WO2020053666A1 - Jeux, loteries et loteries promotionnelles ainsi que tickets, systèmes, technologies et procédés associés - Google Patents

Jeux, loteries et loteries promotionnelles ainsi que tickets, systèmes, technologies et procédés associés Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020053666A1
WO2020053666A1 PCT/IB2019/001157 IB2019001157W WO2020053666A1 WO 2020053666 A1 WO2020053666 A1 WO 2020053666A1 IB 2019001157 W IB2019001157 W IB 2019001157W WO 2020053666 A1 WO2020053666 A1 WO 2020053666A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
lottery
numbers
letters
ticket
payment
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Application number
PCT/IB2019/001157
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English (en)
Inventor
Reidar Magnus Nordby
Original Assignee
Reidar Magnus Nordby
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Application filed by Reidar Magnus Nordby filed Critical Reidar Magnus Nordby
Publication of WO2020053666A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020053666A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C15/00—Generating random numbers; Lottery apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C15/00—Generating random numbers; Lottery apparatus
    • G07C15/006—Generating random numbers; Lottery apparatus electronically

Definitions

  • This invention relates to games, lotteries, and/or sweepstakes as well as to tickets, systems, technologies, and/or methods related thereto.
  • this invention relates to unique games and/or unique administrations of games and/or unique tickets useful for participating in games.
  • this invention relates to games which can be administrated or participated in contemporaneously with an event, such as a sporting event, music performance, or trade show (e.g., at the same time or during a live event).
  • participants in the games make no payment to participate in the games.
  • Lotteries have existed in various forms throughout the world for hundreds of years.
  • Typical modem lottery formats often involve the selection by a customer or entrant of a pre-determined quantity of lottery numbers (e.g., from a range of numbers) such as by writing such numbers down on a paper form which is submitted to a store clerk. Once the lottery ticket is paid for, such numbers are then entered into a machine which prints, on a second piece of paper, a lottery ticket which is issued to the lottery customer. Lottery winners in such conventional lotteries are eventually chosen by a lottery administrator which - via one or more conventional methods - draws or randomly selects winning numbers which an entrant must have selected, and thereby have a paper ticket with numbers matching the winning numbers, to win the lottery prize.
  • a pre-determined quantity of lottery numbers e.g., from a range of numbers
  • certain embodiments of this invention relate to unique games, lotteries, and/or sweepstakes.
  • tickets, systems, technologies, and/or methods related to games, lotteries, and/or sweepstake are provided.
  • the terms“games”,“lottery”, or“sweepstakes” are used interchangeably unless otherwise indicated.
  • a unique lottery ticket is provided which is comprised of a digital image (or video images or video sequences or footage) submitted by a lottery contestant in association with payment for participation in the lottery (although payment is not required in each of the embodiments of the invention).
  • digital image or images
  • contestant related data such as a contestant name, address, phone number, and/or payment information and encrypted and/or compiled and/or combined as an information capsule which serves as a digital lottery ticket (noting, of course, that neither the creation of an information capsule or the encryption step are required in any particular embodiment).
  • digital image (whether used in the singular or plural) is hereby defined, for the purposes of construing the entirety of this application, as broadly including still images as well as moving images, sequences of images, video images, and/or video footage.
  • an encryption step (or other data/information securitization step) is employed in certain embodiments in which an information capsule is created to serve as a lottery ticket, it is recognized that not all embodiments of the invention will employ such a step or steps i.e., just as with the optional creation of the information capsule, an encryption step is not required in any embodiment although it may be used in any embodiment.
  • the encryption may or may not take place simultaneous with the creation of the information capsule e.g., it may also take place before or after the information capsule is created (if an information capsule is created at all, in a particular embodiment).
  • the encryption step or steps simultaneously create the lottery ticket (e.g., as an information capsule) to be used in the lottery and provide security to the data or information encrypted.
  • a lottery method comprising the steps of: a lottery contestant electronically submitting a digital image and payment for lottery participation;
  • decrypting said information capsule comprising said winning lottery ticket and obtaining information about the lottery contestant which submitted said winning ticket from said decrypted information capsule.
  • an additional step is performed comprising selecting a subset number of said plurality of lottery tickets which is less than the total number of said plurality of lottery tickets and designating said subset number of selected lottery tickets as winners of an intermediate stage of said lottery.
  • administering a lottery comprising the steps of:
  • additional steps are performed comprising: randomly selecting a plurality of random advancement numbers in a lottery advancement phase, said plurality of random advancement numbers being of a quantity which is less than the total number of said plurality of lottery tickets; and matching said plurality of random advancement numbers with corresponding numbers among said plurality of random entry numbers to thereby determine a subset identity of lottery tickets as winners of an intermediate, advancement stage of said plurality of random advancement numbers being of a quantity which is less than the total number of said plurality of lottery tickets; and matching said plurality of random advancement numbers with corresponding numbers among said plurality of random entry numbers to thereby determine a subset identity of lottery tickets as winners of an intermediate, advancement stage of said lottery.
  • a lottery system for administering a lottery comprising the steps of:
  • a lottery contestant generating or creating a digital image for use as a lottery ticket; b) generating an entry number and affiliating the entry number with the lottery ticket; c) repeating steps a) and b) such that a plurality of lottery tickets are formed and a
  • plurality of entry numbers are generated and affiliated with the plurality of lottery tickets
  • a lottery contestant performs the encryption step to form an information (or data) capsule comprising a lottery ticket (e.g., or performs an information capsule generation step at a different time of or even without the use of an encryption step).
  • the lottery contestant might use a computer or a mobile electronic device such as a mobile phone to complete such encryption step (or information capsule formation step, alone or together with an encryption step).
  • a software application may be provided for computing devices or mobile phones which can be used by contestants to perform the encryption and/or information capsule formation step(s).
  • Such software may be offered as a download or shipped pre-installed on certain devices, for example.
  • the encryption and/or information capsule formation step(s) are performed by lottery servers, lottery equipment, lottery agents or administrators (e.g., or other third parties), such as after receipt of a digital image, payment, and/or contestant information from a lottery contestant, for example.
  • one or more versions of the herein described lotteries and/or methods are integrated into or with one or more of the group consisting of: a television show, web broadcast, website, mobile device broadcast, or software generated graphical user interface.
  • images of intermediate stage winners are displayed on a television show, web broadcast, website, mobile device broadcast, or software generated graphical user interface.
  • the image submitted by the winning contestant is displayed or broadcast on a television show, web broadcast, website, mobile device broadcast, or software generated graphical user interface.
  • a gaming method comprising the steps of: a gaming participant electronically submitting a digital image as well as participant information, for game participation; electronically encrypting said digital image and participant information to form an information capsule comprising a gaming ticket; entering said gaming ticket into a batch of a plurality of other gaming tickets comprised of information capsules; selecting a gaming ticket from said batch of a plurality of gaming tickets and designating such gaming ticket as a winning ticket of said game; and decrypting said information capsule comprising said winning gaming ticket and obtaining information about the gaming participant which submitted said winning ticket from said decrypted information capsule. While in this embodiment, payment from the gaming participant is not required, payment may be collected from other sources such as a gaming sponsor.
  • a sponsor may pay for the operation of the game, the prize awarded in the game, or other expenses so that gaming participants (e.g., ordinary people attending the sporting event) do not have to pay for participating in the game, but nevertheless may win a prize or prizes as a result of their participation.
  • gaming participants e.g., ordinary people attending the sporting event
  • Sponsors may receive brand exposure - as just one example - in return for their financial contributions to the game.
  • sponsors may send advertisements or coupons or may otherwise market directly to participants in the games (e.g., via MMS or SMS, email, etc.),
  • This financial structure while useful in this embodiment, may be employed in other embodiments described in this application alone, or in combination with other financial structures or payment options.
  • a game in which it is free for players to participate.
  • a digital image such as a digital photograph
  • MMS mobile multimedia management
  • the game administrator e.g., to its communication and data storage networks
  • the submitted photos - which may serve as the tickets themselves - can be displayed or alternated on the screens so that spectators at the event can view the photos during the game.
  • a random (or other type) drawing of an entrant’s photograph can be depicted on the screens.
  • prizes can be awarded, or at least announced, for the winner or winners drawn in the game. These prizes can be provided by game sponsors, for example.
  • potential game participants at live events e.g., football game attendees
  • they are invited to enter into a competition or game to win a prize.
  • wishful participants can simply send a photograph to an identified “short code” (or to a phone number or email address, for example) by the invited method, i.e., via conventional MMS message, for example. Entry is free, other than the standard carrier data costs charged to send an MMS.
