Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ENHANCED PRIZE GAM1NG TICKET
i
The present invention relates to a gaming ticket for an instant win
lottery game and a method for playing the ss~me, and in particular, to a
gaming ticket
including at least two instant win lottery games or plays in which a prize
awarded to
a player for each winning game or play on the gaming ticket is enhanced by a
multiplier value determined from the number of winning games or plays on the
gaming ticket.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIQN
Gaming tickets providing instant win lottery games are well known and
widely practiced. A typical gaming ticket provides a player with one or more
discrete
instant win lottery games which are played to determine if a prize has been
won.
Often, the instant win lottery games are variations on commonly played casino
card
games or number games, such as Poker, Blackjack, or Roulette. The gaming
ticket
face provides a background section, a game play section, and optionally, an
instruction section. The background section often Contains colorful artwork or
other
indicia intended to attract a player's attention. The game play section
provides game
elements necessary far a player to play the provided games, while the
instruction
section may optionally provide the player with instructions on how to play the
provided games and collect any winnings. The reverse side of the gaming ticket
ZO often includes additional game play or prize collection instructions, as
well as various
legal disclaimers and game validation codes associated with the lottery
organization
offering the gaming ticket for sale.
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
z
A typical game play secfion provides a player with the elements
required to play at least one game. Commonly, some or all of the elements are
initially obscured from the player's view by means of a perforated pull tab or
removable obscuring material, such as a latex ink. Remov2~l of the pull tab or
obscuring material during the game play reveals the hidden indicia, such as a
hand
of cards or a set of player's numbers. Depending upon the particular rules of
the
game being played, these indicia are utilised to determine if the player has
won or
lost the game, FQr some games, a win or loss is predetermined, but concealed
from
the player, at the time of printing the gaming ticket. The act of revealing
the initially
1 p hidden indicia after the purchase of the ticket reveals the win or loss.
For other
games, the player's selection or choices of which game elements to reveal
during
the course of play may be utilized to determine a win or loss, adding to the
player's
involvement and excitement during the play of the game.
Prize amount for the individual games on a gaming ticket is usually
predetermined and fixed, and is optionally revealed during the play of the
game by
the player. To increase the player's excitement, a concealed predetermined
prize
multiplier may be provided. After revealing all of the winning games on a
gaming
ticket, the player reveals the concealed prize multiplier, and determines the
total
winning amount for the game ticket by multiplying the prizes won by the
revealed
~U prize multiplier value, i.e. 2X, 4X, 10X, etc. However, since the concealed
prize
multiplier is predetem~ined, a player may reveal the concealed prize
multiplier value
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
before playing any of the games on the gaming ticket, and know that any prizes
won
will be multiplied by the revealed value.
Accordingly, it would be advantag$ous to provide a gaming ticket on
which two or more games or game plays are provided, and which incorporates a
prize enhancing or prize multiplying feature which enhances the base prize
values
by a multiple which is unknown to the player prior to completion of all of the
games
or plays on the gaming ticket, and which thereby provides the player with an
increased level of excitement during game play.
BRIEF SUMMARY 4F THE (NVENTIQN
Brie~y stated, the present invention provides an apparatus and method
for enhancing a total prize awarded to a player of one or more instant win
lottery
games on a g2~ming ticket. The apparatus and method determine a final prize
multiplier which varies with each game or play won on a single gaming ticket,
thereby increasing the player's level of excitement and anticipation during
the course
1 S of play. -
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a lottery
ticket comprising a substrate having thereon:
a plurality of games,
each game being playable by a player to determine whether the game
has been won and each game having an associated base prize,
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
wherein a total prize for the lottery ticket is determined by altering a
sum of associated base prizes based on a total number of games won.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a
lottery ticket comprising a substrate having thereon:
a game having a plurality of steps, each of which is arranged to award
the player an associated score and an associated base prize,
wherein a total of associated scores and a total of associated base
prizes is determined following completion of said plurality of steps in the
game; a
prize multiplier responsive to said total of associated scores is selected and
a final
prize amount is determined by multiplying said total of associated base prizes
by
said selected prize multiplier.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a lottery
ticket comprising a substrate having thereon:
a game having a base prize and a plurality of steps, each of which
f S awards the player an associated score,
wherein a total of associated scores is determined following completion
of said plurality of steps in the game; a prize multiplier responsive to said
total of
associated scores is selected; and a final prize amount is determined by
multiplying
said base prize by said selected prize multiplier.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a lottery
ticket comprising a substrate having thereon
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
S
i
a game having a plurality of steps, each of which has at least one
associated base prize value,:
wherein a total of associated base prize values awarded is determined
following completion of s8~id plurality of steps in the game; a prize
multiplier is
selected responsive to said total of associated base prize values; and a final
prize
amount is determined by multiplying said total of associated base prize values
by
said selected prize multiplier.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a lottery
ticket comprising a substrate having thereon:
game indicia defining at least two instant win lottery games, each of
which having associated therewith a predetermined base prize value; and
wherein a final prize amount associated with the gaming ticket is
determined as a multiple of a sum of said associated base prizes awarded for
winning instant win lottery games on the ticket.
