PRE-PRINTED INSTANT WIN LOTTERY TICKETS WITH UNLIMITED NUMBER OF MAXIMUM PRIZES
A process is provided. The process generates an initial lot of instant lottery tickets. The initial lot has an initial lottery prize structure. The initial lottery prize structure has an initial lot size. Further, the process randomly selects an extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from an aggregate lot. The extracted lot has (i) an extracted lottery prize structure that has identical odds to the initial lottery prize structure without being limited to the predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and the predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, and (ii) an extracted lot size that is less than the aggregate lot size.
1. Field
This disclosure generally relates to the field of gaming. More particularly, the disclosure relates to pre-printed lottery tickets.
2. General Background
In the lottery industry, instant lottery tickets are pre-printed lottery tickets with predetermined outcomes. These instant lottery tickets are produced and distributed in finite lot sizes that are referred to as print runs. Each print run is assigned a game number. A predetermined number of prize categories exist within each print run. Prize categories may also be referred to as prize tiers. Further, a finite number of predetermined prizes exist with each prize category.
Once the prizes in any give prize category have been won, players can no longer win any of those prizes within that specific print run. However, players can continue to play for remaining prizes in the other prize categories.
Even though prizes from the maximum prize category represent only a small percentage of the prizes and the prize fund available in any given instant game, many lotteries are now recalling print runs in which all the prizes from the maximum price category have been won. The recall response is a lottery industry's response to litigation surrounding the possibility of instant players purchasing instant lottery tickets with the perception that maximum prizes were still available even though all of the maximum prizes had already been won. However, the recall process is an extremely inefficient response to the problem and results in direct and indirect financial losses to government lotteries, ticket printers, retailers, and players.
SUMMARYIn one aspect of the disclosure, a process is provided. The process generates an initial lot of instant lottery tickets. The initial lot has an initial lottery prize structure. The initial lottery prize structure has an initial lot size. The initial lottery prize structure has (i) a maximum prize category and corresponding maximum odds to win a maximum prize in the maximum prize category, and (ii) a secondary prize category and corresponding secondary odds to win a secondary prize in the secondary prize category. The initial lot has a predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and a predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category. Each of the instant lottery tickets has at least one concealer that an instant lottery player removes to determine if a match exists. Further, the process generates a plurality of reproduced lots such that each of the reproduced lots in the plurality of reproduced lots is identical to the initial lot of instant lottery tickets. The process also shuffles the plurality of reproduced lots into an aggregate lot. Further, the process randomly selects an extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot. The extracted lot has (i) an extracted lottery prize structure that has identical odds to the initial lottery prize structure without being limited to the predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and the predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, and (ii) an extracted lot size that is identical to the initial lot size. The process provides the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to a plurality of instant lottery players. Further, the process distributes the maximum prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the maximum prize. In addition, the process distributes the secondary prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the secondary prize.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a process is provided. The process generates an initial lot of instant lottery tickets. The initial lot has an initial lottery prize structure. The initial lottery prize structure has an initial lot size. The initial lottery prize structure has (i) a maximum prize category and corresponding maximum odds to win a maximum prize in the maximum prize category, and (ii) a secondary prize category and corresponding secondary odds to win a secondary prize in the secondary prize category. The initial lot has a predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and a predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category. Each of the instant lottery tickets has at least one concealer that an instant lottery player removes to determine if a match exists. The process generates a plurality of reproduced lots such that each of the reproduced lots in the plurality of reproduced lots is identical to the initial lot of instant lottery tickets. In addition, the process shuffles the plurality of reproduced lots into an aggregate lot. The process also randomly selects an extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot. The extracted lot has (i) an extracted lottery prize structure that has identical odds to the initial lottery prize structure without being limited to the predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and the predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, and (ii) an extracted lot size that is a whole number multiple of the initial lot size such that the extracted lot is a subset of the aggregate lot. In addition, the process provides the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to a plurality of instant lottery players. The process distributes the maximum prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the maximum prize. Finally, the process distributes the secondary prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the secondary prize.