  • the screens will display the selection process of the prize winner or winners.
  • the photographs of the entrants may be displayed in a photo carousel or on a spinning photo-wheel, displaying numerous entrant photographs, that spins around and stops at the winning photograph.
  • a sponsor or sponsors of the games can structure the game so that participants are sent a link to a social networking page (e.g., to a Facebook page) or to an internet web-page where they can see their photographs combined with logos
  • advertisements may also be sent.
  • surveys or other sponsor related inquiries
  • a gaming method comprising the steps of: displaying an invitation to play a game at a spectator event; employing a network, including data transmission and storage mechanisms, for a gaming contestant to electronically submit a digital image for game participation; entering the digital image into an electronic batch of a plurality of other digital images; and selecting a digital image from the electronic batch of a plurality of digital images and designating such selected digital image as a winning entry of the game.
  • moderators are used to manually review digital images submitted for processing as lottery tickets and to approve or disapprove images for broadcast or publication.
  • moderators are otherwise being used, if a digital image is disapproved, an alternate image is substituted for the disapproved image and is assigned to the lottery ticket associated with said disapproved image, and said alternate image is utilized for broadcast or publication.
  • a lottery system in which a number is generated in association with each electronic lottery ticket entered into a batch of a plurality of lottery tickets and is logged, and the number is used in performing intermediate stage winner selection or final winner selection steps.
  • intermediate stage winner selection or final winner selection steps are performed utilizing a random number generator to randomly generate numbers which are matched to logged numbers, generated in association with lottery tickets being entered into said batch, to thereby select intermediate stage winners and/or a final lottery winner.
  • images submitted to be processed as and/or converted into lottery tickets are taken and/or submitted using a mobile electronic device such as a cellular telephone or handheld computing device.
  • digital images may be taken and submitted via a publically accessible kiosk (e.g., located on the street or in a convenience store).
  • digital images may be submitted via a computer using an internet connection (e.g., regardless of whether such images are taken by a camera resident in or connected to such a computer or are uploaded to a computer via a conventional camera or scanning device).
  • images may be obtained from third party sources or originally authored such as via software.
  • payment for lottery participation may be submitted via use of a prepaid SIM card.
  • Other mechanisms for payment include, but are not limited to, cash or check, personalized payment accounts such as merchant accounts or PAYPAL type accounts (or other proprietary account types) or credit card payments (where legal) such as via the internet, or by electronic transfer of cryptocurrency such as Ethereum or Bitcoin.
  • Other payment methods may, of course, be used, which may include recurring payment types. Care should be taken, of course, to comply with local laws pertaining to the legality of acceptable payment types for lottery ticket purchases or other lottery participation type.
  • Payments may be made on a per ticket basis at the time of lottery ticket purchase or submission or at other times as may be contemplated by those of skill in the art (and may be made in association with single, multiple ticket or batch ticket purchases, for example). In certain (but not all) embodiments, it is preferred that payment be completed before or with ticket purchase or digital image submission.
  • a lottery prize may consist of a cash payment to a lottery winner.
  • Mechanisms for prize payout include transfer of credit to the lottery winner’s prepaid SIM card, transfer of funds to a personalized account such as PAYPAL or Venmo (or other proprietary account types), transfer of payment by credit card, or by electronic transfer of cryptocurrency such as Ethereum or Bitcoin.
  • Other payment methods may, of course, be used, such as cash payments or a check.
  • it is an object to provide a more instant gaming experience to the lottery participant. For example, in such embodiments, the time span between the actual purchase of the ticket and the draw can be shortened dramatically, and theoretically down to one hour, as opposed to traditional lotteries that operate with a“waiting period” of up to a week.
  • lottery tickets are personalized (e.g., via use of submitted images) and therefore provide a more engaging experience for the lottery participants (e.g., which may encourage participation or loyalty with the lottery).
  • the winning tickets and/or tickets which advance to intermediate stages will be shown on television or displayed in some other public format (e.g., such as on the internet).
  • the image that becomes representative of the lottery ticket is an image that displays what the ticketholder or participant chooses (for instance a personal or family or pet photo).
  • a game, lottery, or sweepstakes produced in accordance with an inventive embodiment described herein can be linked or connected to a social networking site such that it mines or accesses data or images from the site to use as entry data (e.g., a profile photograph from a site like FacebookTM might be captured and used as a game entry photograph).
  • entry data e.g., a profile photograph from a site like FacebookTM might be captured and used as a game entry photograph.
  • representatives of a lottery, game, or sweepstake can be employed to take pictures of game entrants and then use them to register or enter people into the games (or sweepstakes or lottery).
  • hashtags are normally used in technology forums, such as on social media platforms, to index, organize, and/or aggregate content affiliated or“marked” with the hashtag
  • at least one embodiment of this invention provides a system or method for entering a sweepstakes (or optionally a lottery) using such a hashtag.
  • an individual desiring to enter a sweepstakes event takes or selects a photograph (or image or video) and posts the photograph to a social media-type platform in affiliation with a hashtag (i.e., the“#” symbol, typically followed by a word or phrase).
  • the photograph might be posted on twitter affiliated with the “hashtagged” word“photoentry” (or, in other words,“#photoentry”).
  • the entity administering the sweepstakes-type event can select any word or phrase to be hashtagged, of course, but the word or phrase selected is preferably unique so that the sweepstakes objectives can be accomplished efficiently.
  • the social media site which is being utilized in connection with the sweepstakes is polled or mined or“scraped” for entrants, preferably by searching for the selected hashtagged entry term or phrase (e.g.,“#photoentry”).
  • the hashtagged term or phrase can operate as an affirmative command to the platform (e.g., similar to a software command like“run”) to enter the photograph into the sweepstakes substantially concurrent to the hashtagged term (or phrase) being posted.
  • the sweepstakes entry process is preferably automated via software, but other embodiments where the hashtagged entries are collected manually are also contemplated.
  • a sweepstakes winner may be selected by selecting a photo-entrant, as described elsewhere herein, and then the sweepstakes winner announced by displaying the winning entrant’s photograph (or image or video) on the social media site or screen (e.g., a jumbotron).
  • the social media-type platform which is utilized may be an existing platform (e.g., such as Facebook, twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin, etc.), however, a unique or even temporary social media platform may also be created by the sweepstakes provider.
  • a cloud-based platform may be created or hosted for access by existing jumbotrons (or other similar-type screens) at a concert or sporting or political event. Access may be provided by allowing access to the cloud-based platform (or to
  • sweepstakes controlled servers hosted remotely by existing computer processing devices (e.g., servers) which already exist at the event venue.
  • existing computer processing devices e.g., servers
  • access can be provided by servers, with pre-installed software, delivered to the venue for the purposes of administering the sweepstakes at the event.
  • an alpha-based, or alpha-numeric, lottery is provided.
  • a player is permitted to choose lottery letters or words or sentences, in place of a number offered in a conventional lottery.
  • a database is provided in such embodiments so that a player can verify that the words being chosen are viable lottery play options. For example, certain taboo words will be omitted in preferred iterations. In other instances, words may not contain sufficient numbers of characters to be viable lottery plays.
  • the lottery is preferably two stage: in the first stage, a number is chosen which determines the number of letters that will be utilized in the lottery draw.
  • lottery entrants may choose words and/or sentences having fourteen alpha-characters for entry into the subsequent alphabet phase of the lottery.
  • a player is provided a guessing opportunity and must correctly guess a number (e.g., either pre-selected or drawn post entry) in order to move to the second lottery stage where a word or sentence chosen by the advancing lottery player must match the “drawn” word or sentence in order to win the lottery.
  • a number e.g., either pre-selected or drawn post entry
  • words or sentences for play are chosen and paid for on a per letter basis.
  • the more alphabet letters involved in the lottery e.g., chosen and entered), the higher the prizes available (and vice versa).
  • words or sentences are selected by the lottery provider as winning words or sentences using an algorithm which randomly selects the words/sentences from a database.
  • lotteries are preferably played on a phone/mobile application, or on a computer, utilizing electronic payment (e.g. credit card, etc.) for entry.
  • a lottery ticket is provided which is comprised of a set of numbers, ranging from 0 to 9 and/or letters, ranging from A to Z submitted by a lottery contestant in association with payment for participation in the lottery (hereinafter “The Numbers”).
  • the Numbers may preferably be combined with contestant related data, such as a contestant name, address, phone number, and/or payment information and encrypted and/or compiled and/or combined as one or more information capsules which serves as a digital lottery ticket.
  • the term“The Numbers” (whether used in the singular or plural) is hereby defined, for the purposes of construing the entirety of this application, as broadly including digits as well as letters, both in lower case and capitals.