According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a lottery
ticket comprising a substrate having thereon:
game indicia defining a game including a plurality of steps, each of
which having associated therewith a determinable score and a predetermined
base
prize value; and
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
6
wherein a final prize amount associated with the gaming ticket is
determined based on a sum of the determinable scores for each of said
plurality df
steps and a sum of said predetermined base prize values.
According to a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a
S lottery ticket comprising a substrate having thereon:
game indicia defining a game having a base prize value and including
a plurality of steps, each of which having associated therewith a determinable
score;
and
wherein a final prize amount associated with the gaming ticket is
determined based on a sum of the determinable scores for each of said
plurality of
steps and said predetermined base prize value.
According to a eighth aspect of the invention there is provided a lottery
ticket comprising a substrate having thereon:
game indicia defining a game having a plurality of steps, each of which
having associated therewith a base prize value; and
wherein a final prize amount associated with the gaming ticket is
determined as a multiple of the sum of the base prize values.
According to a ninth aspect of the invention there is provided a lottery
ticket comprising a substrate having thereon:
a game having a plurality of rounds of game play, wherein for each
round of game play, a game round score and an associated game round base prize
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
7
~s determined; responsive to said game round score exceeding at least one
predetermined qualifying score, said associated game round base prize is
increased; and a final prize amount is awarded equal to a sum of said
associated
game round base prizes determined for each round of game play.
According to a tenth aspect of the invention there is provided a lottery
ticket comprising a substrate having thereon:
game indicia defning a game having a plurality of rounds, each of
which having associated therewith a game round scare and a game round base
prize value;
1p wherein a game round prize value for each of said plurality of rounds is
determined as a multiple of said game round base prize value, responsive to
said
game round score; and a final prize amount associated with the gaming ticket
is
detem~ined as a sum of said game round prize values.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a gaming
ticket having a unitary ticket body an which is provided concealed game play
indicia
for at least two instant wln tottery games. Each instant win lottery game
provides a
player with the possibility of winning an associated base prize amount when
the
concealed game play indicia is revealed during game play. The gaming ticket
further includes a set of instructions for calculating a anal prize amount
which is
equal to the sum of all associated base prize amounts wan, multiplied by the
number
of winning instant win lottery games on the gaming ticket.
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
g
A method of the present invention for calculating a final prize amount
awarded to a player of a gaming ticket requires the initial step of playing at
least two
instant win lottery games on the gaming ticket, each of which awards the
player with
an associated base prize amount in the event of a win. A final prize amount
awarded to the player of the gaming ticket is calculated to award the player
an
amount equal to the total number of instant win lottery games on the gaming
ticket
won, multiplied by the total amount of associated base prizes awarded to the
player.
In a first alternate embodiment, the present invention provides a
gaming ticket having a unitary ticket body on which is provided concealed game
play
1Q indicia for at least one instant win lottery game requiring at least iwo
plays or rounds
to complete. Each play or round of the game provides a player with the
possibility of
winning an associated score and a base prize amount when the concealed game
play indicia is revealed during game play. The gaming ticket further includes
a set of
instructions for calculating a fnal prize, utilizing a multiplier, which is
determined
i 5 from the sum of the play scores or the total accumulated base prize
amounts.
A first alternate method of the present invention for calculating a final
prize amount awarded to a player of a gaming ticket requires the initial step
of
playing at least two rounds of an instant win lottery game on a gaming ticket,
each of
which awards the player with a score andlor an associated base prize amount. A
z0 final prize amount awarded to the player of the gaming ticket is
determined, utilizing
a multiplier, based on either the total amount of associated base prizes
awarded to
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
9
the player, or on the player's accumulated score upon completion of game play.
