Abstract:
A method and apparatus for mapping multiple game entries in a single gaming event. Individual gaming spaces, each representing an outcome associated with play of a game, are divided into selection spaces. Each gaming space includes an equal number of associated selection spaces. The selection spaces are in substantially the same relative locations throughout each of the gaming spaces and each selection space in the same relative location within each gaming space comprises one of a set of selection spaces to enable one entry to the gaming event. Paper and video apparatus embodiments are disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mapping information from multiple sources onto a single image and more particularly relates to a method for displaying individual entries in a gaming event as indicia having a common location within a larger gaming space on a game entry.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Gaming establishments have proliferated in recent years, causing increased competition for new customers. Casinos must provide entertaining and exciting games to retain existing customers and attract new customers. This task becomes increasingly difficult as games are widely available for players. One method to combat boredom with games is to allow players to make multiple entries into a single gaming event. Multiple entries give a player additional opportunities to win an event, as well as allowing a player to select multiple favorite or “lucky” entries.  
           [0003]    Players often make multiple entries into games like Keno and lotteries using multiple game cards requiring a player to possess many gaming skills. Not only must a player make entries on a multitude of cards, but also keep track of each card to determine if there is a winner among any of the entries. Keeping track of all these separate entries becomes difficult and burdensome. This discourages a player from making multiple entries, which affects the entertainment value of the game and may diminish gaming revenues for the player. In addition, requiring a player to deal with multiple, separate game cards to effect multiple entries slows down the rate of game play as it takes an undesirable period of time to set up for each game. The same problem is present in gaming using video displays, where a number of “game cards” or other images representing multiple entries in a gaming event are displayed. Sometimes the video displays depict the multiple entries in a matrix wherein each entry is displayed separately, while other times the entries are perceptibly “stacked” over one another and a player must cause each entry other than the foremost to “pop up” from behind the others to be fully viewed.  
           [0004]    What is needed is a method and apparatus for a game so that a player may make multiple entries into a single game without using multiple entry forms or manipulating partially hidden images on a video display.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention includes a method and apparatus for graphically mapping information from multiple sources onto a single image. The present invention is directed to any game or gaming machine where players often want, or may be incentivized, to make multiple entries into a single gaming event. In the present invention, rather than making multiple separate entries, a player need only complete a single entry form or interact with a single entry form image on a video display screen to obtain multiple opportunities for winning a single gaming event. The present invention may be used in conjunction with games such as Keno, lotteries, and any game that uses the same, or a common, base entry or game card form or format.  
           [0006]    Further, the present invention may be used in conjunction with any suitable type video display. Where a conventional video display with a standard sized, relatively small screen is only able to display a limited number of game cards with clarity, the present invention includes the compaction of data onto a single entry, making it easier to display information on a video display screen with limited display area. The present invention efficiently uses screen display area for allowing multiple game entries to be easily visualized on a standard sized screen of a conventional video display that would otherwise require a significantly larger display area, thus saving considerable capital cost of a larger video display and allowing casino floor space to be conserved. Consequently, the present invention not only has application to paper forms but is also applicable to electronic gaming and video displays, including any gaming event which is played over a network of gaming machines.  
           [0007]    By enabling a player to focus his or her attention on a single game card or image to monitor a number of entries rather than looking at multiple game cards or multiple images distributed across a video display, monitoring of game play by the player is greatly facilitated by the present invention.  
           [0008]    The present invention makes games such as Keno and lotteries and other games using forms more entertaining for a game without the burden of filling out and tracking multiple forms.  
           [0009]    As used herein, the terms “game, “gaming” or “game of chance” includes and encompasses not only games having a random or arbitrary outcome, but also such games which also invite or require some player input to the game having at least the potential for affecting a game outcome. Such player input is generally termed “skill” whether or not such input is in actuality beneficial in terms of game outcome. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 depicts an entry form image format according to the present invention in conjunction with a Keno game before the form has been marked;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 depicts the entry form image format of FIG. 1 in conjunction with a Keno game after selected spaces are marked by a player;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 depicts the entry form image format of FIG. 1 in conjunction with a Keno game after the winning Keno numbers have been selected;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 depicts another arrangement and shape of the selection spaces in the present invention in conjunction with a Keno game with certain selected spaces marked;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 depicts a further arrangement and shape of the selection spaces in the present invention in conjunction with a Keno game with certain selected spaces marked;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 depicts an internal schematic for an exemplary electronic game machine suitable for adaptation for implementing the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 depicts a schematic for a network of gaming machines suitable for implementing the present invention as a bonus event or otherwise over a network, as in the case of a lottery; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 depicts a gaming system including networked gaming machines located at a plurality of mutually remote sites. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    In the past, to make multiple entries into a game such as Keno or a lottery game, a separate card would be required for each entry. With the present invention, however, one entry form may be used to make multiple gaming entries into a single gaming event. The present invention may be utilized in conjunction with any gaming entry form having a standard format.  
