Abstract:
A seal card game system providing multiple levels of non-progressive play. The game system awards a master case award to a winning ticket not among the population of individual deal winning tickets. A winning ticket of each deal set does not qualify for the master case award level. The game features segregated deal sets, each set containing break-open tickets. Each deal set is segregated by deal identifier indicia. In one exemplary embodiment, the deal identifier indicia is a selected color which is imprinted on each of the playing tickets comprising a deal set. The play tickets may be serialized by deal or by case for security. A seal card may includes the serialization of each ticket associated with the case. The non-progression scheme benefits the game operator in retaining the interest and participation of a higher population of players throughout the multiple deal play.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/747,458 entitled “Seal Card Game System with Non-Progressive Multiple Winning Levels,” filed on Dec. 22, 2000. The &#39;458 application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to instant ticket game systems, and more specifically, the invention is directed to a seal card game system having multiple levels of integrated, non-progressive play. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Games of chance continue to be very popular in our culture. Certain games of chance, such as instant ticket games or pull tab tickets games have gained popularity with social, fraternal, or church organizations seeking to raise funds. Commercial bingo halls also feature similar games of chance. Game operators in these facilities have a multitude of game systems from which to chose. Some new game systems enjoy most success, while many others fail to be commercially viable. The ability of a game system to generate player excitement and prolonged interest will ultimately determine the commercial success of the game system. 
     Many games known in the art feature a deal set of play tickets, e.g., 100 individual tickets which comprise a deal set, which are individually sold to players for a small fee. Each player breaks open one or more pull tabs of the ticket to reveal game symbols imprinted on the ticket. Some game systems feature instant winnings based on the imprinted game symbol or symbols while others feature qualifying symbols, identifying eligibility to compete in an award level associated with the particular deal set. After all tickets in the deal set are sold, players holding a ticket eligible for the deal set award are recorded on a deal seal card. The game operator will open a pull tab on the deal seal card to reveal the deal set winner. A deal winner may receive cash, prizes, or additional tickets. 
     Some game systems in the prior art feature a case award in addition to a deal award. In this type of game system, a case set of tickets are sold by the operator. The case includes a plurality of deal sets of tickets, e.g. 10 deal sets in one case with each deal set having a predetermined number of tickets, e.g. 100 tickets. After all tickets in the case are sold and each of the deal set winners is determined, some or all of the deal winners further compete for higher level awards, e.g., a case award. This is commonly referred to as a progressive scheme or progressive game system. That is to say, the tickets qualifying for a case award must first have been deal set award winners. Progressive game systems of this type retain the interest of individual deal set winners but often at the expense of players not holding deal set winning tickets. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,737 to Fienberg discloses a similar game system with multi-level playing. One embodiment of the game features play tickets with numbers ending in “13” eligible for a first level of play. The winning ticket from the first level is eligible to play in a second level for additional winnings in a “Bonus Section.” A second embodiment which features a third playing level called a “Jackpot Section.” The &#39;737 patent discloses the general concept of a master winner of a multi-level progressive gaming scheme, but does not disclose the concept of a non-progression master winner. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,524 to Nannicola is directed to a instant ticket game system utilizing a master game seal card. Players with hold tickets ending in “13” qualify for play in a three-level modified progression scheme. To initiate play at the advanced level, a seal window is opened to reveal a winner. The winning player then competes to reach the concluding “Mountain Climber” level of the game. When a winning participate fails, a second hold card player becomes eligible to compete. This patent discloses the general concept of wider player participation in the high-level payoffs, but all participants are members of the population of original hold ticket possessors. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a seal card game system having multiple levels of integrated, non-progressive play. The game system affords the game operator an enhanced degree of player interest and enthusiasm by increasing player eligibility for a master case award level. Tickets winning the master case award level are not from the population of winning deal set tickets. 
     The game system comprises a case set of play tickets comprising a plurality of deal sets of play tickets and each of the plurality of deal sets of tickets comprising a plurality of play tickets. On one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the case set of tickets includes 6 deal set of tickets and each deal set of tickets includes 264 play tickets. Each play ticket includes case identifier indicia imprinted on the play ticket to identify a case set which the play ticket is a member. Each play ticket also includes deal identifier indicia imprinted on the play ticket to identify a deal set which the play ticket is a member. Each play ticket is a member of only one deal set. Each play ticket also includes a game symbol imprinted on the play ticket concealed by a removable pull tab. The pull tab is adapted to be removed by a purchaser of the play ticket. 
