# US 2006/0189373 A1 · Method and apparatus for gaming based upon a paper ticket > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0189373 A1 - Document ID: US20060189373A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/406,039 - Filed: 2006-04-18 - Published: 2006-08-24 - Earliest claimed: 2001-09-26 - Inventors: Gary Shuster - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060189373A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/40: for devices for accepting orders, advertisements, or the like - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A method and apparatus are provided for gaming based upon an instant-win ticket. The method and apparatus are for use with tickets of the type having a durable substrate carrying a predetermined hidden indicator indicating a prize amount, such as scratch-off lottery tickets. The apparatus includes an electronically controlled payment acceptor to automatically accept fungible payments, such as currency or tokens, from a user. An electronically controlled display, such as a slot-machine style set of rotating cylinders, is adapted to display continuously changing information to the user during game play. A controller is connected to the display and to the payment acceptor. The controller is adapted to control operation of the display and distribution of fungible prizes to a gamer, all in response to a prize amount read from the instant-win ticket. The apparatus includes a ticket-reader connected to the controller. The ticket reader is adapted to read the instant-win ticket and determine the prize amount indicated by the hidden indicator. The apparatus may be used to simulate a slot machine, with prizes determined by a paper ticket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for gaming based upon an instant-win ticket, the instant-win ticket comprising a durable substrate carrying a predetermined hidden indicator indicating a prize amount, the apparatus comprising: an electronically controlled payment acceptor adapted to automatically accept fungible payments from a gamer; an electronically controlled display adapted to display continuously changing information to the gamer; a controller connected to the display and to the payment acceptor, the controller adapted to control information displayed on the display and distribution of fungible prizes to a gamer, all in response to a prize amount read from the instant-win ticket; and a ticket-reader connected to the controller, the ticket reader adapted to read the instant-win ticket and determine the prize amount indicated by the hidden indicator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a ticket dispenser adapted to dispense the instant-win ticket to the ticket reader in operative response to a deposit of payment units in the payment acceptor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fungible payments comprise instant-win tickets, and the ticket reader is adapted to receive the instant-win tickets from the payment acceptor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fungible prizes are selected from electronic payments, tokens, redeemable vouchers, coins, or bills of currency. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a prize dispenser adapted to dispense the fungible prizes from a secure prize holder adjacent to the display, in operative response to the controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the secure prize holder is a currency bin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display comprises a plurality of cylinders imprinted with various symbols. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the controller is adapted to control rotation of the plurality of cylinders to simulate operation of a Las-Vegas style slot machine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ticket reader is adapted to read the instant-win ticket by removing an opaque film from the durable substrate to reveal the hidden indicator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tone generator adapted to generate a variety of tones as directed by the controller. ### Claim 11 A method for paying a prize based on a hidden indicator recorded on a gaming ticket, the method comprising the steps of: accepting payment from a user; reading a gaming ticket having a hidden indicator to determine a prize amount indicated by the hidden indicator; determining a game result based on the prize amount, the game result comprising a combination of symbols; simulating a display of a slot machine of a type that randomly selects a combination of symbols from a plurality of symbol combinations, and pays a predetermined prize indicated by the selected combination of symbols, wherein the game result is a winning combination; displaying the game result; and paying the prize amount. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising marking the gaming ticket to indicate that the prize amount has already been determined. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the simulating step comprises spinning cylinders of a simulated Las Vegas style slot machine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the simulating step further comprises initiating the spinning step in response to a lever pulled by the user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the paying step comprises releasing a plurality of coins into a hopper. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the reading step further comprises removing an opaque film covering the hidden indicator from the gaming ticket. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the reading step further comprises optically sensing the hidden indicator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting the gaming ticket from a plurality of different types of gaming tickets presented as choices to the user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the reading step further comprises reading a plurality of gaming tickets, and calculating a cumulative sum prize amount by summing prize amounts indicated by each gaming ticket. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the determining step further comprises determining the game result based on the cumulative sum prize amount.