Patent Application
20210121772
The subject matter of the present patent application relates generally to scratch-off lottery game tickets, and more particularly to a configuration of a lottery game card having multiple independent and separable game tickets.
Lottery games have become a time honored method of raising revenue for state and federal governments the world over. Traditional scratch-off and on-line games have evolved over decades, supplying increasing revenue year after year. However, after decades of growth, it is recognized by both lotteries and lottery service providers that new and attractive game concepts must be introduced to the scratch-off lottery ticket industry to maintain the current player base and entice new players to sustain reasonable sales.
In this regard, the industry is exploring means for offering multiple games embodied in a single scratch-off lottery ticket as a way to generate excitement and increased enthusiasm with the tickets. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,512,123 proposes a method for implementing a ticket-based, multi-component lottery game wherein the lottery tickets include a first game component with a first prize structure and one or more additional game component(s) with a separate second prize structure. A first validation code is provided on the lottery ticket that is linked to a first game redemption algorithm in a server for validating and redeeming the first game component of the lottery ticket. One or more additional validation code(s) provided on the lottery ticket are linked to one or more separate redemption algorithms for validating and redeeming the additional game component(s) of the lottery ticket. Validation and redemption of the lottery ticket for the first and additional game components is enabled with separate redemption acts that do not necessarily include cross-communication between the first and additional game redemption algorithms.
With the multi-game tickets in the U.S. '123 patent, even though the games are separately playable, if either game on the ticket is a winning game, the player must retain the entire ticket in their possession, which may be undesirable for certain players.
The industry would benefit from a new multi-game scratch-off lottery ticket that appeals to players who find it burdensome to retain a relatively large ticket when only a small portion of the ticket is actually of any value in the event of a winning ticket play.
Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In accordance with aspects of the invention, a lottery ticket card is provided that includes a common game header section on a front face thereof. A plurality of individual game tickets are connected to and separable from the common game header section, wherein each game ticket is a separate and independently playable scratch-off lottery ticket. The common game header section includes game identification information and instructions for play of the individual game tickets. A card code is printed on the lottery ticket card that uniquely identifies the lottery ticket card in a database, and a respective game ticket code is printed on each of the individual game tickets that uniquely identifies each of the individual game tickets in the database. The individual game tickets are separable from the common game header section such that redemption of winning ones of the individual game tickets separated from the common header section is accomplished by entry of the game ticket code for the winning individual game ticket in the database.
In a particular embodiment, the plurality of individual game tickets are separable from the common game header section by one or more perforation lines. The perforation lines may or may not run through the common game header section.
The card code may be provided in the common game header section, or in any other common area of the ticket card.
In certain embodiments, the ticket card may include a common game rules section provided on a back face of the lottery ticket card, the common game rules section including any manner of rules, instructions, or requirements related to play of the individual game tickets. With this embodiment, the card code may be provided in one or both of the common game rules section and the common header section.
In an alternate embodiment, an individual game rules section may be provided on a back face of each of the individual game tickets, wherein the card code may be provided in the common header section.
Aspects of the present invention also include a lottery ticket card game system that includes a plurality of the lottery ticket cards discussed above for distribution to players, wherein each card includes a plurality of individual game tickets connected to and separable from the common game header section. The system includes a central host computer configured with or in communication with a first database and a second database. A first electronic file is established in the first database for each of the lottery ticket cards, the first electronic file associated with the card code assigned to the lottery ticket card. A second electronic file is established in the second database for each of the individual game tickets, the second electronic files associated with the game ticket code assigned to the individual game ticket. With this system, redemption of winning ones of the individual game tickets separated from the common header section is accomplished by entry of the game ticket code for the winning individual game ticket in the second database.
In a certain embodiment of the system, for a given lottery ticket card, the second electronic files for the individual game tickets are linked to the first electronic file associated with the card code for the lottery ticket card in the central host computer, wherein redemption of winning ones of the individual game tickets remaining attached to the common header section is accomplished by entry of the card code in the first database or entry of the game ticket code for the winning individual game ticket in the second database.
Various embodiments of the system may incorporate any one or combination of the lottery ticket card features discussed above.