The
multiplier is applied to either the total amount of the associated base
prizes, or to a
predetermined base prize amount, yielding a final prize amount.
In a second alternate embodiment, the present invention provides a
gaming ticket having a unitary ticket body on which is provided concealed game
play
indicia for at least one instant win lottery game nsquiring at least two plays
or rounds
to complete. Each play or round of the game provides a player with the
possibility of
winning a base prize amount when the concealed game play indicia is revealed
during game play. Each play or round of the game further provides a player
with the
possibility of multiplying the base prize amount based upon the outcome of the
play
or round of the game. The final prize for the instant win lottery game is the
combined sum of the winnings for each individual game play or round.
A second alternate method of the present invention for calculating a
final prize amount awarded to a player of a gaming ticket requires the initial
step of
1S playing at least two rounds of an instant win lottery game on a gaming
ticket, each of
which provides the player with an opportunity to win an associated prize
amount,
determined as a multiple of a base prize amount in response to the outcome of
the
round. A final prize amount awarded to the player of the gaming ticket is
determined
to be the sum of the associated prize amounts awarded for each round of play
of the
instant win lottery game.
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
The foregamg and other objects, features, and advantages of the
invention as well as presently preferred embodiments thereof will become more
apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the
accompanying drawings.
5 BRIEF DESCRIPTIGN OF TWE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification:
Figure 1A illustrates an instant win gaming ticket having preprinted
game indicia and using a prize detemtination system according to one
embodiment
of the invention.
10 Figure 1 B illustrates the instant win gaming ticket of Fig. 1A with the
preprinted game indicia initially concealed from view by a removable covering.
Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a preferred method of
the present invention for determining an enhanced prize amount.
Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a first alternate method
of the present invention far determining an enhanced prize amount.
Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a second alternate
method of the present invention for determining an enhanced prize amount.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts
throughout the several #igures of the drawings.
zo
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
11
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of
example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one
skilled in
the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments,
adaptations,
variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is
presently
believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention.
Turning to Figures 1A and 1 B, a gaming ticket 1 ~ embodying a prize
enhancing feature of the present invention is Shawn. The gaming ticket 10 is
preferably of unitary construction, and includes on a front face 11 an
optional
l~ background region 12, a game region 14, a game play instruction region 16.
The
background region 12, if present, incorporates various artwork, graphical
representations, and text, such as game titles, logos, potential prize
amounts, and
slogans, generally intended to attract a player's attention, and which form no
park of
the present invention.
As seen in Figure 1A, the game region 14 provides preprinted game
indicia 18 associated with two or more instant win lottery games 20. While the
embodiment shown in Figure 1A illustrates game indicia 18 associated with a
set of
Blackjack-style instant win lottery games 20, those of ordinary skill in the
art will
recognize that any of a wide variety of instant win lottery game styles may be
utilized
with the present invention, and accordingly, that the game indicia 18 may vary
from
that shown in Figure 1A without deviating from the present invention, provided
that
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
12
the game ndicva 18 far each instant inn lottery game 20 provides a player with
sufficient play informatit~n 18A to determine if the instant win lottery game
20 has
been won or lost, and a base prize amount 18B awarded in the event of a win.
Preferably, some or all of the preprinted game indicia 18 on gaming
ticket 10 is concealed from view prior to game play by a removable medium 24,
such
as shown in Figure 1 B, as is conventional in the gaming ticket industry, The
removable medium may consist of a latex ink, a pull tab, or any other means to
conceal the preprinted game indicia 18 from a player's view which is removable
or
displaceable to reveal the preprinted game indicia 1$ during the play of an
instant
win lottery game 20.
During the course of play of the gaming ticket 10, a player removes the
removable medium 24 from each instant win lottery game 20, and identifies,
according to the rules of the game as set faith in the game play instruction
region
1B, if each instant win lottery game 20 is a winning game. In the example
shown in
Figures 1A and 1B, an instant win lottery game 20 is identified as a winning
game if
the revealed game indicia 18A identified as "YOUR hiAND" has a greater
Blackjack
value than the revealed game indicia 18A identified as °DEAhER'S HAND."
For
each instant win lottery game 20 identified as a winning game, the player is
awarded
the indicated base prize amount 18B associated with the instant win lottery
game 20.
