Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not Applicable  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC  
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     The present invention relates generally to games of chance and, more particularly, to lottery based games of chance allowing for the opportunity to participate in several different games within a single drawing, the chances of winning a cash prize dependent on exactly matching randomly generated numbers.  
         [0006]     2. Background Art  
         [0007]     Games of chance and, especially lottery style games of chance, have been in existence for many years. Generally, these lottery games are under the control of a state or a number of states. The revenues generated from lottery style games of chance are typically shared with the public school systems within the states as a means of subsidizing the cost of programs for children attending public schools. Schools often depend heavily on the revenues from state run lotteries to give children every possibly learning advantage. States are continually seeking the next new great lottery game to keep interest high among the players, which, in turn, helps to ensure a steady stream of revenues for the state and the public school system.  
         [0008]     One lottery style game in use today involves a player selecting a number, generally consisting of three or four digits, and attempting to match that number with a number generated in some manner by a state&#39;s lottery commission. Typically, there are a number of different games a player may participate in by choosing digits. One such way to play a game is to match the number selected by the player with the generated number digit for digit, in the exact order as generated. If the player is successful in matching his or her selected number with the state generated number, he or she wins some portion of a jackpot.  
         [0009]     Rather than attempt to match the randomly generated number digit for digit, the player may decide to “box” his or her selected number. This means that the number selected by the player may be matched with the number randomly generated by the lottery commission in any order. The numbers do not have to match digit for digit. Generally, a person winning this type of game receives some lower jackpot then a person matching a number digit for digit. While these are very popular games among the players, so popular in fact that some states have instituted a mid-day as well as evening drawing, interest often lags in these types of games because the jackpots are not substantial or the novelty of this type of lottery has given way to other lottery games of chance, such as scratch off tickets.  
         [0010]     Scratch off lottery style games of chance are very popular among consumers because they offer a person many different ways to participate in the games. One important feature of the scratch off style of games is that the player knows instantly whether or not he or she has won a prize as opposed to waiting a period of time until the mid-day or evening drawing. Another aspect of scratch off tickets is that the design of the ticket may be readily changed. Along with having the ability to readily change the ticket design, a new marketing scheme may be easily developed and employed to increase the interest in a particular game. The change in the style of ticket and the marketing scheme is an attempt to capture and hold the interest of the players. While the designs of tickets and new marketing schemes may be developed, the underlying game of chance is largely the same, which may lead to disinterest among the “regular” players. Also, larger wagers may be charged for playing the scratch off games, than the games described above, in exchange for larger jackpots. While the prizes offered may be larger than the games described above, these prizes still do not approach the jackpots that have been won by players in the other types of games described below.  
         [0011]     Another type of lottery game that offers the chance of larger jackpots, typically in the millions of dollars, involves the selection of numbers from a first group of numbers and a selection of numbers from a second group of numbers. In a typical game, a player may select five numbers from a first group of numbers ranging from one through seventy and one number from a second group of numbers ranging from one through thirty. The numbers are generated by the lottery commission as described above. The jackpot winners are determined by the person that matches are five numbers from the first group and the single number from the second group. A person may also win a share of the jackpot by matching only the five numbers from the first group and not matching the number from the second group or matching four of the five numbers from the first group and the single number form the second group.  
         [0012]     This type of game also has the added feature of allowing players from multiple states to participate in the game at one time. With a larger number of participants, larger jackpots in the hundreds of millions of dollars may be realized by the eventual winners, in turn leading to greater interest.  
         [0013]     The odds of winning the jackpot weigh greatly against the person, however, the chance to win millions of dollars and the fact that a portion of the jackpot may be paid out for a partial match are enticing to players. However, as with many forms of entertainment, boredom often sets in and new lottery style games of chance are developed to keep interests high and revenues increasing. Also, because the jackpots are so large and with the difficult logistics of running the game across many different states, the winning numbers are generally drawn only twice a week, leaving a lag time in between action and resulting in a loss of interest by everyday players.  