         [0019]    The method of the present invention is depicted in drawing FIG. 1 in conjunction with a Keno game. It should be noted that each of FIGS. 1 through 5 represents a greatly simplified Keno game card or game card image employing only twenty-five numbers instead of the eighty numbers conventionally employed in Keno play. The Keno game is shown displayed on an exemplary, conventional casino video gaming machine  110  and the illustration also depicts the form of a game card which may be used to mark in a conventional Keno game wherein numbers are selected on paper stock. The game form image  101  as displayed on the video screen of gaming machine  110  has a gaming space  10 , also termed a cell, for each possible gaming outcome. The gaming outcomes are typically numbers for games such as lotteries and Keno, but can also be any other indicia or symbol for designating a potential outcome. Each gaming space  10  has a gaming space indicator  15  in the form of an identifier so as to correspond each gaming space  10  to a particular outcome and each gaming space  10  includes a plurality of associated selection spaces  20 . The geometrical orientation and locations of the selection spaces  20  within the gaming space  10  distinguishes separate game entries. The total number of selection spaces  20  in a gaming space  10  represents the total number of potential separate entries that may be made into a single gaming event using the game form  101 .  
         [0020]    For example, as shown in drawing FIG. 1, in a gaming space  10  there may be an upper left selection space  31 , an upper right selection space  32 , a lower right selection space  33 , and a lower left selection space  34 . Each of these selection spaces in the game form corresponds to one of four different entries to the Keno game (entries  1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4  respectively).  
         [0021]    Although there are no limits to the number of entries that can be made from a single game form, the practicality of the matter is that the selection spaces  20  may be most effective when spaced apart as with the corners of a rectangular, specifically square, gaming space  10  acting as locations for selection spaces  20 . The selection spaces  20  may be configured as desired, and any suitable geometric or other shape may be employed. In the embodiment of the present invention shown in drawing FIG. 1 the selection spaces  20  are rectangles, and specifically squares. The selection spaces  20 , however, may be any other shape including triangular, circular, etc. Likewise, the gaming spaces  10  themselves may be of any desired geometry.  
         [0022]    Illustrated in drawing FIG. 4 is another exemplary arrangement and shape of the selection spaces  20 . Rather than using square selection spaces (See FIG. 1), triangular selection spaces  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  may be used. Triangular selection spaces  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  are not only easier to distinguish from neighboring selection spaces  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  in an adjacent gaming space  10  but the selection spaces actually point to or face the selected gaming space indicia  15 .  
         [0023]    Illustrated in drawing FIG. 5 is yet another selection space arrangement and shape. In this case, the familiar machine-readable circle is shown as a circular selection space  50 . It should be noted that in this embodiment there are six selection spaces  50  associated with each gaming space  10 , rather than four. These selection spaces  50  offer the advantage that they are easy to fill in to create selected spaces  51  and are easily readable using conventional optical scanning machines. While illustrated in the context of a gaming machine video display image, this embodiment is particularly well suited for lottery tickets and other gaming cards that will be scanned by a machine and the screen image depicted in FIG. 5 is illustrative of an exemplary lottery ticket or game card format.  
         [0024]    Selection spaces  20  are most easily selected by shading (or filling) in the selection space  20  as shown in drawing FIG. 2 to create a selected space  21 . The selection of a selection space  20  may also be termed altering a selection space  20  to include an information element. Other indicia may be used to indicate a selected space  21 . For example, a selection space  20  may be punched out of the card stock of a game card or other game entry form to create a selected space  21  and provide a permanent record of the gaming space  10  selection and game entry. Thee embodiment of FIG. 5 employing circular selection spaces  50  may be especially suitable for implementing this approach. Alternately, any marking in the selection space  20  may be used to indicate that the player has chosen a gaming space  10 . The advantage of shading in the selection space  20  is that it is much easier to read the game entry form, and to distinguish a marked from an unmarked selection space  20 . This is true not only for visibility to the players, but also for optical scanning equipment that may be used to input the game entry into a computerized system, as in the case of a lottery ticket.  
