Patent ID: 8047545

Claim:
A method for using an apparatus for controlling play of a lottery-type card-based game, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of playing cards, each of which having one or more game symbols displayed thereon; and a master game card for use in conjunction with the plurality of playing cards; at least one of the master game card and the plurality of playing cards including an eligibility indicator for establishing the eligibility of one or more selected game players holding playing cards displaying predetermined selected ones of the game symbols for playing a plurality of levels of play on the master game card, the master game card further including: a first prize identifier comprising one or more first selectively removable members for determining whether there is a winner of a primary prize value associated with a first level of play in the game; a second prize identifier comprising one or more second selectively removable members for determining the identity of a winner of a primary prize associated with a second, final level of play that is subsequent to, and in the same game as, the first level of play, wherein the second prize identifier is configured to guarantee a winner of the primary prize associated with the second level of play; and indicia displayed on at least one of the master card and the plurality of playing cards instructing the players as to how the game is to be played, said method comprising: removing the one or more first selectively removable members to determine whether the entirety of the primary prize value associated with the first level of play has been won; removing the one or more second selectively removable member to determine the identity, from amongst the eligible one or more selected game players, of the winner of the primary prize value associated with the second level of play; and awarding to the winner of the primary prize value associated with the second level of play any portion of the primary prize value associated with the first level of play that had not been won at the first level of play, together with any primary prize values carried forward from any level of play preceding the first level of play, such that all primary prize values of the game are finally distributed upon completion of the second level of play.