Abstract:
In an instant lottery ticket game structure having a lottery administration host computer that includes a ticket validation file containing prize codes for at least some of the lottery tickets, provision for instant lottery tickets having variable redemption values can be made by allowing the prize codes in the validation file to be changed under certain predetermined circumstances. At least some of the lottery tickets in the game, whether printed or electronically simulated, can be provided with play indicia under a removable coating that indicates that the redemption value of that lottery ticket is variable. Using the host computer, a lottery administration can change the prize codes and therefore the redemption value of these instant lottery tickets according to the predetermined criteria such as the termination of a game. In some cases, a player can have the option to redeem an instant lottery ticket for a first value or wait until after termination of the game where a possibly higher redemption value might be assigned to that ticket due to the host computer randomly selecting that ticket to change its prize code to a greater value.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
     The invention relates to lottery ticket game structures and in particular to lottery games where a game is printed on a set of instant tickets having play indicia indicating whether or not the ticket is a prize winner printed on the tickets underneath a scratch-off coating or where an image of an instant lottery ticket is displayed on a computer terminal or video lottery terminal having play indicia indicating whether or not the ticket is a prize winner. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     In most instant lottery ticket games a set of tickets is printed or in electronic games the tickets displayed on a computer or video lottery terminal screen with play or prize value indicia under a scratch-off coating according to a predetermined prize structure. For electronic tickets, termed “eTickets” the data is transferred from a central system or a site controller to the video lottery terminal. Typically, the prize structure consists of one or more large value prizes, a number of lesser value prizes and a large number of tickets that are not prizewinners. The prize values in a game are distributed randomly on the tickets so that in theory each player has an equal chance to win one of the prizes. 
     In certain circumstances, however, problems have arisen with this type of game structure. There are, for instance, certain lottery administrations in the United States that post on their web sites the remaining prizes within a game. As a result, a lottery administration might post, for example, that there are two $100,000 prizes in a particular game. As the game is sold, the tickets having the various prizes are cashed. In some cases, the game will still have a significant number of tickets to be sold after the top prizes are cashed. This can lead to complaints from customers that it is no longer possible to win one of the top prizes as advertised by the lottery administration in its general promotional literature. Moreover, state-run lotteries can include in their contract with the game vendor the restriction that players must have the opportunity to play for the top prize throughout the life of the game. 
     In many instant lottery systems, especially those in the United States that are administered by state governments, winning tickets are presented by players to lottery agents for redemption. In many cases, in particular where the ticket has a high value, the lottery agent will enter ticket identification or validation data from the ticket into an agent terminal using a bar code reader or manually inputting this data. This information is then transmitted to a host computer at the state lottery administration where this information is used to access a validation file. Typically, there is one record in the validation file for each such winning ticket that contains the redemption value of the ticket. This redemption value is transmitted to the lottery terminal and if the transmitted redemption value matches the printed winning value on the lottery ticket, the agent will pay this amount to the player. Similarly, in electronic lottery systems, winning eTicket vouchers are presented by players to lottery agents or lottery validation systems for redemption. In many cases, in particular where the eTicket has a high value, the lottery agent or system will transfer eTicket identification or validation data from the eTicket into an agent terminal via a bar code or manually inputting this data. This information is then transmitted to a host computer at the state lottery administration where this information is used to access a validation file. As with the instant ticket systems, there typically is one record in the validation file for each such winning eTicket that contains the redemption value of the ticket. This redemption value is transmitted to the agent terminal and if the transmitted redemption value matches the printed winning value on the voucher, the agent will pay this amount to the player. Usually the validation file contains a fixed or static prize value for all tickets that contain a winning prize value. However, while maintaining a static prize value for each ticket in the validation file has been considered desirable from a security standpoint, maintaining the static value reduces the flexibility of lottery administrations to create new types of games and to compensate for various problems such as the problem described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an instant or an electronic lottery game structure and supporting validation system that will encourage player interest throughout the duration of the game. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an instant or an electronic lottery game structure and supporting validation system that will provide for an electronic mechanism to hold an End of Game Draw. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an instant or an electronic lottery game structure, both for traditional instant lottery tickets and electronic instant lottery tickets, having a dynamic prize structure option. This structure can include the player vehicle (the printed instant or the eTicket), file structures for implementing the game structure, an electronic draw mechanism, and processes and procedures that allow a lottery administration to account for the variable prizes from the beginning of the game until the game is closed. 
