Patent Publication Number: US-2015081414-A1

Title: Lottery promotion

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to lottery promotion techniques. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 
     Newsagents, convenience stores and gas stations traditionally sell lottery tickets on behalf of lottery providers such as the New York Lottery, the Tatts Group etc. These resellers only receive a small commission for the sale of each ticket and further rely upon sales of other items (e.g. newspapers, drinks, etc.). In recent times, many lottery players have taken to purchasing their lottery tickets via the Internet which has adversely affected the revenue of resellers from not only the tickets themselves but other items. 
     Physical means of promoting lotteries such as posters, billboards, digital signs and other forms of physical advertising are an opportunity to remind and stimulate lottery players about promotions and upcoming draws. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide for increased patronage of resellers by lottery players. 
     Embodiments of the present invention utilize physical advertising in high traffic areas to promote lottery play. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery promotional method involving the step of: 
     receiving, with a server, confirmation of a ticket purchaser being at a geographic location to qualify for a promotional offer offered in conjunction with a lottery ticket purchase. 
     The geographic location may be a display, and the confirmation may be received responsive to scanning or reading the display. Alternatively, the geographic location may be a reseller store. 
     The foregoing step of receiving may involve receiving, with the server, a code to qualify for the promotional offer. 
     In one embodiment, the code is received subsequent to the lottery ticket purchase. The code may be received from a store at the geographic location. The code may be received from a computer or a mobile internet device in or around the store. The code may be scanned. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the code is received prior to the lottery ticket purchase. The code may be received subsequent to capturing or reading from the display. The method may involve enabling online purchasing of the ticket responsive to receiving the code. 
     The method may further involve the step of establishing the promotional offer. The step of establishing may involve linking the promotional offer with the lottery ticket purchase. 
     The method may further involve the step of enabling the lottery ticket purchase. The lottery ticket purchase may be an online purchase. The lottery ticket purchase may be associated with the code. 
     The method may further involve the step of allocating the promotional offer to a lottery ticket purchaser. The method may further involve the step of updating purchaser details in a database. The method may further involve the step of enabling the purchaser to check the purchaser details in the database. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery promotional system including: 
     a server for receiving confirmation of a ticket purchaser being at a geographic location to qualify for a promotional offer offered in conjunction with a lottery ticket purchase. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery promotional system including: 
     a server for receiving a code to qualify for a promotional offer offered in conjunction with a lottery ticket purchase. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lottery promotional method involving the step of: 
     receiving, with a server, a code to qualify for a promotional offer offered in conjunction with a lottery ticket purchase. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a lottery promotional system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing a lottery promotional method performed with the system of  FIG. 1  and in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a lottery promotional method performed with the system of  FIG. 1  and in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a lottery promotional system  100  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The system  100  includes a mobile internet device (MID)  102  in the form of a mobile phone (e.g. iPhone, Android, etc.) or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The MID  102  functions as a reader for reading a Quick Response (QR) code  103  to register for a promotional offer that is offered in conjunction with a lottery ticket purchase. The promotional offer can include any one or more of a free game, second chance draw or an offer to purchase discounted lottery tickets. 
     The system  100  also includes a lottery server  104  administered by a lottery provider (e.g. New York Lottery, the Tatts Group, etc.) conducting a lottery. The system  100  further includes a promoter server  106  interfaced to the lottery server  104  via the Internet  108 . The promoter server  106  is configured to sell tickets for the lottery online to the owner of the MID  102  and to administer the promotional offer. The promoter server  106  also includes a database for recording purchaser account details including a ticket purchase history and any allocation and redemption of the promotional offer. The database also includes a record of unique codes and corresponding associated geographic locations (e.g. code A=store A; code B=store B; etc.). 
     The system  100  further includes a store computer  110  located within a reseller store. The store computer includes a hand-held code reader  112  (or scanner) for reading the QR code  103  which can be present on a promotional display  114  located in or near the store. 
     A lottery promotional method  200  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, and performed with the system of  FIG. 1 , is now described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     At step  202 , the promoter server  106  is used to establish the promotional offer. In particular, a promoter defines the nature of the promotional offer and links it with the lottery ticket purchase. 
     At step  204 , the promoter server  106  completes the lottery ticket purchase for a purchaser. The purchaser may use MID  102  or a personal computer (PC) to purchase a lottery ticket over the internet  108  using a ticket purchasing website hosted by the promoter server  106 . 
     At step  206 , the promoter server  106  sends an electronic ticket to the MID  102  or PC along with a promotional QR code and details relating to the reseller (agency) store where the promotional offer can be redeemed. 
     At step  208 , a storekeeper of the reseller store uses the scanner  112  to scan or read the QR code produced by the ticket purchaser. The QR code may be either stored electronically on the MID or on a hard copy of the electronic ticket. Advantageously, the purchaser is drawn into the reseller store to redeem the offer. 
     At step  210 , the promoter server  106  receives the code from the store computer  110  and verifies the code so that the purchaser can be registered for the promotional offer offered in conjunction with the lottery ticket purchase. Receipt of the code serves as confirmation that the ticket purchaser is at the store (i.e. known geographic location recorded in the database) so that the ticket purchaser qualifies for the promotional offer. 
     At step  212 , the promoter server  106  allocates the promotional offer to the purchaser and updates the database by recording purchaser details including allocation and redemption of the promotional offer. 
     At step  214 , the purchaser can use the MID  102  to check their purchaser account details in the database of the promoter server  106 . 
     A lottery promotional method  300  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, and performed with the system of  FIG. 1 , is now described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     At step  302 , the promoter server  106  is used to establish the promotional offer. In particular, a promoter defines the nature of the promotional offer and links it with the lottery ticket purchase. 
     At step  304 , the MID  102  scans or captures the QR code  103  on a promotional display  114  at a known geographic location. The display  114  can be a poster, sign, video screen or other advertisement advertising a lotto jackpot. The display  114  is typically located proximal a reseller store where the promotional offer can be redeemed. 
     At step  306  responsive to scanning or capturing the QR code  103 , the promoter server  106  receives and verifies the code from the MID  102 , and connects the purchaser&#39;s MID  102  to a ticket purchasing webpage (for the lotto jackpot draw) of a website hosted by the promoter server  106 . Receipt of the code serves as confirmation that the ticket purchaser is at the display (i.e. known geographic location recorded in the database) to qualify for the promotional offer. 
     At step  308 , the promoter server  106  completes a lottery ticket purchase in the lotto jackpot draw for the purchaser and registers the purchaser for the promotional offer offered in conjunction with the lottery ticket purchase. 
     At step  310 , the promoter server  106  allocates the promotional offer to the purchaser and updates the database by recording purchaser details including allocation and redemption of the promotional offer. The purchaser can be required to come to the reseller store to redeem the promotional offer. 
     At step  312 , the purchaser can use the MID  102  to check their purchaser account details in the database of the promoter server  106 . 
     A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. 
     In the first embodiment above, at step  208 , the storekeeper of the reseller store uses the scanner  112  to scan or read the QR code. Alternatively, the storekeeper may provide a display  114  which can be scanned by purchasers themselves with their MIDs  102 . The promoter server  106  would then receive the code from the MID  102  and verify the code so that the purchaser can be registered for the promotional offer offered in conjunction with the lottery ticket purchase. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the promotional code was a Quick Response (QR) code. Alternatively, the code to be captured or scanned may be a bar code, code-word or other like encrypted or decrypted code. The code may be received by the promoter server  106  in one of many forms including a captured image of the code or a deciphered code. 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.