Set of lottery tickets, game arrangement including such a set and device for generating a set of lottery tickets

Abstract

Set of lottery tickets in which each lottery ticket has a game field which has a defined number of symbols from a set of symbols, and a number of draw fields, each draw field having an identification marker, gaming arrangement comprising such a set of lottery tickets, and apparatus for generating a set of lottery tickets, each one provided with a set of draw fields and a game field, comprising a first register comprising a set of symbols, a second register comprising a set of dientification markers for each draw field and a random generator.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a set of lottery tickets according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a gaming arrangement according to the preamble of patent claim 8, and an apparatus for generating a set of lottery tickets according to the preamble of patent claim 10.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Lottery tickets having draw fields and game fields are already known. Draw field means a field which comprises a draw sequence in the form of a number of symbols. A draw field is therefore a field which has symbols which are used for generating a draw sequence. The draw sequence is applied to a game field in order, where appropriate, to generate a win. Game field therefore means a field where a draw sequence is to be applied in the actual game, whereupon a winning lottery ticket can be identified. The draw sequence includes a sequence of symbols which are compared with symbols located on the game field.

[0003] Known gaming systems comprising lottery tickets with draw fields and game fields, the lottery tickets have a single symbol or a defined number of symbols placed on each draw field. This means that a player realizes the lottery ticket will not be able to provide a win in cases where only a small number of draw fields or a single draw field remain(s) and at the same time the game field shows that more symbols are needed to achieve a win. The player can therefore determine in advance that the lottery ticket will not provide a win because the number of further symbols needed to win is greater than the number of draw fields remaining. This reduces the excitement felt by the player, for which reason the lottery's entertainment value is reduced.

[0004] Another problem with known lottery tickets having draw fields and game fields concealed behind a scratch-off film is that a winning lottery ticket can be directly identified if all the scratch-off surfaces are removed from the lottery ticket or if the lottery ticket is transparent, whereupon the symbols appear through the lottery ticket. This means that very stringent requirements are imposed on the quality of the material from which the lottery ticket and the scratch-off surface are made, which in turn increases the cost of production of lottery tickets. There is also still a problem in that there is a risk of misuse, where a player has in some way been able to identify winning lottery tickets before purchasing the lottery ticket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the invention to make available a set of lottery tickets which ensures that the excitement experienced by the player is maintained for a longer time during a draw sequence. This object is achieved by means of a set of lottery tickets according to the characterizing part of patent claim 1. By placing a random number of symbols from a set of symbols on each draw field of each lottery ticket in said set of lottery tickets, a set of lottery tickets is obtained which ensures that the player can be close to winning right until the last draw field has been opened.

[0006] It is a further object of the invention to make available a set of lottery tickets eliminating the risk of misuse where a player has in some way been able to identify winning lottery tickets before purchasing the lottery ticket. This object is achieved by means of a set of lottery tickets according to the characterizing part of patent claim 2. According to this embodiment of the invention, each lottery ticket in the set of lottery tickets has identification markers arranged to uniquely distinguish draw fields from one another. By means of the identification markers, a winning lottery ticket can be distinguished from a non-winning lottery ticket only after use of a selection of draw fields. This is achieved by the fact that the identification markers have different appearances for each draw field. Moreover, a winning lottery ticket cannot be distinguished from a non-winning lottery ticket even when the whole of the scratch-off film is removed. In a draw sequence which takes place after the purchase, a selection of identification markers is generated. This drawn set of identification markers is communicated to the player via a transmission unit. By means of the identification markers, the player can select the draw fields which have been drawn. The symbols on said draw fields are thereafter compared with the symbols on the game field, whereupon a winning lottery ticket can be distinguished from a non-winning lottery ticket. The use of identification markers according to the invention ensures that a winning lottery ticket is not distinguishable from a non-winning lottery ticket even if the whole of the scratch-off film, thereby reducing the risk of misuse.

[0007] According to preferred embodiments, the lottery tickets have a design showing a large geographic area, preferably the world with its five continents, and identification markers which identify draw fields are in the form of demarcated geographic areas within said large geographic area. The demarcated geographic areas preferably consist of cities.

[0008] The invention also relates to a gaming arrangement comprising a transmission unit which is arranged to transmit a set of identification markers for application to the draw fields of the lottery tickets, winning lottery tickets being generated by means of the symbols on the draw fields being compared with the symbols located on the game fields. By virtue of the fact that only a selection of the draw fields is used, a winning lottery ticket can be distinguished from a non-winning lottery ticket only after identification of a set of drawn identification markers. Transmission unit means an apparatus which permits drawing of identification markers and communication of the drawn identification markers. A transmission unit thus comprises a database in which a set of identification markers is stored. A random generator in the transmission unit is arranged to generate a selected set of identification markers. The transmission unit further comprises a sender unit via which the selected set of identification markers is transmitted. The sender is of a type known per se and can consist of a TV camera coupled to a terrestrial, satellite or cable TV network, a computer-based network, or a microphone coupled to a radio transmitter. To receive the signal emitted by the transmission unit and including information on the selected identification markers, receiver units for this purpose are provided which are of a known type and can include a TV receiver via cable or aerial, a radio receiver or a computer connected to a computer network.