     Another object of the invention is to allow for the secure modification of information, such as the prize values for certain tickets, in the validation file. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide the computer software and computer file structures that allow for the secure modification of information, such as the prize values for certain tickets, in the validation file. 
     It is still another object of the invention to provide an instant or an electronic lottery game structure where the winners of certain of the prize values for particular tickets are not determined until a predetermined time has elapsed or an event has occurred such as the end of the game. The prize values for these tickets can be, for example, determined at the end of the game by an electronic drawing. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide an instant or an electronic lottery game structure where at least certain of the tickets are specified as having dynamic or variable prize values that are changed periodically during the game. A ticket having one of these variable prize values can then be redeemed by a player for the specified prize value at a particular time during the game or the player can opt to wait until the game is over where a drawing determines the value of the ticket. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a validation file where the prize value of at least a portion of the instant or the electronic lottery tickets can be changed by the lottery administration. For example, the validation file can include a sub file containing records for each of the tickets having a variable prize value. The sub file can be used to change the prize values at periodic intervals during the game for all of the tickets in the sub file and can be used to implement an electronic drawing for certain prize values at the end of the game. As an alternative to the sub file, the traditional validation file can include validation identifiers, such as a set of unique prize codes, that allow the traditional validation file to identify those prizes that are designated as having variable value or those prizes that are eligible for the electronic End of Game Draw. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         FIG. 1  is a front plan view of an instant or an electronic lottery ticket having a fixed prize value; 
         FIG. 2  is a front plan view of an instant or an electronic lottery ticket having a variable prize value according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a lottery system according to the invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a validation file for use with the system of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     A first embodiment of the invention will be described in terms of a printed instant ticket with a scratch-off material covering play indicia.  FIG. 1  is a simplified representation of a conventional instant lottery ticket  10  that includes a printed identification  12  of the ticket  10 , a printed instruction  14  on how to play the ticket and a scratch-off material  16  covering a set of play indicia  18 . Also, printed on the lottery ticket  10  is a set of validation data  20  that can be in alphanumeric or bar code form or both. The validation data  20  can be printed on the back of the lottery ticket  10  as well. In the representation of  FIG. 1 , the lottery ticket  10  is shown with most of the scratch-off material  16  removed which, in this case, reveals the play indicia  18  that indicates to the player that the prize value of the lottery ticket  10  is $100,000.00. In conventional instant lottery games, the tickets  10  are all printed with play indicia  18  that indicate the prize value of the lottery ticket  10 . 
       FIG. 2  is a simplified representation of an instant lottery ticket  22  according to one aspect of the invention. The principal difference between the lottery ticket  22  and the conventional lottery ticket  10  is that a set of play indicia  24  printed beneath the scratch-off material  16  on the lottery ticket  22  represents a variable prize value as indicated on the lottery ticket  22  by a coined term such as “MYSTERY PRIZE” as shown in  FIG. 2  or “BONUS PRIZE”. Here, the play indicia  24  also includes a message to the effect that the player should read instructions (not shown) on the back of the lottery ticket  22  that will provide guidance on how to redeem a prize for the lottery ticket  22 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, most of the lottery tickets in the game will be printed with play indicia representing the actual value of prize as shown at  18  on the ticket  10  in  FIG. 1 . Additionally, and evenly dispersed throughout the game, will be a set of the lottery tickets  22  having the printed play indicia  24  indicating a variable prize value. These tickets  22  will be dispersed evenly throughout the game and, preferably, in such volume to greatly increase the likelihood that at least one of the “Mystery” prize winning tickets  22  remains in the game at all times. In this embodiment of the invention, it is desirable that the odds are extremely high that at least one of the “Mystery” prize ticket  22  remain in the game after the last static top prize is sold. 
