1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to games of chance, to include Lotteries. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for implementing a primary lottery game that has a secondary incorporated game primarily to provide a multiplier value for winnings from the primary lottery game and/or secondary winnings from the play of the secondary game.
2. Description of the Related Art
In known wagering games, each individual entrant places a wager on the outcome of an event such as a roll of dice, a selection of one or more randomly generated indicia such as cards or numbers, a horse or dog race, a Jai Alai game, a sporting event, or the like, and the wager is won or lost depending on the outcome of the event. Typically, entrants are able to place their wagers on one or more of several possible outcomes of an event such that the actual outcome creates both winners and losers among the group of entrants of a particular game. Some wagering games are designed around a particular apparatus such that the entrants must seek out a gaming table or machine in order to play. Other games can be played anywhere people are gathered and wagering is available. Regardless of the game being played or the venue in which it is presented for wagering, there is a need for a gaming method that will attract new entrants to wagering games and hold the attention of existing entrants so that such games remain attractive relative to the many new games and diversions constantly being developed.
Many governments and/or gaming organizations sponsor wagering games known as lotteries. A typical lottery game entails players selecting permutations or combinations of numbers. This is followed by a “draw,” wherein the lottery randomly selects a combination or permutation of numbered balls. Prizes are awarded based on the number of matches between a player's selections and the drawn numbers. Examples are the well-publicized, multi-million-dollar-jackpot lotteries popular throughout the world.
Lotteries have also become an important source of income to governments as they shoulder much of the financial burden for education and other programs. As governments have grown more dependent on lotteries it has become a challenge to sustain public interest. One approach to invigorating lottery sales is to expand game content beyond traditional combination/permutation games. The new games may help keep current players, as well as draw in new players.
Because the development of new games and diversions is costly and time consuming without any certain outcome of whether the game will be accepted by the gaming public, the use of a bonus feature on established and accepted games is desirable. Bonus features take many forms. In one extant embodiment, a lottery game can have a secondary game associated with it where the secondary game provides a multiplier to winnings from the lottery game. The secondary game could be played with the drawing of an extra ball from a ball machine and the ball has a number value on it, or a color value, indicating the value of the multiplier. Since this bonus feature is only available to those players who achieve the predetermined winning outcome, a player who has not achieved the bonus initiating winning outcome typically becomes bored and is more likely to cease playing the game. There is, therefore, a need to provide a bonus game in which a bonus or winning outcome is established prior to the initiation of the primary individual event, and in which a bonus or additional winnings can be awarded to all subsequent winning combinations of the primary event.
Briefly described, the present invention is a system and method of implementing a primary lottery game that has a secondary individual game available to the player of the primary lottery game, and the secondary individual game is for a multiplier value of winnings of the primary lottery game and a secondary winnings for the secondary individual game. A player enters the primary lottery game, which can provide a first monetary winnings, and then can enter a secondary individual game that, if won, provides either a multiplier value of the first monetary winnings, separate secondary monetary winnings, or both. In one embodiment, the possible total prize amount awarded to the player includes first monetary winnings awarded from the primary lottery game multiplied by any multiplier awarded in the secondary individual game, and any secondary monetary winnings from the secondary individual game. Alternately, even if there is not a win in the primary lottery game, a win can occur solely in the secondary individual game to yield a separate award of secondary monetary winnings.
In one embodiment, the invention includes a method of playing a primary lottery game having a secondary individual game for a multiplier value of the winnings of the primary lottery game and a secondary winnings, including the steps of receiving entries from a plurality of entrants for a primary lottery game wherein each of the entrants has made a wager on an outcome of the primary lottery game, and the primary lottery game provides a first monetary winnings, then receiving an additional entry from at least one entrant to participate in the secondary individual game to the primary lottery game, wherein the at least one entrant has made a wager on the outcome of the secondary individual game, and the secondary individual game provides a multiplier value of the first monetary winnings of the primary lottery game and one or more secondary monetary winnings. Then the method includes the step of determining whether a winning outcome is achieved in the primary lottery game and if a first monetary prize is awarded. For each at least one entrant participating in the secondary individual game, the methods includes the step of determining whether a winning outcome is achieved and if a multiplier value of the first monetary winnings is awarded and if secondary monetary winnings are awarded, then determining for each entrant a total prize amount composed of first monetary winnings awarded from the primary lottery game multiplied by any multiplier awarded in the secondary individual game, and any secondary monetary winnings from the secondary individual game. Finally, the method concludes by paying each entrant their respective total prize amount.