  • an encryption step (or other data/information securitization step) is employed in certain embodiments in which an information capsule is created to serve as a lottery ticket, it is recognized that not all embodiments of the invention will employ such a step or steps. Moreover, in embodiments which do employ such a step or steps, the encryption may or may not take place simultaneous with the creation of the information capsule e.g., it may also take place before or after the information capsule is created. In certain non-limiting embodiments, however, the encryption step or steps simultaneously create the lottery ticket (e.g., information capsule) to be used in the lottery and provide security to the data or information encrypted.
  • the lottery ticket e.g., information capsule
  • a lottery method comprising the steps of:
  • decrypting said information capsule comprising said winning lottery ticket and obtaining information about the lottery contestant which submitted said winning ticket from said decrypted information capsule.
  • an additional step is performed comprising selecting a subset number of said plurality of lottery tickets which is less than the total number of said plurality of lottery tickets and designating said subset number of selected lottery tickets as winners of an intermediate stage of said lottery.
  • administering a lottery comprising the steps of:
  • step e additional steps are performed comprising: randomly selecting a plurality of random advancement numbers in a lottery advancement phase, said plurality of random advancement numbers being of a quantity which is less than the total number of said plurality of lottery tickets; and matching said plurality of random advancement numbers with corresponding numbers among said plurality of random entry numbers to thereby determine a subset identity of lottery tickets as winners of an intermediate, advancement stage of said lottery.
  • a lottery system for administering a lottery comprising the steps of:
  • a lottery contestant generating or creating digital numbers and/or letters for use as a lottery ticket
  • plurality of entry numbers are generated and affiliated with the plurality of lottery tickets; and d) randomly selecting a winning ticket number in a winner selection phase and matching the winning ticket number with one of the plurality of entry numbers to thereby determine a winning ticket of the lottery.
  • a lottery contestant performs the encryption step to form an information (or data) capsule comprising a lottery ticket (e.g., or performs an information capsule generation step at a different time of or even without the use of an encryption step).
  • the lottery contestant might use a computer or a mobile electronic device such as a mobile phone to complete such encryption step (or information capsule formation step, alone or together with an encryption step).
  • a software application may be provided for computing devices or mobile phones which can be used by contestants to perform the encryption and/or information capsule formation step(s).
  • Such software may be offered as a download or shipped pre-installed on certain devices, for example.
  • the encryption and/or information capsule formation step(s) are performed by lottery servers, lottery equipment, lottery agents or administrators (e.g., or other third parties), such as after receipt of a digital numbers and/or letters, payment, and/or contestant information from a lottery contestant, for example.
  • one or more versions of the herein described lotteries and/or methods are integrated into or with one or more of the group consisting of: a television show, web broadcast, website, mobile device broadcast, or software generated graphical user interface.
  • numbers and/or letters of intermediate stage winners may be displayed on a television show, web broadcast, website, mobile device broadcast, or software generated graphical user interface.
  • a final, single winning ticket drawn by matching the numbers and/or letters submitted by the winning contestant is displayed or broadcast on a television show, web broadcast, website, mobile device broadcast, or software generated graphical user interface.
  • moderators are used to manually review digital numbers and/or letters submitted for processing as lottery tickets and to approve or disapprove numbers and/or letters for broadcast or publication.
  • moderators are otherwise being used, if a digital numbers and/or letters is disapproved, an alternate numbers and/or letters is substituted for the disapproved numbers and/or letters and is assigned to the lottery ticket associated with said disapproved numbers and/or letters, and said alternate numbers and/or letters is utilized for broadcast or publication.
  • a lottery system in which a number is generated in association with each electronic lottery ticket entered into a batch of a plurality of lottery tickets and is logged, and the number is used in performing intermediate stage winner selection or final winner selection steps.
  • intermediate stage winner selection or final winner selection steps are performed utilizing a random number generator to randomly generate numbers which are matched to logged numbers, generated in association with lottery tickets being entered into said batch, to thereby select intermediate stage winners and/or a final lottery winner.
  • numbers and/or letters submitted to be processed as and/or converted into lottery tickets are taken and/or submitted using a mobile electronic device such as a cellular telephone or handheld computing device.
  • a mobile electronic device such as a cellular telephone or handheld computing device.
  • digital numbers and/or letters may be taken and submitted via a publicly accessible kiosk (e.g., located on the street or in a convenience store).
  • digital numbers and/or letters may be submitted via a computer using an internet connection (e.g., regardless of whether such numbers and/or letters are taken by a camera resident in or connected to such a computer or are uploaded to a computer via a conventional camera or scanning device).
  • numbers and/or letters may be obtained from third party sources or originally authored such as via software.
  • payment for lottery participation may be submitted via use of a prepaid SIM card.
  • Other mechanisms for payment include, but are not limited to, personalized payment accounts such as merchant accounts or PAYPAL type accounts (or other proprietary account types) or credit card payments (where legal) such as via the internet.
  • Other payment methods may, of course, be used. Care should be taken, of course, to comply with local laws pertaining to the legality of acceptable payment types for lottery ticket purchases or other lottery participation type.
  • Payments may be made on a per ticket basis at the time of lottery ticket purchase or submission or at other times as may be contemplated by those of skill in the art (and may be made in association with single, multiple ticket or batch ticket purchases, for example). In certain (but not all) embodiments, it is preferred that payment be completed before or with ticket purchase or digital numbers and/or letters submission.
  • the time span between the actual purchase of the ticket and the draw can be shortened dramatically, and theoretically down to one hour, as opposed to traditional lotteries that operate with a“waiting period” of up to a week.
  • lottery tickets are personalized (e.g., via use of submitted numbers and/or letters) and therefore provide a more engaging experience for the lottery participants (e.g., which may encourage participation or loyalty with the lottery).
  • the winning tickets and/or tickets which advance to intermediate stages will be shown on television or displayed in some other public format (e.g., such as on the internet).
  • the numbers and/or letters that becomes representative of the lottery ticket are numbers and/or letters that displays what the ticketholder or participant has chosen.
  • Interstate player registration (e.g.. in the United States)
  • the player must, before participating in a game of chance, supply two or more of the following: full name; address; phone number; debit card number; credit card number; email address; social security number; date of birth; and/or bank account number.
  • the information is optionally, but preferably, provided by the participant via a mobile phone application or via a website. After the information is sent to the database, it is cross referenced with other sources of information (e.g., driver license information, IP address, encryption token) to ensure that the identity of the participant is correct and that the participant is of legal gambling age.
  • Each participant can preferably only have one player profile. The participant can then, via the participant's credit or debit card, participate in games of chance.
  • the participant wins the winnings will be transferred directly to the participant's bank account and or credit or debit card.
  • the participant is issued a receipt and the database retains a copy of the receipt or transfers it to a second database. If the participant spends more money than he or she should, the participant will be locked out of the game for a period of time. This will be defined by either the participant's own spending limits or built-in spending limits. The participant can choose to delete or deactivate his/her profile.
  • a unique lottery in which electronic payment is accepted (e.g., credit card payment).
  • lottery play is monitored so that frequent players can be identified. If players play too often, they can be warned and/or play suspended for selected times. Frequency of play acceptability can be the same criteria for all players, or based on salary and/or credit history. A more specific embodiment, and other criteria, are described below:
  • a player is permitted to choose lottery letters or words or sentences, in place of a conventional number based lottery.
  • a database so that a player can verify that the words being chosen are viable play options. For example, certain taboo words will be omitted in preferred iterations, as may be slang or fake words, for example.
  • the lottery is preferably delivered in two stages, as follows: in the first stage, a number is chosen which determines the number of letters that will be in the lottery.
  • a player must correctly guess the number in order to move to the second lottery stage where a chosen word or sentence must match the“drawn” word or sentence in order to win the lottery.
  • staged prizes for winning first and second stages may be offered. Words or sentences for play are preferably offered and/or chosen and paid for on a per letter basis.
  • Words or sentences are preferably thereafter selected by the lottery provider as winning words or sentences using an algorithm which randomly selects the words/sentences from a database.
  • the lottery is preferably played on a phone/mobile application with electronic payment (e.g. credit card, etc.).
  • the inventions described herein can be utilized while mitigating gambling related social issues.
  • certain of the technologies described herein enable the lottery provider or administrator to monitor the revenue generated by each individual participant or ticketholder (e.g., by monitoring the frequency or quantity of ticket purchases). This allows entities to consequently regulate the individuals gaming habits to, for example, prevent excessive gambling.