In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a process is provided. The process generates an initial lot of instant lottery tickets. The initial lot has an initial lottery prize structure. The initial lottery prize structure has an initial lot size. The initial lottery prize structure has (i) a maximum prize category and corresponding maximum odds to win a maximum prize in the maximum prize category, and (ii) a secondary prize category and corresponding secondary odds to win a secondary prize in the secondary prize category. The initial lot has a predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and a predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category. Each of the instant lottery tickets has at least one concealer that an instant lottery player removes to determine if a match exists. The process generates a plurality of reproduced lots such that each of the reproduced lots in the plurality of reproduced lots is identical to the initial lot of instant lottery tickets. In addition, the process shuffles the plurality of reproduced lots into an aggregate lot that has an aggregate lot size. The process also randomly selects an extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot. The extracted lot has (i) an extracted lottery prize structure that has identical odds to the initial lottery prize structure without being limited to the predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and the predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, and (ii) an extracted lot size that is less than the aggregate lot size. In addition, the process provides the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to a plurality of instant lottery players. The process distributes the maximum prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the maximum prize. Finally, the process distributes the secondary prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the secondary prize.
In another aspect of the disclosure, a system is provided. The system includes a lot generator module that generates an initial lot of instant lottery tickets. The initial lot has an initial lottery prize structure. The initial lottery prize structure has an initial lot size. The initial lottery prize structure has (i) a maximum prize category and corresponding maximum odds to win a maximum prize in the maximum prize category, and (ii) a secondary prize category and corresponding secondary odds to win a secondary prize in the secondary prize category. The initial lot has a predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and a predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category. Each of the instant lottery tickets has at least one concealer that an instant lottery player removes to determine if a match exists. Further, the system includes a lot reproducer module that generates a plurality of reproduced lots such that each of the reproduced lots in the plurality of reproduced lots is identical to the initial lot of instant lottery tickets. The system includes a shuffler module that shuffles the plurality of reproduced lots into an aggregate lot that has an aggregate lot size. Further, the process includes a random selection module that randomly selects an extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot. The extracted lot has (i) an extracted lottery prize structure that has identical odds to the initial lottery prize structure without being limited to the predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and the predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, and (ii) an extracted lot size that is less than the aggregate lot size. In addition, the system includes an instant lottery ticket distribution module providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to a plurality of instant lottery players. The system includes a maximum prize distribution module that distributes the maximum prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the maximum prize. Further, the system includes a secondary prize distribution module that distributes the secondary prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the secondary prize.
The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which:
A method and apparatus are disclosed that allow a prize structure and lot size for an instant game to be created. The prize structure and lot size may be stored in a virtual file for subsequent reproduction. Accordingly, a large quantity of identical lots may be reproduced. The quantity is less than infinite, but large enough to ensure statistical randomness if lots are reproduced from the virtual file and the tickets in the reproduced lots are shuffled into an aggregate lot such that one or more extracted lots, or a subset of an extracted lot or extracted lots, may be extracted. With this approach, the odds of winning a prize in the maximum prize category are purely a function of probabilities.
The lot generator 202 may print the instant lottery tickets according to a variety of different approaches. In one embodiment, the lot generator 202 may print the instant lottery tickets with random amounts on the instant lottery ticket until the predetermined number of matches occur for a prize category and then prevent any further matches. For example, the lot generator 202 may print five million tickets until the twenty prizes for the two thousand dollar prize category are reached. The lot generator 202 may then prevent any further matches for the two thousand dollar prize category. The lot generator 202 may alternatively print the matches at predetermined positions within the lot. For example, every five hundred thousandth ticket may be the ticket for which a match is printed for a prize in the two thousand dollar prize category.
In one embodiment, the lot extractor 502 randomly selects which instant lottery tickets are extracted from the aggregate lot 404. For example, a random selection process may be utilized to select ten million instant lottery tickets from the thirty million instant lottery tickets.
In yet another embodiment, the lot extractor 502 may select the instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot 404 according to a sequential selection process. For example, the lot extractor 502 may select the first ten million instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot 404.
In one embodiment, as the instant lottery tickets are printed with predetermined prize outcomes an validation codes, a process may be utilized such that subsets may be scanned to ensure that a minimum number of maximum prizes are present within any given subset prior to distribution. Accordingly, an extracted lot 504 would not be distributed to retailers without at least a minimum number of prizes in the maximum prize category being included within the extracted lot 504. However, no upper limit is established for the number of prizes in the maximum prize category within a given extracted lot. The ability to win a prize in the maximum prize category would remain a function of random selection and statistical probabilities.
