Method and System to Conduct a Bonus Game that Links Separate Primary Lottery Games

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016101352-A1
Application number	US-201514880574-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 12, 2015
Priority date	Oct 10, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and related methods for conducting a bonus game to a first primary game that enhances sales of tickets in an unrelated second primary game includes establishing the first primary game wherein players are issued first game tickets for play of the first primary game. A bonus game is established that is played separate from the first primary game. To qualify for entry into the bonus game, players enter at least one first game ticket from the first primary game. A second primary game is established wherein players are issued second game tickets that are linked to the bonus game for the first primary game such that players enhance the prize awarded in the bonus game by entering the second game tickets into the bonus game. Play of the first primary game does not require play of the bonus game or the second primary game. Play of the second primary game does not require play of the first primary game or the bonus game. Play of the bonus game requires play of the first primary game but not the second primary game.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for conducting a bonus game to a first primary game that enhances sales of tickets in an unrelated second primary game, the method comprising:
establishing, by one or more processors, the first primary game wherein players are issued first game tickets for play of the first primary game; establishing, by one or more processors, a bonus game that is played separate from the first primary game, wherein, to qualify for entry into the bonus game, players enter at least one first game ticket from the first primary game; establishing the second primary game wherein players are issued second game tickets for play of the second primary game; linking the second game tickets to the bonus game for the first primary game such that players enhance the prize awarded in the bonus game by entering the second game tickets into the bonus game; and wherein play of the first primary game does not require play of the bonus game or the second primary game, play of the second primary game does not require play of the first primary game or the bonus game, and play of the bonus game requires play of the first primary game but not the second primary game.

2 . The method as in claim 1 , further comprising associating a first bonus game symbol with the first game tickets, wherein players are required to collect a predefined set of different ones of the first bonus game symbols for an initial entry into the bonus game.

3 . The method as in claim 2 , further comprising associating a second bonus game symbol on the second game tickets that is visually linked to a particular one of the predefined sets of the first bonus symbols, wherein a player's initial entry into the bonus game with a particular predefined set of first bonus game symbols is enhanced by one or more of the second bonus game symbols the player has accumulated for the respective predefined set of first bonus game symbols.

4 . The method as in claim 3 , wherein the bonus game is a draw game and the player is awarded a defined number of entries in the draw game for the initial entry into the bonus game, the number of entries being multiplied as a function of the second bonus game symbols the player as accumulated for the respective predefined set of first bonus game symbols.

5 . The method as in claim 4 , wherein the bonus games are conducted on a scheduled periodic basis such that players become eligible for a next scheduled bonus game upon acquiring the predefined set of first bonus game symbols.

6 . The method as in claim 2 , further comprising providing players with a bonus game board that tracks first bonus game symbols and second bonus game symbols acquired by the player, including visually associating the second bonus game symbols with their respective predefined set of first bonus game symbols.

7 . The method as in claim 6 , wherein the bonus game board has a MONOPOLY game theme, the first bonus game symbols identifying sets of property locations on the MONOPOLY game board and the second bonus game symbols equating to house or hotel structures built on the property locations, wherein a greater number of house or hotel structures associated with the property locations increases the number of entries into the bonus game when the predefined set of property locations is completed by the player.

8 . The method as in claim 7 , wherein the bonus game board is a virtual game board provided to the players via a website accessible by the players.

9 . The method as in claim 8 , further comprising establishing individual player accounts that are accessible by the players via the website, the accounts including the player's virtual game board updated with a status of the first bonus game symbols and second bonus game symbols accumulated by the player.

10 . The method as in claim 1 , wherein the first primary game is a lottery draw game and the first game tickets are lottery tickets having at least one entry into the draw game, the lottery tickets having a first bonus game symbol associated therewith, wherein players are required to collect a predefined set of different ones of the first bonus game symbols for an initial entry into the bonus game.

11 . The method as in claim 10 , wherein the second primary game is an instant ticket lottery game and the second game tickets are instant lottery tickets having a second bonus game symbol associated therewith that is visually linked to a particular one of the predefined sets of first bonus symbols, wherein a player's initial entry into the bonus game with a particular predefined set of first bonus game symbols is enhanced by one or more of the second bonus game symbols the player has accumulated for the respective predefined set of first bonus game symbols.

12 . The method as in claim 11 , wherein the bonus game is a draw game and the player is awarded a defined number of entries in the draw game for the initial entry into the bonus game, the number of entries being multiplied as a function of the number of second bonus game symbols the player as accumulated for the respective predefined set of first bonus game symbols.

13 . A game system that links one or more games so as to increase the sales of the games and to potentially enhance winnings comprising:
a first game entered by a purchase of a first game entry, each purchased first game entry providing a randomly assigned indicia corresponding to at least one of a plurality of indicium contained on a common game board; the plurality of indicia on the common game board divided into predefined groupings; and a second game entered by a purchase of a second game entry, each purchased second game entry comprising a prize enhancement of at least one of the predefined groupings of indicia on the common game board, wherein the potential prize enhancement is awarded upon collection in the first game of all indicia in the respective predefined grouping of indicia.

14 . The game system as in claim 13 , wherein the first and second games comprise standalone separately playable games with separate and independent prize structures.

15 . The game system as in claim 13 , wherein the prize enhancement on the second game entries comprises a game symbol that is visually linked to a particular one of the predefined groupings of indicia.

16 . The game system as in claim 15 , wherein the common game board is a component of a bonus draw game wherein players are awarded a defined number of entries in the draw game once the player has accumulated the predefined grouping of indicia, the number of entries in the draw game multiplied as a function of the game symbol on the second game entry.

17 . The game system as in claim 16 , wherein the common game board tracks indicia and game symbols accumulated by the player, including visually associating the bonus game symbols with their respective predefined groupings of indicia.

18 . The game system as in claim 17 , wherein the common game board is a virtual game board provided to the players via a website accessible by the players.

19 . The game system as in claim 13 , wherein the first game is a lottery draw game and the first game entries are draw tickets having at least one of the indicia thereon, the second game is an instant ticket lottery game and the second game entries are instant lottery tickets having a bonus game symbol provided thereon that is visually linked to a particular one of the predefined groupings of indicia defined on the common game board, wherein a player's initial entry into a bonus game is enhanced by one or more

Assignees

• Scient Games Int Inc

Inventors

• Rogers Kyle
• Saferin Steve
• Marinelli Victor

Classifications

• G07F17/3258 Primary

  Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots · CPC title

• G07F17/329

  Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards · CPC title

• A63F2250/64

  used for radio or television, e.g. television shows; used in front of an audience · CPC title

• A63F3/0605 Primary

  Lottery games · CPC title