     If the last static top prize as shown at  18  on the ticket  10  is redeemed for cashing before all tickets in the game have been redeemed, at least one of the remaining ‘MYSTERY’ prize tickets  22  would be eligible to be ‘promoted’ to the top prize. This “Mystery” top prize would be distributed during the End of Game Draw procedure. In this manner, it would always be possible to win one of the top prizes as advertised by the lottery administration in its general promotional literature, and thus render moot any complaint that the top prize no longer remains in the game. 
     It is common practice that drawings of this type are conducted by a manual process whereby players mail in to the lottery a stub or some portion of the ticket. In the preferred embodiment, this manual system is replaced by an electronic system reducing the workload on the lottery and reducing the chance for fraud or error. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , operation of the preferred embodiment of the instant lottery game will be described. To illustrate a representative environment for the invention,  FIG. 3  provides a block diagram of the basic hardware structure of a typical state administered lottery system  26  for selling and redeeming instant lottery tickets such as lottery tickets  10  and  22 . Included in the system  10  is a lottery ticket redemption mechanism which in this embodiment can include a number of validation or agent terminals  28 A–C that are connected, as represented by a set of lines  30 A–C, to a lottery host computer  32 . The agent terminals  28 A–C usually include bar code readers, keyboards, displays and printers that a lottery agent can use for selling, validating and redeeming instant lottery tickets. The connections  30 A–C to the host computer  32  can be dedicated or dial-up telephone lines or other methods of communication such as satellite communications systems. Included in the host computer  32  is a validation file  34  that contains validation information for lottery tickets usually stored in the form of records each having a ticket identification and a prize code as represented generally at  35  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The prize code can be a code or the actual prize or redemption value of the lottery ticket  10  or  22 . Usually there is one record  35  for winning lottery tickets that requires validation through the host computer  32 . However in some cases, the validation file  34  contains records  35  for only the winning lottery tickets in a game or contains records  35  for all of the tickets in the game. Connected to the host computer  32  is a lottery administration terminal  36  that usually contains or is connected to a data input device  38  such as a compact disk (CD) reader along with a printer  40  for printing out reports to the lottery administration. Also in some state lotteries, the lottery administration provides information to the public via an access system regarding the status of a game by, for example, a toll free telephone number as represented by a block  42  and, or in some cases, by Internet access represented by a block  44   
     It is typical practice in the United States lottery industry for a ticket vendor to provide a state lottery administration with one or more sets of tickets where each set is defined as a game. Each game will normally have a prize structure with a predetermined number of winning tickets and a predetermined number of losing tickets. Very often the winning tickets are divided between high tier winners, which have a high winning prize value and low tier winners that have relatively low winning values. It is also industry practice for the vendor to supply the validation file  34  for each game, which is generally structured to contain one record  35  having the prize code for each winning ticket in the game. In conventional game structures, the prize value represented by the prize code in each record  35  provided by the vendor is fixed or static. For some games, the validation file  34  will contain a record  35  for each winning ticket or in some cases, the validation file  34  will contain a record  35  for each lottery ticket in the game. This vendor supplied validation file is then loaded into the host computer validation file  18  using the data input device  38 . In many state lotteries the practice is to require that high tier lottery tickets that are presented by a player to a lottery agent for redemption be validated by having the lottery agent transmit ticket identification information or the validation data  20  from the agent terminal  28 A to the host computer  32 . This information is then used to access the record  35  in the validation file  34  that contains the prize code or redemption value for the lottery ticket  10  and this value is then transmitted back to the agent terminal  28 A. The usual practice is to have the lottery agent compare this value from the host computer  32  with the winning value  18  printed on the lottery ticket  10  and if they are the same, the agent will pay the player this amount or provide the player with a form that he can use to redeem the ticket from the lottery administration. