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US 7,351,142 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for facilitating play of fractional value lottery games
AssigneeWalker Digital, LLC
InventorsJay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Sanjay K. Jindal, Andrew S. Van Luchene, Stephen C. Tulley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to one embodiment, a method is provided for redeeming a game entry. The method includes steps of determining a wager amount that is associated with a winning game entry, determining a proportional share based on the wager amount, and determining a prize share amount based on the proportional share. The method may further include providing the prize share amount to a holder of the winning game entry. In some alternative embodiments, a prize for a winning game entry may be a non-monetary benefit.
Claims25
A method comprising:
- receiving from a customer a request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for a purchase amount that is less than one dollar;
- generating a combination of characters at random, the combination comprising:
- a first alphanumeric character,
- a second alphanumeric character,
- a third alphanumeric character,
- a fourth alphanumeric character,
- a fifth alphanumeric character, and
- a sixth alphanumeric character;
- printing a lottery ticket, the lottery ticket including:
- an indication of the combination of characters,
- an indication of the purchase amount,
- an indication of a draw date, and
- a signature line;
- providing the lottery ticket to the customer in exchange for the purchase amount;
- determining a set of lottery tickets purchased for a day's drawing,
- in which each lottery ticket is associated with a respective purchase amount and a respective combination of characters,
- the set of lottery tickets including the lottery ticket of the customer;
- determining a prize amount based on the respective purchase amounts;
- drawing a first winning lottery ticket from the set of lottery tickets;
- drawing a second winning lottery ticket from the set of lottery tickets;
- drawing a third winning lottery ticket from the set of lottery tickets;
- determining a total cost based on a purchase amount of the first winning lottery ticket, a purchase amount of the second winning lottery ticket, and a purchase amount of the third winning lottery ticket;
- receiving an indication of the combination of characters of the lottery ticket that was provided to the customer;
- determining whether the combination of characters is the same as the respective combination of characters associated with the first winning lottery ticket;
- and
- determining a share of the prize amount based on the purchase amount of the first winning lottery ticket and the total cost.
23 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving a request from a customer to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for a fractional monetary amount;
- receiving the fractional monetary amount from the customer;
- determining a ticket value based on the fractional monetary amount;
- outputting a ticket identifier that identifies the lottery ticket;
- outputting an indication of the ticket value;
- determining a proportional share based on the ticket value;
- determining a prize share amount based on the proportional share;
- and
- providing the prize share amount to the customer.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving a request from a customer to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for a fractional monetary amount;
- receiving the fractional monetary amount from the customer;
- outputting a ticket identifier that identifies the lottery ticket;
- determining whether the lottery ticket is a winning ticket;
- and
- if the lottery ticket is a winning ticket,
- determining a benefit that is associated with the lottery ticket, and providing the benefit to the customer.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving a request to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for a fractional monetary amount;
- receiving the fractional monetary amount;
- determining a fractional ticket value based on the fractional monetary amount;
- outputting a ticket identifier that identifies the lottery ticket;
- and
- outputting an indication of the fractional ticket value.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving a request by a customer to purchase a lottery ticket in exchange for a wager amount,
- in which the wager amount is not a whole-number multiple of one dollar, and
- in which the lottery ticket corresponds to a variably-priced lottery game;
- determining a ticket value based on the wager amount;
- generating a lottery ticket having the ticket value;
- and
- providing the lottery ticket to the customer.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- determining a wager amount that is associated with a winning lottery ticket;
- determining a proportional share based on the wager amount;
- determining a prize share amount based on the proportional share;
- and
- providing the prize share amount to a holder of the winning lottery ticket.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- determining a first wager amount that is associated with a first winning lottery ticket;
- determining a second wager amount that is associated with a second winning lottery ticket;
- determining a proportional share based on the first wager amount and the second wager amount;
- determining a prize share amount based on the proportional share;
- and
- providing the prize share amount to a holder of the first winning lottery ticket.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving first ticket numbers from a first holder of a first fractional lottery ticket,
- in which the first fractional lottery ticket is associated with a lottery game;
- determining a first purchase price that is associated with the first fractional lottery ticket;
- receiving second ticket numbers from a second holder of a second fractional lottery ticket,
- in which the second fractional lottery ticket is associated with the lottery game;
- determining a second purchase price that is associated with the second fractional lottery ticket;
- determining a prize amount of the lottery game;
- determining a first share of the prize amount based on the first ticket numbers and the first purchase price;
- determining a second share of the prize amount based on the second ticket numbers and the second purchase price;
- and
- providing the first share of the prize amount to the first holder.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.