[0009] The invention also relates to an apparatus for generating a set of lottery tickets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached figures in the drawing, where

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a lottery ticket included in a set of lottery tickets;

[0012] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the area I in FIG. 1,

[0013] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the area II in FIG. 1,

[0014] FIG. 4 shows a gaming arrangement, and

[0015] FIG. 5 shows an apparatus for generating a set of lottery tickets.

ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

[0016] In FIG. 1, a lottery ticket with a game field 2 and a number of draw fields 3 is shown. Each draw field 3 has an identification marker 4, the purpose of which is to uniquely distinguish draw fields from one another. According to one embodiment, the same set of identification markers is used on all lottery tickets included in a set of lottery tickets, although it can also vary from lottery ticket to lottery ticket. According to the invention, each draw field 3 has a random number of symbols selected from a set of symbols. There are preferably between 1 and 4 symbols on each draw field. In the event that a random number of symbols are present on each draw field, however, the total number of symbols on all the draw fields on a lottery ticket can be constant. The total number of symbols on the lottery ticket exceeds the number of symbols on the draw field. This can be achieved by the fact that the randomization process in which the number of symbols on each draw field is determined has, as boundary condition, that the sum of the number of symbols on each lottery ticket is constant. An example of such a process can be j=(p(j)*n/&Sgr;p(i)), where p(j) is a random distribution function with outcomes between 0 and 1, n is the total number desired and the summation is performed across all outcomes of p(j). For each field j, a figure is generated which corresponds to the desired total number n multiplied by the proportion of this which each field is intended to carry. The number can thereafter be rounded off to a whole number while maintaining the criterion that the sum of the number of fields must be equal to the given number n. The rounding-off can be done in accordance with conventional rules. If the sum is too low, the draw fields whose non-rounded numbers were nearest to be rounded off can be corrected in order instead to be rounded upward. If the sum is too high, the correction can be done in the reverse way. A set of lottery tickets means a quantity of lottery tickets which are supplied for a game and which satisfy the lottery organizer's requirements for statistical spread of the configuration of the lottery tickets. The set of lottery tickets preferably has a controlled win plan. A set of lottery tickets is not a random or specific selection from a quantity of lottery tickets supplied for a game.

[0017] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the total number of symbols on the draw fields in a set of lottery tickets of defined size can be fixed without the above-indicated requirement that the total number of symbols on all draw fields on a lottery ticket must be constant. A distribution function in accordance with what has been described above can be used, but with the restriction that the total sum of the number of symbols on all draw fields included in the set of lottery tickets must be constant.

[0018] FIG. 1 also shows a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the lottery ticket 1 has a design representing a large geographic area, in this case the world with its five continents. The identification markers 4 consist of demarcated geographic areas within said large geographic area, in this case cities. In FIG. 1, all the draw fields 3 and the game field 2 are covered with a scratch-off film 5, for which reason no symbols are visible. An identification number I is also shown which is unique to each lottery ticket included in a set of lottery tickets.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the area I in FIG. 1. The figure shows a game field 2 in the form of a suitcase comprising a defined number of symbols 5 randomly selected from a set of symbols. In the embodiment shown here, the set of symbols consists of a collection of symbols related to travel. In the example, two symbols are shown representing money, one representing a passport, one symbol representing a suitcase, one symbol representing swimming trunks, one symbol representing a toilet bag, one symbol representing a vaccination syringe, and two symbols representing travel tickets.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the area II in FIG. 1. The figure shows two draw fields 31, 32, the first draw field 31 having one symbol from a set of symbols, and the second draw field having two symbols from a set of symbols. According to the invention, a random number of symbols are placed on each draw field. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are one or more symbols, preferably a maximum of 4 symbols, on each draw field. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each one of the lottery tickets in the set of lottery tickets has more draw fields than there are symbols on the game field.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a gaming arrangement 6 comprising a set of lottery tickets 7 of the type which has been described above. The gaming arrangement 6 also comprises a transmission unit 8 which is arranged to transmit a set of identification markers for application on said draw fields, with winning lottery tickets being generated by means of the symbols on the draw fields being compared with the symbols located on the game fields. The transmission unit 8 therefore comprises a register 9 in which identification markers for the draw fields located on the lottery tickets are stored. The transmission unit 8 also comprises a random generator 10 which is arranged to generate a set of identification markers 4 from the identification markers stored in the register. The register according to a first embodiment comprises at least 10, preferably at least 20, identification markers. The transmission unit 8 further comprises a sender unit 11 via which the generated sequence of identification markers is transmitted. The sender is of a type known per se and can consist of a TV camera coupled to a terrestrial, satellite or cable TV network or to a computer-based network.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows an apparatus for generating a set of lottery tickets. The apparatus 12 comprises a first register 13 which comprises all the symbols included in a set of symbols. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the set of symbols comprises at least 6 different symbols. In a further preferred embodiment, the set of symbols comprises at least 12 different symbols. The apparatus also comprises a second register comprising all identification markers. A random generator 15 is also provided in order to generate a random number of symbols for each identification marker. A generating processor 16 thus generates for each lottery ticket a vector (25) which comprises information on identification number No. (FIG. 1) of a lottery ticket and symbols included in each identification marker. This information is stored in a first memory 17. The generating processor also generates a game field comprising a defined number of symbols from the set of symbols. This information is stored in a second memory 18 together with information on identification number No. (FIG. 1) of the lottery tickets. A printer 19 uses the information in the first and second memories 17, 18 and a set of lottery tickets 20 can be generated. The vectors located in the first memory 17 are used to generate draw fields (3) of the set of lottery tickets (7). The information located in the second memory 18 is used to generate game fields (3) of the set of lottery tickets (7).

