AU2006222682B2

AU2006222682B2 - Lottery

Info

Publication number: AU2006222682B2
Application number: AU2006222682A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark John Carter
Original assignee: NEW SOUTH WALES LOTTERIES CORP
Current assignee: NEW SOUTH WALES LOTTERIES Corp
Priority date: 2005-10-04
Filing date: 2006-09-26
Publication date: 2009-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-26
Also published as: AU2006222682A1

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): NEW SOUTH WALES LOTTERIES CORPORATION Invention Title: LOTTERY The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: - 2 LOTTERY Field of the Invention 5 The invention is directed to a lottery. Background of the Invention Traditional lottery systems can be considered as 10 giant raffles regulated by Government, under legislation. The key objective of the traditional lottery is to generate revenue for the Government. Typically, for a low fee, players have the chance to enter into a lottery draw to win a significant prize. Traditional lottery systems 15 are administered by a lottery operator. A draw in the lottery may comprise either a fixed or variable number of entries which establish a revenue pool based on the entry fees paid by the players. The determination of the winning entries in a particular draw may be predetermined 20 and made prior to sale of entries, or may be made following the sale of entries in that draw. Part of the revenue pool is awarded as cash prizes to the players; some is taken as profit to the lottery owner to cover operational costs; whereas the remaining portion is 25 provided as revenue to the Government. To maximise revenue, traditional lotteries are designed to appeal to a mass market and are ideally sold through a wide range of distribution networks that are readily accessible to the public. A lottery operator will 30 generally prefer merchants with high customer traffic, for example retail businesses such as newsagencies, to distribute entries in the traditional lottery draw. The merchant is paid a commission, typically directly . - 3 by the player, which is exclusive of the entry fee paid by players to enter the traditional lottery. Typically, the commission is a set return, say equivalent to 7% to 8% of the fee. 5 In many instances, the commission payable to a merchant to sell entries in a traditional lottery is not considered high enough to be attractive to a large number of merchants. A typical traditional lottery is shown at Fig. 1. 10 Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides a lottery comprising: 15 a draw comprising a plurality of entries, the entries having an associated entry fee and being sold or distributed to players through at least one selected merchant; a prize pool; 20 and a prize set associated with the draw, with prizes from the prize set being awarded to winning entries in the draw, the prizes from the prize set including at least one custom lottery prize, wherein the at least one custom lottery prize is funded from the prize pool such that, for 25 participation in the lottery, the selected merchant and/or the related merchant is arranged to obtain at least one sale funded from the prize pool as a result of awarding the at least one custom lottery prize. In a further aspect, the present invention provides a 30 system for operating a lottery for a selected merchant, comprising a generating device capable of generating a lottery draw the draw comprising a plurality of entries and associating prizes from a prize set with winning -4 entries in the draw, the prize set including at least one custom prize, wherein the winning entries are redeemable at the selected merchant or a related merchant, such that the merchant obtains at least one sale as a result of the 5 at least one custom prize. In the context of this specification, the term "custom lottery prize" is a prize in the form of goods and/or services sold by the at least one selected merchant or a related merchant, and/or a credit towards a purchase 10 of such goods/or services. In the context of the specification the term "related merchant" includes, but is not limited to arrangements where one merchant has control of the other merchant, or where one merchant owns directly or indirectly a portion 15 of the other merchant or where the merchants act in concert such that the selected merchant receives or gives a financial benefit of any amount to the related merchant, or where there is reasonable grounds to believe that the merchants may be related, as indicated above, some time in 20 the future. Further, for convenience future reference to "selected merchants" or "merchants" will be understood to encompass a single merchant and/or one or more related merchants unless the context requires otherwise. 25 In one form, the selected merchants sell entries to players for the entry fee. In another form, the selected merchants subsidise the sale of entries to players either by absorbing part or all of the entry fee. In this latter arrangement, the entries may be bundled with other 30 products or services of the merchant or given to a participant when certain conditions are met (say when certain goods or services are sold or when a threshold level of spending with the merchant is incurred).

