including instructions that when executed by the second processor direct the second processor further to:

determine that the set of play indicia is a winning set of play indicia; and

determine a payout for the winning set of play indicia by applying the multiplier to a redemption value of the winning set of play indicia.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured so that when executed by the processor, the instructions direct the 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,

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

in which the multiplier is to be applied to a winning set of play indicia at a second predetermined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a second predetermined specific redemption value that is different than the first predetermined specific redemption value, wherein the second predetermined magnitude is different than the first predetermined magnitude,

in which the multiplier is to be applied to a winning set of play indicia at a third predetermined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a third predetermined specific redemption value that is different than the first predetermined specific redemption value and is different than the second predetermined specific redemption value, wherein the third predetermined magnitude is different than the first predetermined magnitude and is different than the second predetermined magnitude,

in which the multiplier is to be applied to a winning set of play indicia at a fourth predetermined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a predetermined range of redemption values, wherein the predetermined range does not include the first, second or third predetermined specific redemption values; and

store an indication of the set of play indicia of the player in association with the eligibility of the player for the multiplier.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the instructions being further configured so that when executed by the processor the instructions direct the processor further to:

determine that the set of play indicia of the player is a winning set of play indicia; and

determine a payout for the winning set of play indicia by applying the multiplier to a redemption value of the winning set of play indicia.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured so that when executed by the processor, the instructions direct the processor to;

receive an indication of a request to redeem a set of play indicia for a lottery game;

determine the set of play indicia is associated with eligibility for a multiplier for the lottery game;

determine that the set of play indicia is a winning set of play indicia;

determine a payout for the winning set of play indicia based a redemption value of the winning set of play indicia and the multiplier,

by applying the multiplier at a first predetermined magnitude to the redemption value if the redemption value is a first predetermined specific redemption value,

by applying the multiplier at a second predetermined magnitude to the redemption value if the redemption value is a second predetermined specific redemption value that is different than the first predetermined specific redemption value, wherein the second predetermined magnitude is different than the first predetermined magnitude,

by applying the multiplier at a third predetermined magnitude to the redemption value if the redemption value is a third predetermined specific redemption value that is different than the first predetermined specific redemption value and is different than the second predetermined specific value, wherein the third predetermined magnitude is different than the first predetermined magnitude and is different than the second predetermined magnitude, or

by applying the multiplier at a fourth predetermined magnitude to the redemption value if the redemption value is in a predetermined range of specific redemption values, wherein the predetermined range of specific redemption values does not include the first, second or third predetermined specific redemption values; and

outputting an indication of the payout for the winning set of play indicia.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fourth predetermined magnitude is equal to the first predetermined magnitude.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fourth predetermined magnitude is different than the second predetermined magnitude and is different than the third predetermined magnitude.