  • the lottery provider or administrator can, for example, maintain a profitable business and generate revenue for its charities, governments, and beneficiaries, etc. while avoiding significantly contributing to the social issues of gambling addiction.
  • certain (but not all) of the technologies described herein can aid in compliance with and enforcement of laws and other governmental regulations (or even contractual obligations) related to lotteries.
  • regulatory entities e.g., governments
  • such controls can be used to prevent more tickets from being sold or issued than the operator is permitted or for which the provider or
  • certain (but not all) of the embodiments of the technologies described herein provide for increased ability to evaluate and/or analyze lottery transactions.
  • such embodiments may provide entities (e.g., governmental authorities) with an increased ability to investigate or evaluate suspicious transactions and/or trace transaction origins, thereby allowing for possible prevention of illegal activity such as money laundering.
  • a database which is comprises of data collected during the operation and/or in the administration of there herein described lotteries.
  • a first database optionally utilized to automatically track the gaming patterns of separate individuals, the database being comprised of data collected from payment information submitted for each entrant, or from name or identification information submitted by each entrant.
  • a second database of known or suspected abusers or money launderers is also maintained.
  • the servers are configured, and/or the software is programmed, to compare the data in the first database to the data in the second data base to identify money launderers or players with abusing playing habits or gambling problems.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates one embodiment of an example lottery system according to the subject invention.
  • FIG. 2 schematically illustrates one method or process of creating or generating lottery tickets according to one non-limiting embodiment of the subject invention.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates an example screenshot of a television program or web production of a broadcast or publicized lottery according to one embodiment of the subject invention. Seven additional figures are provided which illustrate example operations or methods or configurations of certain non-limiting embodiments of the invention, as well as certain example components and functions thereof.
  • FIG. 4a illustrates example operations or methods or configurations of certain non limiting embodiments of the invention, as well as certain example components and functions thereof.
  • FIG. 4b illustrates example operations or methods or configurations of certain non limiting embodiments of the invention, as well as certain example components and functions thereof.
  • FIG. 4c illustrates example operations or methods or configurations of certain non limiting embodiments of the invention, as well as certain example components and functions thereof.
  • FIG. 4d illustrates example operations or methods or configurations of certain non limiting embodiments of the invention, as well as certain example components and functions thereof.
  • FIG. 4e illustrates example operations or methods or configurations of certain non limiting embodiments of the invention, as well as certain example components and functions thereof.
  • FIG. 4f illustrates example operations or methods or configurations of certain non limiting embodiments of the invention, as well as certain example components and functions thereof.
  • FIG. 4g illustrates example operations or methods or configurations of certain non limiting embodiments of the invention, as well as certain example components and functions thereof.
  • At least one embodiment of the subject invention comprises a unique lottery ticket comprised of a photograph or other digital image submitted by a contestant in combination with payment for lottery participation.
  • a photograph or other digital image submitted by a contestant in combination with payment for lottery participation.
  • Such an image and/or payment information is compiled and/or encrypted to form a secure information capsule which serves as a lottery ticket.
  • the information contained in the lottery ticket (including the identity of the contestant, the image, and possibly other information) is secured from unauthorized access and therefore aids in preventing tampering with lottery integrity.
  • a non-limiting, example embodiment of a lottery system which utilizes such a lottery ticket (e.g., comprised of a digital image and contestant information compiled or encrypted to form an information capsule) is schematically depicted therein.
  • a lottery ticket e.g., comprised of a digital image and contestant information compiled or encrypted to form an information capsule
  • such a lottery system 1 includes five main stages or phases which begin with entry of a contestant into the lottery and terminate with the selection of a lottery winner and the broadcast or publication of such lottery winner on a television program, webcast, website, or the like.
  • the lottery begins with phase 1 where the prospective lottery contestant submits a digital image to the lottery provider.
  • a digital image may be taken or captured using a cellular phone (with a built-in camera) or may be taken with a conventional camera and then uploaded to a computer or cellular phone for submission.
  • a scanner may be used to create a digital image or an image may simply be obtained from third party sources or even authored via software programs such as Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, or Microsoft’s Paint application.
  • lottery kiosks may be provided in public locations, such as grocery or convenience stores, with such kiosks including cameras and appropriate data or internet connections for capturing and submitting digital images.
  • the image is ultimately submitted to the lottery provider or administrator using suitable methods or mechanisms. These may include, but are not limited to, via MMS message, internet (e.g., via email), proprietary software interface (e.g., contained or downloaded onto a computer, hand held device, or mobile phone), or via the above-described kiosk, for example.
  • suitable methods or mechanisms may include, but are not limited to, via MMS message, internet (e.g., via email), proprietary software interface (e.g., contained or downloaded onto a computer, hand held device, or mobile phone), or via the above-described kiosk, for example.
  • the image is stored on lottery servers in association with a unique user profile linked or associated with the lottery contestant (e.g., created simultaneous with, prior to, or after the submission of a suitable image).
  • Certain embodiments may utilize social media or networking sites, such as LinkedlnTM, FacebookTM, and TwitterTM for entry.
  • one unique method of entry may be accomplished by a participant applying a hashtag or pound sign (#) to a message and posting the message to a social media platform.
  • the hashtag that results in game entry may be defined by an administrator such as an event sponsor, a promoter, or the game provider.
  • the entry hashtag could be defined to be the name of a promoter and could appear as: #PromoterName.
  • a promoter may desire to promote the name of a product.
  • the promoter is enabled to define the entry hashtag to be a product name. In that case the entry hashtag could appear as: #PromoterProductName.
  • the game, lottery, or sweepstakes system mines or accesses data from the social media platform and may be configured to search for the entry hashtag (alternatively, in some embodiments, the data may be pushed if the hashtag operates as an entry command). This mining may be accomplished by a local or cloud-based network. Upon finding an entry hashtag the game, lottery, or sweepstakes system may enter the corresponding participant into the game, lottery, or sweepstakes.
  • a lottery contestant submits payment for lottery participation (e.g., payment for entry into the lottery, issuance of the ticket, and the chance at winning prizes or money).
  • payment can be completed using functionalities or services offered by contestants’ mobile operators where the owners of the mobile phones (or cellular phones) are charged or billed through their mobile subscription either as a credit, debit, or via deduction from a pre-paid account (e.g., a pre-paid SIM card).
  • Alternative payment options include cyber currency - such as Bitcoin - or may even include conventional cash or check payments.
  • Check payments may be made by scanning or taking photographs of a signed check (or other legal monetary instrument) and then transmitting or uploading to obtained image to the lottery provider or to an authorized bank or other account holder or manager.
  • a participant could be provided with a location to submit a physical, paper check (or other physical currency).
  • This billing or debiting (or at least the recording of the transaction) may occur simultaneous with an MMS image submission to the lottery operator, for example.
  • user profiles may be linked to payment services or options such as merchant accounts, credit or debit cards, or PAYPAL type accounts (e.g., such that when an image is submitted to the lottery administrator, payment is automatically completed via payment services linked to the user profile).
  • payment is made, in exemplary embodiments of the invention, whenever an image is submitted to the lottery provider (or when the lottery provider processes or accepts a submitted image), a valid payment is registered and a lottery
  • phase 3 the process of creating a picture or image type lottery ticket is begun.
  • the image file submitted by the lottery contestant is converted into a lottery ticket, as schematically illustrated in Fig. 2, which, optionally, can be used in an existing or conventional lottery process and infrastructure.
  • This conversion includes a combination or compilation of the digital image with contestant information, which preferably includes payment information, as defined herein above.
  • each lottery ticket e.g., created from a digital image, etc.
  • converted or created results in a self-contained information capsule (e.g., created or stored as a“.lot” file with associated MIME type(s) to process the file), which, in preferred
  • each information capsule or lottery ticket created will be linked to the users (i.e., image issuer’s or lottery contestant’s) unique personal profile.
  • the lottery provider or administrator charges a fee to convert the image into a lottery ticket.
  • traceable banking information for example routing numbers or information and/or clearing house numbers - will be integrated in whole or in part into the lottery ticket.
  • a serial number will be generated and integrated into or associated with the lottery ticket.
  • a serial number may be generated randomly or as a result of data provided by the lottery contestant e.g., derived from digital image information and/or contestant information.
  • a lottery or sweepstakes which utilizes the digital image submitted to generate a unique entry number derived from data present in the digital image.
  • the color patterns or color saturation within the image can be analyzed and unique numbers thereby generated from the unique color patterns or color saturation values found in each image. This can be done in combination with data sets derived also from the number of objects displayed within the image, or from the shape(s) of the objects displayed within the image. Accordingly, because each image (e.g., each personal photograph) submitted will be unique, each entry number derived from the image will be unique.