- 5 In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the key objectives of the lottery are to generate revenue for the Government and generate additional margin for the selected merchants who are 5 authorised by the Government/lottery operator to sell entries into the custom lottery. For a low fee, players enter into a custom lottery for a chance for custom lottery prizes. There is a draw that may comprise either a fixed or variable number of entries that establish a 10 revenue pool based on the entry fee paid by players. Part of the revenue pool is provided as revenue to the Government. Some of the revenue pool is taken as profit by the lottery operator to cover operational costs. The remainder of the revenue pool is used to form the prize 15 pool, all of which, or part of which, is used to fund a prize set containing the custom lottery prizes. Prizes are awarded to winning entries. The lottery according to this aspect of the invention is distinct from traditional lotteries in that the prize 20 set includes custom lottery prizes, as distinct from cash prizes. With this arrangement, the selected merchant and/or the related merchant is arranged to obtain at least one sale funded from the prize pool as a result of the at least one custom lottery prize. 25 In this way the lottery can be referred to as a "custom" lottery as it is customised to the selected merchants. This enables the margin provided to the selected merchants to distribute entries in the lottery to be significantly increased as compared to traditional 30 lottery games as the margin of revenue which accrues to the selected merchants is based not only on a commission paid, typically by the player, for selling entries in each custom lottery draw (if any), but also on the margin on -6 the sale of custom lottery prizes. In this way, the lottery according to the present invention improves merchant margins therefore making it attractive to lottery distribution networks such as supermarkets, which 5 otherwise may not be viable because the low commission for selling entries in traditional lotteries was not competitive with other lines of sale. In a particular form, the custom lottery may be further customised so as to be designed exclusively around 10 the selected merchants business. Not only are the prize sets comprised of custom lottery prizes, but the name of the lottery can be based on the merchant's business and also the tickets can be tailored to suit the merchant's business. 15 In the context of the specification, the term "ticket" is to be construed broadly to cover any receipt of entry in one or more draws which enables a participant to verify a winning entry in the lottery. In this regard, the ticket may be in print form, or may be in electronic 20 form and in that regard may be downloaded or uploaded to any appropriate device. In one form, the lottery further comprises a verification system to verify winning entries in the draw before awarding an associated prize from the prize set. 25 In the particular form, each entry has associated with it a verification data and the verification system includes a database of the verification data of the winning entries. The verification system is operable to compare the verification data of an entry with the database to 30 establish whether that entry is a winning entry. In one form the verification data may also be provided on the ticket. In one form, the database also includes information -7 on the prize associated with the winning entry, and wherein the verification system publishes the value of the associated prize when the system verifies a winning entry. The custom lottery can be structured so that the 5 selected merchants own computer system is used for administration and/or conduct of the lottery, including distribution of entries and the validation of custom lottery prizes. In one form, tickets are printed by the merchant at 10 the point of sale (POS). In one form the verification data provided on the tickets may be verified using product identified barcode scanning systems which are in place in the merchant premises. In a particular form a ticket in a draw is provided 15 in electronic form. In one form the tickets are either downloaded or uploaded to a personal electronic device. In one example, this electronic device may be a mobile phone where the selected merchants involved in the custom lottery are mobile phone carriers. 20 In a further aspect, the invention is directed to a method of conducting a lottery comprising: distributing entries in a draw in the lottery from at least one selected merchant; generating revenue through the sale of the entries; and 25 offering at least one custom lottery prize for a winning entry of the draw, such that for participation in the lottery, the at least one selected merchant and/or related merchant is arranged to obtain at least one sale funded from the prize pool as a result of offering the at 30 least one custom lottery prize. In one form, on paying out an awarded custom lottery prize the selected merchants are reimbursed from the prize pool for the prizes paid. In another form, the entries - 8 are sold by a lottery operator to the selected merchants at a price that is net of the value of a prize set that is to be paid out by the selected merchants. In one form, the step of generating tickets in a draw 5 of the lottery is performed by the selected merchant. In one form, the method further comprises the step of using a computing system of the selected merchants in the administration of the custom lottery. In a further aspect, the invention is directed to a 10 system for operating a lottery for a selected merchant, comprising a generating device capable of generating a lottery draw the draw comprising a plurality of entries and associating prizes from a prize set with winning entries in the draw, the prize set including at least one 15 custom prize, wherein the winning entries are redeemable at the selected merchant or a related merchant, such that the merchant obtains at least one sale as a result of the at least one custom prize. 20 Brief Description of the Drawings It is convenient to herein after describe embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The particularity of the drawings and the 25 related description is to be understood as not superseding the preceding broad description of the invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a block diagram representing a traditional lottery system; 30 Fig. 2 is a block diagram representing a system for conducting a custom lottery in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 3 is a picture of an instant win ticket in a -9 ticket release; Fig. 4 is a timing diagram showing the steps for verifying a winning ticket; Fig. 5 is a block diagram representing an alternative 5 system for conducting a custom lottery in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a custom lottery system for a supermarket chain; Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing a custom lottery 10 system for a pay TV provider; Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing a custom lottery system for a mobile network provider. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment 15 Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown a block diagram representing a custom lottery system 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The depicted system relates particularly to an "instant win" custom 20 lottery for a merchant distribution network ("merchant network 18"), such as a chain of service or retail outlets. In particular, the system includes a lottery component 2 containing a centralised custom revenue pool 10 administered by a lottery operator 12, and the custom 25 lottery draw 11. There are also merchants 14 and 16 (representative of the merchant network 18) arranged to sell entries in the custom lottery 1. According to Fig. 2, the lottery operator 12 acts as an administrator of the custom lottery, managing funds to and from the 30 custom revenue pool and distributes entries in at least one draw of the custom lottery to merchants 14 and 16 of the merchant network 18. A portion of the revenue pools is directed to the Government 34.

