GB2433894A

GB2433894A - Electromechanical reels lottery game apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2433894A
Application number: GB0600048A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Dawson
Original assignee: REFLEX GAMING Ltd
Current assignee: REFLEX GAMING Ltd
Priority date: 2006-01-04
Filing date: 2006-01-04
Publication date: 2007-07-11
Also published as: GB0600048D0

Abstract

A lottery game apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of electromechanical reels 16 which include a plurality of symbols 18 and which are arranged to display a plurality of symbol combinations. The apparatus 10 also includes a results generator (12, Fig. 1) for generating a finite sequence of results, at least some of which are winning results, and a storage arrangement (14, Fig. 1) for storing the generated finite sequence of results. The electromechanical reels 16 are operable to display each successive result in the stored sequence using appropriate symbol combinations upon each successive play of the apparatus 10 by a user. The storage arrangement (14, Fig 1) may include a memory for providing electronic storage of the results, and may include a credit control arrangement for accepting credit, storing credit value, and deducting or adding credit value according to play of the game.

Description

Electromechanical Reels Lottery Game Apparatus The present invention

relates to lottery game apparatus, and more particularly to lottery game apparatus employing electromechanical reels.

Lottery games as defined under Section 4 of the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 and due to be superseded by Section 3 of the Gambling Act 2005, for use in private members clubs and the like, have become increasingly popular in recent years and can be provided in many forms. One known form of lottery game apparatus for implementing a lottery game comprises a machine loaded with a predetermined number of lottery tickets, some of which are winning tickets and some of which are losing tickets. A player wishing to play the lottery game inserts credit into the machine to purchase a ticket and may, for example, reveal whether the purchased ticket is a winning ticket or a losing ticket by removing material from the surface of the ticket, for example by scratching the material off. If the ticket is a winning ticket, the player can redeem the value of the win by presenting the ticket at an appropriate redemption point.

It would be desirable to provide a lottery game apparatus which has greater player appeal than conventional lottery game apparatus, such as that described above.

According to the present invention, there is provided lottery game apparatus comprising: a plurality of electromechanical reels each including a plurality of symbols and arranged to display a plurality of symbol combinations; a results generator for generating a finite sequence of results, at least some of which are winning results, and a storage arrangement for storing the generated finite sequence of results; the electromechanical reels being operable to display each successive result in the stored sequence using appropriate symbol combinations upon each successive play of the apparatus by a user.

The remainder of the generated results in the stored sequence are desirably losing results.

By displaying each successive result in the stored sequence on the electromechanical reels using an appropriate symbol combination, embodiments of the invention enable a user to determine whether the displayed symbol combination corresponds to a winning result or a losing result, and hence whether they have successfully won a lottery game upon a particular play of the lottery game apparatus.

The apparatus is preferably arranged to provide a win to the user when the result from the stored sequence of results is a winning result.

The results generator is preferably arranged to randomly generate the finite sequence of results for storage in the storage arrangement. The storage arrangement is preferably arranged to store the generated finite sequence of results in the order in which they are generated by the results generator. The results generator may be arranged to generate a predetermined percentage of winning results in the finite sequence of results.

The results generator may be arranged to generate a further finite sequence of results after the last result of a stored finite sequence has been displayed on the electromechanical reels using an appropriate symbol combination. The storage arrangement may be arranged to store said generated further finite sequence of results. The apparatus may be arranged to delete a previously stored finite sequence of results from the storage arrangement prior to storage of said generated further finite sequence of results in the storage arrangement.

The storage arrangement preferably includes a memory for providing electronic storage of the generated finite sequence of results.

The winning results in the stored sequence may each have an associated win value, and different winning results may have different win values associated therewith. The win values associated with different winning results may be predetermined and may have predetermined winning symbol combinations associated therewith. The electromechanical reels may be arranged to display a predetermined winning symbol combination dependent upon the win value associated with a corresponding winning result from the stored sequence.

The lottery game apparatus may include a display, which may for example be printed, illustrating the win values associated with different winning symbol combinations. A user may thus compare a winning symbol combination displayed by the electromechanical reels with the winning symbol combinations illustrated on the display to determine the win value associated with the displayed winning symbol combination.

Preferably the symbols are graphic symbols. The symbols may alternatively be alphanumeric symbols, such as numbers.

