US20040251623A1

US20040251623A1 - Set of lottery tickets, game arrangement and a device for generating a set of tickets

Info

Publication number: US20040251623A1
Application number: US10/490,665
Authority: US
Inventors: Gert Eklund
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: IGS Ltd
Priority date: 2001-09-26
Filing date: 2002-09-26
Publication date: 2004-12-16
Also published as: WO2003042934A1; SE523423C2; SE0103193L; SE0103193D0; EP1436788A1

Abstract

Set of lottery tickets (21) in which each lottery ticket (1) comprises a first set of gaming fields (Ω), where, within the said first set of gaming fields (Ω), each of the gaming fields has a symbol selected from a limited set of symbols (Φ), gaming arrangement (20) comprising a set of lottery tickets (21) and a transmission unit (22) and means (40) for generating a set of lottery tickets, which means (40) comprise a first register (41) comprising a limited set of symbols (Φ), means (25, 26, 27) for identifying gaming fields on a lottery ticket and a generating circuit (46) which is arranged to generate a set of symbols for each lottery ticket for storage in a memory (48).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a set of lottery tickets according to the preamble to claim 1, a gaming arrangement according to the preamble to claim 9 and means for generating a set of lottery tickets according to the preamble to claim 14. In particular, it relates to a set of lottery tickets of the “scratch-card” type where the lottery ticket has a number of gaming fields that are covered by a layer of material that can be scratched off and where a symbol is placed under the material that can be scratched off. In addition, it relates in particular to a gaming arrangement which comprises a communication channel which is arranged to transmit a particular number of determined positions within the said lottery ticket which constitute drawn gaming fields. A wining lottery ticket is identified thereafter by the selection of symbols that are placed in the determined number of determined positions.

BACKGROUND ART

In sets of lottery tickets of varying types, a set of gaming fields is used in which is placed a varying number of symbols from a set of symbols which constitutes the basis of the game. Normally, each lottery ticket in the set of lottery tickets can be played individually, whereby, after scratching off all or a particular number of the gaming fields placed on the lottery ticket, the player can determine whether the lottery ticket is a winning ticket or not without the need for a series of draws. Another type of game consists of the games that utilize a series of draws in order to determine whether the ticket is a winning ticket or not. This type of game often makes the lottery more entertaining, as the suspense element during the draw can be prolonged and combined with other entertaining or exciting elements. Known such sets of lottery tickets utilize a limited set of symbols and, during the generation of lottery tickets, symbols from the said set of symbols are selected at random for placing on the lottery tickets. The lottery tickets have therefore between them different subsets of the said set of symbols. This means that when a player loses, he can have the perception that it was all determined beforehand, and accordingly the enjoyment of future games can be decreased.

BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a set of lottery tickets such that, when purchasing lottery tickets, a player perceives that the game is fair and that the game has not been decided in advance by a poor choice of lottery ticket. This object is achieved by means of a set of lottery tickets according to the characterizing part of

claim

1, a gaming arrangement according to claim 9 and means for generating a set of lottery tickets according to the characterizing part of claim 14.

The set of lottery tickets according to the invention is designed in such a way that each lottery ticket comprises a first set of gaming fields, and within the said first set of gaming fields each of the gaming fields has a symbol selected from a limited set of symbols. The gaming fields are placed in identifiably distinct positions on each lottery ticket. The set of lottery tickets is characterized in that all the lottery tickets in the set of lottery tickets have, within the first set of gaming fields, the same number of symbols of each kind from the said limited set of symbols as other lottery tickets within the said set of lottery tickets. The position of the symbols within the first set of gaming fields is randomly allocated within the set of lottery tickets. In an embodiment of the invention, the limited number of symbols comprises three different symbols A, B and C. In the embodiment, there is a first set of gaming fields comprising 24 gaming fields. When the set of lottery tickets comprises a lottery ticket with fourteen As, eight Bs and two Cs, other lottery tickets in the set of lottery tickets also have fourteen As, eight Bs and two Cs.

By set of lottery tickets is meant a number of lottery tickets which are provided for a game and which fulfil the lottery arranger's requirements concerning statistical distribution of the design of the lottery tickets. The set of lottery tickets has preferably a controlled winning plan. A set of lottery tickets is not a random or determined selection from a number of lottery tickets which are provided for a game. The buyer knows in advance that all the lottery tickets have the same number of symbols of each kind from the said limited set of symbols as other lottery tickets within the said set of lottery tickets. As each of the lottery tickets has the same number of symbols of each kind, lottery tickets are obtained that are perceived as more neutral at the time of purchase. The gaming fields are preferably covered by a scratch-off film.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the limited set of symbols comprises a number of symbols which is less than a quarter of the number of gaming fields in the said set of gaming fields. By ensuring that the set of symbols only comprises a few different symbols, a set of lottery tickets is obtained in which during a drawing sequence more players retain a possibility of winning for a greater part of the game. This helps to increase the entertainment value of the game.