- 10 For each draw, revenue pool 10 has associated with it a total value dependent on the revenue value of the plurality of entries distributed and sold by the merchant network 18 for that draw. The draw can include either a 5 fixed or variable number of entries. As can be seen with reference to Fig. 2, lottery pool 10 can be divided into three distinct parts. To ensure both a lottery operator profit and Government revenue, the prize pool is less than the revenue value of the entries 10 distributed and sold in the draw. In this embodiment the prize pool value is equivalent to the value of prize set 15 (represented by the dotted line). The merchant network sells entries in the custom lottery to players 24 and 26 for an entry fee which is 15 typically predetermined by the lottery operator 12. The player is then awarded a ticket 35 (see Fig. 3) which has associated with it verification data 38 unique to that entry. In this form, the process of prize verification is conducted by the lottery operator 12. The player pays to 20 the merchants 14 and 16 a commission 30. This commission is additional to the entry fee. In one embodiment the entries are sold to players 24 and 26 using automated ticket machines (not shown) which may be provided at each merchant premises. In an 25 alternate embodiment entries are sold by attendants of the merchant network 18. As shown in Fig. 3, the tickets may be provided in print form. In this embodiment the ticket 35 is an "instant win" ticket comprising a defined portion 36 to be 30 scratched off in order to reveal a prize display 37. Fig. 3 is an example of a winning entry showing three matching indicia in the prize display 37. It can readily be appreciated that any combination or arrangement of - 11 indicia could be used to constitute a winning scenario. Also shown with reference to Fig. 3, is a verification data in the form of a bar code 38 used by a verification system to verify the winning entry. 5 In an alternate embodiment (not shown) the tickets are issued in electronic form and downloaded by a personal electronic device, such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA) and the like. Turning to Fig. 4, the process of verifying winning 10 entries is shown. The verification process begins at step 40 whereby a player 24 passes a ticket 35 to a merchant 14 for verification. The merchant 14 scans a verification data 38 on the ticket and compares the scanned data against a verification system and database 22 (step 42). 15 In one embodiment the verification database 22 comprises a list of all valid winning entries in a draw of the custom lottery. In an embodiment the list of valid winning entries is provided on a read only compact disc accessible by the verification system 22. In one embodiment the 20 verification system comprises a computing device located at the merchant's 14 point of sale (POS). In an alternate embodiment the list resides on a computer system administered by the lottery operator 12 (see Fig. 2). In step 44 the verification system 22 notifies the 25 merchant 14 of details of the winning entry. In an embodiment the notification is indicated to the merchant by way of a message on the merchant's POS computer display. Once the ticket has been verified in accordance with steps 40, 42 & 44 the merchant can award the player 30 with the associated prize (step 46). Fig. 5 shows an alternate embodiment for conducting a custom lottery. In this embodiment the custom lottery is administered solely by the merchant network 18. This - 12 simplified infrastructure removes the need for an independent lottery operator (as shown in Fig. 2), thus returning lottery operator profits, as well as margins and commission to the merchant network. 5 Distinct to the cash prizes awarded in traditional lotteries, the custom lottery according to any of the above described embodiments awards custom lottery prizes, such that the selected merchant and/or the related merchant is arranged to obtain at least one sale funded 10 from the prize pool as a result of awarding the at least one custom lottery prize. This arrangement facilitates significantly improved returns over traditional lotteries for merchants as they are paid not only a commission for selling entries in the custom lottery, but are also 15 returned the associated margin on the custom lottery prizes awarded to winning entries. The custom lottery 1 will now be described with reference to the following examples. 20 Example 1 - Supermarket Lottery By way of example, and with particular reference to Fig. 6, the merchant network comprises a supermarket chain 80. In this embodiment, a player 68 purchases an entry in 25 the custom lottery in the form of an instant win ticket 35 (Fig. 3) from a supermarket attendant 64. In this embodiment the purchase price, or entry fee, is a minimal fee of $1. The ticket provides the player with a chance to win a prize for products, or credit towards products, 30 provided by the supermarket 62. The player, upon receiving the ticket 35 from the attendant 64, scratches a defined panel 36 on the ticket 35 to reveal a prize display 37. According to the described example, prizes - 13 are awarded for tickets revealing three or more of the same symbols or indicia. As shown in Fig. 3, the prize display 37 is scratched to reveal three "$10 credit" symbols which, according to this example, is a winning 5 outcome. To redeem the prize, the player 68 at some time in the future selects a product(s) sold by the supermarket 62 and returns to the attendant 64 with both the selected product(s) and the ticket 35. To verify that the ticket 35 is a