The lottery game apparatus may include a credit control arrangement for controlling the amount of credit available to a user during use of the apparatus. The credit control arrangement may be arranged to store an initial credit value corresponding to the value of credit inserted by a user into the lottery game apparatus. The credit control arrangement may be arranged to deduct credit from or add credit to the initial credit value to provide an actual credit value. The credit control arrangement may be arranged to add credit to the initial or actual credit value when the result from the stored sequence is a winning result and preferably therefore when the symbol combination displayed by the electromechanical reels corresponds to a winning result from the stored sequence. The credit control arrangement may be arranged to deduct credit from the initial or actual credit value when the result from the stored sequence is a losing result and preferably therefore when the symbol combination displayed by the electromechanical reels corresponds to a losing result from the stored sequence.

The credit control arrangement may include credit redemption means to enable a user to redeem credit corresponding to the actual credit value.

The credit redemption means may include means for printing a ticket displaying the value of the redeemed credit.

An embodiment of the present invention will -now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. I is a block diagram illustrating a basic implementation of lottery game apparatus according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the lottery game apparatus of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown generally lottery game apparatus 10 which, as will be appreciated from Fig. 2, has the general appearance of a conventional reel-based fruit machine.

The apparatus 10 comprises a control arrangement 11 for controlling its operation. The control arrangement 11 includes a results generator 12, which is arranged to generate a finite sequence of results, and a storage arrangement in the form of a memory 14 for electronically storing the generated finite sequence of results.

The finite sequence of results generated by the results generator 12 includes a plurality of winning results which have associated win values. In preferred embodiments, different winning results have different win values associated therewith, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. The finite sequence of results generated by the results generator 12 also includes a plurality of losing results which have no win value associated therewith, and these losing results make up the remainder of the generated finite sequence of results.

The lottery game apparatus 10 includes a plurality of electromechanical reels 16 of the conventional type. Each of the electromechanical reels 16 includes a plurality of symbols 18, desirably graphic symbols, arranged around its periphery and the reels 16 are each rotatable about their own axis such that they are arranged to display, in combination, a plurality of different symbol combinations.

The control arrangement 11 is arranged to control the operation of the electromechanical reels 16 so that they display each successive result in the sequence of results stored in the memory 14, upon each successive play of the apparatus 10 by a user, by displaying appropriate symbol combinations.

Each winning result in the stored sequence has a predetermined symbol combination associated therewith, referred to hereinafter as a winning symbol combination. When the result in the stored sequence is a winning result, the control arrangement 11 controls the operation of the electromechanical reels 16 so that they each spin to an appropriate position to display the winning symbol combination associated with that particular winning result.

When the result in the stored sequence is a losing result, the control arrangement 11 controls the operation of the electromechanical reels 16 so that they each spin to an appropriate position to display any symbol combination which is not a winning symbol combination, referred to hereinafter as a losing symbol combination. A losing symbol combination comprises any combination of symbols that is not associated with any of the winning results in the stored sequence.

In order to enable a user to determine whether a particular displayed symbol combination is a winning symbol combination, and therefore corresponds to a winning result from the stored sequence, the apparatus 10 includes a printed display 20 which illustrates the winning symbol combinations, in other words the symbol combinations having a win value associated therewith.

As mentioned above, different results in the stored sequence, and hence different winning symbol combinations, have different win values associated therewith. Accordingly, in addition to illustrating the winning symbol combinations, in other words the symbol combinations which correspond to winning results, the printed display 20 illustrates the win value associated with each particular winning symbol combination, and hence each winning result, that could be in the stored sequence of results.

Like all gaming apparatus, the lottery game apparatus 10 according to the invention is intended to provide the machine operator with a profit.

Accordingly, the results generator 10 is arranged to generate a predetermined percentage of winning results in the finite sequence of results and, in certain embodiments, is arranged to generate a plurality of winning results whose total associated win value does not exceed a predetermined total win value.

In use, the results generator 12 randomly generates a finite sequence of results, a proportion of which are winning results and the remainder of which are losing results, as described above. This generated sequence of results is then stored, in the order in which it is generated, in the memory 14.

When a user wishes to play the lottery game provided by the lottery game apparatus 10, the user inserts credit into the apparatus 10 in a conventional manner, for example by inserting coins, notes, tokens, money or moneys worth. The amount of credit inserted provides an initial credit amount which may be displayed on an electronic display associated with the apparatus 10.