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment of the invention, an instant lottery game structure is provided where a subset of the lottery tickets, such as the lottery ticket  22 , is printed with the play indicia  24  which indicates to a player that the prize can have a variable value. The rest of the lottery tickets in the game, such as lottery ticket  10 , are printed with play indicia  18  that have a static prize value and for a large number of the lottery tickets  10  the play indica  18  will indicate that the lottery ticket  22  has no redemption value. In the validation file  34 , the first set of records  35  corresponds to the lottery tickets  10  that have static prize values and a second set or a sub file of records  45  corresponds to the lottery tickets  22  that have variable prize values. Other methods that identify the variable prizes within the ticket population in a game can be used as well, such as a special prize code unique to variable prize tickets. In the preferred embodiment, the initial prize values represented by the prize codes in each of the records  45  in the sub file will have the same relatively low value, for example $50.00, at the beginning of the game. For other embodiments, each initial prize code can have a different value or even a null value. Here, the $50.00 value represents the prize value that the lottery tickets  22  in the sub file  45  can be redeemed for, at least at one point, during the time period that the game is being marketed to the public. In addition, the host computer  32  can automatically at periodic intervals change the prize values in the records  45  in the validation sub file. These changes can be random within a certain predetermined range or alternatively, the changes in the prize values can be made by the host computer  32  in response to inputs from the lottery administration via the terminal  36 . For example, the lottery administration can, by using this system, alter the redemption value of the variable tickets  22  to increase ticket sales or as a part of its marketing plan as it relates to a specific dynamic prize structure for the game. The host computer  32  will mark as paid the records  45  in the sub file that represent lottery tickets  22  that are redeemed during the game period. Then, preferably at a publicly announced date after the termination of the game period, the host computer  32  would perform an electronic draw based on all or a subset of the records  45  in the sub file to determine the winner of the final top prize in the game. Alternatively, the system could be used to distribute all remaining, unredeemed prizes in the game among those players who hold a ‘mystery’ prize winning ticket  22 . If, for example, there were one thousand records  45  in the mystery prize sub file and the lottery administration wished to distribute one hundred high tier prizes that remained in the game, the electronic draw program in the host computer  32  would randomly distribute those remaining prizes into the one thousand records  45  in the sub file. Normally, the lottery administration would establish the total prize payout before the beginning of a game. One of the primary advantages of the system described above is that, the lottery administration will know what the total payout for a game is while at the same time because a portion of the prizes are dynamic, it will have the ability to control the amount and timing of certain of the redemption values for the lottery tickets  22 . 
     Because security is an important factor in lotteries, it is desirable that the systems such as  26  shown in  FIG. 3 , and the file structures such as the validation files  36  and the sub file  45  shown in  FIG. 4  along with administrative procedures utilize the latest security technology. Preferably, only authorized lottery administrative personnel should be able to dynamically modify the value of the lottery tickets  22 . One approach is to use the audit techniques described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/317,577, assigned to the assignee of this application and which is hereby incorporated by reference. For example, the approach described in this patent application of using a read only memory to check the total prize value of a game can be used to test the integrity of the records  45  in the sub file. 
     The following is an example of how the game structure described above might operate. After purchasing the lottery ticket  22 , the player scratches off the scratch-off material  16 . If the play indicia  24  indicates that the lottery ticket  22  has a variable redemption value, e.g., the “Mystery Prize”, the player, depending on the rules of the particular game, will have the option to: (1) redeem the lottery ticket  22  for its current value and/or (2) be included in the end of the game prize drawing. In one embodiment of the invention, these two options are mutually exclusive; in another embodiment, the Mystery prize winner is automatically entered in the End of Game draw, regardless of whether he has redeemed his ticket. 