winning ticket, the attendant 64 scans a barcode 10 data 38 provided on the ticket 35 using the verification system 66. The verification system 66 compares the barcode data 38 against a list of winning ticket barcodes in the custom lottery draw which resides on a data file accessible by the POS computer system. The verification 15 system 66 confirms a prize winning condition and displays "winner" on the attendant's POS display (not shown) to indicate that the ticket 35 is a winning entry. The attendant 64 recoups the ticket 35 and awards the shopper with a $10 credit towards the price of the selected 20 products. Every predetermined period of time, or in response to a predetermined condition (for example a notification that the draw has closed), supermarkets 56 and 62 purchase a plurality of entries in the next draw from the lottery 25 operator 50 for an agreed price (which may be net of the value of the prize set associated with the purchased entries). Revenue from purchased entries collected by the lottery operator 50 are then distributed as Government 30 revenue and profit to the lottery operator 50. At the end of each draw, supermarkets 56 and 62 will have received not only the commission 30 for the distribution and sale of the entries in the custom lottery - 14 (if any), but also the margin 28 associated with any goods which have been redeemed or awarded as prizes in the draw. Example 2 - Pay Television Lottery 5 By way of example, and with particular reference to Fig. 7, there is shown a custom lottery for customers of a pay television service provider ("Pay TV provider"). As shown in Fig. 7, a player 96 purchases an entry in 10 the draw over a communications network by navigating through a set menu of instructions provided by the Pay TV Provider 92. As shown in Fig. 7, entries in the custom lottery can be purchased through a network 94 (such as telephone, computer or Pay TV network) using any one of 15 the following devices: telephone 90; Computer connected to the Internet 98; or through set top-box 100. Once all entries in the draw have been sold, the provider pays prizes to players with winning entries. The number of winning entries is determined by the prize set 20 and may be established in accordance with any of the methods hereinbefore described. The paid prizes include custom lottery prizes comprising at least one of extra services, functions and/or hardware sold by the provider 92. 25 In one embodiment winning entries are validated through the provider's computer system 93. In response to a verified winning entry, the pay TV provider 92 awards the player 96 with an associated prize comprising at least one of a network function; service; or 30 hardware, sold by the pay TV provider 92 or by a credit to the player's pay TV account. In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the custom lottery is an instant win custom lottery, whereby prizes - 15 are automatically awarded to winning entries in the custom lottery. Example 3 - Mobile Phone Lottery 5 By way of example, and with particular reference to Fig. 8, there is shown a custom lottery for customers of a mobile network service provider ("mobile provider"). In the described embodiment, a player 136 purchases 10 an entry in the custom lottery administered by a lottery operator 132 from a mobile provider 130 using a software menu system 138 residing on the player's mobile handset 136. According to this embodiment, a ticket is then sent or downloaded via a mobile phone network 140 to the 15 player's mobile handset 136. Once the player successfully receives the ticket, the entry fee is automatically charged to the player's mobile phone service account. In an alternate embodiment the entry fee is charged to a nominated player bank account or credit card. 20 Once all entries in the draw have been sold, the mobile provider 130 pays prizes to players with winning entries. The number of winning entries is determined by the prize set and may be established in accordance with any of the methods hereinbefore described. 25 The paid prizes include custom lottery prizes comprising at least one of extra services, functions and/or hardware sold by the provider 130. Players send their winning tickets to the mobile provider's verification system 148 for verification. In 30 the described embodiment, the player sends the ticket using the short message service (SMS) provided by the mobile provider 130. In response to a verified winning entry, the mobile - 16 provider 130 awards the player 136 with an associated prize comprising at least one of a network function; service; or mobile phone hardware, sold by the mobile provider 130 or by a credit to the players mobile 5 telephone account. In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the custom lottery is an instant win custom lottery, whereby prizes are automatically awarded for a predetermined number of successful winning entries in the custom lottery. 10 The custom lottery according to any form described above has the distinct advantage of generating additional business to a selected merchant due to the offerings of custom lottery prizes for minimal entry fees; providing a new source of incremental revenue to the Government; and 15 opening up new distribution networks which would otherwise not be viable because the low commission on traditional lotteries is not competitive with other lines of sale. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context 20 requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further 25 features in various embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia 30 or any-other country.