         [0014]     Therefore, a need exists for a lottery style game of chance that increases the interest of consumers by offering a variety of ways to play the game with a single or multiple wagers on a more frequent basis while providing a relatively large jackpot to potential winners.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     In accordance with the present invention a method for simultaneously conducting multiple lottery style games of chance providing for multiple wagers and multiple payouts within a single drawing is provided. The method is comprised of having players each select a number from a first group of numbers for entry into a Game  1 . Having players each select a number from the first group of numbers and a number from a second group of numbers for entry into a Game  2 . Having players each select a number from the first group of numbers, a number from the second group of numbers, and multiple numbers from a third group of numbers for entry into a Game  3 . A winning number is randomly generating from the first group of numbers, from the second group of numbers, and multiple winning numbers are generated from the third group of number. Prizes are awarded based on the selection of Game  1 , Game  2 , and/or Game  3 , by the player and whether the players selected number or numbers matches the randomly generated number or numbers. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, claims, and drawings, of which the following is a brief description:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a lottery wager slip according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram offering players the chance to play one of three lottery games of chance, some combination of the three of the lottery games of chance, or all three lottery games of chance according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram depicting the operation of Game  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram depicting the operation of Game  2  according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram depicting the operation of Game  3  according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0022]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are flow diagrams depicting the operation of all three games according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     Referring now to the drawings, a preferred illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown in detail. Although the drawings represent an embodiment of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated to better illustrate and explain the present invention. Further, the embodiment set forth herein is not intended to be exhaustive or otherwise to limit or restrict the invention to the precise forms and configurations shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detailed description.  
         [0024]     Illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an example of what a typical lottery wager slip  10  may resemble according to an embodiment of the present invention. Included within wager slip  10  are a number of betting fields, Field A  12 , Field B  14 , and Field C  16 . Each of the fields contains a range of numbers that a lottery player may select from when making a wager. Also shown on wager slip  10  is a game selection area  18 , used by the player to identify to a state&#39;s lottery commission which game or games the player will be participating in and the amount of the wager the player is choosing to make.  
         [0025]      FIGS. 2-7  are flow diagrams that depict the operation of a lottery style game of chance according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this particular embodiment, a player is offered the opportunity to wager on three separate lottery style games of chance, any combination of the three games, or the player may elect to play all three games at the same time. Shown in  FIG. 2 , as depicted in a flow diagram, is the possible thought process the player may traverse in deciding what game or games to engage. At step  100 , the player would determine what game or games to play. Generally, the player will fill out wager slip  10  (see  FIG. 9  ) that may be found at any licensed retailer and hand the slip to the retailer to be entered into a lottery computer that verifies the wager and provides the player a receipt indicating the game or games played and the wager made. The player indicates on wager slip  10  what game or games he or she is interested in playing by marking in the specified game selection area  18  of the wager slip. The player may select to engage in Game  1  at step  105 , Game  2  at step  110 , Game  3  at step  115  or the player may elect to play all Games  1 ,  2 , and  3  at step  120 . The player may elect to engage in any combination of Games  1 ,  2 , or  3  as well. If, for example, the player chooses to participate in Games  1  and  2  and not Game  3 , the player places separate wagers for and elects to engage Game  1  at step  105  and Game  2  at step  110 . The player may also decide not to play any of the games offered and end the game at step  125 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  depicts a flow diagram for the operation of Game  1  if the player chooses to engage Game  1  at step  200 . The player will decide how much he or she wishes to wager on the game, in multiples of one dollar ($1) at step  205 , keeping in mind that the larger the wager, the higher the payout if the player does indeed win the game. Next, at step  210 , the player selects a single digit number from the field of numbers ranging from zero (0) through nine (9). The player marks his or her choice in Field A  12  on wager slip  10  and hands the wager slip along with his or her wager to the licensed lottery retailer. Alternatively, the player may elect to have the single number chosen randomly by a computer, rather than selecting a number from Field A. The retailer supplies the player with a wager receipt documenting the wager made by the player at step  215 .  
         [0027]     Generally, the state lottery commission holds a drawing, the frequency of which to be determined by that entity, to generate a set of winning numbers that players compare to the numbers they have selected and are contained on their wager receipt. If the numbers on their wager receipts match the numbers generated by the state lottery commission, the player wins a prize, typically some denomination of a cash prize. The generation of numbers for use with this particular embodiment would be no different. The state lottery commission generates a single winning number in any manner it chooses, as depicted at step  220 . After the winning number has been generated, the player compares the winning number that has been generated with the number he or she selected and is contained on the wager receipt at step  225 . If the generated winning number does not match the number on the wager receipt, the player loses the game along with his or her wager and the game ends at step  230 . If, however, the generated winning number matches the number on the wager receipt, the player wins the game and a cash prize equal to five dollars ($5) for every one dollar ($1) wagered at step  235 .  