In another embodiment, to ensure that instant lottery tickets would not be available for resale without one or more prizes in the maximum prize category remaining in the extracted lot 504, a fail-safe parameter may be utilized to trigger the production of one or more additional extracted lots 506 for retail distribution if the number of prizes in the maximum prize category remaining in non-activated books of unsold instant lottery ticket stock in the extracted lot 504 or group of extracted lots 504 reaches a specified value. For example, an additional extracted lot 506 may be extracted from the aggregate lot 404 when the number of the number of prizes in the maximum prize category remaining in non-activated books of unsold ticket stock in the extracted lot 504 reaches two. Accordingly, the additional extracted lots 506 may be printed, packaged into books, and made available for distribution to retailers so that the number of prizes in the maximum prize category would constantly be replenished and never reach zero.
In yet another embodiment, preservation is provided for a guaranteed low-end prize structure (“GLEPS”). As the instant lottery tickets may be printed with predetermined prize outcomes and validation codes, a process may be utilized prior to packaging and distribution such that extracted lots could be scanned to ensure that each book of instant lottery tickets includes a GLEPS. Accordingly, an extracted lot would not be provided to retailers without at least a minimum number of low-end prizes being included within each book of tickets within the extracted lot 504. However, no upper limit is established for the number of other prizes within a given extracted lot. The ability to win a prize would remain a function of random selection and statistical probabilities.
In one embodiment, the possibility of having a number of maximum prizes that is limited only by the size of the extracted lot is ensured by the aggregate lot 404 having a number of maximum prizes that is greater than the extracted lot size. For example, if the aggregate lot 404 has one hundred million tickets with six thousand maximum prizes, then an extracted lot having a lot size of five thousand tickets has a possibility that all five thousand tickets are a maximum prize. That possibility is small, but still exists. The lot extraction may be accomplished physically or simulated using a stochastic/“Monte Carlo” process such as the selection of n random numbers from a uniform distribution. The stochastic/“Monte Carlo” process may take any form provided that a) There exists a probability greater than 0 that every item in the selected lot is a “winner” of the maximum prize and b) that all Cumulative Distribution/Probability Density functions, all parameters of the Cumulative Distribution/Probability Density Functions, and any other parameters that are needed to fully define the stochastic/“Monte Carlo” process are specified and set forth prior to game initiation.
The term maximum prize is defined herein to be the highest amount of a prize that may be won for an instant lottery game corresponding to an instant lottery ticket. Further, the term secondary prize is defined herein to be an amount of a prize less than the maximum that may be won for an instant lottery game corresponding to an instant lottery ticket. The secondary prize may be a prize that is the next lowest prize amount after the maximum prize or may be a prize that has a lower amount than the maximum prize and other prizes. In one embodiment, the process 600 may be utilized for more a maximum prize and a plurality of different secondary prizes that each have different prize amounts.
Any of the processes described above may be utilized with a configuration that aggregates or pools risk. The configuration may spread the risk of excess prize liability across multiple games regardless of price point. Within a single lottery entity, the configuration may allow the lottery to self-insure all the risk, partially self-insure the risk, i.e., insure some of the risk and allow a third party to insure the remainder of the risk, or fully transfer the risk to a third party entity. The risk is with respect to the payment of one or more prizes. With respect to multiple lottery entities, the configuration also allows the multiple lottery entities to self-insure all the risk, partially self-insure the risk, or fully transfer the risk to a third party entity.
The processes described herein allow games to be produced with a minimum expected payout expressed as a percentage of sales. Since, however, the total numbers of prizes within any single prize category are ultimately based on probabilities and random selection, no necessary maximum or finite numbers of prizes are implemented, no maximum expected payout expressed as a percentage of sales is implemented. Therefore, a lottery may advertise variable prize payout expectations with a lower expected value, but without any maximum expected payout percentage. The lower expected value could be given as a percentage of sales excluding any unclaimed prizes.
Further, the process described herein may be utilized for determination to end a game. A lottery may publish a date certain upon which sales of a given game will end. Alternatively, the lottery may announce the end of sales for a game at any time subsequent to the sale of all tickets in a first extracted lot or group of extracted lots made available for resale in the game. The amount of notice may be published in the official game rules for each game. In yet another alternative, a lottery may by game rule discontinue sale of any game if prize payout expressed as a percentage of total sales for the game reaches a specified value. For example, a lottery may establish a formula and publish a corresponding game rule permitting sales to end if prize payout for a given game reaches three hundred percent of sales. In one embodiment, the formula is inclusive of prizes in the maximum prize category. In another embodiment, the formula is exclusive of prizes in the maximum prize category. In yet another embodiment, the formula may be a combination of being inclusive of prizes in the maximum prize category and being exclusive of prizes in the maximum prize category.
