Lottery game with interactive game indicia selection

• US 8,795,054 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games International Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Bozeman, Alan Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): LIM, SENG HENG
• Application Number:
  US12/956,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20110070938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 463/17
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen

Abstract

A method and system for conducting an interactive lottery game between players and a lottery gaming organization are provided. Player game indicia are displayed to the player on a graphical user interface along with separately displayed game indicia assigned to the gaming organization for play of the game. The player selects one of the game indicia via the user interface, with the player'"'"'s selection designated on the user interface without being revealed to the gaming organization. The gaming organization subsequently randomly selects one of the game indicia, which is displayed to the player on the user interface. The system determines whether the player-selected game indicia match predetermined criteria as a function of the randomly selected game indicia. The steps are repeated until no game indicia remain or no further matches are possible.

Claims

1. A method for conducting an interactive lottery game between players and a lottery gaming organization via a graphical user interface in communication with a game server, said method comprising:

a) displaying to the player on the graphical user interface a first set of player game indicia assigned to the player for play of the lottery game and a separately displayed second set of lottery game indicia assigned to the lottery gaming organization for play of the lottery game;

b) the player selecting one of the player game indicia from the first set of player game indicia via the graphical user interface, with the player'"'"'s selection designated on the graphical user interface without being revealed to the lottery gaming organization;

c) the lottery gaming organization, via the game server and without being aware of the player'"'"'s selection from the first set of player game indicia, subsequently after the player selection, randomly selecting one of the remaining unselected lottery game indicia from the second set of lottery game indicia;

d) displaying the randomly selected lottery game indicia from the second set of lottery game indicia to the player on the graphical user interface such that the graphical interface separately displays to the player the player selected game indicia, the randomly selected lottery game indicia, and the remaining unselected player game indicia and lottery game indicia;

e) determining if the player-selected game indicia matches a predetermined criteria as a function of the randomly selected lottery game indicia;

(f) removing the randomly selected lottery game indicia from display on the graphical user interface after step, (e) such that the graphical user interface contains only the remaining unselected lottery game indicia; and

(g) repeating steps (b) through (f).

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein step (g) is repeated until no further player game indicia remain in the first set of player game indicia or no further matches are possible between the first set of player game indicia and the second set of lottery game indicia.

3. The method as in claim 2, further comprising awarding a prize to the player as a function of the number of accumulated matches from steps (b) through (g) between the player selected game indicia and the randomly selected lottery game indicia.

4. The method as in claim 3, further comprising implementing a bonus game wherein a multiplier factor is applied to the prize award for successful play of the bonus game.

5. The method as in claim 4, wherein the bonus game is a reiteration of steps (b) through (g), and the value of the multiplier factor is a function of the number of matches in the bonus game.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the first set of player game indicia and the second set of lottery game indicia are identical, and the predetermined match criteria is a match of identical game indicia.

7. The method as in claim 1, further comprising indicating to the player on the graphical user interface which of the player selected game indicia matched the randomly selected lottery game indicia.

8. The method as in claim 1, further comprising providing the player with a defined period of time in which to select their player game indicia, and automatically randomly selecting an indicia for the player from the remaining player game indicia in the event that the time period expires.

9. A system for conducting an interactive lottery game wherein players plays against a lottery gaming organization, comprising:

a graphical user interface in communication with a game server;

the server configured to display to the player on the graphical user interface a first set of player game indicia assigned to the player for play of the lottery game and a separately displayed second set of lottery game indicia assigned to the lottery gaming organization for play of the lottery game;

the graphical user interface configured to allow the player to select one of the player game indicia from the first set of player game indicia via the graphical user interface, with the player'"'"'s selection designated on the graphical user interface without being revealed to the lottery gaming organization;

the server configured to, subsequently after the player selection, randomly select one of the remaining unselected lottery game indicia from the second set of lottery game indicia without being aware of the player'"'"'s selection from the first set of player game indicia;

the graphical user interface configured to display the randomly selected lottery game indicia to the player on the graphical user interface such that the graphical user interface separately displays to the player the player selected game indicia, the randomly selected lottery game indicia, and the remaining unselected player game indicia and lottery game indicia;

the server configured to determine if the player-selected player select game indicia matches a predetermined criteria as a function of the randomly selected lottery game indicia and designate any such match to the player on the graphical user interface;

the server configured to remove the randomly selected lottery game indicia from display on the graphical user interface such that the graphical user interface contains only the remaining unselected lottery game indicia;

the server and graphical user interface configured to repeat the process wherein the player selects one of the remaining unselected player game indicia, and the lottery gaming organization randomly selects and displays one of the remaining unselected lottery game indicia; and

the server configured to indicate on the graphical user interface a prize awarded to the player that is a function of the number of matches between the player selected game indicia and the randomly selected lottery game indicia.

10. The system as in claim 9, wherein the server and graphical user interface are configured to play the lottery game until no further player game indicia remain in the first set of player game indicia or no further matches are possible between the first set of player game indicia and the second set of lottery game indicia.

11. The system as in claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to determine a prize for the player as a function of the number of accumulated matches between the player selected game indicia and the randomly selected lottery game indicia.

12. The system as in claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to indicate on the graphical user interface which of the player selected game indicia matches the randomly selected lottery game indicia.

13. The system as in claim 9, wherein the server is further configured to provide the player with a defined period of time in which to select their game indicia, and to automatically randomly select an indicia for the player from the remaining player assigned game indicia in the event that the time expires without the player making a selection of game indicia.

14. The system as in claim 9, wherein the server and graphical user interface are configured to conduct multiple iterations of the lottery game, and the player is awarded a prize based on the total number of matches from the multiple iterations of the game.

15. The system as in claim 9, wherein the server and graphical user interface are further configured to conduct a bonus game wherein a multiplier factor is applied to the prize award for successful play of the bonus game.

16. The system as in claim 15, wherein the bonus game is a reiteration of the lottery game, and the value of the multiplier factor is a function of the number of matches in the bonus game.