         [0028]     The examples of wager and cash prize amounts described above have been employed merely to illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. It must be understood that Game  1  may be played with any cash denominations for wagers and cash prizes for jackpots and secondary cash payouts, as determined by the entity controlling the operation of the game.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  depicts a flow diagram for the operation of Game  2  if the player chooses to engage Game  2  at step  300 . The player will decide how much he or she wishes to wager on the game, in multiples of one dollar ($1) at step  305 , keeping in mind that the larger the wager, the higher the payout if the player does indeed win the game. Next, at step  310 , the player selects a single digit number from Field A  12 , with numbers ranging from zero (0) through nine (9) and a second single digit number from Field B  14  also with numbers ranging from zero (0) through nine (9). The player marks his or her choice of number in Field A  12  and his or her choice of number in Field B  14  on wager slip  10  and hands the wager slip along with his or her wager to the licensed lottery retailer. Alternatively, the player may elect to have the single numbers for Field A and Field B chosen randomly by a computer, rather than selecting a number from Field A and Field B. The retailer supplies the player with a wager receipt documenting the wager made by the player at step  315 .  
         [0030]     As described above, the state lottery commission generates a single winning number for Field A and a single winning number for Field B in any manner it chooses, as depicted at step  320 . After the winning number for Field A and the winning number for Field B have been generated, the player compares the winning numbers that have been generated with the number he or she selected in Field A and the number he or she selected in Field B and contained on the wager receipt at steps  325  and  330 . The player must be careful to note that the numbers generated for Field A pertain only to Field A on the wager receipt and the number generated for Field B pertains only to Field B on the wager receipt.  
         [0031]     If the generated winning number for Field A does not match the number on the wager receipt, the player loses the game along with his or her wager and the game ends at step  335 . If, however, the generated winning number for Field A matches the number on the wager receipt for Field A, the player compares the generated winning number for Field B with the number on the wager receipt for Field B. If the generated winning number for Field B does not match the number for Field B on the wager receipt, the player loses the game along with his or her wager and the game ends at step  335 . If, however, the generated winning number for Field B matches the number on the wager receipt for Field B, the player wins the game and a cash prize equal to fifty dollars ($50) for every one dollar ($1) wagered at step  340 .  
         [0032]     The examples of wager and cash prize amounts described above have been employed merely to illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. It must be understood that Game  2  may be played with any cash denominations for wagers and cash prizes for jackpots and secondary cash payouts, as determined by the entity controlling the operation of the game.  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  depicts a flow diagram for the operation of Game  3  if the player chooses to engage Game  3  at step  400 . The player will decide how much he or she wishes to wager on the game, in multiples of one dollar ($1) at step  405 . Next, at step  410 , the player selects a single digit number from Field A  12 , with numbers ranging from zero (0) through nine (9), a second single digit number from Field B  14  also with numbers ranging from zero (0) through nine (9), and finally, a selection of four (4) numbers from Field C  16  with numbers ranging from one (1) through thirty (30). The player marks his or her choice of number in the Field A  12 , his or her choice of number in Field B  14 , and his or her choice of four (4) numbers in Field C  16  on wager slip  10  and hands the wager slip along with his or her wager to the licensed lottery retailer. Alternatively, the player may elect to have the single numbers for Field A and Field B as well as the multiple numbers for Field C chosen randomly by a computer, rather than selecting a number from Field A and Field B and multiple numbers from Field C. The retailer supplies the player with a wager receipt documenting the wager made by the player at step  415 .  
         [0034]     While Field C of this particular embodiment is a field of numbers from one through thirty, it must be understood that the size of Field C is presented for illustration purposes only and may be any size of numbers as determined by the entity controlling the operation of the game. Furthermore, the choice of four numbers from Field C is also provided for illustration as well in this particular embodiment. The selection of winning numbers may be of any size as determined by the state lottery commission or any entity controlling the operation of the game.  
