Internet Based Lottery Redemption System and Methods

• US 20110105213A1
• Filed: 10/06/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games International Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Kline, Charles, Streeter, Gary, Irwin, Kenneth Earl JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4014 Identity check for transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/405 Establishing or using transaction specific rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0607 Regulated
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A method and associated system for Internet play of an instant lottery game includes supplying instant lottery tickets for purchase by players, with each of the instant lottery tickets having a game authorization code. The winning or loosing status of the instant lottery tickets is unknown to the players at the time of purchase. Each of the instant lottery tickets is provided with a unique prize claim code separate from the game authorization code. A web site is provided wherein a player enters the game authorization code via an Internet device to initiate play of the instant lottery game. The outcome of the game is then randomly determined and presented to the player via the web site. The value of a winning outcome is credited to a running tally associated with the lottery ticket and, upon the player cashing out to end the lottery game, a monetary value is assigned for the running tally associated with the unique prize claim code. The prize claim codes are stored and at defined periodic intervals, the prize claim codes are transferred to a lottery system central computer. For redemption of an instant lottery ticket, the player presents the prize claim code to a lottery redemption location wherein the presented prize claim code is verified with data from the transferred prize claim codes to determine a payout to the player for the lottery ticket.

Claims

1. A method for Internet play of an instant lottery game, comprising:

supplying instant lottery tickets for purchase by players, each of the instant lottery tickets having a game authorization code, the winning or loosing status of the instant lottery tickets being unknown to the players at the time of purchase;

providing each of the instant lottery tickets offered for sale with a unique prize claim code separate from the game authorization code;

providing a web site wherein a player enters the game authorization code via an Internet device to initiate play of the instant lottery game;

randomly determining the outcome of the instant lottery game initiated by the player and presenting the outcome to the player via the web site, the value of a winning outcome being credited to a running tally associated with the lottery ticket;

upon the player cashing out to end the lottery game, assigning a monetary value for the running tally to the unique prize claim code for the lottery ticket and storing the prize claim code;

at defined periodic intervals, transferring the prize claim codes having monetary values assigned thereto to a lottery system central computer; and

whereby for redemption of an instant lottery ticket, the player presents the prize claim code to a lottery redemption location wherein the presented prize claim code is verified with data from the transferred prize claim codes to determine a payout to the player for the lottery ticket.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the Internet functionalities are implemented with an Internet game server that is in communication with the lottery system central computer.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the Internet functionalities are implemented with the lottery system central computer that also functions as an Internet game server.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the lottery system central computer is further configured for conducting an on-line draw lottery game wherein on-line lottery tickets are sold to players at retail locations, the instant lottery tickets being offered to players at the same retail establishments and being redeemed at redemption locations for the on-line lottery tickets.

5. The method as in claim 4, wherein the prize claim codes having a monetary value assigned thereto are stored in a file that is transferred to the lottery system central computer at the defined periodic interval and loaded into a lottery validation system.

6. The method as in claim 5, wherein files for winning on-line lottery tickets are also loaded into the lottery validation system.

7. The method as in claim 5, further comprising notifying players of a time after the loading into the lottery validation system when they can redeem their instant lottery tickets.

8. The method as in claim 4, wherein the instant lottery tickets are printed real-time for the player at the time of purchase by lottery terminals that also print the on-line lottery tickets, and further comprising generating an ongoing database of the purchased instant lottery tickets that is used to verify the game authorization codes subsequently entered by players for Internet play of the instant lottery tickets.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein the instant lottery tickets are pre-printed, and further comprising generating a database of all of the pre-printed instant lottery tickets offered for sale that is used to verify the game authorization codes entered by players for Internet play of the instant lottery tickets.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein the players present their originally purchased instant lottery tickets with unique prize claim code for redemption.

11. The method as in claim 1, wherein a purchase price of the instant lottery ticket dictates a number of credits available to the player for wagering during Internet play of the instant lottery game.

12. The method as in claim 1, further comprising verifying the player'"'"'s geographic location when the player accesses the web site for Internet play of the instant lottery game.

13. A lottery system for conducting Internet play of an instant lottery game, said system comprising:

a plurality of instant lottery tickets for purchase by players, each of the instant lottery tickets having a game authorization code that entitles the player to subsequent play of an instant lottery game via the Internet, the winning or loosing status of the instant lottery tickets being unknown to the players at the time of purchase;

each of the instant lottery tickets further comprising a unique prize claim code separate from the game authorization code;

an Internet game server configured for providing a web site wherein a player enters the game authorization code via an Internet device to initiate play of the instant lottery game;

the Internet game server further configured to randomly determine the outcome of the instant lottery game initiated by the player and to present the outcome to the player via the web site;

the Internet game server further configured to maintain a running tally for each play of the instant lottery game and to credit the value of a winning outcome to the running tally associated with the instant lottery ticket;

upon the player cashing out to end the lottery game, the Internet game server configured to assign a monetary value for the running tally to the unique prize claim code associated with the lottery ticket and to store the prize claim code;

the Internet game server further configured to transfer the accumulation of stored prize claim codes having monetary values assigned thereto to a central lottery system computer at defined periodic intervals; and

the central lottery system computer configured to validate and redeem the instant lottery tickets presented by players for redemption based at least in part on a comparison of the prize claim code presented for redemption with the transferred prize claim codes.

14. The system as in claim 13, wherein the lottery system central computer is further configured for conducting an on-line draw lottery game wherein on-line lottery tickets are sold to players at retail locations, the instant lottery tickets being offered to players at the same retail establishments and being redeemed at redemption locations for the on-line lottery tickets.

15. The system as in claim 14, wherein the prize claim codes having a monetary value assigned thereto are stored in a file by the Internet game server and transferred to the lottery system central computer at the defined periodic interval, the lottery system central computer further configured to load the file into a lottery validation system.

16. The system as in claim 15, wherein the lottery system central computer is further configured for also loading files for winning on-line lottery tickets into the lottery validation system such that the same validation system is used for validating and redeeming on-line and instant lottery tickets.

17. The system as in claim 15, wherein at least one of the Internet game server or lottery system central computer are configured to provide a notice to players of a time after loading the file into the lottery validation system when they can redeem their instant lottery tickets.

18. The system as in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of lottery terminals at respective retail locations configured to print the instant lottery tickets and on-line lottery tickets real-time for players at the time of, the lottery system central computer further configured to generate an ongoing database of the purchased instant lottery tickets that is used by the Internet game server to verify the game authorization codes subsequently entered by players for Internet play of the instant lottery tickets.

19. The system as in claim 13, wherein the instant lottery tickets are pre-printed, and further comprising a pre-defined database of all of the pre-printed instant lottery tickets offered for sale that is used by the Internet game server to verify the game authorization codes entered by players for Internet play of the instant lottery tickets.

20. The system as in claim 13, wherein a purchase price of the instant lottery ticket dictates a number of credits available to the player for wagering during Internet play of the instant lottery game, the Internet game server configured to allow the player to selectively wager from one to all of the credits.

21. The system as in claim 20, wherein the instant lottery game implemented by the Internet game server allows for multiple plays until the credits available for wagering have been exhausted.