     A predetermined number of play tickets in each of the deal sets of tickets has a game symbol that qualifies the play tickets for a deal level award and for a case level award. 
     For each deal set, a deal winner identifier concealed by a removable pull tab identifies the play ticket from the deal qualifier game tickets that wins a deal level award. A case winner identifier concealed by a removable pull tab identifies the play ticket from the case qualifier game tickets that wins a case level award. 
     The game system of the present invention provides for a enhanced degree of player participation and enthusiasm throughout the course of play of a set of deals. A greater population of players are eligible for participation in a master case award level, retaining player interest. No game system in the prior art offers the advantages and features of the present invention. 
     Other objects and advantages and a fuller understanding of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a front elevation view of a first play ticket of the present invention, showing an unopened perforated pull tab; 
     FIG. 1B is a rear elevation view of the play ticket of FIG. 1A, showing imprinted deal identifier indicia and case identifier indicia; 
     FIG. 2A is a front elevation view of the play ticket of FIG. 1A, showing imprinted game symbols revealed; 
     FIG. 2B is a front elevation view of a second play ticket of the present invention, showing imprinted deal qualifier game symbol revealed; 
     FIG. 2C is a front elevation view of a third play ticket of the present invention, showing imprinted deal qualifier game symbols revealed; 
     FIG. 2D is a front elevation view of a fourth play ticket of the present invention, showing imprinted case qualifier game symbols revealed, 
     FIG. 3A is a front elevation view of a deal seal card of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3B is a front elevation view of the deal seal card of FIG. 3A, showing deal winner identifier revealed; 
     FIG. 4A is a front elevation view of a master seal card of the present invention, 
     FIG. 4B is a front elevation view of the master seal card of FIG. 4A, showing case winner identifier revealed; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a case set of seal card playing tickets, showing a game system of a first preferred embodiment, 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a case set of seal card playing tickets, showing a game system of a second preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 7A is a front elevation view of a fifth play ticket of the present invention, showing an unopened perforated pull tab and deal identifier indicia; 
     FIG. 7B is a rear elevation view of the play ticket of FIG. 6A, showing imprinted case identifier indicia; 
     FIG. 7C is a front elevation view of a sixth play ticket of FIG. 6A, showing imprinted game symbols revealed; 
     FIG. 7D is a front elevation view of a seventh play ticket of the present invention, showing imprinted qualifier game symbol revealed and deal identifier indicia; 
     FIG. 8A is a front elevation view of a seal card of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8B is a front elevation view of the seal card of FIG. 7A, showing deal winner identifier and case winner identified revealed. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     One preferred embodiment of the present invention features a master case  7  containing a case set of play tickets. As is schematically represented in FIG. 5, each play ticket is segregated by serial number into one of a plurality of deal sets  8   a ,  8   b ,  8   c ,  8   d ,  8   e ,  8   f ,  8   g ,  8   h ,  8   i ,  8   j ,  8   k ,  8   l ,  8   m ,  8   n ,  8   o ,  8   p ,  8   q ,  8   r ,  8   s ,  8   t  (hereinafter, a deal set will be generally referred to  8 ). Each deal set includes a plurality of play tickets  10  and a deal seal card  50 . The play tickets  10  determine eligibility to compete in a deal level award or a master case level award. A play ticket  10  either determines eligibility to participate in a deal level award, eligibility to participate in a master case award level, or is a non-participating ticket in any award level. The deal seal card  50  determines at least one winner for each deal set. A master case seal card  80  determines at least one winner for the case award level. 
     Referring to FIG. 1A, a front elevation view of the play ticket  10  of a first preferred embodiment is illustrated. The front side of the play ticket may feature whimsical art work. A perforated pull tab  12  is provided. After the play ticket  10  is purchased by a player, the pull tab  12  is opened by the player to reveal imprinted game symbols. 
     Referring to FIG. 1B, a rear elevation view of the play ticket  10  of FIG. 1A is illustrated. The play ticket has deal identifier indicia imprinted on the play ticket. The deal identifier indicia may be numerical, graphical, by color, or by any other suitable scheme. In the preferred embodiment, the deal identifier indicia is a serial number  14  imprinted on the rear side of the ticket  10 . The serial number  14  identifies the deal set with which the play ticket  10  is associated. 
