1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to lottery games and more specifically to a lottery game a capped jackpot and a growing raffle prize.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lottery games that draw fixed numbers from a set of numbers are well-known, with one example the common game of “FANTASY 5,” in which a player chooses five (5) numbers from 1 to 39. If the five numbers chosen by the player match the five numbers selected by the lottery authority, the player wins the jackpot. If there is no winner, the jackpot is rolled over and added to the prize for the next drawing. Prizes will also be awarded to partial matches.
It may take several drawings until someone matches all the numbers and wins the jackpot. When the jackpot is small and no one wins for several weeks, the public may lose interest on the game. Therefore, it is desirable to have a lottery game that consistently attracts player's attention, even though the ultimate jackpot may not be very large, and it is to such a lottery game the present invention is primarily directed.
In one embodiment, there is provided a method for hosting a lottery game with a jackpot prize and an incrementing raffle prize. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of a) setting the jackpot prize, b) generating a set of winning indicia, c) determining if there is a jackpot prize winner, d) if there is no jackpot prize winner and the jackpot prize is not at least equal to a predefined value, then incrementing the jackpot prize, e) if there is no jackpot prize winner and the jackpot prize is at least equal to a predefined value, then setting a raffle prize if there was no raffle prize, and f) if there is no jackpot prize winner and there is a raffle prize, then incrementing the raffle prize.
In an alternative embodiment, there is provided a method for hosting a lottery game with a jackpot and an incrementing raffle prize. The method includes the steps of a) receiving a set of player indicia from at least one player, b) determining if the jackpot prize being at least equal to a predefined value, c) if the jackpot prize being at least equal to the predefined value, then generating a raffle number, and d) issuing a lottery ticket with the set of player indicia and the raffle number.
In another alternative embodiment, there is provided a gaming server for hosting a lottery game with a jackpot prize and an incrementing raffle prize. The gaming server includes a game input device for receiving a plurality of game entries, a storage unit for storing a prize table and a plurality of game entries, and a controller. Each game entry has at least one set of player indicia and each controller is capable of a) setting the jackpot prize, b) generating a set of winning indicia, c) determining if there is a jackpot prize winner, d) if there is no jackpot prize winner and the jackpot prize is not at least equal to a predefined value, then incrementing the jackpot prize, e) if there is no jackpot prize winner and the jackpot prize is at least equal to a predefined value, then setting a raffle prize if there was no raffle prize, and f) if there is no jackpot prize winner and there is a raffle prize, then incrementing the raffle prize.
Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent after review of the hereinafter set forth Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention, and the Claims.
Briefly described the present application discloses a lottery game with a growing, but capped, jackpot prize and an incrementing raffle prize that is awarded at the same time, but independently from the jackpot prize. In one embodiment the game, the invention is a number-matching lottery game, for example, one in which a player chooses 6 numbers from 1 to 53. If the numbers chosen by the player match all six numbers chosen by the lottery authority, then the player wins the jackpot prize. If there is more than one winner, then the jackpot is shared among the winners. If there is not a winner, the jackpot prize is rolled over and added to the winning of the next drawing. Winnings for partial matching may be awarded after each drawing. The jackpot prize will continue to grow until it hits a predefined “ceiling,” when it will no longer be increased. The jackpot prize will be capped at the predefined value. This number-matching game is referred to herein as the “base game.”
If there is no jackpot winner after the jackpot prize is capped, the tickets for subsequent drawings will be issued with a raffle number and a separate raffle prize will be established. The raffle prize is independent from the jackpot prize and the raffle game's winner is determined independently from the base game. The raffle prize will not be distributed to the raffle winners until a jackpot winner is determined. There may or may not be a raffle winner for each base game drawing. For example, if the raffle game entries are restricted to only the raffle numbers issued for a particular base game drawing, then one raffle winner is determined with each drawing. On the other hand, if the raffle game entries are a fixed number of entries regardless whether all the raffle numbers have been issued, then there may be no raffle winner if the raffle number selected has not been issued to any lottery game ticket. Each raffle entry is only good for one single raffle drawing.
An exemplary playslip 102 is illustrated in
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to which the invention pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for the purposes of limiting the described invention.
This application claims the benefit to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/765,916, “Lottery Game,” filed on Feb. 7, 2006, the specification of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.
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