  • These unique numbers obtained, derived from the qualities of each unique photograph may be combined with the image and other contestant information to form a digital image lottery ticket for each lottery entrant.
  • the derived data sets can be converted into a unique individual lottery number, sweepstakes number, or serial number to be used as the unique entry identifier itself (preferably still associated with a digital image).
  • software can be utilized to more quickly evaluate such photo derived entry identifiers for the purposes of most quickly matching the numbers to drawn (or otherwise selected) winning entry numbers, for more efficient winner selection or determination.
  • open source extendable image formats are used for
  • non-open source for example, proprietary
  • non-open source or proprietary formats such use may be employed for the purpose of further uniquely identifying images or generated lottery tickets.
  • Such use may provide security or integrity to the lottery system or method by indicating the presence of or by providing necessary lottery information.
  • conventional PKI type encryption may be used to encrypt information capsules and/or tickets and/or contestant information (e.g., so that the tickets or information capsules, etc.
  • each of these steps or processes just described related to encryption, compilation of data, and/or otherwise related to the creation of the information capsule or lottery ticket may be performed by the lottery contestant rather than the entity administering the lottery (or such entity’s equipment or agent), or by some combination thereof.
  • software may be provided either preloaded into computers or mobile devices or made available as downloads (e.g., as an iPhone software application).
  • all of the necessary software may be hosted in“the cloud” to minimize hardware cost, install, and storage requirements.
  • the contestant could access the necessary software using a link provided on a mobile device, which is either located by navigating the world wide web or because it is received by email, text message, or other messaging mechanism or type.
  • a mobile device which is either located by navigating the world wide web or because it is received by email, text message, or other messaging mechanism or type.
  • such software could be used by a lottery contestant to pre-encrypt image and contestant information or to otherwise create a valid, secure lottery ticket (e.g., or information capsule) prior to or simultaneous with submission of such to the entity administering the lottery (whether or not such lottery ticket or information capsule is encrypted, by compiling or combining appropriate data or information).
  • a lottery drawing will take place in which lottery entrants will either be selected to advance to intermediate or advancement phases of the lottery and/or a final lottery winner or winners will be selected.
  • a lottery draw is conducted utilizing an approved (and preferably secure) random number generator and/or lottery draw machine supplied by one of a number of possible vendors.
  • the draw is completed in several rounds such as “qualification”,“advancement”, and“final” rounds.
  • a first round is completed or performed to select a plurality of lottery tickets which, as winners of an initial lottery stage (or“qualification draw”), enter or proceed to the next levels or stages of the lottery.
  • further draws are completed which select or determine winners to proceed to additional or a final stage(s).
  • one or more (or all) of such draws or levels can be broadcast (or integrated into an existing broadcast) on a television program or otherwise publicized such as on a webcast or website.
  • the various levels of draw may be completed or initiated prior to a television broadcast (for example) or, alternatively, as a live component of a television program (e.g., using pre-moderated images or photographs from or comprising the lottery tickets).
  • the approval or moderation process is conducted by human moderators. More particularly, such moderators will review and adjudge the submitted, selected, or drawn pictures or images to ensure compliance to regulatory and decency issues (i.e., which will typically be different from market to market and from application to application). If a picture is not compliant or is otherwise not acceptable (e.g., as decided by moderators or other mechanism), it can be exchanged or replaced with a dummy placeholder picture or other generic image for use in the associated television program or other form of lottery publication or broadcast.
  • At least one purpose of the television broadcast or other type broadcast or publication of the subject lotteries is to provide a visual, more engaging component to the herein described lottery systems and methods.
  • participation in such lotteries and/or viewership of such lotteries is expected to improve (e.g., because of the prospect of viewing a neighbor’s or friend’s or one’s own submitted image or photograph) thereby bringing additional revenue to such lotteries.
  • new lotteries can be organized and/or initiated in short periods of time. Moreover, previously organized or initiated lotteries can be completed in condensed time frames. For example, in certain embodiments, new lotteries can be announced to prospective contestants via television commercials, web broadcasts, SMS texts, or MMS messages, and the lotteries can be completed quickly or within some compressed time frame thereafter. For example, prospective participants generally interested in lotteries could subscribe to notification services which will send SMS or MMS messages (or emails) to such subscribers announcing the creation or initiation of new lotteries.
  • such announced or initiated lotteries could be joined or entered virtually instantaneously (e.g., without requiring a trip to a remote lottery ticket purchase center) such as by return MMS message or email message (e.g., with included image and/or payment information as described herein above).
  • games can be provided which can be played contemporaneously with the attendance of a live event, such as a sporting event or musical performance (or trade show).
  • a live event such as a sporting event or musical performance (or trade show).
  • potential game participants attending a live event such as a baseball game, are displayed an advertisement on stadium screens and through such advertisements in the stadium, are invited to enter into a competition or game to win a prize.
  • entrants are not charged a game entry fee for participating in the game or contest.
  • hopeful participants can simply send a photograph to an identified“short code” (or to a phone number or email address, for example) by the invited method, i.e., via conventional MMS message, for example.
  • the stadium screens will display the selection process of the prize winner or winners.
  • the photographs of the entrants may be displayed in a photo carousel or on a spinning photo-wheel, displaying numerous entrant photographs, that spins around and stops at the winning photograph.
  • Photographs of entrants may be displayed (concurrently or via alternating displays) - such as cascaded - in any other aesthetically desirable way, of course.
  • a financial sponsor or sponsors of the games can structure the game so that participants are sent a link to a social networking page (e.g., to a Facebook page) or to an internet web-page where they can see their photographs combined with logos representative or associated with the events they attended and/or the sponsors of the game.
  • a social networking page e.g., to a Facebook page
  • an internet web-page where they can see their photographs combined with logos representative or associated with the events they attended and/or the sponsors of the game.
  • games may be delivered or otherwise provided via cloud- based software.
  • Cloud servers in such example embodiments, may be operated and owned by the game provider, or the game provider may use the existing cloud server services of existing third party providers (such as cloud storage provided by companies such as IBM, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and the like).
  • the game provider may install physical servers at or near the event locations, or even in mobile vehicles, such as temperature controlled cargo vehicles carrying their own power supplies and game servers.
  • the software e.g., locally or in the cloud
  • the games may be streamable or downloadable by the lottery participant or by the event sponsor.
  • a game sponsor’s name and/or logo will be featured or otherwise displayed on the stadium screens and/or also in the confirmation messages participants receive on their mobile phones or similar
  • Coupons or other redeemable certificate types
  • advertisements or other marketing information or participation rewards
  • surveys or other sponsor related inquiries
  • the customer may provide or register one or more of the following details:
  • a phone number and name may be the only information given and may be collected by way of receipt of an SMS or other message from the lottery participant.
  • Information registered in the database may be encrypted.
  • the customer takes a digital picture utilizing a camera-phone or ordinary digital camera.
  • the customer scans an ordinary photo or image and uploads the photo or image to his/her phone or computer.
  • the customer uses an existing digital image created by the customer or any third party or other source.
  • the customer utilizes a publicly available lottery kiosk to create a digital image.
  • the digital image is sent to the lottery server by using a mobile phone, tablet, or similar device’s MMS utility (or installed software“app” or application). -or-
  • the digital image is sent to the lottery server by e-mail or instant message (“IM”) or via an internet chat service or via satellite connection (for instance from a mobile phone or electronic tablet) or by similar electronic mechanism or means (e.g., from a social networking site or web site interface).
  • IM instant message
  • satellite connection for instance from a mobile phone or electronic tablet
  • similar electronic mechanism or means e.g., from a social networking site or web site interface
  • the digital image is sent to the lottery server using a lottery kiosk.
  • the customer pays in advance by way of an existing, conventional payment and debit solution for mobile phones.
  • the customer has the cost of the lottery ticket and the cost of the data transfer added to the customer’s phone bill.
  • the customer has the cost of the lottery ticket (e.g., and possibly the cost of the data transfer) deducted from his or her pre-paid mobile phone card (e.g., instantly).
  • the customer pays via the internet by way of debit card or credit card.
  • the customer pre- pays the lottery ticket in a kiosk.
  • the payment and its amount may be encrypted (but is not required to be) and then registered and linked to the customer’s profile in the database.
  • the payment and its amount may be encrypted and/or registered and linked to the customer’s profile in the database.
  • the payment may be encrypted and/or then registered and linked to the customer’s profile in the data base.
  • the payment and its amount may (optionally) be encrypted and/or then registered and linked to the customer’s profile in the database.
  • the image may be manually checked in order to make sure it complies with laws and/or general ethical standards.