         [0035]     As described above, the state lottery commission generates a single winning number for Field A, a second single winning number for Field B, and four winning numbers for Field C in any manner it chooses, as depicted at step  420 . After the winning number for Field A, the winning number for Field B, and the four (4) winning numbers for Field C have been generated, the player will then compare the winning numbers that have been generated with the number he or she selected in Field A, the number he or she selected in Field B, and the four (4) numbers selected in Field C and contained on the wager receipt at steps  425 ,  430 ,  435 , and  440 . The player must be careful to note that the numbers generated for Field A pertain only to Field A on the wager receipt and the number generated for Field B pertains only to Field B on the wager receipt and the numbers generated for Field C pertain only to Field C on the wager receipt.  
         [0036]     At step  425 , the player inspects the numbers he selected for Field C with those that have been randomly generated. If the four (4) generated winning numbers for Field C do not match all four (4) of the numbers on the wager receipt, the player loses the game along with his or her wager and the game ends at step  445 . If, however, the four (4) generated winning numbers for Field C match all four (4) of the numbers on the wager receipt for Field C, the player compares the generated winning number for Field A with the number on the wager receipt for Field A. If the generated winning number for Field A matches the number for Field A on the wager receipt, the player then compares the generated winning number for Field B with the number on the wager receipt for Field B. If the generated winning number for Field B matches the number on the wager receipt for Field B, the player wins the game and a cash prize jackpot equal to a pre-determined amount set by the state lottery commission at step  450 .  
         [0037]     If the generated winning number for Field A matches the number for Field A on the wager receipt at step  430 , but the generated winning number for Field B does not match the number for Field B on the wager receipt at step  435 , the player wins a secondary cash prize to be determined by the state&#39;s lottery commission at step  455 . If, however, the generated winning number for Field B matches the number for Field B on the wager receipt, but the generated winning number for Field A does not match the number for Field A on the wager receipt, the player still wins a secondary cash prize to be determined by the state&#39;s lottery commission at step  455 .  
         [0038]     If the generated winning number for Field A does not match the number for Field A on the wager receipt and the generated winning number for Field B does not match the number for Field B on the wager receipt, the player loses the game and his or her wager and the game ends at step  445 .  
         [0039]     The examples of wager and cash prize amounts described above have been employed merely to illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. It must be understood that Game  3  may be played with any cash denominations for wagers and cash prizes for jackpots and secondary cash payouts, as determined by the entity controlling the operation of the game.  
         [0040]     The player may also elect to participate in all three games simultaneously in a single drawing. This scenario is depicted in the flow diagrams illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  and beginning with step  500 . Next, the player decides how much he or she wishes to wager on each individual game, Game  1 , Game  2 , and Game  3 , in multiples of one dollar ($1), at step  505 , keeping in mind that multiple one dollar ($1) wagers may lead to higher payouts if the player wins some part of the game. At step  510 , just as described in the Game  3  scenario, the player selects a single digit number from Field A  12 , with numbers ranging from zero (0) through nine (9), a second single digit number from Field B  14  also with numbers ranging from zero (0) through nine (9), and finally, a selection of four (4) numbers from Field C  16  with numbers ranging from one (1) through thirty (30). The player marks his or her choice of number in the Field A  12 , his or her choice of number in Field B  14 , and his or her choice of four (4) numbers in Field C  16  on wager slip  10  and hands the wager slip along with his or her wager to the licensed lottery retailer. The retailer supplies the player with a wager receipt documenting the wager made by the player at step  515 .  
         [0041]     While Field C of this particular embodiment is a field of numbers from one through thirty, it must be understood that the size of Field C is presented for illustration purposes only and may be any size of numbers as determined by the entity controlling the operation of the game. Furthermore, the choice of four numbers from Field C is also provided for illustration as well in this particular embodiment. The selection of winning numbers may be of any size as determined by the state lottery commission or any entity controlling the operation of the game.  