Upon actuation of an appropriate button, such as a Start' or Play' button 22 for example, the control arrangement 11 interrogates the memory 14 to determine the next result in the stored sequence and displays this particular result on the electromechanical reels 16, using an appropriate symbol combination, by controlling motors to rotate each of the reels 16 to an appropriate position.

If the stored sequence of results is a newly generated sequence, the control arrangement 11 will determine that the next available result in the stored sequence is the first result and will operate the electromechanical reels 16 to display this first result using an appropriate symbol combination. After the first result has been displayed on the reels using an appropriate symbol combination, it will no longer be available for display and upon the next play by a user, whether this is the same user or a subsequent different user, the control arrangement 11 will determine that the next available result in the stored sequence is the second result and will operate the electromechanical reels 16 to display this second result using an appropriate symbol combination. The control arrangement will continue to interrogate the memory 14, upon each successive play by a user, to determine the next available result in the stored sequence and to display each result on the electromechanical reels 16 until it reaches the last available result in the stored sequence.

After the last available result in the stored sequence has been displayed on the electromechanical reels 16 using an appropriate symbol combination, the control arrangement 11 deletes the stored sequence of results from the memory 14 and activates the results generator 12 to randomly generate a further finite sequence of results which are then stored in the memory 14 in the order in which they have been generated. Due to the fact that the results generator 12 is operable to randomly generate a finite sequence of results upon each activation, as explained above, the order of the winning and losing results in the further stored finite sequence will be different to the order of the results in the previously stored finite sequence.

The ratio of winning to losing results may also be different, as may the total win value associated with all of the winning results.

After the control arrangement 11 has displayed the next available result in the stored sequence on the electromechanical reels 16, a user can readily determine if the result is a winning result or a losing result, and therefore whether he has won or lost a particular game, by comparing the symbol combination displayed by the electromechanical reels 16 with the winning symbol combinations illustrated on the printed display 20. If the symbol combination displayed by the electromechanical reels 16 corresponds to one of the winning symbol combinations illustrated on the display 20, a user will know that he has won a particular game. As the win value associated with each of the winning symbol combinations, and hence the winning results in the stored sequence, is also illustrated on the printed display 20, a user may readily determine the win value associated with any particular winning symbol combination displayed by the electromechanical reels 16. On the other hand, if the symbol combination displayed by the electromechanical reels 16 does not correspond to any of the winning symbol combinations illustrated on the display 20, a user will know that he has lost a particular game.

The apparatus 10 includes a credit control arrangement 24 for controlling the amount of credit available to a user of the apparatus 10. Upon insertion of an initial credit value into the apparatus 10, as determined by the value associated with the coin, note, token, money or moneys worth inserted into the apparatus 10, the credit control arrangement 24 stores this value and determines how many plays a user is entitled to based upon the value. When the user depresses the start button 22, thereby causing the control arrangement 11 to interrogate the memory 14 and to display the next available result on the electromechanical reels 16 using an appropriate symbol combination, the control arrangement 11 sends a signal to the credit control arrangement 24 to indicate whether the result is a winning result, and if so its associated win value, or alternatively to indicate whether the result is a losing result.

When the result, as displayed by the electromechanical reels 16 using an appropriate symbol combination, is a losing result, the credit control arrangement 24 deducts credit from the initial credit value to provide an actual credit value. When a user has exhausted the available credit, the credit control arrangement 24 will prevent further play by a user until further credit is inserted into the apparatus 10.

When the result, as displayed by the electromechanical reels 16 using an appropriate symbol combination, is a winning result, the credit control arrangement 24 adds credit to the initial credit value to provide the actual credit value. In particular, the control arrangement 11 indicates to the credit control arrangement 24 the win value associated with a particular winning result, and the credit control arrangement 24 adds an amount of credit corresponding to the particular win value of the winning result to the previously available amount of credit to provide an indication of the actual credit.

The credit accumulated by a user from winning results may be used to obtain further plays of the apparatus 10 in the manner described above, without the need to insert further credit. However, if a user does not wish to obtain further plays of the apparatus 10, he may depress a Collect' button 26 on the apparatus 10 to collect any winnings, the winnings corresponding to the amount of any credit available at the time the Collect' button 26 is depressed.