  • an image is, for some reason, not in compliance with current laws or ethical standards (e.g., because it is obscene, insulting in nature, etc.), the image may be replaced with a standard, computer generated image.
  • the customer may be sent a receipt by SMS text to the number registered in the database, and/or the number the image was sent from, as a confirmation of the transaction.
  • the customer may be sent an MMS message as a receipt and confirmation of the
  • the image may be encrypted.
  • the encrypted image is linked to the payment, the amount and origin of the payment (and possibly other contestant information, if desired) and may be assigned and linked to a unique sequence number.
  • the encrypted image serves as the actual lottery ticket.
  • the received image is combined with contestant information, payment details, and a unique sequence number and is encrypted to form an information capsule which serves as an actual lottery ticket.
  • the received image is combined with contestant information, payment details, and a unique sequence number which serves as an actual lottery ticket (i.e., without performing an encryption step or forming an information capsule).
  • a random number generator generates a unique random number for every participant’s customer profile.
  • a unique number is assigned to each lottery ticket at an earlier time or during an earlier step such as when the image and payment are registered as a lottery ticket.
  • the random number generator generates one or more numbers.
  • the numbers generated or“drawn” in step 2 are matched to lottery tickets generated or validated in earlier steps by matching such drawn numbers to the numbers assigned or affiliated with such lottery tickets in previous steps.
  • the customers (or customer profiles) associated with such matches are deemed winners (e.g., final or advancement stage winners).
  • Steps 2 and 3 can be repeated until the lottery provider (or operator) has a fitting or
  • desired number of participants or images for the final winner draw e.g., for display on the internet or for broadcast on television or on a stadium screen.
  • images can be screened by moderators at this stage in addition to or instead of at earlier stages when or if there are large numbers of lottery participants.
  • the television show or webcast or website will display images that represent entrants to the lottery.
  • One or more winners will be drawn by a random number generator.
  • the final winner (or intermediate stage winners) will be shown on a television show or webcast or website (or other desired public medium).
  • the participant may be called on the phone number it was sent from, if no preferred alternate number was provided (or may be contacted by other mechanism or means).
  • the show (or webcast or internet display) may be broadcast or published as pre-recorded, with delay, or live.
  • a database can be utilized to automatically track the gaming patterns of separate individuals.
  • the database may be optionally created by collecting data from payment information submitted for each entrant. For example, if payment is received with a credit card or checking account, the use of the same account numbers can be monitored, tracked, and/or tallied. These numbers can be compared against a database of known or suspected abusers or money launderers. In other or similar embodiments, the names of entrants, or the identification of entrants, may be collected.
  • a database or other utility may be utilized, created in association with the operation of the lottery, so that the lottery game automatically enforces age limits or other terms or conditions of the specific lottery game itself (which may be changed from game to game or country to country or state to state, for example).
  • the customer may provide or register one or more of the following details:
  • a phone number and name may be the only information given and may be collected by way of receipt of an SMS or other message from the lottery participant.
  • Information registered in the database may be encrypted.
  • the customer takes a digital picture utilizing a camera-phone or ordinary digital camera.
  • the customer scans an ordinary photo or image and uploads the photo or image to his/her phone or computer.
  • the customer uses an existing digital image created by the customer or any third party or other source.
  • the customer utilizes a publicly available lottery kiosk to create a digital image.
  • the digital image is sent to the lottery server by using a mobile phone, tablet, or similar device’s MMS utility (or installed software“app” or application).
  • the digital image is sent to the lottery server by e-mail or instant message (“IM”) or via an internet chat service or via satellite connection (for instance from a mobile phone or electronic tablet) or by similar electronic mechanism or means (e.g., from a social networking site or web site interface).
  • IM instant message
  • satellite connection for instance from a mobile phone or electronic tablet
  • similar electronic mechanism or means e.g., from a social networking site or web site interface.
  • the digital image is sent to the lottery server using a lottery kiosk.
  • the image may be manually checked in order to make sure it complies with laws and/or general ethical standards.
  • the image may be replaced with a standard, computer generated image.
  • the customer may be sent a receipt by SMS text to the number registered in the database, and/or the number the image was sent from, as a confirmation of the transaction.
  • the customer may be sent an MMS message as a receipt and confirmation of the
  • the customer may be notified by way of SMS or MMS or other mechanism.
  • the image may be encrypted.
  • the encrypted image is linked to contestant information, if desired, and may be assigned and linked to a unique sequence number.
  • the encrypted image serves as the actual lottery ticket. 3.
  • the lottery ticket created in step 2 above is linked to the customer’s profile.
  • the received image is combined with contestant information and a unique sequence
  • the received image is combined with contestant information and a unique sequence
  • a random number generator generates a unique random number for every participant’s customer profile.
  • a unique number is assigned to each lottery ticket at an earlier time or during an earlier step such as when the image and payment are registered as a lottery ticket.
  • the random number generator generates one or more numbers.
  • the numbers generated or“drawn” in step 2 are matched to lottery tickets generated or validated in earlier steps by matching such drawn numbers to the numbers assigned or affiliated with such lottery tickets in previous steps.
  • the customers (or customer profiles) associated with such matches are deemed winners (e.g., final or advancement stage winners).
  • Steps 2 and 3 can be repeated until the lottery provider (or operator) has a fitting or
  • desired number of participants or images for the final winner draw e.g., for display on the internet or for broadcast on television or at a spectator event.
  • images can be screened by moderators at this stage in addition to or instead of at earlier stages when or if there are large numbers of lottery participants. VIII. The show
  • the television show or webcast or website or stadium display (e.g., at a spectator or similar event) will display images that represent entrants to the lottery.
  • One or more winners will be drawn by a random number generator.
  • the final winner (or intermediate stage winners) will be shown on a television show or webcast or website (or other desired public medium, such as a display screen at a spectator event).
  • the participant may be called on the phone number it was sent from, if no preferred alternate number was provided (or may be contacted by other mechanism or means).
  • the show (or webcast or internet display or display at a spectator event) may be
  • a database can be utilized to automatically separate and track the gaming patterns of separate individuals.
  • a database or other utility may be utilized, created in association with the operation of the lottery, so that the lottery game automatically enforces age limits or other terms or conditions of the specific lottery game itself (which may be changed from game to game or country to country or state to state, for example).
  • a lottery or sweepstakes in which a contestant (or entrant) submits a photograph (or image) to the game provider, in which the game provider generates a lottery number from the photograph submitted. That is, as described elsewhere in the specification, after a photograph is submitted to the game provider, the photograph is analyzed for features such as the number of objects or persons depicted, the shape of the objects or persons depicted, the colors depicted, image contrast, color saturation, etc. As part of this analysis, the data collected is processed and used to generate a unique number from the image, which is thereafter affiliated with the game entrant, and then used as a mechanism to select or drawn a game winner.
  • a description of an example game is provided below:
  • the customer takes a digital picture utilizing a camera-phone or ordinary digital camera.
  • the customer scans an ordinary photo or image and uploads the photo or image to his/her phone or computer.
  • the customer uses an existing digital image created by the customer or any third party or other source.
  • the customer utilizes a publicly available lottery kiosk to create a digital image.
  • the digital image is sent to the lottery server by using a mobile phone, tablet, or similar device’s MMS utility (or installed software“app” or application).
  • the digital image is sent to the lottery server by e-mail or instant message (“IM”) or via an internet chat service or via satellite connection (for instance from a mobile phone or electronic tablet) or by similar electronic mechanism or means (e.g., from a social networking site or web site interface).
  • IM instant message
  • satellite connection for instance from a mobile phone or electronic tablet
  • similar electronic mechanism or means e.g., from a social networking site or web site interface
  • the digital image is sent to the lottery server using a lottery kiosk.
  • the image is analyzed for color, contrast, object numbers/ shapes, etc. (as described herein) and the data obtained is used to generate a unique entrant number affiliated with the image and therefore affiliated with the game entrant.
  • the customer may be sent a receipt by SMS text to the number registered in the database, and/or the number the image was sent from, as a confirmation of the transaction.
  • the customer may be sent an MMS message as a receipt and confirmation of the
  • a random number generator generates a unique random number to be used as the
  • a winning number may be selected by other means such as by the game provider
  • the number selected as the winning game number in the“draw” step is matched to a game entrant number determined in Step III. If no exact match is determined, the closest number to a match is optionally selected. Once a suitable game entrant number match to the winning number is identified, the winner of the game is declared. Such winner is the game entrant that submitted the photograph (or other image) which resulted in the game entrant number which matched (or most closely matched) the selected winning number. Optionally, the image used to generate the winning game entrant number is then identified and used to publicize the winner. Optionally, if no exact number matches are determined in this stage, no winner can be declared and any prizes can be carried over to a subsequent game.