Claims

1. A lottery comprising: a draw comprising a plurality of entries, the entries 5 having an associated entry fee and being sold or distributed to players through at least one selected merchant; a prize pool; and a prize set associated with the draw with prizes from 10 the prize set being awarded to winning entries in the draw, the prizes from the prize set including at least one custom lottery prize, wherein the at least one custom lottery prize is funded from the prize pool such that, for participation in the lottery, the selected merchant and/or 15 the related merchant is arranged to obtain at least one sale funded from the prize pool as a result of the at least one custom lottery prize.

2. A lottery as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the draw has 20 a revenue value based on the entry fee for purchase of entries in the draw.

3. A lottery as claimed in either Claim 1 or 2, wherein the entries are arranged to be sold to players through the 25 at least one selected merchant or related merchant for the entry fee.

4. A lottery as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a verification system to verify winning entries 30 in the draw.

5. A lottery as claimed in Claim 4, wherein each entry has assigned to it verification data, the verification - 18 system including a database of verification data of the winning entries and wherein the verification system is operable to compare the verification data of a said entry to the database to establish whether said entry is a 5 winning entry.

6. A lottery as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the database also includes information on the prize associated with the winning entries, and wherein the verification system 10 publishes the value of the associated prize when the system awards a winning entry.

7. A lottery as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein the verification system is provided at point of 15 sale equipment of the at least one selected merchant.

8. A lottery as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein tickets in the draw are provided in print form. 20

9. A lottery as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tickets are in the form of instant win tickets.

10. A lottery as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein entries in the draw are provided in electronic 25 form, downloadable or uploadable by a personal electronic device.

11. A lottery as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a merchant computer system arranged to 30 coordinate distribution of entries in the draw and administer payments to and from the prize pool. - 19

12. A lottery as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a lottery operator arranged to coordinate distribution of entries in the draw and administer payments to and from the prize pool. 5

13. A method of conducting a lottery comprising: distributing entries in a draw in the lottery from at least one selected merchant; generating revenue through the sale of the entries; 10 and offering at least one custom lottery prize for a winning entry of the draw, such that for participation in the lottery, the at least one selected merchant and/or related merchant is arranged to obtain at least one sale 15 funded from the prize pool as a result of the at least one custom lottery prize.

14. A method of conducting a lottery as claimed in Claim 13, further comprising the step of verifying a said 20 winning entry before awarding the associated prize.

15. A method of conducting a lottery as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the step of verifying a said winning entry comprises comparing verification data associated 25 with said winning entry against a verification database.

16. A system for operating a lottery for a selected merchant, comprising a generating device capable of generating a lottery draw the draw comprising a plurality 30 of entries and associating prizes from a prize set with winning entries in the draw, the prize set including at least one custom prize, wherein the winning entries are redeemable at the selected merchant or a related merchant, - 20 such that the merchant obtains at least one sale as a result of the at least one custom prize.

17. A system as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the 5 generating device is capable of generating verification data, the verification data being associated with each of the plurality of entries.

18. A system as claimed in Claim 17, further comprising a 10 verification device arranged to receive the verification data to establish whether an entry is a winning entry.

19. A method of conducting a lottery, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying 15 drawings.

20. A system for opening a lottery, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 20