The credit control arrangement 24 includes a credit redemption means 28 to enable a user to redeem any available credit, as indicated by the actual credit value, and thereby collect his winnings. In embodiments of the invention, the credit redemption means 28 includes printing means for printing a ticket displaying the actual monetary value of the credit redeemed. A user may present this printed ticket at an appropriate redemption point where it will be exchanged for monies corresponding to the credit value.

There is thus provided a lottery game apparatus 10 which has greater player appeal than conventional lottery game apparatus. In particular, it will be understood by those skilled in the art from the foregoing description that the generated finite sequence of results in the memory 14 provides what is essentially a virtual' pack of conventional printed lottery tickets, some of which have an associated win value. The virtual tickets are displayed to a user on the electromechanical reels 16 using appropriate symbol combinations to enable a user to determine whether a particular virtual ticket is a winning ticket or a losing ticket. The apparatus 10 thus provides what is essentially a conventional lottery game but in a manner which makes it much more appealing to players.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that various modifications to the examples given may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the results generator 16 and/or the storage arrangement may be provided remotely from the apparatus 10 and linked thereto by a suitable connecting cable. Although three electromechanical reels 16 are illustrated in Fig. 2, any suitable number of electromechanical reels 16 may be provided. The symbols 18 may be alphanumeric symbols, such as numbers.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance, it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims 1. Lottery game apparatus comprising: a plurality of

electromechanical reels each including a plurality of symbols and arranged to display a plurality of symbol combinations; a results generator for generating a finite sequence of results, at least some of which are winning results, and a storage arrangement for storing the generated finite sequence of results; the electromechanical reels being operable to display each successive result in the stored sequence using appropriate symbol combinations upon each successive play of the apparatus by a user.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remainder of the generated results in the stored sequence are losing results.

3. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is arranged to provide a win to the user when the result from the stored sequence of results is a winning result.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the results generator is arranged to randomly generate the finite sequence of results for storage in the storage arrangement.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the storage arrangement is arranged to store the generated finite sequence of results in the order in which they are generated by the results generator.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the results generator is arranged to generate a predetermined percentage of winning results in the finite sequence of results.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the results generator is arranged to generate a further finite sequence of results after the last result of a stored finite sequence has been displayed on the electromechanical reels using an appropriate symbol combination.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the storage arrangement is arranged to store said generated further finite sequence of results.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is arranged to delete a previously stored finite sequence of results from the storage arrangement prior to storage of said generated further finite sequence of results in the storage arrangement.

10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the storage arrangement includes a memory for providing electronic storage of the generated results.

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the winning results in the stored sequence each have an associated win value.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein different winning results have different win values associated therewith.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the win values associated with different winning results are predetermined and have predetermined winning symbol combinations associated therewith.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the electromechanical reels are arranged to display a predetermined winning symbol combination dependent upon the win value associated with a corresponding winning result from the stored sequence.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the lottery game apparatus includes a display illustrating the win values associated with different winning symbol combinations.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the display is a printed display.

17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the symbols are graphic symbols.

18. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the symbols are alphanumeric symbols.

19. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus 1 5 includes a credit control arrangement for controlling the amount of credit available to a user during use of the apparatus.

20. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the credit control arrangement is arranged to store an initial credit value corresponding to the value of credit inserted by a user into the lottery game apparatus.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the credit control arrangement is arranged to deduct credit from or add credit to the initial credit value to provide an actual credit value.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the credit control arrangement is arranged to add credit to the initial or actual credit value when the result from the stored sequence is a winning result.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the credit control arrangement is arranged to add credit to the initial or actual credit value when the symbol combination displayed by the electromechanical reels corresponds to a winning result from the stored sequence.

24. Apparatus according to any of claims 20 to 23 when dependent on at least claim 2, wherein the credit control arrangement is arranged to deduct credit from the initial or actual credit value when the result from the stored sequence is a losing result.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the credit control arrangement is arranged to deduct credit from the initial or actual credit value when the symbol combination displayed by the electromechanical reels corresponds to a losing result from the stored sequence.

26. Apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 25, wherein the credit control arrangement includes credit redemption means to enable a user to redeem credit corresponding to the actual credit value.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the credit redemption means includes means for printing a ticket displaying the value of the redeemed credit.

28. Lottery game apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

29. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.