Systems and methods for map-based lottery games

• US 9,177,434 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Geonomics Global Games Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Geonomics Global Games Ltd.
• Inventors: Oakes, James Allan, Oakes, Henry Edward, Arbib, Benjamin Guy, Young, Matthew, Crosby, Helen Margaret
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US13/460,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 463 17- 19, 463 25- 28, 463/30, 463/42, 273/138.1, 273/269, 273/274
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

Systems and methods for map-based lottery games are disclosed. According to one particular embodiment, a method for a map-based lottery game may comprise: establishing a game having a gameboard based on a map that includes a plurality of units; receiving from each of a plurality of players a selection of at least one available unit on the gameboard; uniquely associating each said player with the selected at least one unit such that each unit on the gameboard is associated with no more than one of the plurality of players; and conducting a lottery drawing to select at least one first unit from some or all of the plurality of units such that any player associated with said at least one first unit becomes a first winner of a prize.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for a map-based lottery game, the method comprising:

establishing, by at least one computer processor, an online game having an electronic gameboard based on a map of a geographical area that includes a plurality of units, each unit corresponding to a geographic location in the mapped geographical area;

displaying at least a portion of said electronic gameboard to potential players on their respective computing devices to solicit participation in said game;

receiving, via a communication interface, from each of a plurality of players a selection of at least one available unit on the electronic gameboard, said selection corresponding to at least one geographic location in the mapped geographical area;

uniquely associating each said player with the selected at least one unit such that each unit on the electronic gameboard is associated with no more than one of the plurality of players; and

conducting, by at least one computer processor, a lottery drawing to select at least one first unit from some or all of the plurality of units such that any player associated with said at least one first unit becomes a first winner of a prize;

wherein the electronic gameboard is displayed on a computing device capable of determining or estimating its own geographic location, and the method further comprising;

causing the computing device to determine or estimate its own geographic location based on one or more location techniques selected from a group consisting of global positioning system (GPS), assisted global positioning system (A-GPS), hybrid global positioning system (HGPS), and cellular-based location techniques;

receiving an entry in the map-based lottery game from the computing device based on the determined or estimated geographic location; and

causing the computing device to generate a symbol associated with the entry in the map-based lottery game, the symbol being scannable by a scanning device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting one or more second units to win prizes, the selection being based on relative map positions of the one or more second units with respect to the at least one first unit.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the one or more second units comprise units that are neighbors of the at least one first unit.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the prize comprises a software application.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the prize comprises an ability to personalize the first unit.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

customizing potential prizes based on a preference of a player.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

facilitating a trade of a first unit for a value object.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the value object is selected from a group consisting of:

at least one token;

at least one other unit on the electronic gameboard; and

at least one prize.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the trade is performed between a first player and a second player.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the trade is performed between a first player and the map-based lottery game.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the trade involves all rights associated with the first unit.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the trade involves a subset of rights associated with the first unit.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the map comprises a three dimensional representation of a geographic location or a physical object.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the map comprises a layout of a predetermined real or fictional location.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing a physical location of a player to be used in the selection of at least one unit on the electronic gameboard that is at or in proximity to said physical location.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the plurality of units to be displayed to a player based on a physical location of the player, wherein at least one of the displayed units is at or in proximity to said physical location.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using a physical location of a player to determine the prize won by the player.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a unit indicator associated with the selected at least one first unit.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

selecting one or more second units to win a second prize or share the prize won by the first winner, the selection being based on the unit indicator associated with the at least one first unit that is also shared by the one or more second units.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the unit indicator comprises a symbol.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the unit indicator comprises a predetermined region of the map to which both the at least one first unit and the one or more second units belong.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the symbol is selected from a group consisting of:

a quick response code, a bar code, a computer readable image, and one or more computer readable characters.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic gameboard is displayed on one or more casino gaming terminals, and the method further comprising:

facilitating player interactions with the electronic gameboard displayed on the one or more casino gaming terminals.