     All play tickets within the deal set are imprinted with the same serial number. A play ticket  10  can be associated with only one deal set. In a first preferred embodiment, each deal set  8  contains two-hundred play tickets and each case contains twenty deal sets. To be discussed in detail later, the serial numbers of every deal set  8  are imprinted on the master case seal card  80 . The play ticket  10  also has a case identifier indicia imprinted on the play ticket. The case identifier indicia may be numerical, graphical, by color, or by any other suitable scheme. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the case identifier indicia is a form number  16  imprinted on the play ticket which identifies a case set of which the play ticket is a member. Each play ticket is a member of only one case set. The form number  16  may be repeated in another case set, but the combination of the serial number  14  and the form number  16  are unique to the case set  7 . 
     In a first preferred embodiment, schematically shown in FIG. 5, each case set  7  contains twenty deal sets and four-thousand total play tickets  10 . A game operator could identify the source of a displaced or random ticket by noting the serial number  14  and the form number  16 . This feature increases security to the game operator by reducing the opportunity for foul play, forgery, alteration or other mischief among participating players. Also illustrated in FIG. 1B, the play ticket  10  may also reveal a facsimile of a case qualifier game symbol  18 . To be discussed later in more detail, the case qualifier game symbol  18  will qualify tickets for participation in a case award level. The case qualifier game symbol  18  is included on the rear side of the play ticket  10  to increase player knowledge of the game and generate player excitement. 
     After a play ticket  10  is sold by a game operator, the player purchasing the card opens the perforated pull tab  12  to reveal imprinted game symbols. At least one game symbol is imprinted on the play ticket  10  concealed by the removable pull tab  12 . The pull tab  12  is adapted to be easily removed by a purchaser of the play ticket. As illustrated in FIGS. 2A,  2 B,  2 C,  2 D, a variety of game symbols may be revealed. All game symbols revealed are in one of three categories. A play ticket  10  either determines eligibility to: 1) participate in a deal level award, 2) eligibility to participate in a master case award level, or 3) is a non-participating award level ticket. Referring FIG. 2A, a specific play ticket  20  of the present invention is illustrated with game symbols  21 - 28  revealed. In the first preferred embodiment, the game symbols  21 - 28  are numerical combinations. A predetermined number of play tickets have a deal qualifier game symbol that qualifies those play tickets for a deal level award. The deal qualifier game symbol may be a numeric combination ending in certain digits. In one preferred embodiment, ten play tickets qualify for the deal award level. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, none of the game symbols  21 - 28  imprinted on the play ticket  20  are deal qualifier game symbols. The majority of play tickets reveal game symbols that do not indicate a participating ticket of any kind, either a deal qualifier game symbol or a case qualifier game symbol. Play ticket  20  is an example of such a non-participating ticket. 
     In the first preferred embodiment, ten play tickets qualify for the deal award level. Illustrated in FIGS. 2B,  2 C, another specific play ticket  30  is illustrated containing an imprinted deal qualifier game symbol  32  and another specific play ticket  35  contains an imprinted deal qualifier game symbol  37 . In the preferred embodiment, the deal qualifier game symbols are numeric. As shown, the imprinted deal qualifier game symbol are numeric symbols ending in the digits “00.” In the preferred embodiment, the two ending digits are imprinted in red ink. The imprinted deal qualifier game symbol  32 ,  37  signify eligibility to participate in the deal award level. The deal qualifier game symbol  32 ,  37  do not stand alone to identify a winning ticket. In other words, the tickets  30 ,  35  are not “instant winner” tickets. 
     A predetermined number of play tickets  10  in the case set  7  of tickets have a case qualifier game symbol that qualifies the play ticket for a case level award. In a first preferred embodiment, the case qualifier play tickets are mutually exclusive from the deal qualifier play tickets. In another preferred embodiment, the case qualifier play tickets and the deal qualifier play tickets may be inclusive. That is to say, a deal qualifier ticket may also be a case qualifier ticket. However, in the present invention, at least one ticket that wins at the case award level is from a population of tickets that did not win at the deal award level. Thus, the game system of the present invention is a non-progressive game system. That is, the ability of a ticket to win a case level award does not require that the ticket be a deal award winner or even a deal award qualifier. Each deal set  8  contains at least one play ticket imprinted with a case qualifier game symbol. In a first preferred embodiment, the case qualifier game symbol is graphical. As shown in FIG. 2D, another specific play ticket  40  contains a case qualifier game symbol  42 . The case qualifier game symbol  42  is a graphical symbol in the preferred embodiment. In this case, the ticket graphical symbol indicate that the ticket  40  is one of twenty tickets of the case set  7  that qualifies for a case level award. A total of twenty play tickets are eligible for the case award level. The total number  46  of eligible tickets for a case level award advantageously may be indicated on a eligible play ticket  40 . Each play ticket may include a further case qualifier place identifier  44  for use by the game operator in the case award level. 