2U For example, as shown in Figure 1A, the instant win lottery games 20,
identified as
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
13
"Game 1" and °Game 4p are winning games, awarding the player base prize
amounts 18B of $10.00 and $10,00, respectively.
As set forth in the game play instruction region 16, a total prize amount
to be awarded to a player for the gaming ticket 10 is determined by
multiplying the
sum of the base prize amounts 18B awarded to the player for winning instant
win
lottery games 20 by the total number of instant win lottery games 20 won on
the
gaming ticket 10, The total prize amount P can be expressed mathematically as:
W
P = W~= ~ B" Eqn. 1
n=1
where W = the total number of instant win lottery games won; and
where Bn = the base prize awarded in the rnn instant win lottery game
wOn.
A preferred method of the present invention far determining an
enhanced prize for a set of games is illustrated in the flowchart of Figure 2.
While
the method is described in connection with Figure 2 in the embodiment of a
gaming
ticket 14 incorporating a set of instant win lottery games 20, those of
ordinary skill in
the art will recognize that the method is not limited to use with gaming
tickets 10 and
instant win lottery Barnes 20, but rather, may be utilized to determine an
enhance
prize amount for any of a variety of games.
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
14
Initially, a player purchases (Box 100) a gaming ticket 10 having at
feast two discrete instant win lottery games 20. The player proceeds to play
one of
the instant win lottery games ~0 (Box 102), and detem~ines if the game is a
winning
game or a losing game (Box 104). If the game is a losing game, the player then
determines if at least one instant win lottery game 20 remains un-played on -
the
gaming ticket 10 (Box 106). If at least one instant win lotkery game 20
remains un-
played, the player proceeds to play the instant win lottery game 20 (Box 102).
Upon determination (Box 104) of a winning instant win lottery game 20,
a count of winning games is incremented (Box 108), and the base prize amount
18B
awarded in connection with the winning instant wirr lottery game 20 is added
to the
player's total winnings (Box 110). Those of ordinary skill in the art will
recognize that
the count of winning games and the player's total winnings need not be
physically
manifested, provided a permanent record of each winning instant win lottery
game
and associated base prize amount 18B is presented on the gaming ticket 10,
1 ~ enabling the current count of winning games and the player's total
winnings to be
easily determined at any point during the play of the gaming ticket 10.
A first alternate method of the present invention is illustrated in the
flowchart of Figure 3 for detem~ining an enhanced prize in connection with a
gaming
ticket 10 having a game which is played with a sequence of steps or rounds.
Instant
20 win lottery games having golf themes, wherein a player attains a score upon
revealing game indicia for each "hole" played, or bowling themes wherein a
player
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
attains a score upon revealing game indicia for each "frame" played are
exemplary
of games having a sequence of steps or rounds, Those of ordinary skill in the
art will
recognize that a wide variety of such games are known, and that the method and
apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the specific game
embodiments
5 described herein.
InitiaNy, a player purchases the gaming ticket 10 (Box 200) and
proceeds to play the first round or step in the associated game (Box 202).
Upon
completion of a single round or step in the associated game, the player
determines
an outcome {Box 204) which includes either obtaining a scare for the round of
play
10 andlor obtaining a base prize amount for the round of play. The score or
prize
amount obtained in each round or step is combined with the scores or prizes
obtained in previous rounds of play to maintain a tally of the player's total
score
andlar total prize winnings during the play of the game. Those of ordinary
skill in the
art wilt recognize that the score count andlor the player's total winnings
need not be
15 physically manifested, provided a pem~tanent record of the scores obtained
each
round andlor the associated base prize amounts is presented an the gaming
ticket
10, enabling the current score and the players total winnings to be easily
determined at any point during the play of the gaming ticket 10.
After each game round or step is completed, the player will determine
if any game rounds or steps remain un-played (Box 208), and proceed to play
the
next game round or step (Box 202) until all game rounds or steps have been
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
1~
completed. Upon completion of all of the game rounds or steps, a pnze
multiplier
value is determined (Box 210). Preferably, the prize multiplier value is
determined
based on the cumulative total of either the player's score count andlar the
player's
total winnings falling within predetermined ranges.