The processes described herein may be implemented in a general, multi-purpose or single purpose processor. Such a processor will execute instructions, either at the assembly, compiled or machine-level, to perform the processes. Those instructions can be written by one of ordinary skill in the art following the description of the figures corresponding to the processes and stored or transmitted on a computer readable medium. The instructions may also be created using source code or any other known computer-aided design tool. A computer readable medium may be any medium capable of carrying those instructions and include a CD-ROM, DVD, magnetic or other optical disc, tape, silicon memory (e.g., removable, non-removable, volatile or non-volatile), packetized or non-packetized data through wireline or wireless transmissions locally or remotely through a network.
A computer is herein intended to include any device that has a general, multi-purpose or single purpose processor as described above. For example, a computer may be a lottery terminal, a kiosk, a vending machine, a set top box (“STB”), cell phone, portable media player, or the like.
It should be understood that the lot extraction module 740 may be implemented as one or more physical devices that are coupled to the processor 710. For example, the lot extraction module 740 may include a plurality of modules. Alternatively, the lot extraction module 740 may be represented by one or more software applications (or even a combination of software and hardware, e.g., using application specific integrated circuits (ASIC)), where the software is loaded from a storage medium, (e.g., a magnetic or optical drive, diskette, or non-volatile memory) and operated by the processor in the memory 720 of the computer. As such, the lot extraction module 740 (including associated data structures) of the present disclosure may be stored on a computer readable medium, e.g., RAM memory, magnetic or optical drive or diskette and the like. In one embodiment, the processor 710 includes the lot extraction module 740 or performs the functions of the lot extraction module 740 without the need of the lot extraction module 740.
It is understood that the processes and systems described herein may also be applied in other types of processes and systems. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various adaptations and modifications of the embodiments of the processes and systems described herein may be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present processes and systems. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the present processes and systems may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
Claims
1. A method comprising:
- generating an initial lot of instant lottery tickets, the initial lot having an initial lottery prize structure, the initial lottery prize structure having an initial lot size, the initial lottery prize structure having (i) a maximum prize category and corresponding maximum odds to win a maximum prize in the maximum prize category, and (ii) a secondary prize category and corresponding secondary odds to win a secondary prize in the secondary prize category, the initial lot having a predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and a predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, each of the instant lottery tickets having at least one concealer that an instant lottery player removes to determine if a match exists;
- generating a plurality of reproduced lots such that each of the reproduced lots in the plurality of reproduced lots is identical to the initial lot of instant lottery tickets;
- shuffling the plurality of reproduced lots into an aggregate lot;
- randomly selecting an extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot, the extracted lot having (i) an extracted lottery prize structure that has identical odds to the initial lottery prize structure without being limited to the predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and the predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, and (ii) an extracted lot size that is identical to the initial lot size;
- providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to a plurality of instant lottery players;
- distributing the maximum prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the maximum prize; and
- distributing the secondary prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the secondary prize.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising scanning, prior to the providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to the plurality of instant lottery players, validation codes printed on the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to ensure a minimum number of instant lottery tickets having a maximum prize match is within the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising randomly selecting an additional extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot to add to remaining tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets if a threshold number of instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets having a maximum prize match is provided to the plurality of lottery players.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising scanning, prior to the providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to the plurality of instant lottery players, validation codes printed on the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to determine if a minimum number of instant lottery tickets having a secondary prize match is within the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein payment of the maximum prize is guaranteed by self-insurance.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein payment of the maximum prize is guaranteed by partial self-insurance.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein payment of the maximum prize is guaranteed by a third party entity.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein payment of the secondary prize is guaranteed by self-insurance.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein payment of the secondary prize is guaranteed by partial self-insurance.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein payment of the secondary prize is guaranteed by a third party entity.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to a plurality of instant lottery players is effectuated through ticket sales at a predetermined ticket price.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the plurality of reproduced lots in a reproduced lot virtual file.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the aggregate lot in an aggregate lot virtual file.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregate lot has a number of maximum prizes that is greater than the extracted lot size.