     Each serialized deal set  8  is played out, or sold to the players, one deal set  8  at a time. In the preferred embodiment, the individual deal sets  8   a ,  8   b ,  8   c  . . . are segregated into single packages containing a plurality of play tickets  10 , whereby each of the play tickets within the package is a member of the individual deal set. The deal seal card  50  associated with the individual deal set is also included. After a game operator sells all play tickets associated to a given deal set, the deal seal card  50  is used to initiate the deal award level. For each deal set  8 , a deal winner identifier is concealed by a removable pull tab on the deal seal card  50 . The deal winner identifier identifies a play ticket from the deal qualifier play tickets that wins a deal level award. 
     In the first embodiment, the deal seal card  50  is used, as illustrated in FIG.  3 A. As shown, a separate deal seal card  50  is used for each deal set. The game operator may record the names of players in possession of deal qualifier game tickets in a recording area  52  on the deal seal card  50 . A set of removable pull tabs  54 ,  55 ,  56  is also provided. Alternatively, the deal winner identifier for all deal sets within the case set may be imprinted on the single deal seal card. The game operator may chose one of any of the pull tabs to select a winner of the deal award level. One pull tab  54  will yield a single winner, while a second pull tab  55  will yield two winners, while yet a third pull tab  56  will yield four winners. The population of deal set winners split evenly a $100 deal award. Also imprinted on the deal seal card  50  in several locations are the deal identifying indicia  58  and the case identifying indicia  59 . The identification of the deal serial number  58  and the case form number  59  on the deal seal card  50  provides the game operator with increased security. 
     After a game operator has recorded all the names of players in possession of deal qualifier game tickets in the recording area  52 , he or she may remove one of the pull tabs to reveal a deal set winner. For each deal set, the deal winner identifier is concealed by a removable pull tab. The deal winner identifier identifies a play ticket from the deal qualifier game tickets that wins a deal level award. For purposes of clarification, the deal seal card  50  in FIG. 3B is shown with all three pull tabs removed, showing deal winner identifiers  63 - 69 . For example only, assume the game operator had chosen to award deal award to only one winner. In this example, the game operator would have opened the pull tab  54  and revealed a game winner identifier  63 . The player whose name was recorded by the figure “1000” in the recording area  52 , in this case, also the holder of a play ticket  35  with a deal eligible game symbol  37 , would have been the deal award winner. This player would win the entire $100 prize and would not share the prize with any other player. Any other play ticket  30  with a deal eligible game symbol  32  would not be a deal award winner in this example. It should be clear the deal award winners will vary dependent on which pull tab  54 ,  55 ,  56  is opened. The choice of pull tab  54 ,  55 ,  56  will determine which deal winner identifier  63 - 69  is operable. 
     After a game operator sells all play tickets  10  associated with the case set  7  and all deal play is completed, a case award level is initiated. For the case set  7 , a case winner identifier imprinted on the seal card  80  is concealed by a removable pull tab. The case winner identifier identifies a play ticket from the case qualifier game tickets that wins a case level award. In one preferred embodiment, the case winner identifier is printed on a case seal card  80 , as illustrated in FIG.  4 A. In another embodiment, the deal winner identifiers and case winner identifier are imprinted on one case seal card. 
     The game operator may record the names of players in possession of case qualifier game tickets in a recording area  82 . The name of the player holding the play ticket  40  shown in FIG. 2D would be recorded in the recording area  82  based on the place identifier  44  on the play ticket  40 . In this example, the player&#39;s name holding the ticket  40  would be written by the number “13” on the line provided. A set of removable pull tabs  84 ,  85 ,  86 ,  87  is also provided. The game operator may chose one of any of the pull tabs to select a winner of the case award level. One pull tab  84  will yield a single winner, a second pull tab  85  will yield two winners, while yet a third pull tab  86  will yield four winners, and a fourth pull tab  87  will yield ten winners. 