         [0025]    Illustrated in drawing FIG. 2 is a game entry form image  101  as displayed on the video screen of video gaming machine  110  as marked by a player who has selected picks on four different entries. Entry  1  is a 5-spot pick across the top row, selecting numbers  1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , and  5  as depicted by the shading of the selection spaces  20  in the upper left corners of each gaming space  10 . Entry  2  is a four-spot pick of numbers  1 , 5 , 21 , and  25  as depicted by the shading in the upper right corners of the associated gaming spaces  10 . Entry  3  is a 5-spot pick of numbers  8 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 , and  18  as depicted by the shading of the selection spaces  20  in the lower right corners of the associated gaming spaces  10 . Entry  4  is a five spot-pick of numbers  14 ,  16 ,  17 ,  21  and  22  as depicted by the shading of the selection spaces  20  in the lower left corners of associated gaming spaces  10 . A touch screen may be used to “shade” or fill in selection spaces  20 , or other player input elements such as a key pad, a light pen, a mouse or a joystick (the latter two being used to move a cursor on the display) may be employed.  
         [0026]    When the present invention is used in conjunction with an electronic gaming machine and video display, such as schematically depicted in drawing FIG. 6, additional indicia or indicators may be used to indicate a gaming space  10  drawn in the course of game play. For example, when a gaming space  10  is randomly picked or drawn, the corresponding gaming space  10  on a video display of a gaming machine  110  may be annotated with drawn indicia  11  (e.g., circling the selected game space indicator, changing the game space color, or lighting up the game space). Illustrated in drawing FIG. 3 is the effect of drawn game space indicia  11  on the game entry form image  101  on a video screen display of a gaming machine  110 . Circling game space indicia  1 ,  5 ,  7 ,  8 ,  13 ,  14 ,  18 ,  21 , and  25  represents the Keno numbers that are drawn.  
         [0027]    To further improve the visibility of the winning game spaces, the selected spaces  21  of winning gaming space indicia may be converted on the video screen display and shown as winning indicia  22 . Illustrated in drawing FIG. 3 is the use of the winning indicia  22  “$” that may be utilized to replace the shaded selection space  21  of winning gaming spaces  10 . Thus, if the gaming space  10  selected by a player has been picked by the game, the selection spaces  20  for that gaming space  10  may be marked with winning indicia or indicators for indicating that the gaming space  10  for that particular game entry has been won. The winning indicia  22  may include color changes or the insertion of a winning symbol. The use of winning indicia  22  is not to be taken as limiting for the purposes of the present invention, but may be used in practice of the invention to provide further contrast to enable a player to more clearly and quickly recognize a winning game entry. The results of the game entry form shown in drawing FIG. 3 are as follows:  
         [0028]    Winning number  1  was selected on game entries  1  and  2 .  
         [0029]    Winning number  5  was selected on game entries  1  and  2 .  
         [0030]    Winning number  7  was not selected on any game entry.  
         [0031]    Winning number  8  was selected on game entry  3 .  
         [0032]    Winning number  13  was selected on game entry  3 .  
         [0033]    Winning number  14  was selected on game entries  3  and  4 .  
         [0034]    Winning number  18  was selected on game entry  3 .  
         [0035]    Winning number  21  was selected on game entries  2  and  4 .  
         [0036]    Winning number  25  was selected on game entry  2 .  
         [0037]    Results of game would be as follows:  
         [0038]    Entry  1  (upper left corner)=2 of 5 spots hit (number  1 , number  5 ).  
         [0039]    Entry  2  (upper right corner)=4 of 4 spots hit (number  1 , number  5 , number  21 , number  25 ).  
         [0040]    Entry  3  (lower right corner)=4 of 4 spots hit (number  8 , number  13 , number  14 , number  18 ).  
         [0041]    Entry  4  (lower left corner)=2 of 4 spots hit (number  14 , number  21 ).  