  • At least one embodiment of the subject invention comprises a unique lottery ticket comprised of digital numbers and/or letters submitted by a contestant in combination with payment for lottery participation.
  • a sequence of numbers and/or letters and/or payment information is compiled and/or encrypted to form a secure information capsule which serves as a lottery ticket.
  • the information contained in the lottery ticket (including the identity of the contestant, the numbers and/or letters, and possibly other information) is secured from unauthorized access and therefore aids in preventing tampering with lottery integrity.
  • a non-limiting, example embodiment of a lottery system which utilizes such a lottery ticket (e.g., comprised of a digital numbers and/or letters and contestant information compiled or encrypted to form an information capsule) is schematically depicted therein.
  • a lottery system 1 includes five main stages or phases which begin with entry of a contestant into the lottery and terminate with the selection of a lottery winner and the broadcast or publication of such lottery winner on a television program, webcast, website, or the like.
  • the lottery begins with phase 1 where the prospective lottery contestant submits digital numbers and/or letters to the lottery provider.
  • digital numbers and/or letters may be delivered using a cellular phone (or scanned with a built-in camera) or may be scanned with a conventional camera and then uploaded to a computer or cellular phone for submission.
  • a scanner may be used to create a digital numbers and/or letters or an numbers and/or letters may simply be obtained from third party sources or even authored via third party software applications.
  • lottery kiosks may be provided in public locations, such as grocery or convenience stores, with such kiosks including scanners and appropriate data or internet connections for submitting numbers and/or letters.
  • the numbers and/or letters is ultimately submitted to the lottery provider or administrator using suitable methods or mechanisms. These may include, but are not limited to, via MMS message, internet (e.g., via email), proprietary software interface (e.g., contained or downloaded onto a computer, hand held device, or mobile phone), or via the above-described kiosk, for example.
  • the numbers and/or letters is stored on one or more lottery servers in association with a unique user profile linked or associated with the lottery contestant (e.g., created simultaneous with, prior to, or after the submission of a suitable numbers and/or letters).
  • a lottery contestant submits payment for lottery participation (e.g., payment for entry into the lottery, issuance of the ticket, and the chance at winning prizes or money).
  • Such payment can be completed using functionalities or services offered by contestants’ mobile operators where the owners of the mobile phones (or cellular phones) are charged or billed through their mobile subscription either as a credit, debit, or via deduction from a pre-paid account (e.g., a pre-paid SIM card).
  • This billing or debiting (or at least the recording of the transaction) may occur simultaneous with a numbers and/or letters submission to the lottery operator, for example.
  • user profiles may be linked to payment services or options such as merchant accounts, credit or debit cards, or PAYPAL type accounts (e.g., such that when an numbers and/or letters is submitted to the lottery administrator, payment is automatically completed via payment services linked to the user profile).
  • a numbers and/or letters is submitted to the lottery provider (or when the lottery provider processes or accepts a submitted numbers and/or letters), a valid payment is registered and a lottery ticket purchase (or lottery entry) is fulfilled. Thereafter, in phase 3, the process of creating a numbers and/or letters type lottery ticket is begun.
  • the numbers and/or letters file submitted by the lottery contestant is converted into a lottery ticket, as schematically illustrated in Fig. 2, which, optionally, can be used in an existing or conventional lottery process and infrastructure.
  • This conversion in preferred (but not necessarily all) embodiments, includes a combination or compilation of the digital numbers and/or letters with contestant information, which preferably includes payment information, as defined herein above.
  • each lottery ticket (e.g., created from a digital numbers and/or letters, etc.) converted or created results in one or two linked self-contained information capsules (e.g., created or stored as a“.lot” file with associated MIME type(s) to process the file), which, in preferred embodiments, carries all (or at least some) information necessary to secure lottery ticket integrity and to re-generate the originally submitted lottery picture or numbers and/or letters (and/or contestant information).
  • linked self-contained information capsules e.g., created or stored as a“.lot” file with associated MIME type(s) to process the file
  • each information capsule and lottery ticket (we need one capsule for contestant's information and one for“numbers and/or letters) created will be linked to the users (i.e., numbers and/or letters issuer’s or lottery contestant’s) unique player profile.
  • the lottery provider or administrator charges a fee to convert the numbers and/or letters into a lottery ticket.
  • traceable banking information for example routing numbers or information and/or clearing house numbers - will be integrated in whole or in part into the lottery ticket.
  • a serial number will be generated and integrated into or associated with the lottery ticket.
  • a serial number may be generated randomly or as a result of data provided by the lottery contestant (e.g., derived from digital numbers and/or letters information and/or contestant information).
  • data provided by the lottery contestant e.g., derived from digital numbers and/or letters information and/or contestant information.
  • serial number generated for every single contestant.
  • open source extendable numbers and/or letters formats are used for compressing or packing information, but in some cases, non-open source (for example, proprietary) formats will be used.
  • non-open source or proprietary formats such use may be employed for the purpose of further uniquely identifying numbers and/or letters or generated lottery tickets.
  • Such use may provide security or integrity to the lottery system or method by indicating the presence of or by providing necessary lottery information.
  • conventional PKI type encryption may be used to encrypt information capsules and/or tickets and/or contestant information (e.g., so that the tickets or information capsules, etc.
  • each of these steps or processes just described related to encryption, compilation of data, and/or otherwise related to the creation of the information capsule or lottery ticket may be performed by the lottery contestant rather than the entity administering the lottery (or such entity’s equipment or agent), or by some combination thereof.
  • software may be provided either preloaded into computers or mobile devices or made available as downloads (e.g., as an iPhone software application).
  • Such software could be used by a lottery contestant to pre-encrypt numbers and/or letters and contestant information or to otherwise create a valid, secure lottery ticket (e.g., or information capsule) prior to or simultaneous with submission of such to the entity administering the lottery (whether or not such lottery ticket or information capsule is encrypted, by compiling or combining appropriate data or information).
  • a lottery contestant could be used by a lottery contestant to pre-encrypt numbers and/or letters and contestant information or to otherwise create a valid, secure lottery ticket (e.g., or information capsule) prior to or simultaneous with submission of such to the entity administering the lottery (whether or not such lottery ticket or information capsule is encrypted, by compiling or combining appropriate data or information).
  • a lottery drawing will take place in which lottery entrants will either be selected to advance to intermediate or advancement phases of the lottery and/or a final lottery winner or winners will be selected.
  • a lottery draw is conducted utilizing an approved (and preferably secure) random number generator and/or lottery draw machine supplied by one of a number of possible vendors.
  • the draw is completed in several rounds such as “qualification”,“advancement”, and“final” rounds.
  • a first round is completed or performed to select a plurality of lottery tickets which, as winners of an initial lottery stage (or“qualification draw”), enter or proceed to the next levels or stages of the lottery.
  • further draws are completed which select or determine winners to proceed to additional or a final stage(s).
  • one or more (or all) of such draws or levels can be broadcast (or integrated into an existing broadcast) on a television program or otherwise publicized such as on a webcast or website.
  • the various levels of draw may be completed or initiated prior to a television broadcast (for example) or, alternatively, as a live component of a television program (e.g., using pre-moderated numbers and/or letters or photographs from or comprising the lottery tickets).
  • the approval or moderation process is conducted by software. More particularly, such moderators will review and adjudge the submitted, or winning numbers and/or letters to ensure compliance to regulatory and decency issues (i.e., which will typically be different from market to market and from application to application). If a combination of numbers and/or letters is not compliant or is otherwise not acceptable (e.g., as decided by moderators or other mechanism), it can be censored for use in the associated television program or other form of lottery publication or broadcast.
  • At least one purpose of the television broadcast or other type broadcast or publication of the subject lotteries is to provide a more engaging component to the herein described lottery systems and methods.
  • participation in such lotteries and/or viewership of such lotteries is expected to improve (e.g., because of the prospect of viewing a neighbor’s or friend’s or one’s own, personal submitted numbers and/or letters) thereby bringing additional revenue to such lotteries.
  • new lotteries can be organized and/or initiated in short periods of time. Moreover, previously organized or initiated lotteries can be completed in condensed time frames. For example, in certain embodiments, new lotteries can be announced to prospective contestants via television commercials, web broadcasts, SMS texts, or MMS messages, and the lotteries can be completed quickly or within some compressed time frame thereafter. For example, prospective participants generally interested in lotteries could subscribe to notification services which will send SMS or MMS messages (or emails) to such subscribers announcing the creation or initiation of new lotteries.