     The population of case award winners split evenly a $1,000 case award. Also imprinted on the case seal card  80  in several locations are the deal identifying indicia  58  and the case identifying indicia  59 . The identification of the deal serial number  58  and the case form number  59  on the case seal card  80  provides the game operator with increased security. The deal identifying indicia may be imprinted on the case seal card  80 . As shown in FIG. 4A, in the preferred embodiment, the serial numbers of all twenty deal sets associated with the case are imprinted on the case seal card  80 . This further heightens the security of the game operator against foul play or human error. 
     A case winner identifier identifies a play ticket from the case qualifier game tickets that wins a case level award. The case winner identifier is concealed by a removable pull tab. In the preferred embodiment, after a game operator has recorded all the names of players in possession of case qualifier game tickets in the recording area  82 , he or she may remove one of the pull tabs to reveal a case set winner. For each case set, the case winner identifier is concealed by a removable pull tab. For purposes of clarification, a case seal card  80  in FIG. 4B is shown with all three pull tabs removed, showing deal winner identifiers  92 - 96 . For example only, assume the game operator had chosen to award the case award to only one winner. In this example, the game operator would have opened the pull tab  84  and revealed a single game winner identifier  92 . The player whose name was recorded by the place identifier “6” in the recording area  82  would have been the case award winner. The player win the $1,000 case award. Any other play ticket  40  with a case eligible game symbol  42  would not be a case award winner in this example. It should be clear the case award winners will vary dependent of which pull tab  84 ,  85 ,  86 ,  87  is opened. The choice of pull tab  84 ,  85 ,  86 ,  87  determines which case winner identifier  92 - 96  is operable. 
     Second Preferred Embodiment 
     A second preferred embodiment of the seal card game system of the present invention features a master case  100  containing a case set of play tickets. As is schematically represented in FIG. 6, each play ticket is segregated by color into one of a plurality of deal sets  101   a ,  101   b ,  101   c ,  101   d ,  101   e  and  101   f  (hereinafter in the discussion of the second preferred embodiment, a deal set will be generally referred to  101 ) Each deal set  101  includes a plurality of play tickets  110 . 
     In the second preferred embodiment of the present invention the play tickets  110  are color coded by deal set  101 , that is, the play tickets of a particular deal set are all imprinted with a common color, but each deal set has a different color. For example, all the play tickets of the deal set  101   a  may have the color red imprinted thereon, while all the play tickets of the deal set  101   b  may have the color blue imprinted thereon, while all the play tickets of the deal set  101   c  may have the color orange imprinted thereon, etc. 
     The play tickets  110  determine eligibility to compete in a deal level award and a master case level award. A play ticket  110  either determines eligibility to participate in a deal level award and a master case award level, or is a non-participating ticket in any award level. The seal card  150  determines at least one winner for each deal set and at least one winner for the case award level. 
     Referring to FIG. 7A, a front elevation view of the play ticket  110  of a second preferred embodiment is illustrated. A perforated pull tab  112  is provided. After the play ticket  110  is purchased by a player, the pull tab  112  is opened by the player to reveal imprinted game symbols. The play ticket  110  has deal identifier indicia  113  imprinted on the play ticket. The deal identifier indicia  113  in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6A, is a color  113   a . All text on the front side of the ticket  110  is imprinted in a certain color  113   a  (e.g., purple) thereby identifying the deal set  101  with which the ticket  110  is a member. That is to say, the ticket  110  is a member of the deal set  101  in which the deal identifier indicia  113  is the color purple  113   a . As a result, the ticket  110  is a member of “the purple deal set.” 
     Referring to FIG. 7B, a rear elevation view of the play ticket  110  of FIG. 6A is illustrated. The case identifying indicia  114  identifies the case set with which the play ticket  110  is associated (e.g., “122539”). All play tickets within the case set  100  are imprinted with the same serial number  114 . A play ticket  110  can be associated with only one deal set  101  and only one case set  100 . The combination of the deal identifying indicia  113   a  and the serial number  114  are unique to the case set  110 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment of the second preferred embodiment, each deal set contains two-hundred sixty-four play tickets  110  and each case contains six deal sets  101 . Schematically shown in FIG. 6, each case set  100  contains one-thousand five-hundred eighty-four total play tickets  110 . A game operator could identify the source of a displaced or random ticket by noting the serial number  114 . This feature increases security to the game operator by reducing the opportunity for foul play, forgery, alteration or other mischief among participating players. 