Reference will now be made to various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. It should be appreciated the embodiments are presented by way of explanation of the invention, and are not to be taken as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. It is intended that the present invention encompass these and other modifications and variations as come within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Referring to
The card 10 includes a plurality of individual game tickets 18 that are each connected to and separable from the common game header section 16. For example, the individual game tickets 18 may be defined by any pattern of weakened lines, such as perforation lines 30 (
Still referring to
Each of the individual game tickets 18 has a respective game ticket code 26 is printed thereon (front or back of the game ticket 18). In the embodiment of
The individual game tickets 18 are separable from the common game header section 16 such that the player need only retain winning ones of the game tickets 18. For example, if the card 10 has four individual game tickets 18, and only one such game ticket 18 is a winning ticket, the player can separate the winning game ticket 18 and discard the common header section 16 and other game tickets 18. The winning game ticket 18 can be redeemed by the player presenting the game ticket 18 at a redemption location, wherein the game ticket code 26 can be scanned and used to locate a file in the database 104 that contains the validation/redemption information for the game ticket 18.
As mentioned, the plurality of individual game tickets 18 may be separable from the common game header section 16 and each other by one or more perforation lines 30. Various patterns of perforation lines 30 and individual game tickets 18 are shown in
In the embodiment of
The embodiment of
Likewise, the embodiment of
Referring to
In the embodiment of
Certain jurisdictions, however, may require that the game rules/requirements indicia 34, particularly the legal notices and requirements, be provided on each individual game ticket 18. Thus, in the embodiment of
Referring to
The central host computer 102 is configured with or in communication with database 104, which may include multiple sub-databases. For example, in the embodiment of
The lottery provider may establish redemption rules whereby if a ticket card 10 is presented for redemption by a player and the first electronic file 110 associated with the respective ticket card code 24 indicates that the card 10 contains a winning game ticket 18, then such winning game ticket 18 must be attached or presented with the common game header section 16. This may deter attempts at multiple redemption by an unscrupulous player presenting the individual game ticket 18 for redemption and then at a later time presenting just the game header section 16 (with card code 24) claiming that he/she has “lost” the winning game ticket 18. In other words, in certain embodiments, to redeem a winning game ticket 18, such game ticket 18 must be presented for redemption, either individually or attached to the common header section 16.
Still referring to
It should be appreciated that the term “host computer” or “host “server” is used herein to encompass any configuration of computer hardware and software that is maintained by a lottery authority or game provider to carry out the functionalities of the present system 100 and associated method, as well as any manner of additional lottery functions known to those skilled in the art. It should be readily appreciated that the host computer 102 may include an integrated server, or any manner of periphery server or other hardware structure. The central host computer 102 is typically remote from the authorized lottery retail establishments, and is in communication with the establishments via a suitable secure communication network, which may include any manner of wide area network, wireless internet, or cloud computing. The host computer 102 may be a single networked computer, or a series of interconnected computers having access to the communications network via a gateway or other known networking system. Generally, the host computer 102 is configured to communicate with, manage, execute and control individual lottery terminal units within the lottery jurisdiction. The host computer 102 may be a “front end” server provided by the lottery game provider that is interfaced with the existing draw/instant game system infrastructure one or more separate lottery authorities. The host computer 102 may include a memory for storing gaming procedures and routines, a microprocessor (MP) for executing the stored programs, a random access memory (RAM) and an input/output (I/O) bus. These devices may be multiplexed together via a common bus, or may each be directly connected via dedicated communications lines, depending on the needs of the system 100.
The central host computer 102 may be directly or indirectly connected through an I/O bus to any manner of peripheral devices such as storage devices, wireless adaptors, printers, and the like. In addition, the databases may be communicatively connected to the host computer 102 and provide a data repository for the storage and correlation of information discussed above related to the ticket cards 10 and individual game tickets 18.
The material particularly shown and described above is not meant to be limiting, but instead serves to show and teach various exemplary implementations of the present subject matter. As set forth in the attached claims, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of various features discussed herein, along with such variations and modifications as would occur to a person of skill in the art.
