Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-17
2001-10-02
Wong, Steven (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C463S016000, C463S029000, C273S138100, C273S139000, C283S901000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296569
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This patent relates to the field of gaming systems, and more particularly, to a system that creates a new on-line game and method of playing that allows consumers to purchase fractional denomination shares of full unit game tickets, in amounts equal to the change (coins) customers would have received back from their purchases of goods and services from retailers authorized to offer the game. Upon a player's request, the gaming system exchanges his/her change from any purchase, for a fractional denomination game ticket in any amount up to $0.99 for a chance at winning a prize on a pro-rata basis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many states and countries currently sponsor on-line lottery and lottery-type games. Typically, the larger jackpot games are LOTTO and multi-state POWERBALL, whereby consumers have a chance of winning a jackpot by matching six or seven numbers out of a possible set of 40 or 50 numbers drawn by the lottery sponsor on a weekly or biweekly basis. Smaller jackpot games include PICK 3 and PICK 4, and involve matching three or four numbers from a set of 10 numbers drawn daily. State-run on-line games are sold to consumers in full unit, fixed-denomination tickets (usually $1), play at equal odds, and share jackpots equally across all winning tickets. There has been no experimentation, however, with methods that allow consumers to purchase on-line game tickets in fractional denominations of any amount up to $0.99, and that share jackpots on a pro-rata basis.
Although state-sponsored games of chance have become more popular over the years, there are periods of stagnation in their revenue growth, which can be directly attributable to the level of public interest and enthusiasm for the games at any particular point in time. In order to maintain the public's enthusiasm for lottery-type games, the states must constantly search for new methods of play to entice consumers to play on-line games.
Most efforts to increase enthusiasm for lotteries have centered on creating games that feature bigger jackpots, vary the number matching combinations or update the promotion “themes”. No experimentation has been done with methods that achieve “gaming excitement” by offering players the prospect of conveniently wagering their “small change” for a chance at winning a big jackpot worth thousands of dollars.
Because this method allows consumers to exchange their change for game tickets in an amount they find most convenient at the time of purchase, the game described herein will capture new players, re-capture lapsed players and increase revenues for state-sponsored lotteries.
In addition, potential players will appreciate the game's convenience of converting change into fractional game tickets because research shows that most Americans genuinely dislike handling and counting loose coins.
In fact, most Americans would rather accept a lesser amount of money in bills than more money in loose change; 68% would choose a $50 bill over $55 in coins. Seventy five percent stockpile their loose coins at home, rather than make the effort to handle change during transactions. Over 54% of consumers don't take the time to count their change after a purchase. American's dislike for their own change has now carried over to dislike for other people's loose change. Nearly 1 in 4 report annoyance when someone holds up the checkout line in order to search for, and pay with exact change.
In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that there is a need for a new on-line game that will appeal to players and increase state revenues with a method that is convenient, easy to understand, and can be incorporated within the current state-sponsored on-line terminal and infrastructure systems.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an on-line gaming system and a method of playing that allows consumers to purchase fractional denomination shares of full unit game tickets, in amounts equal to the change (coins) customers would have received back from their purchases of goods and services from retailers authorized to offer the game.
It is another object of this invention to integrate with existing on-line technology so that consumers can conveniently exchange their change (coins) from any purchase for a fractional denomination share of a full unit game ticket (up to $0.99) for a chance to win a prize.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a game that offers fractional denomination ticket holders equal odds of winning a particular prize.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a game whereby winning ticket holders share prizes proportionately based upon the winning tickets' relative fractional values.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a game, which plays on the lottery sponsor's existing on-line equipment, and with proprietary or open architecture software systems, whether mainframe or PC based, thereby simplifying implementation and day-to-day operations.
In summary, this invention relates to the field of gaming systems, and is directed to an on-line game of chance and a method of playing for use in all lottery applications, commercial game applications, and promotional and other game applications. The method of playing allows a consumer to purchase a fractional denomination share of a full unit game ticket, in an amount equal to the change the customer would have received back from any purchase of goods or services from a retailer authorized to offer the game. Upon a player's request, the gaming system exchanges his/her change (coins) for a fractional denomination game ticket in any amount up to $0.99 for a chance at winning a prize on a pro-rata basis. In one method of play, if a consumer buys a newspaper for $0.25 from an authorized retailer and pays for the paper with $1, this invention will allow the consumer the option of purchasing a fractional denomination share of a full unit game ticket in the amount of the $0.75 that would have been returned in change (coins). The lottery retailer processes the request and issues a quick-pick, 75/100
th
fractional share of a full unit game ticket. Fractional denomination game tickets may play at equal odds of winning a prize or at weighted odds based on the fractional denomination share of a full unit game ticket entry. The lottery sponsor will randomly draw the winning numbers. Game winners share prizes proportionately based upon the winning tickets' relative fractional values. For example, players holding winning tickets will each receive a proportion of the overall prize based on the value of their wager relative to the total amount wagered by all winning tickets. The game can incorporate the existing equipment of the lottery sponsor for selecting quick-pick numbers, printing tickets, drawing winners and requires proprietary software programs, or the modification of existing software for recording, processing and determining prizes. The ticket is printed in a format that facilitates a fractional denomination ticket game, and includes a randomly generated quick-pick number, amount wagered, play date and security codes. The invention and method of play can be adapted for use in other games of chance, games of skill and other related gaming categories.
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Collins Dolores R.
Levisohn, Lerner, Berger & Langsam
Wong Steven
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