     After a play ticket  110  is sold by a game operator, the player purchasing the card opens the perforated pull tab  112  to reveal one or more imprinted game symbols under the pull tab  112 . At least one game symbol is imprinted on the play ticket  110  in an area  111  (FIG. 7C) concealed by the removable pull tab  112 . The pull tab  112  has a perforated border extending along three sides  112   a ,  112   b ,  112   c  and folds back, or is scored, along a fourth non-perforated side  112   d , as can be seen in FIGS. 7C and 7D which shown play tickets with the pull tab  112  folded back. The pull tab  112  is adapted to be easily ripped and folded back by a purchaser of the play ticket. As illustrated in FIGS. 7C and 7D, a variety of game symbols may be revealed in the area  111 . All game symbols revealed are in one of two categories. A play ticket  110  either determines eligibility to: 1) participate in one deal level award, and in a master case award level, or 2) is a non-participating award level ticket. Referring FIG. 7C, a specific play ticket  120  of the present invention is illustrated with game symbols  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124  revealed. 
     In the second preferred embodiment, the game symbols  121 - 124  are numerical combinations. A predetermined number of play tickets have a qualifier game symbol that qualifies those play tickets for a deal level award. The deal qualifier game symbol may be a numeric combination ending in certain digits. In one exemplary embodiment, twelve play tickets qualify for the deal award level. As illustrated in FIG. 7C, none of the game symbols  121 - 124  imprinted on the play ticket  120  are deal qualifier game symbols. The majority of play tickets reveal game symbols that do not indicate a participating ticket game symbol. Play ticket  120  is an example of such a non-participating ticket. 
     In one exemplary embodiment of the second preferred embodiment, twelve play tickets qualify for the deal award level. Illustrated in FIG. 7D, another specific play ticket  130  is illustrated containing an imprinted qualifier game symbol  132  (“HOLD 513”). In the preferred embodiment, the qualifier game symbols are numeric. As shown, the imprinted deal qualifier game symbol are numeric symbols ending in the digits “13.” In the preferred embodiment, the digits of the game symbols  132  are imprinted in an ink color in accordance the deal identifier indicia color  113   a  associated with the deal set, e.g., the purple set. The color of the deal identifier indicia color  113   a  may also advantageously be printed, as shown at  134 , in the ticket area  111 . The imprinted deal qualifier game symbol  132  signifies eligibility to participate in the “purple deal set” award level and the case award level. The deal qualifier game symbol  132  does not stand alone to identify a winning ticket. In other words, play tickets of the seal card game system are not “instant winner” tickets. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the second preferred embodiment, the case qualifier play tickets and the deal qualifier play tickets may be the same tickets. The case qualifier play tickets and the deal qualifier play tickets may be the same tickets. Alternatively, the case qualifier play tickets and the deal qualifier play tickets may be mutually exclusive. That is to say, a deal qualifier ticket may not be a case qualifier ticket. 
     In the game system of the present invention, at least one ticket that wins at the case award level is from a population of tickets that did not win at the deal award level. Thus, the game system of the present invention is a non-progressive game system. That is, the ability of a ticket to win a case level award does not require that the ticket be a deal award winner. 
     Each identified deal set is played out, or sold to the players, one deal set  101  at a time. In an exemplary embodiment of the second preferred embodiment, the individual deal sets  101   a ,  101   b ,  101   c ,  101   d ,  101   e ,  101   f  are segregated into single packages containing a plurality of play tickets  110 , whereby each of the play tickets within the package is a member of the individual deal set. The seal card  150  (FIG. 6) is associated with the case and the individual deal sets within the case. After a game operator sells all play tickets associated to a given deal set, the seal card  150  is used to initiate the individual deal award level. For each deal set  101 , a deal winner identifier for each deal is concealed by one or more removable pull tab  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c ,  154   d ,  154   e ,  154   f  (FIG. 8A) on the seal card  150 . The deal winner identifier identifies a play ticket from the deal qualifier play tickets that wins a deal level award. 