     The redemption value of the prize during the game period can be, for example, $50 during week  1  of the game, $100 during week  2 , back to $50 during week  3  etc. . . . as described above. In this example, the players can learn the redemption value of the lottery tickets  22  during the game by utilizing the Internet  44  or the 1–800 number  42 . The players who opt to remain in the final draw held at the end of the game can likewise learn the value of their lottery tickets  22  via the public access system such as the Internet  44  or the 1-800 number  42 . At any time until the game is closed, a player can redeem his Mystery ticket for the current posted value. In one embodiment, if he chooses to remain ‘in the draw’, his Mystery Prize ticket  22  is guaranteed to be of some minimal value. If he opts for the draw, he might win the top prize or some other high-valued prizes such as a car or a trip. Alternatively, the player might win some sort of relatively low value promotional item such as a t-shirt promoting the lottery. In another embodiment, the player can both redeem his Mystery Prize for its current value AND expect to be included in the End of Game draw. 
     Yet another embodiment of the invention will be described in terms of an electronic ticket with a simulated scratch-off material covering play indicia. In particular, a set of dashed lines  46  in  FIGS. 1 and 2  represent a display of a video lottery terminal or a personal computer that can be connected to the host computer  32  to play an electronic version of an instant lottery game. Here, the lottery tickets  10  and  22  are electronic visual simulations of instant lottery tickets where the scratch-off coatings  16  can be removed by the player by operation of a mouse or some other control device connected to the terminal. Again,  FIG. 3  depicts in block diagram form the basic hardware structure of the typical state administered lottery system  26  that can be used for selling and redeeming electronic lottery tickets such as lottery tickets  10  and  22 . Included in the system  10  are a number of video lottery terminals  48 A–C that can be for example video terminals in a gaming establishment or player owned personal computers. The video lottery terminals  48 A–C can be connected, as represented by a set of lines  50 A–C, to the lottery host compute  32  by a variety of mechanisms such as the internet or a lottery site controller  52  which in turn is connected to the host computer  32 . The video lottery terminals  48 A–C, as represented by the terminal  45 A in  FIG. 3 , can include the graphical capabilities such as the display  46  for a lottery player to the play the electronic tickets  10  and  22  and a reader  52  for receiving credit cards or coupons to permit the player to play the game. Also, a printer  54  can be included or connected to the terminals  48 A–C for printing out a payment voucher such as an eTicket  56  having for example a bar code  58  that can be used by a player to redeem a winning ticket at one of the agent terminals  28 A–C. It should be noted that a variety of redemption mechanisms can be used including various internet secure payment systems. To enable a player to remove the simulated scratch-off coating  16 , a control device  59  such as a keyboard or a mouse can be used with the video lottery terminals  48 A–C. This system permits a player to pay for and play electronic tickets as well as ‘cash out’ when finished. The connections  50 A–C to the host computer  32  can be dedicated lines, dial-up telephone lines or other methods of communication such as satellite or internet-based communications systems such as shown at  44 . 
     As with the printed instant lottery games discussed above, it is typical practice in the United States lottery industry for a ticket vendor to provide a state lottery administration with one or more sets of “electronic” tickets such as lottery tickets  10  and  22  where each set is defined as a game. Each game will normally have a structure with a predetermined number of winning tickets and a predetermined number of losing tickets. Very often the winning tickets are divided between high tier winners which have a high winning prize value and low tier winners which have relatively low winning values. It is also industry practice for the vendor to supply the validation file  34  for each game, which is generally structured to contain one record having the redemption or prize value for each high tier winning ticket. In conventional game structures, the prize value in each record provided by the vendor is fixed or static. For some games, the validation file  34  will contain a record for each winning ticket or in some cases; the validation file  34  will contain a record for each lottery ticket in the game. This vendor supplied validation file is then loaded into the host computer validation file  18  using the data input device  38 . In many state lotteries the practice is to require that the high tier lottery electronic ticket vouchers that are presented by a player to a lottery agent or a lottery validation system for redemption be validated by having the lottery agent or system transmit ticket identification information or the validation data  20  from the agent terminal  28 A to the host computer  32 . This information is then used to access a record in the validation file  34  which contains the redemption value for the lottery ticket  10  and this value is then transmitted back to the agent or validation terminal  28 A. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment of the invention, an instant lottery game structure is provided where an electronic lottery tickets, such as the lottery ticket  22 , is displayed on the display  46  with the play indicia  24  which indicates to a player that the prize can have a variable value. The system  26  then functions essentially the same way the printed instant lottery system functions as described above. 