Claims

1-10. (cancelled)

11. A set of lottery tickets (7) in which each lottery ticket (1) has a game field (2) with a defined number of symbols (5) from a set of symbols (21), a number of draw fields (3), identification markers (4) which are arranged to distinguish draw fields (3) from each other, and a scratch-off film (22) which covers the draw fields (3), wherein the draw fields (3) on each lottery ticket (1) have a random number of symbols (5) from said set of symbols (21)

12. The set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 11, wherein said identification markers (4) ensure that only after a selection of the draw fields has been used is it possible for a winning lottery ticket to be distinguished from a non-winning lottery ticket, and a winning lottery ticket cannot be distinguished from a non-winning lottery ticket even if the whole of the scratch-off film is removed.

13. The set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 11, wherein the lottery ticket has a design showing a large geographic area.

14. The set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 13, wherein said geographic area comprises the world including the five continents.

15. The set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 14, wherein said identification markers consist of demarcated geographic areas within said large geographic area.

16. The set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 12, wherein said identification markers consist of demarcated geographic areas within said large geographic area.

17. The set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 16, wherein said geographic area comprises the world including the five continents.

18. The set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 16, wherein said demarcated geographic areas consist of cities.

19. The set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the lottery tickets (1) in the set of lottery tickets (7) has more draw fields (3) than there are symbols (5) on the game field (2).

20. The set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 19, wherein said identification markers (4) ensure that only after a selection of the draw fields has been used is it possible for a winning lottery ticket to be distinguished from a non-winning lottery ticket, and a winning lottery ticket cannot be distinguished from a non-winning lottery ticket even if the whole of the scratch-off film is removed.

21. The set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 19, wherein the lottery ticket has a design showing a large geographic area.

22. The set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 21, wherein said geographic area comprises the world including the five continents.

23. The set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 22, wherein said identification markers consist of demarcated geographic areas within said large geographic area.

24. A gaming arrangement (6) comprising a set of lottery tickets (7) as claimed in claim 1 and a transmission unit (8) which is arranged to transmit a set of identification markers (4) for identifying a selection of draw fields (3), winning lottery tickets being identified by means of the symbols on the selected draw fields (3) being compared with the symbols applied to the game field (2).

25. The gaming arrangement as claimed in claim 24, wherein each lottery ticket in said set of lottery tickets has a design showing a large geographic area, in that said identification markers consist of demarcated geographic areas within said large geographic area, and in that the gaming arrangement comprises a price corresponding to a travel journey between demarcated geographic areas transmitted by said transmission unit.

26. The gaming arrangement of claim 24, wherein said identification markers (4) ensure that only after a selection of the draw fields has been used is it possible for a winning lottery ticket to be distinguished from a non-winning lottery ticket, and a winning lottery ticket cannot be distinguished from a non-winning lottery ticket even if the whole of the scratch-off film is removed.

27. The gaming arrangement of set of claim 24, wherein the lottery ticket has a design showing a large geographic area.

28. The gaming arrangement of claim 27, wherein said geographic area comprises the world including the five continents.

29. An apparatus for generating a set of lottery tickets (7) as claimed in claim 1, in which said set of lottery tickets (7) comprises a number of lottery tickets each provided with a game field (2) with a defined number of symbols (5) from a set of symbols, a set of draw fields (3), identification markers (4) which are arranged to distinguish draw fields from one another, and a scratch-off film (22) which covers the draw fields (3), said apparatus comprising a first register (13) comprising a set of symbols, a second register (14) comprising a set of identification markers for each draw field included in the set of lottery tickets (7), and a random generator (15), wherein the random generator is arranged to generate for each identification marker (4) a random number of symbols, after which a vector (25) comprising an identification number (No.) for each lottery ticket in the set of lottery tickets and information on the symbols (5) or symbols belonging to each identification marker (4) is generated and stored in a memory (17).

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein said random generator is arranged to generate a sequence comprising a defined number of symbols for each lottery ticket.