     In the second embodiment, the seal card  150  is used, as illustrated in FIG.  8 A. As shown, a single seal card  150  is used for all deal sets  101   a ,  101   b ,  101   c ,  101   d ,  101   e ,  101   f . The game operator may record the names of players in possession of deal qualifier game tickets in a recording area  152  on the seal card  150 . The removable pull tabs  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c ,  154   d ,  154   e ,  154   f  are also provided for each deal. The game operator removes the pull tabs  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c ,  154   d ,  154   e ,  154   f  to select a winner of the deal award level from the corresponding deal sets  101   a ,  101   b ,  101   c ,  101   d ,  101   e ,  101   f . The deal set winner for each deal set is awarded a $100 deal award. Also imprinted on the seal card  150  in several locations are deal identifying indicia  158  (e.g., a “$100” symbol imprinted with an ink color in accordance with the deal set identifying indicia color) and the case identifying indicia  159 , The identification of the case serial number  159  on the seal card  150  provides the game operator with increased security against foul play, human error or other mischief. 
     After a game operator has recorded all the names of players in possession of deal qualifier game tickets in the recording area  152 , he or she may remove the pull tabs  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c ,  154   d ,  154   e ,  154   f  to reveal a deal set winner. For each deal set, the deal winner identifier is concealed by the removable pull tab tabs  154   a ,  154   b ,  154   c ,  154   d ,  154   e ,  154   f . The deal winner identifier identifies a play ticket from the deal qualifier game tickets that wins a deal level award. The seal card  150  in FIG. 8B is shown with the pull tab  154   f  removed, showing a deal winner identifier  163 . The player holding the ticket with the deal winner identifier  163  (e.g., “0113P”) would win the entire $100 prize. In an exemplary embodiment of the second preferred embodiment, the deal award winning ticket can not win at the case level. 
     After a game operator sells all play tickets  110  associated with the case set  100  and all deal play is completed, a case award level is initiated. For the case set  100 , a case winner identifier imprinted on the seal card  150  is concealed by a removable pull tab. The case winner identifier identifies a play ticket from the qualifier game tickets that wins a case level award. In one preferred embodiment, the case winner identifier is printed on a seal card  150 , as illustrated in FIG. 8A and 8B. No extra money is required to participate at the case award level. 
     A set of removable pull tabs  184 ,  185 ,  186 ,  187  is provided. The game operator may chose one of any of the pull tabs to select a winner of the case award level. One pull tab  184  will yield a single winner, a second pull tab  185  will yield two winners, while yet a third pull tab  186  will yield three winners, and a fourth pull tab  187  will yield six winners. The population of multiple case award winners split evenly a $600 case award. The single case winner is awarded $599 in selected by the game operator. 
     A case winner identifier identifies a play ticket from the case qualifier game tickets that wins a case level award. The case winner identifier is concealed by one or more removable pull tabs  184 ,  185 ,  186 ,  187 . In an exemplary embodiment, a game operator may remove one of the pull tabs  184 ,  185 ,  186 ,  187  of his or her choice to reveal a case set winner. 
     In the exemplary embodiment of the case card  150  shown in FIG. 8A, the operator is provided with four case level award options. If pull tab  184  is selected to be pulled by the operator, one case level award will be awarded (one playing ticket would win the case level award). If pull tab  185  is pulled by the operator, two case level awards will be awarded (two playing tickets will share the case level award). If pull tab  186  is pulled by the operator, three case level awards will be awarded (three playing tickets will share the case level award). If pull tab  187  is pulled by the operator, six case level awards will be awarded (six playing tickets will share the case level award). 
     For each case set, the case winner identifier is concealed by a removable pull tab  184 ,  185 ,  186 ,  187 . For purposes of example only, a seal card  150  in FIG. 8B is shown with one pull tab  185  removed, showing deal winner identifiers  192 ,  196 . For example only, assume the game operator had chosen to award the case award to two winners. In this example, the game operator would have opened the pull tab  185  and revealed a game winner identifiers  192  (“0813P”),  196  (“013Y”). The player or players holding the tickets with the game winner identifiers  192 ,  196  would be the case award winners and the players would share the $600 case award. It should be understood the case award winners will vary dependent of which pull tab  184 ,  185 ,  186 ,  187  is opened. The choice of pull tab  184 ,  185 ,  186 ,  187  determines which case winner identifier is operable. 
     Many variations and modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed description. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically shown and described.