         [0042]    As may be readily seen from drawing FIG. 3, the present invention provides significantly more information on a relatively small display, ticket or game card area than could be otherwise achieved. The information as presented is clear and unambiguous. Although at first the display may appear to threaten information overload, it is believed that most players would quickly become accustomed to a display according to the present invention. In a video implementation, the display may also include a game summary display area, where a player&#39;s statistics, such as number of game squares being played, number of hits, payout, etc., for each game entry may be displayed for the player&#39;s further convenience.  
         [0043]    The method according to this invention may easily be used on any conventional electronic gaming device or apparatus, such as one shown in drawing FIG. 6. In use and operation, the gaming device  100  includes a memory board  140 , a processor board  142 , a main board  144  and a back plane  146  integrally or separately formed. Memory expansion board  140  as well as processor board  142  including a graphics system processor and video expansion board VGA/SVGA  148  are operably coupled to the main board  144 . The main board  144  preferably includes memory in the form of ROM, RAM, flash memory and EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read only memory). In addition, the main board  144  includes a system event controller, a random number generator, a win decoder/pay table, status indicators, a communications handler and a display/sound generator.  
         [0044]    The main board  144  is operably coupled to the back plane  146  which may include additional memory such as in the form of an EEPROM, and connectors to connect to peripherals. Furthermore, the back plane  146  provides a plurality of communication ports for communicating with external peripherals. The back plane  146  provides the coupling between discrete inputs  150  and the processor board  142  and main board  144 . Typical examples of elements which provide discrete inputs  150  are coin acceptors, game buttons, mechanical hand levers, key and door switches and other auxiliary inputs. Furthermore, the back plane  146  provides the coupling between discrete outputs  152  and the processor and main board  144 . Typically and by way of example only, elements that provide discrete outputs  152  are in the form of lamps, hard meters, hoppers, diverters and other auxiliary outputs.  
         [0045]    The back plane  146  also provides connectors for at least one power supply  154  for supplying power for the processor board  142 , a parallel display interface (PDI)  156  and a serial (RS- 232 ) interface  158 , the latter two enabling coupling to a game display device  178 . In addition, the back plane  146  also provides connectors for a soundboard  160  and a high-resolution monitor  162 . Furthermore, the back plane  146  includes communication ports for operably coupling and communicating with an accounting network  164 , a touch screen  166  (which may also serve as a game display device), a bill validator  155  incorporated in a currency (bill) acceptor, a printer  168 , an accounting network  170 , a progressive current loop  172  and a network link  174 .  
         [0046]    The back plane  146  optionally includes connectors for external video sources  180 , expansion buses  182 , game or other displays  184 , an SCSI port  188  and an interface  190  for at least one card reader  192  (debit/credit, player card, etc.) and key pad  194 . The back plane  146  may also include means for coupling a plurality of reel driver boards  196  (one per reel) which drive physical game reels  198  with a shaft encoder or other sensor means to the processor  148  and main board  144  if a gaming device  100  is configured for play of a reel-type game. Of course, the reels may be similarly implemented electronically by display as video images, technology for such an approach being well known and widely employed in the art. In such an instance reel driver boards  196  and physical game reels  198  with associated hardware are eliminated and the game outcome generated by the random number generator on main board  144  is directly displayed on a video game display  184  and, optionally, on a separate game device display  178 , as known in the art. Other gaming machine configurations for play of different wagering games such as video poker games, video blackjack games, video Keno, video bingo or any other suitable primary games are equally well known in the art. It is presently contemplated that the present invention, when practiced on a gaming machine, will employ a video display.  
         [0047]    It will also be understood and appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that selected components of gaming device  100  may be duplicated for play of a game or event in accordance with the present invention as a bonus game, in that at least a separate main board with a second random number generator may be employed, with associated peripherals and links thereto, for play of the bonus game. In the conventional situation wherein a game may be implemented as a bonus game in accordance with the present invention, a separate, self-contained gaming device may be operably coupled as a “top box” or otherwise associated with a conventional, existing gaming machine configured for play of a base game. Thus, many of the components illustrated in FIG. 6 and described with respect thereto will be duplicated, including separate software and associated memory for conducting play of the bonus game with associated pay tables for the bonus awards.  
         [0048]    In implementation of the present invention, gaming machines such as gaming machine  110  offering play of a game according to the present invention may be deployed, as schematically depicted in FIG. 7, in a gaming network  210  includes a central server computer  220  operably coupled to a plurality of gaming machine G 1 , G 2  . . . G n . The central server computer  220  automatically interacts with a plurality of gaming machines G 1 , G 2  . . . G n .  