         [0042]     As described above, the state lottery commission generates a single winning number for Field A, a second single winning number for Field B, and four winning numbers for Field C in any manner it chooses, as depicted at step  520 . After the winning number for Field A, the winning number for Field B, and the four (4) winning numbers for Field C have been generated, the player compares the winning numbers that have been generated with the number he or she selected in Field A, the number he or she selected in Field B, and the four (4) numbers selected in Field C as documented on the wager receipt at steps  525 ,  530 ,  535 ,  540 ,  545 ,  550 , and  555 . The player must be careful to note that the numbers generated for Field A pertain only to Field A on the wager receipt and the number generated for Field B pertains only to Field B on the wager receipt and the numbers generated for Field C pertain only to Field C on the wager receipt.  
         [0043]     At step  525 , the player inspects the numbers he selected for Field C with those that have been randomly generated. If the four (4) generated winning numbers for Field C do not match all four (4) of the numbers on the wager receipt as determined at step  525 , the player will then determine whether he or she has won a cash prize by reviewing the selected numbers depicted on the wager receipt to identify a match in either Field A or Field B at steps  545  and  550  (see  FIG. 6 ). If the number contained in the wager receipt for either Field A or both Fields A and B, match the generated winning numbers, the player wins the game and a cash prize. If the number contained in the wager receipt for Field A matches the generated winning number for Field A at step  545 , the player wins a cash prize equal to five dollars ($5) for every one dollar ($1) wagered at step  560 , just as described in Game  1  above. If the generated winning number for Field A does not match the number on the wager receipt, the player loses the game along with his or her wager and the game ends at step  565 .  
         [0044]     If the generated number for Field A does match the number contained in the wager receipt, along with winning the Game  1  cash prize, the player has an opportunity to win Game  2  as well. If the number contained in the wager receipt for Field B matches the generated number for Field B at step  550 , the player wins a cash prize equal to fifty dollars ($50) for every one dollar ($1) wagered at step  570 , just as described in Game  2  above. If the generated winning number for Field B does not match the number on the wager receipt, the player loses the game along with his or her wager for Game  2  and the game ends at step  565 .  
         [0045]     If, however, the four (4) generated winning numbers for Field C match all four (4) of the numbers on the wager receipt for Field C, the player then compares the generated winning number for Field A with the number on the wager receipt for Field A at step  530 . If the generated winning number for Field A matches the number for Field A on the wager receipt, the player then compares the generated winning number for Field B with the number on the wager receipt for Field B at step  535 . If the generated winning number for Field B matches the number on the wager receipt for Field B, the player wins the game and a cash prize equal to a jackpot equal to a pre-determined amount set by the state lottery commission at step  570 .  
         [0046]     If the generated winning number for Field A matches the number for Field A on the wager receipt, but the generated winning number for Field B does not match the number for Field B on the wager receipt, the player wins a secondary cash prize to be determined by the state&#39;s lottery commission at step  575 . If the generated winning number for Field B matches the number for Field B on the wager receipt, but the generated winning number for Field A does not match the number for Field A on the wager receipt, the player wins a secondary cash prize to be determined by the state&#39;s lottery commission at step  575 .  
         [0047]     If the generated winning number for Field A does not match the number for Field A on the wager receipt and the generated winning number for Field B does not match the number for Field B on the wager receipt, the player loses the game and his or her wager and the game ends at step  580 .  
         [0048]     The examples of wager and cash prize amounts described above have been employed merely to illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. It is to be understood that Game  1 , Game  2 , and Game  3  may be played with any cash denominations for wagers and cash prizes for jackpots and secondary cash payouts, as determined by the entity controlling the operation of the game.  
         [0049]     As stated previously, one particular game of the three, any combination of two of the three games (Games  1  and  2 , Games  1  and  3 , or Games  2  and  3 ), or all of the games may be played according to the desires of the player. It is also to be understood that the numbers available for selection in Field A  12  (ten), Field B  14  (ten), and Field C  16  (thirty) have been presented in this manner to aid in fully describing an embodiment of the present invention. Any combination of numbers may be used in each of the different fields as determined by the entity conducting the game. Also, any amount of wager and cash prizes may be used as determined by the entity conducting the game. The amounts for wagers and cash prizes used above are merely illustrative to aid in describing an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0050]     The present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing embodiment, which is merely illustrative of the best modes presently known for carrying out the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the embodiment of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that the method within the scope of these claims and their equivalents by covered thereby. This description of the invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combination of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel non-obvious combination of these elements. Moreover, the foregoing embodiment is illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application.

Technology Category: 1