15. A method comprising:
- generating an initial lot of instant lottery tickets, the initial lot having an initial lottery prize structure, the initial lottery prize structure having an initial lot size, the initial lottery prize structure having (i) a maximum prize category and corresponding maximum odds to win a maximum prize in the maximum prize category, and (ii) a secondary prize category and corresponding secondary odds to win a secondary prize in the secondary prize category, the initial lot having a predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and a predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, each of the instant lottery tickets having at least one concealer that an instant lottery player removes to determine if a match exists;
- generating a plurality of reproduced lots such that each of the reproduced lots in the plurality of reproduced lots is identical to the initial lot of instant lottery tickets;
- shuffling the plurality of reproduced lots into an aggregate lot;
- randomly selecting an extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot, the extracted lot having (i) an extracted lottery prize structure that has identical odds to the initial lottery prize structure without being limited to the predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and the predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, and (ii) an extracted lot size that is a whole number multiple of the initial lot size such that the extracted lot is a subset of the aggregate lot;
- providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to a plurality of instant lottery players;
- distributing the maximum prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the maximum prize; and
- distributing the secondary prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the secondary prize.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising scanning, prior to the providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to the plurality of instant lottery players, validation codes printed on the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to ensure a minimum number of instant lottery tickets having a maximum prize match is within the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising randomly selecting an additional extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot to add to remaining tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets if a threshold number of instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets having a maximum prize match is provided to the plurality of lottery players.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising scanning, prior to the providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to the plurality of instant lottery players, validation codes printed on the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to determine if a minimum number of instant lottery tickets having a secondary prize match is within the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein payment of the maximum prize is guaranteed by self-insurance.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein payment of the maximum prize is guaranteed by partial self-insurance.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein payment of the maximum prize is guaranteed by a third party entity.
22. The method of claim 15, wherein payment of the secondary prize is guaranteed by self-insurance.
23. The method of claim 15, wherein payment of the secondary prize is guaranteed by partial self-insurance.
24. The method of claim 15, wherein payment of the secondary prize is guaranteed by a third party entity.
26. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to a plurality of instant lottery players is effectuated through ticket sales at a predetermined ticket price.
27. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the plurality of reproduced lots in a reproduced lot virtual file.
28. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the aggregate lot in an aggregate lot virtual file.
29. The method of claim 15, wherein the aggregate lot has a number of maximum prizes that is greater than the extracted lot size.
30. A method comprising:
- generating an initial lot of instant lottery tickets, the initial lot having an initial lottery prize structure, the initial lottery prize structure having an initial lot size, the initial lottery prize structure having (i) a maximum prize category and corresponding maximum odds to win a maximum prize in the maximum prize category, and (ii) a secondary prize category and corresponding secondary odds to win a secondary prize in the secondary prize category, the initial lot having a predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and a predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, each of the instant lottery tickets having at least one concealer that an instant lottery player removes to determine if a match exists;
- generating a plurality of reproduced lots such that each of the reproduced lots in the plurality of reproduced lots is identical to the initial lot of instant lottery tickets;
- shuffling the plurality of reproduced lots into an aggregate lot that has an aggregate lot size;
- randomly selecting an extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot, the extracted lot having (i) an extracted lottery prize structure that has identical odds to the initial lottery prize structure without being limited to the predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and the predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, and (ii) an extracted lot size that is less than the aggregate lot size;
- providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to a plurality of instant lottery players;
- distributing the maximum prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the maximum prize; and
- distributing the secondary prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the secondary prize.
31. The method of claim 30, further comprising scanning, prior to the providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to the plurality of instant lottery players, validation codes printed on the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to ensure a minimum number of instant lottery tickets having a maximum prize match is within the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets.
32. The method of claim 30, further comprising randomly selecting an additional extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot to add to remaining tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets if a threshold number of instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets having a maximum prize match is provided to the plurality of lottery players.
33. The method of claim 30, further comprising scanning, prior to the providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to the plurality of instant lottery players, validation codes printed on the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to determine if a minimum number of instant lottery tickets having a secondary prize match is within the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets.
