Method and apparatus for providing advertising

#The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for providing advertising, and more particularly, the invention is directed to a method and apparatus for providing advertising on a game of chance ticket.

#Games of chance continue to be very popular in our culture. Certain games of chance, such as instant ticket games or pull tab tickets games have gained popularity with social, fraternal, or church organizations seeking to raise funds. Commercial bingo halls also feature similar games of chance. Other conventional games of chance include state lottery instant tickets and betting slips. Certain betting slips are available at no charge. In these cases, a player holding a bet slip only pays when placing his or her bet. These and other types of games of chance are well-known and popular with a relatively large percentage of people.

#Many games of chance are played with play tickets that are discarded soon after completion of the game. Because most holders of the play tickets are not ultimately winners in these games, the holders are sometimes left with a feeling disappointment or sorrow regarding the particular game of chance. To counteract this affect, some games of chance include “second chance” options to compensate certain losing players. Some of these methods include a material loss of revenue or profit to the game operator. A need exists to compensate losing players of games of chance, without providing additional chances to play at the expense of the game operator.

#FIG. 1 is a front view of a prior art game of chance play ticket;

#FIG. 2 is a front view of a play ticket constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, showing a front facing surface;

#FIG. 3 is a back view of the play ticket illustrated in FIG. 2, showing a back facing surface;

#Referring to FIG. 1, a prior art game of chance ticket 10 is shown. As illustrated, the ticket 10 is sold by a State Lottery. A front facing surface 12 of the ticket 10 as illustrated does not include advertising for any goods or services. The back facing surface (not shown) of this ticket 10 is blank. The ticket includes imprinted graphical grids 14 that create areas 16 for a play ticket holder to records bet information. Other similar prior art tickets may be computer generated at the point-of-purchase to include play numbers selected by the player or by a random generator.

#Referring to FIG. 2, a front view of a ticket 20 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, showing a front facing surface 22. A portion of the ticket may be pre-printed at another location and a portion may be printed at a point-of-sale location. Alternatively, the entire ticket may be computer generated and printed at a point-of-sale location. The play ticket 20 includes a sheet of paper, a first graphical image 26 and at least one advertising graphical image 40a.

#As illustrated, the play ticket 20 is designed for use as a bet slip in a conventional game of chance. It should be apparent to others with ordinary skill in the art that play tickets for use in other games of chance may be constructed in accordance with the present invention in view of this disclosure.