         [0049]    More specifically, and again referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the gaming network  210  includes a central server computer  220 , an event or game computer  240  and a plurality of gaming machines G 1 , G 2  . . . G n . If desired, the functions of central server computer  220  and event or game computer  240  may be combined in a single computer, and at least one separate display  236  associated therewith as indicated in FIG. 8. Each gaming machine G 1 , G 2  . . . G n  includes a controller assembly  280  operably coupled to the central server computer  220  and is comprised of a controller unit designed to facilitate transmission of signals from each individual gaming machine G 1 , G 2  . . . G n  for use by central server computer  220 . In addition, the controller assembly  280  includes a network interface board fitted with appropriate electronics for each specific make and model of each individual gaming machine G 1 , G 2  . . . G n .  
         [0050]    Referring to FIG. 7, in electronic video games, the central server computer  220  is operably coupled to at least one video game display element  118  as shown at the left hand side of FIG. 7 and sequesters a portion of the video game display element  118  for displaying video attract sequences to attract potential players. Video game display element  118  may be used for display of both the primary and bonus games. Where the gaming network  210  includes reel type game machines G 1 , G 2  . . . G n , as shown at the right hand side of FIG. 7, the central server computer  220  may be operably coupled to at least one active display element  120  so that potential players receive a clear indication of attract sequences and the active display element may be used as a video display for a game implemented in accordance with the present invention. As shown at the left hand side of FIG. 7, the gaming machines G 1 , G 2  . . . G n  may also be provided with a second video display element  122  as an alternative to sequestering a portion of the video game display  118  for displaying video attract sequences and a game. In addition, the central server computer  220  may include sound generating hardware and software for producing attractive sounds orchestrated with the video attract sequences at each of gaming machines G 1 , G 2  . . . G n  if such is not already incorporated therein. The games support input and output between the player and the game for such devices as heads up display, joystick, keyboard, mouse and data glove via interface modules connected through the expansion bus or buses  182  and SCSI port  188 .  
         [0051]    The attractive multimedia video displays and dynamic sounds may be provided by the central server computer  220  by using multimedia extensions to allow gaming machines G 1 , G 2  . . . G n  to display full-motion video animation with sound to attract players to the machines. During idle periods, the gaming machines G 1 , G 2  . . . G n  preferably display a sequence of attraction messages in sight and sound. The videos may also be used to market specific areas of the casino and may be customized to any informational needs.  
         [0052]    Furthermore, the gaming network  210  includes event or game computer  240  operably coupled to the central server computer  220  for scheduling parameters such as the type of game, pay tables and players. The functions of central server computer  220  and event or game computer  240  may, of course, be combined in a single computer. Preferably, the gaming network  210  further includes a real-time or on-line accounting and gaming information system  260  operably coupled to the central server computer  220 . The accounting and gaming information system  260  includes a player database for storing player profiles, a player tracking module for tracking players and a pit, cage and credit system for providing automated casino transactions.  
         [0053]    As previously noted, a bank or other plurality of gaming machines G 1 , G 2  . . . G n  may be networked together, as known in the art. In addition, and referring to FIG. 8, a host site computer  320  may be coupled to a plurality of the central servers  220  at a variety of mutually remote casinos or other gaming sites C 1 , C 2  . . . C n  for providing a multi-site gaming system  310 . Such a system is particularly suitable for use in a lottery-type environment, wherein the gaming machines G 1 , G 2  . . . G n  may comprise remote terminals, accessible either by attendants on behalf of players or directly accessible to players. Gaming system  310  is also suitable for multisite play of casino-type games, including all those previously mentioned.  
         [0054]    Preferably, the host site computer  320  will be maintained for the overall operation and control of the gaming system  310 . The host site computer  320  includes a computer network  322  and a communication link  324  provided with a high-speed, secure modem link for each individual casino or other gaming site C 1 , C 2  . . . C n .  
         [0055]    Each casino or other gaming site C 1 , C 2  . . . C n  includes the central server computer  220  provided with a network controller  230  which includes a high-speed modem operably coupled thereto. Bidirectional communication between the host site computer  320  and each casino site central server  220  is accomplished by the set of modems transferring data over communication link  324 .  