According to an additional preferred embodiment of the invention, the lottery tickets are designed in such a way that each set of gaming fields on each lottery ticket has the same number of symbols of each kind. This further contributes to each lottery ticket being perceived as being of equal value at the time of purchase. This embodiment can be exemplified by an embodiment of the invention in which according to the embodiment each lottery ticket in the set of lottery tickets has a first set of gaming fields comprising 24 gaming fields. The limited number is selected to comprise three different symbols A, B and C. In this case, all the lottery tickets have eight As, eight Bs and eight Cs. The invention also relates to a gaming arrangement which comprises a set of lottery tickets according to the above, and a transmission unit which is arranged to transmit a set of gaming fields selected from the gaming fields arranged on the lottery tickets.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gaming fields are placed in the shape of a star, with the selection of each gaming field being carried out by a simultaneous or sequential selection of an arm of the star and a position on the arm.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the selection of the arm of the star is carried out by a competition element which is transmitted via the said communication channel, in which teams compete, each team representing an arm of the star, and with the arm that is represented by the winning team being selected.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which [0010]
FIG. 1 shows a lottery ticket in the shape of a five-pointed star with the gaming fields covered, [0011]
FIG. 2 shows a lottery ticket in the shape of a five-pointed star with the gaming fields uncovered, [0012]
FIG. 3 shows a first vector comprising a first set of symbols and a second vector comprising a second set of symbols, [0013]
FIG. 4 shows a gaming arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention, [0014]
FIG. 5 shows a gaming arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention, and [0015]
FIG. 6 shows means for generating a set of lottery tickets.[0016]