In one embodiment, the invention includes a system for hosting a primary lottery game having a secondary individual game through at least one terminal by which players of a primary lottery game, which provides first monetary winnings, place entries into the primary lottery game, and the terminal further allows players of the primary lottery game to selectively enter a secondary individual game for a multiplier value of the first monetary winnings of the primary lottery game and a secondary monetary winnings. The system includes at least one server that receives entries from the at least one terminal for players of the primary lottery game and players participating in the primary lottery game and secondary individual game, and the server further determines, for each player, whether a winning outcome is achieved and if a multiplier value of the first monetary winnings is awarded and if secondary monetary winnings are awarded. The server also determines, for each player, a total prize amount composed of any first monetary winnings awarded from the primary lottery game multiplied by any multiplier awarded in the secondary individual game, and any secondary monetary winnings from the secondary individual game.
The present invention is advantageous because it provides the use of a bonus feature on established and accepted lottery games. In one embodiment, the game and system of implementation allow for a secondary game that can have winnings of its own, separate from the primary lottery game, which maintains player interest in the primary lottery game. Moreover, the secondary individual game of the present invention can be easily implemented and utilize the game indicia of the primary lottery game such that no secondary drawings or game play is necessary to play the secondary individual game.
Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent after review of the herein after set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention, and the Claims.
With reference to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elements throughout, the invention is for a primary lottery game having a secondary individual game for a multiplier value of winnings of the primary lottery game and a secondary winnings.
In this embodiment, the illustrated “Mega Box” game is an extension that can be attached to any lotto type game with a Jackpot, or monetary winnings. For an extra $1, the player chooses or “quick-picks” (i.e. has the system pick at random) 1 out of six boxes on the playslip 16. Each one of these boxes (check boxes 17) corresponds to a unique prize on the lottery ticket 10, such as multiplier 12 or cash prize 13. As shown in this embodiment, there are different prizes distributed on the lottery ticket 10. The player wins the prize placed in the box 11 that he selected. Thus, he is awarded his “Mega Box” prize at the time of purchase.
The multipliers 12 may or may not be applicable to the Jackpot or other prizes, as desired by the game operator. Further, in this embodiment, all possible prizes are revealed on the player's lottery ticket 10, and the player always wins something (here, at least a 3× multiplier of the primary lottery game monetary winnings). It is also commercially advantageous, as the player will carry around a “winning” lottery ticket 10 until the drawing for the primary lottery game.
Thus, as shown in
For “Mega Box,” there are various methods by which a prize is assigned to the player-selected box. For example, in the embodiment described in
Alternatively, the player could select the prize of the secondary game at random. That is, the boxes are assigned prizes in advance, or independently, of the player's selection. As an example, consider the following “Mega Box” embodiment: The base game comprises a typical draw-based lottery game wherein 6 balls are drawn from 38. In addition to a jackpot prize for matching 6, players are awarded $1,000 for matching 5, $25 for matching 4, $2 for matching 3. Those skilled in the art of Mathematics can verify that the lower-tier return for this game is 20.87%. The player can purchase a “Mega Box” extension for an additional $1 for which he will receive either a multiplier to be applied to the lower-tier prizes for the base game or an instant cash prize. An exemplary playslip 70 is shown in
Independently of the player's selection, the boxes are assigned prize values based on the scheme described in
It should be noted that the number of boxes used in this embodiment is essentially arbitrary. For example, the secondary game could be implemented for 100 boxes if the space on the ticket were available. The number of boxes from which the player has to choose and that are displayed on a ticket is matter of aesthetics and available space. It should also be noted that the secondary game is different from a plain multiplier game in that a multiplier awarded in the secondary game applies only to the individual ticket, as opposed to an entire group of players. Also, it is not necessary that the secondary game be optional; for example, instead of an additional $1, it could be included as part of a $2 game.
While there has been shown a preferred and alternate embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the elements of the present invention without departing from the underlying spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the Claims appended hereto. Furthermore, although elements of the invention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated.
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