     The following is an example of how the electronic instant lottery game structure described above might operate in one embodiment of the invention. After selecting and purchasing the electronic lottery ticket  22  at the video lottery terminal  48 A, the player receives a graphical representation of his selected ‘pull’ or ticket  10  or  22 . If the play indicia  24  indicates that the lottery ticket  22  has a variable redemption value, e.g., the “Mystery Prize”, the player will have the option to: (1) redeem the lottery ticket  22  for its current value or (2) opt to be included in the end of the game prize drawing. The redemption value of the prize during the game period can be, for example, $50 during week  1  of the game, $100 during week  2 , back to $50 during week  3 , etc. . . . as described above. In this example, the players can learn the redemption value or any other value or non-value of the lottery administration&#39;s choosing of the lottery tickets  22  during the game by utilizing an information access system such as the Internet  44 , the 1-800 number  42  or, in this case, the video lottery terminals  48 A–C. The players who opt to remain in the final draw held at the end of the game can also learn the value of their lottery tickets  22  via the Internet  44 , the 1-800 number  42  or the video lottery terminals  48 A–C. At any time until the game is closed, a player can redeem his Mystery ticket for the current posted value. If he chooses to remain ‘in the draw’, his Mystery Prize ticket  22  is guaranteed to be of some minimal value. If he opts for the draw, he might win the top prize or some other high-valued prizes such as a car or a trip. Alternatively, the player might win some sort of relatively low value promotional item such as a t-shirt promoting the lottery or nothing. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the player can both redeem his electronic Mystery Prize for its current value AND expect to be included in the End of Game draw. 
     The existence of Mystery Prizes tickets  22  within an instant (or an electronic game) and the Mystery Prize Validation sub file  45  delivered to the Lottery administration can form the basis for the electronic End of Game (or End of Sales) draw. The validation numbers  20  of the Mystery Prize winning tickets  22  are separately stored in the validation sub file  45  (or in another embodiment, a special prize code identifies the Mystery Prize winners in the traditional validation file  34 .) In either case, the electronic draw is based on these validation numbers  20  which uniquely identify the population of all Mystery Prize winning tickets within the game. 
     Valid or redeemed Mystery Prize winners within a game can be further identified by a voucher that is produced at the agent terminal  28 A upon redemption of the Mystery Prize winning ticket  22 . At this point, player information can be recorded in a database. Alternatively, the Internet  44  or a 1-800 number  42  can be used to identify validated Mystery Prize winners. There can be other methods of identifying those lottery players who have indeed won a Mystery Prize. The result of the identification is to populate or mark the validation sub file  45  with valid Mystery Prize winners who are eligible for the electronic drawing. 
     By the methods described above, once the lottery has satisfactorily populated the validation sub file  45  with valid Mystery Prize winners, the Lottery can choose one of the records  45  from this file. Typically, this would occur at some predetermined point in the lifecycle of the game, for example the end of retail sales for the game. The selection of this single record  45  can be accomplished using several common methods, but the most common is the use a specialized random number generator by the host computer  32 . This random number generator would identify ONE of the Mystery Prize winners as the Grand Prize Winner—and thus distribute the remaining Top Prize in the Game to this individual Mystery Prize winner. Since Mystery Prize tickets  22  are available throughout the sales of the game, all lottery players will have the opportunity to play for the top prize until the game sales have been halted by the Lottery Administration. 
     It will be understood that the dynamic game structure concepts described above can also be applied to non-gambling games. As an example, this type of structure can be used with supermarket type sweepstakes where sweepstake coupons are not sold.