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a [0017] lottery ticket 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the lottery ticket 1 has gaming fields 2. In the embodiment shown, the said gaming fields 2 comprise five rows 3-7, each of the rows comprising five individual gaming fields 8-12. In its broadest form, the invention is not limited to a special design of the number of gaming fields and the placing of these. In the embodiment shown, the gaming fields are placed in such a way that together they form the shape of a star, more specifically a five-pointed star.
In the embodiment shown, each of the gaming fields is covered by a [0018] material 13 that can be rubbed off, which material covers the gaming fields prior to the material being removed.
FIG. 2 shows a lottery ticket with all the gaming fields uncovered, showing the symbols from a first set of symbols in the gaming fields. The lottery ticket has a first set of gaming fields Q which comprises all the gaming fields P[0019] 1-P5 within a first, second, third and fifth row R1, R2, R3 and R5 and the gaming fields P1, P3, P4 and P5 within the fourth row R4.
The first set of gaming fields Ω thus comprises 24 positions on each lottery ticket. The 25th position belongs to a supplementary gaming field with a symbol selected from a second set of symbols Ψ. In the case shown, the supplementary gaming field Δ is placed in the position P[0020] 2, R4. The location is randomly allocated within a set of lottery tickets. In the embodiment shown, 24 of the gaming fields belong to the said first set of gaming fields Ω, and one gaming field Δ belongs to a supplementary number of gaming fields. According to other embodiments of the invention, there can be more supplementary gaming fields Δ in which the symbols are selected from other sets of symbols, or alternatively no supplementary fields at all, but only one set of gaming fields Ω with all the symbols being selected from the same limited set of symbols.
In the preferred embodiment, the gaming fields are within the said set of gaming fields Ω with the symbols being selected from a first limited set of symbols Φ essentially more in number than the supplementary gaming fields Δ on the lottery ticket. There are preferably at least eight times more gaming fields within the said set of gaming fields Ω than the number of supplementary gaming fields Δ. [0021]
In the gaming fields belonging to the said set of gaming fields Ω there are symbols from a limited set of symbols φ. This limited set of symbols comprises preferably very few symbols. In a first preferred embodiment, the limited set of symbols Φ comprises a number of different symbols which is less than a quarter of the number of gaming fields in the set of gaming fields Ω. In a preferred embodiment, there are three different symbols in the said limited set of symbols (D. [0022]
In the supplementary gaming field Δ is placed a symbol selected from a second set of symbols Ψ. There are preferably more different symbols within the second set of symbols Ψ than within the limited set of symbols Φ. In a preferred embodiment, there are twelve different symbols within the second set of symbols Ψ and three different symbols in the limited set of symbols Φ. [0023]
The invention is characterized in that each of the lottery tickets in the said set of lottery tickets within the first set of gaming fields Ω has the same number of symbols of each kind from the said limited set of symbols Φ as other lottery tickets in the said first set of lottery tickets. [0024]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the appearance of the limited set of symbols Φ and the second set of symbols Ψ. In this case, there are three symbols, A, B and C, in the limited set of symbols Φ and twelve symbols corresponding to the signs of the zodiac in the second set of symbols T. [0025]
The fact that each of the lottery tickets in the said set of lottery tickets has, within the first set of gaming fields Ω, the same number of symbols of each kind from the said limited set of symbols Φ as other lottery tickets in the said first set of lottery tickets, means in this embodiment that each of the lottery tickets has the same number of A symbols placed in the first set of gaming fields, that each of the lottery tickets has the same number of B symbols placed in the first set of gaming fields and that each of the lottery tickets has the same number of C symbols placed in the first set of gaming fields. [0026]
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the lottery tickets has the same number of symbols of each kind within the first set of gaming fields Ω. [0027]
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a [0028] gaming arrangement 20 comprising a set of lottery tickets 21 which comprises lottery tickets of the type described above and a transmission unit 22. The transmission unit 22 comprises means 25, 26, 27 for identifying a gaming field on a lottery ticket. In the embodiment that is shown in FIG. 4, these means comprise a first register 25 comprising a first coordinate for identifying a gaming field and a second register 26 for identifying a second coordinate for identifying a gaming field. The first coordinate corresponds to which arm of the star R1-R5 is selected and the second corresponds to which position P1-P5 of the field within the arm is selected. In this embodiment, both the coordinates are selected using a random generator 27, after which a position is determined.
According to an embodiment, the game is played by five positions being selected, after which the player checks which symbols are shown on his lottery ticket, after which comparison is made with a determined winning plan. [0029]
According to an alternative embodiment, the game is played by means of the said which is arranged to transmit a set of gaming fields selected from the said set of gaming fields at the same time as a drawn series comprising a particular number of symbols is generated. In this case, the [0030] transmission unit 22 comprises, in addition, a third register 23 comprising the limited set of symbols Φ and, if required, a fourth register 24 comprising the second set of symbols Ψ. A random generator 28 selects a particular sequence of symbols from the limited set of symbols Φ and, if required, a number of symbols from the second set of symbols Ψ.
Information concerning the selected set of gaming fields is transferred to the transmission unit's [0031] transmitter 29 for transmission of a set of gaming fields selected from the said set of gaming fields.
In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the random selection of one of the coordinates for identifying a selected gaming field is replaced by a competition element. After identification of a winning team, an input signal is generated to the [0032] transmitter 29 of the transmission unit by a control device 30, whereby the winning coordinate is identified. The control device can consist of any form of signal generator that can be understood by the transmitter of the transmission unit, which can consist, for example, of a TV camera connected to a ground-based, satellite or cable-based TV network, or alternatively of a computer-based network.
In one of the embodiments, at least one of the choices of row is arranged to be determined by a competition element which is transmitted via the said communication channel, where a winning team representing a row determines the choice of row. By team is meant an individual or a group of individuals, animals or objects which participate in a contest against other individuals, animals or objects. [0033]
FIG. 6 shows means for generating a set of lottery tickets. The means [0034] 40 comprise a first register 41 comprising the limited set of symbols (D and, if required, a second register 42 comprising the second set of symbols Ψ. The means 40 comprise, in addition, means 25, 26, 27 for identifying all the gaming fields on a lottery ticket. In an embodiment that is shown in FIG. 6, these means comprise a third register 42 comprising all the first coordinates for identifying the position of the gaming fields and a fourth register 44 for identifying all the second coordinates for identifying all the gaming fields. The first coordinate corresponds to which arm of the star R1-R5 is selected and the second corresponds to the position P1-P5 of the field within the arm that is selected. A processor 45 selects all the gaming fields by combining all the data in the third register 43 with all the data in the fourth register 44. In a generating circuit 46 which comprises a processor 47 and a memory area 48, output data is generated for a set of lottery tickets. Output data is generated by a randomly selected set of symbols from the limited set of symbols Φ and, if required, the second set of symbols Ψ being generated for each position that is given by the processor 45. When generating, the processor 47 ensures that a correct number of symbols is selected from the limited set of symbols Φ and, if required, from the second set of symbols Ψ. One way of achieving this is to ensure that the first register contains the same number of symbols of each kind that are to be included on the lottery tickets, and also that the order is selected by a random generator 29. The correct set of symbols is stored, together with the placing of the symbols, in the memory area 48. The memory area is sufficiently large to be able to store the set of symbols together with the placing of the symbols for a complete set of lottery tickets. After generating all the data for a set of lottery tickets, the generating circuit generates an output signal 50 which is utilized by a printing device 51, whereby printing of the lottery tickets can take place.