For example, in a bowling-themed game, the player achieves a score
each "frame" of the game, upon completion of all of the "frames" in the game,
the
player's scores far each °frame" are summed to provid$ a cumulative
score. If the
cumulative score is between 0 and 100, the prize multiplier value is 1x, for a
cumulative score between 101 and 200, the prize multiplier is 2x, and for a
cumulative score between 201 and 300, the prize multiplier is 3x.
Once the prize multiplier value is determined, the anal prize amount is
determined utilizing the prize multiplier (Box 212). Preferably, the player's
cumulative total winnings are multiplied by the determined prize multiplier to
calCUlate the final prize amount, or alternatively, a predetermined base prize
for the
game may be multiplied by the determined prize multiplier to calculate the
final prize
amount.
Turning to Figure 4, the steps of a second alternate method of the
present invention are shown. Initially, a player purchases the gaming ticket
10 (Box
300) and proceeds to play the first round or step in the associated game (Box
302).
Upon completion of a single round or step in the associated game, the player
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
17
detem~~nes an outcome {Box 304) which includes obtaining a score far the round
of
play and obtaining a base prize amount for the round of play.
For each round of play, the score obtained during that round of play is
compared with at least one predetermined qualification score to determine if
the
round score qualifies the player to receive an increased award for that round
of play
(Box 306). If the score does not qualify the player to receive an increased
award,
the player's cumulative game scor9e andlor prize total amounts are incremented
by
the outcome of the game round (Box 308). if the player qualfies to receive an
increased award, the base prize for the round of play is multiplied by a
predetermined multiplier based on the qualification score the player received
(Box
310) to determine a game round outcome, and the player's cumulative game score
andlor prize total amounts are then incremented by the outcome of the game
round
(Box 30~).
The score andlor prize amounts obtained in each round are combined
with the scares or prizes obtained in previous rounds of play to maintain a
tally of the
player's total score andlor total prize winnings during the play of the game.
Those of
ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the score count andlor the
player's total
winnings need not be physically manifested, provided a permanent record of the
scores obtained each round andlor the associated base prize amounts and any
predetermined multipliers for individual rounds is presented on the gaming
ticket 90,
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
1~
enabling the current score and the player's total winnings to be easily
determined at
any point during the play of the gaming ticket 10.
After each game round ar step is completed, the player will determine
if any game rounds remain un-played {Bax 312), and proceed to play the next
game
S round or step {Box 302) until all game rounds or steps have been completed.
Upan
completion of all of the game rounds the player's cumulative prize is
determined as
the final sum of all of the game round amounts awarded during the play of the
game
(Box 314), and is awarded to the player (Box 31fi).
por example, in a bowling-themed game, the player achieves a score
1 Q each "frame" of the game and is awarded a base prize amount for each frame
as a
frame prize. If the player scores a "spare° during any given frame, the
base prize
amount associated with that frame is multiplied by two to determine an
increased
frame prize amount. Similarly, if the player scores a ustrike" during any
given frame,
the base prize amount associated with that frame is multiplied by three to
determine
15 an increased frame prize amount. Upan completion of all of the '"frames" in
the
game, the player's scores for each "frame" are optionally summed to provide a
cumulative score, while the frame prizes, including any increase frame prize
amounts are summed to detem~ine a cumulative prize total for the game, which
is
awarded to the player.
~D The apparatus and methods of the present invention are intended for
use in any of a wide variety of lottery ar chance games, and are not intended
to be
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
19
restricted to any specific Government authorized or spansared games of chance.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the methods of the
present
invention may be adapted tar use in enhancing the prizes awarded to players of
electronic gambling machines, and hence, in alternate embodiments the present
invention can be embodied in-part in the form of computer-implemented
processes
and apparatuses far practicing these processes. The present invention oan also
be
embodied in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied
in
tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or an other
computer readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is
loaded into, and executed by, an electronic device such as a computer, micro-
processor or logic circuit, the device becomes an apparatus for practicing the
invention.
The methods of the present invention can also be embodied in part in
the fom~ of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage
medium, loaded into andlar executed by a computer, or transmitted over some
transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber
optics,
ar via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is
loaded into and exeCUted by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for
practicing the invention. When implemented in a general-purpose
microprocessor,
the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create
specific logic circuits.
CA 02486778 2005-08-25
In view of the above, it wilt be seen that the several objects of the
invention are achieved and other advantageous results are obtained. As various
changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the
scope
of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above
description ar
S shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and
not in a
limiting sense.