  • such announced or initiated lotteries could be joined or entered virtually instantaneously (e.g., without requiring a trip to a remote lottery ticket purchase center) such as by return MMS message or email message (e.g., with included numbers and/or letters and/or payment information as described herein above).
  • Interstate player registration (e.g.. in the United States)
  • the player must, before participating in a game of chance, supply two or more of the following: full name; address; phone number; debit card number; credit card number; email address; social security number; date of birth; and/or bank account number.
  • the information is optionally, but preferably, provided by the participant via a mobile phone application or via a website. After the information is sent to the database, it is cross referenced with other sources of information (e.g., driver license information, IP address, encryption token) to ensure that the identity of the participant is correct and that the participant is of legal gambling age.
  • Each participant can preferably only have one player profile. The participant can then, via the participant's credit or debit card, participate in games of chance.
  • the participant wins the winnings will be transferred directly to the participant's bank account and or credit or debit card.
  • the participant is issued a receipt and the database retains a copy of the receipt or transfers it to a second database. If the participant spends more money than he or she should, the participant will be locked out of the game for a period of time. This will be defined by either the participant's own spending limits or built-in spending limits. The participant can choose to delete or deactivate his/her profile.
  • a unique lottery in which electronic payment is accepted (e.g., credit card payment).
  • lottery play is monitored so that frequent players can be identified. If players play too often, they can be warned and/or play suspended for selected times. Frequency of play acceptability can be the same criteria for all players, or based on salary and/or credit history.
  • the customer must provide or register one or more of the following details:
  • Information registered in the database may be encrypted.
  • the customer creates a sequence of numbers and/or letters using a mobile phone, tablet or PC. These numbers and/or letters are the customers potential winning numbers and/or letters.
  • the customer scans a note with printed numbers and/or letters and uploads the numbers and/or letters to his/her phone or computer.
  • the customer uses existing digital numbers and/or letters created by the customer or any third party or other source.
  • the customer utilizes a publicly available lottery kiosk to create digital numbers and/or letters.
  • the digital numbers and/or letters is sent to the lottery server by using a mobile phone appclication utility or web interface.
  • the digital numbers and/or letters is sent to the lottery server by e-mail. -or-
  • the digital numbers and/or letters is sent to the lottery server using a lottery kiosk.
  • the customer has the cost of the lottery ticket (e.g., and possibly the cost of the data transfer) deducted from his or her pre-paid mobile phone card (e.g., instantly).
  • the cost of the lottery ticket e.g., and possibly the cost of the data transfer
  • his or her pre-paid mobile phone card e.g., instantly
  • the customer pays via the internet by way of debit card or credit card.
  • the numbers and/or letters may be manually checked in order to make sure it complies with laws and/or general ethical standards.
  • the numbers and/or letters may be replaced with a standard, computer generated numbers and/or letters.
  • the customer will be sent a receipt by SMS text to the number registered in the database, and/or the number the numbers and/or letters was sent from, as a confirmation of the transaction.
  • the customer will be sent an MMS message as a receipt and confirmation of the
  • the numbers and/or letters may be encrypted.
  • the encrypted numbers and/or letters is linked to the payment, the amount and origin of the payment (and possibly other contestant information, if desired) and may be assigned and linked to a unique sequence number.
  • the encrypted numbers and/or letters serves as the actual lottery ticket. 3.
  • the lottery ticket created in step 2 above is linked to the customer’s profile.
  • the received numbers and/or letters is combined with contestant information, payment details, and a unique sequence number and is encrypted to form an information capsule which serves as an actual lottery ticket.
  • a random number generator generates a unique random number for every participant’s customer profile.
  • a unique number is assigned to each lottery ticket at an earlier time or during an earlier step such as when the numbers and/or letters and payment are registered as a lottery ticket.
  • the random number generator generates one or more numbers.
  • the numbers generated or“drawn” in step 2 are matched to lottery tickets generated or validated in earlier steps by matching such drawn numbers to the numbers assigned or affiliated with such lottery tickets in previous steps.
  • the customers (or customer profiles) associated with such matches are deemed winners (e.g., final or advancement stage winners).
  • Steps 2 and 3 can be repeated until the lottery provider (or operator) has a fitting or
  • numbers and/or letters can be screened by moderators at this stage in addition to or instead of at earlier stages when or if there are large numbers of lottery participants.
  • the television show or webcast or website will display numbers and/or letters that
  • Winning numbers will be drawn by a random number generator.
  • the winning numbers and/or letters will be shown on a television show or webcast or website (or other desired public medium).
  • the participant can be called on the phone number it was sent from, if no preferred alternate number was provided.
  • the show (or webcast or internet display) may be broadcast or published as pre-recorded, with delay, or live.
  • a database can be utilized to automatically separate and track the gaming patterns of separate individuals.
  • a database or other utility may be utilized, created in association with the operation of the lottery, so that the lottery game automatically enforces age limits or other terms or conditions of the specific lottery game itself (which may be changed from game to game or country to country or state to state, for example).
  • the details submitted by the lottery entrant in Step I (“Registering the Customer”) maybe transmitted to or checked against a database and/or cross-referenced with data sources to verify the identity of the player and/or the age of the player and/or the playing habits of the player.
  • the winner selection phase (e.g., where a photograph entry is selected as a winner) may be preceded by an alpha-type (or alpha- numeric) lottery.
  • the first phase of an envisioned lottery may include a word or sentence matching stage which must be successfully completed to compete in the photograph (or video) entry phase.
  • the techological benefits of both may be realized.
  • the ease of deployment and certainty in winner selection may be obtained with the photo-entry portion of the lottery with the addition of alphabet characters to the lottery adding complexity to that portion of the drawing phase (to assist in minimizing or preventing duplicate winners).
  • additional revenue can be realized by including the additional play stage.
  • increased revenue may be generated by utilizing a per-letter entry fee structure for a dual-stage lottery (as compared to a single stage lottery) where the second and winning stage of the lottery is determined by selecting the photograph (or video footage) of the lottery (or sweepstakes) winner.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne des jeux, des loteries et/ou des loteries promotionnelles ainsi que des tickets, des systèmes, des technologies et/ou des procédés associés à ces premiers. Selon certains modes de réalisation, l'invention concerne des jeux uniques et/ou des administrations uniques de jeux et/ou des tickets uniques qui sont utiles pour participer à des jeux. Selon certains modes de réalisation préférés, l'invention concerne des jeux qui peuvent être administrés ou auxquels on participe au même moment qu'un événement, tel qu'un événement sportif, une performance musicale ou un spectacle commercial (par exemple, en même temps ou pendant un événement en direct). Selon certains de ces modes de réalisation préférés, les participants à des jeux ne font aucun paiement pour participer aux jeux.
PCT/IB2019/001157 2018-09-14 2019-09-16 Jeux, loteries et loteries promotionnelles ainsi que tickets, systèmes, technologies et procédés associés WO2020053666A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (10)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201862731636P 2018-09-14 2018-09-14
US62/731,636 2018-09-14
US201962846506P 2019-05-10 2019-05-10
US201962846536P 2019-05-10 2019-05-10
US201962846532P 2019-05-10 2019-05-10
US62/846,532 2019-05-10
US62/846,506 2019-05-10
US62/846,536 2019-05-10
US201962859722P 2019-06-11 2019-06-11
US62/859,722 2019-06-11

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NL2025553A (en) * 2019-05-10 2020-11-26 Magnus Nordby Reidar Games, lotteries, and sweepstakes and tickets, systems, technologies, and methods related thereto

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US20100325009A1 (en) * 2009-06-17 2010-12-23 Mpura, Inc. Internet and mobile technologies based secured lottery system and method
US20130012288A1 (en) * 2009-12-22 2013-01-10 Multilot As Lottery tickets, systems, and methods

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US20070026926A1 (en) * 2005-07-26 2007-02-01 Romanik Philip B Gaming Device and Ticket for Interactive Instant Lottery Games
US20100325009A1 (en) * 2009-06-17 2010-12-23 Mpura, Inc. Internet and mobile technologies based secured lottery system and method
US20130012288A1 (en) * 2009-12-22 2013-01-10 Multilot As Lottery tickets, systems, and methods

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL2025553A (en) * 2019-05-10 2020-11-26 Magnus Nordby Reidar Games, lotteries, and sweepstakes and tickets, systems, technologies, and methods related thereto
BE1027218B1 (fr) * 2019-05-10 2021-04-02 Reidar Magnus Nordby Jeux, loteries et jeux de hasard, et tickets, systèmes, technologies et procédés associés

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