34. The method of claim 30, wherein payment of the maximum prize is guaranteed by self-insurance.
35. The method of claim 30, wherein payment of the maximum prize is guaranteed by partial self-insurance.
36. The method of claim 30, wherein payment of the maximum prize is guaranteed by a third party entity.
37. The method of claim 30, wherein payment of the secondary prize is guaranteed by self-insurance.
38. The method of claim 30, wherein payment of the secondary prize is guaranteed by partial self-insurance.
39. The method of claim 30, wherein payment of the secondary prize is guaranteed by a third party entity.
40. The method of claim 30, wherein the providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to a plurality of instant lottery players is effectuated through ticket sales at a predetermined ticket price.
41. The method of claim 30, further comprising storing the plurality of reproduced lots in a reproduced lot virtual file.
42. The method of claim 30, further comprising storing the aggregate lot in an aggregate lot virtual file.
43. The method of claim 30, wherein the aggregate lot has a number of maximum prizes that is greater than the extracted lot size.
44. A system comprising:
- a lot generator module that generates an initial lot of instant lottery tickets, the initial lot having an initial lottery prize structure, the initial lottery prize structure having an initial lot size, the initial lottery prize structure having (i) a maximum prize category and corresponding maximum odds to win a maximum prize in the maximum prize category, and (ii) a secondary prize category and corresponding secondary odds to win a secondary prize in the secondary prize category, the initial lot having a predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and a predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, each of the instant lottery tickets having at least one concealer that an instant lottery player removes to determine if a match exists;
- a lot reproducer module that generates a plurality of reproduced lots such that each of the reproduced lots in the plurality of reproduced lots is identical to the initial lot of instant lottery tickets;
- a shuffler module that shuffles the plurality of reproduced lots into an aggregate lot that has an aggregate lot size;
- a random selection module that randomly selects an extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot, the extracted lot having (i) an extracted lottery prize structure that has identical odds to the initial lottery prize structure without being limited to the predetermined number of maximum prizes in the maximum prize category and the predetermined number of secondary prizes in the secondary prize category, and (ii) an extracted lot size that is less than the aggregate lot size;
- an instant lottery ticket distribution module that provides the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to a plurality of instant lottery players;
- a maximum prize distribution module that distributes the maximum prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the maximum prize; and
- a secondary prize distribution module that distributes the secondary prize to a player that obtains a match corresponding to the secondary prize.
45. The system of claim 44, further comprising a scanning module that scans, prior to the providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to the plurality of instant lottery players, validation codes printed on the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to ensure a minimum number of instant lottery tickets having a maximum prize match is within the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets.
46. The system of claim 44, wherein the random selection module randomly selects an additional extracted lot of instant lottery tickets from the aggregate lot to add to remaining tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets if a threshold number of instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets having a maximum prize match is provided to the plurality of lottery players.
47. The system of claim 44, further comprising a scanning module that scans, prior to the providing the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to the plurality of instant lottery players, validation codes printed on the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to determine if a minimum number of instant lottery tickets having a secondary prize match is within the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets.
48. The system of claim 44, wherein payment of the maximum prize is guaranteed by self-insurance.
49. The system of claim 44, wherein payment of the maximum prize is guaranteed by partial self-insurance.
50. The system of claim 44, wherein payment of the maximum prize is guaranteed by a third party entity.
51. The system of claim 44, wherein payment of the secondary prize is guaranteed by self-insurance.
52. The system of claim 44, wherein payment of the secondary prize is guaranteed by partial self-insurance.
53. The system of claim 44, wherein payment of the secondary prize is guaranteed by a third party entity.
54. The system of claim 44, wherein the instant lottery ticket distribution module provides the instant lottery tickets from the extracted lot of instant lottery tickets to a plurality of instant lottery players through ticket sales at a predetermined ticket price.
55. The system of claim 44, further comprising a storage medium that stores the plurality of reproduced lots in a reproduced lot virtual file.
56. The system of claim 44, further comprising a storage medium that stores the aggregate lot in an aggregate lot virtual file.
57. The system of claim 44, wherein the aggregate lot has a number of maximum prizes that is greater than the extracted lot size.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 8, 2008
Publication Date: Mar 11, 2010
Inventors: Michael D. Frick (Crawfordville, FL), Mark Davis (San Juan, PR), David Richard Mizeur (Springfield, IL), Stan Pade (North Arlington, NJ), Andrzej Surmacz (Las Vegas, NV)
Application Number: 12/206,596
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);