Claims

1. Set of lottery tickets in which each lottery ticket (1) comprises a first set of gaming fields (Ω), where, within the said first set of gaming fields (Ω), each of the gaming fields has a symbol selected from a limited set of symbols (Φ), wherein all the lottery tickets (1) in the said set of lottery tickets have, within the said first set of gaming fields (Ω), the same number of symbols of each kind from the said limited set of symbols (Φ) as other lottery tickets within the said set of lottery tickets and in that the placing of the said symbols on the said first set of gaming fields is randomly allocated on each lottery ticket.

2. Set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 1, wherein said limited set of symbols comprises a number of symbols that is less than a quarter of the number of gaming fields in the said set of gaming fields.

3. Set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first set of gaming fields comprises 24 gaming fields.

4. Set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 3, wherein the limited set of symbols comprises three different symbols.

5. Set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first set of gaming fields (Ω) on each lottery ticket has the same number of symbols of each kind.

6. Set of lottery tickets as claimed inclaim 5, wherein each of the lottery tickets has an additional gaming field (Δ) in addition to the said first set of gaming fields (Ω).

7. Set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 7, wherein said additional gaming field (Δ) has a symbol that is not included in the said limited set of symbols.

8. Set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 7, wherein said gaming fields (Ω, Δ) are placed along a number of rows that run radially, whereby the gaming fields together form the shape of a star.

9. Gaming arrangement comprising a set of lottery tickets (21) as claimed in claim 1 and a transmission unit (22), wherein the transmission unit (22) is arranged to transmit the coordinates for a set of gaming fields selected from the said set of gaming fields, the said coordinates identifying the position of a selected set of gaming fields on each lottery ticket in the set of lottery tickets.

10. Gaming arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the gaming fields are placed along a number of rows that run radially, whereby the gaming fields together form the shape of a star, and in that the said selection is arranged to be carried out by the selection of a row and a position within the row.

11. Gaming arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of the selections of a row is arranged to be determined by a competition element which is transmitted via the said communication channel, where the selection of a row is determined by a winning team representing a row.

12. Gaming arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the selection of at least one row is arranged to be determined by a random generator (27).

13. Gaming arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the selection of a position within the row is arranged to be determined by a random generator (27).

14. Means for generating a set of lottery tickets (21) as claimed in claim 1, which means comprise a first register (41) comprising a limited set of symbols ( ), means (25, 26, 27) for identifying all the gaming fields on a lottery ticket (1) and a generating circuit (46) which is arranged to generate a set of symbols for each lottery ticket for storage in a memory (48), wherein the generating circuit utilizes a particular number of symbols from the said limited set of symbols (Φ) and, together with the said means (25, 26, 27) for identifying all the gaming fields on a lottery ticket, generates a random placing of the particular number of symbols, with each of the lottery tickets in the said set of lottery tickets (21) having, within a first set of gaming fields (Ω), the same number of symbols of each kind from the said limited set of symbols (Φ) as other lottery tickets within the said set of lottery tickets.

15. Means as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means comprise a second register (42) with a second set of symbols (Ψ) and in that the said means are arranged to randomly place a number of symbols from the second set of symbols (Ψ) on the said lottery tickets, after which other symbols from the limited set of symbols (Φ) are placed.

16. Set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first set of gaming fields comprises 24 gaming fields.

17. Set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first set of gaming fields (Ω) on each lottery ticket has the same number of symbols of each kind.

18. Set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 17, wherein each of the lottery tickets has an additional gaming field (Δ) in addition to the said first set of gaming fields (Ω).

19. Set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 18, wherein said gaming fields (Ω, Δ) are placed along a number of rows that run radially, whereby the gaming fields together form the shape of a star.

20. Set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the lottery tickets has an additional gaming field (A) in addition to the said first set of gaming fields (Ω).

21. Set of lottery tickets as claimed in claim 20, wherein said gaming fields (Ω, Δ) are placed along a number of rows that run radially, whereby the gaming fields together form the shape of a star.