         [0056]    A network controller  230 , a bank controller  232  and a communication link  234  are interposed between each central server  220  and the plurality of attached gaming machines at each casino or other gaming site C 1 , C 2  . . . C n . In addition, the network controller  230 , the bank controller  232  and the communication link  234  may optionally be interposed between each central server  220  and a separate display  236  at each casino or other gaming site C 1 , C 2  . . . C n . However, the system  310  may include hardware and software to loop back data for in-machine meter displays to communicate with game or event award insert areas on gaming machines G 1 , G 2  . . . G n .  
         [0057]    Gaming machines G 1 , G 2  . . . G n  may be connected to separate display  236  through communication link  234 . Communication link  234  may be any of a variety of communication links known in the art, including, but not limited to: twisted-pair wire, coaxial cable, fiber optic, Ethernet, token ring, bus line, Fibre Channel, ATM, standard serial connections, LAN, WAN, Intranet, Internet, radio waves, or other wireless connections.  
         [0058]    It will be appreciated to those of ordinary skill in the art that another embodiment may employ some or all gaming machines G 1 , G 2  . . . G n  in the form of personal computers located at sites remote from the host site computer  320 . The personal computers may be located in homes, businesses or other locations remote from the host site computer  320 , such as a casino site C 1 , C 2  . . . C n . In this embodiment, the personal computers are configured such that the personal computer may connect to host site computer  320  through a network, such as the Internet. The personal computers are enabled to participate in gaming activities by downloading software, wherein the software provides access to the gaming activities and configures the personal computer for play of the gaming activity. The games are preferably conducted and controlled from the host site computer  320 .  
         [0059]    It is apparent that the present invention provides several features enhancing the play of a game. The present invention simplifies the process for making multiple entries into a single gaming event. The player is enabled to enter more games, more easily, without the burden of filling out multiple entries. With a single entry form, a player has less paperwork to track, and is less likely to lose the entry forms. Further, when the game results are in, it is much easier for a player to determine if he has won. In contrast to shuffling through a number of different entries, the present invention only requires a player to glance at a single form to determine if the game has been won. The present invention makes it easy to enter multiple games, track the progress of each of the games, and determine if any of the entries are winners. Similar advantages obtain when the entry format of the present invention is employed with a video display.  
         [0060]    In addition, the present invention enables, by consolidation of a plurality of agme cards into a single form, the use of larger gaming spaces or cells for easier viewing than with a plurality of smaller but separate game cards. The larger cells also facilitate implementation of the invention on touch screens of a video display. The single, common viewing area makes for easier tracking and interpretation of game progress and the end results of the draw. The video screen graphics may be made clearer and less cluttered, to enhance visual presentation. In addition, the present invention more easily accommodates the needs and desires of various players who may desire to make a different number of entries or selected a different number of gaming cards per gaming event.  
         [0061]    Another feature of the present invention is that it speeds the processing of machine read game forms such as lottery tickets. Rather than processing multiple entry forms, only a single entry form needs to be scanned using the present invention. This saves considerable time for ticket attendants who must scan each form individually. Fewer forms or tickets also result in less wear and tear on the ticket reader and fewer ticket jams.  
         [0062]    It will be recognized and appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be used to implement both primary games as well as secondary or bonus games. Further, the present invention may be used for effectuating multiple entries to a game played by an individual as well as for gaming involving groups of players, either at a common or in mutually remote locations.  
         [0063]    It will also be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that gaming spaces, or cells, may be of shapes other than rectangular. For example, it is contemplated that each cell may comprise a four-leaf clover, and each selection space may comprise one of the leaves. The center area of each clover may be used to display an identifier, such as a number. Selection of the number for a given entry may be indicated by illuminating that leaf. The leaves may be different colors to facilitate visual discrimination by a player. When the draw for the random game outcomes is made, as each number is drawn the center area of the clover may illuminate, optionally with some animation for emphasis. Each leaf in a clover which indicates it as part of a number selection by the player may also be illuminated, again with possible animation.  
         [0064]    It is also contemplated that each selection space of a given set which may be used to develop a single entry by a player may be represented by a different symbol within each gaming space, independent of their location within the gaming space. Thus, selection spaces of one set may be squares, of another may be circles, of a third, triangles, and of a fourth, stars. Different colors, as noted above, may be used to define different selection space sets.  
         [0065]    Moreover, having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the instant invention as set forth above and as described by the claims.