Method and apparatus for jackpot progression based on mathematical expectancy for wins at each price point

A method comprising:

• providing, with a processor, a multi-priced lottery game with a first price point and a second price point such that (i) the first price point corresponds to a first pari-mutuel prize and a first known potential percentage of a progressive prize and (ii) the second price point corresponds to a second pari-mutuel prize and a second known potential percentage of the progressive prize, the second price point being greater than the first price point, the second pari-mutuel prize being greater than the first pari-mutuel prize, the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize being greater than the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize;
• providing a portion of ticket sales for the multi-priced lottery game to a prize management fund;
• providing, with the processor, an amount of the prize management fund to a coverage allocation for the second pari-mutuel prize, the coverage allocation providing funding coverage for the second pari-mutuel prize;
• providing, with the processor, an amount of the prize management fund to a progressive prize allocation for the progressive prize, the progressive prize allocation providing funding coverage for the progressive prize, the progressive prize allocation being distinct from the coverage allocation;
• providing, with the processor, an additional amount of the prize management fund to the progressive prize allocation for the progressive prize to accelerate growth of the progressive prize if a coverage threshold for the coverage allocation for the second pari-mutuel prize has been surpassed;
• randomly generating, with a random generation apparatus, a winning set of indicia;
• providing the first pari-mutuel prize and the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize to a player if the player purchased a lottery ticket at the first price point with indicia that at least partially match the winning set of indicia;
• providing the second pari-mutuel prize and the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize to a player if the player purchased a lottery ticket at the second price point with indicia that at least partially match the winning set of indicia;
• and
• resetting, with the processor, the progressive prize to a predetermined reset value after a player wins a pari-mutuel prize irrespective of price point.

A computer program product comprising a computer useable storage device having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

• provide a multi-priced lottery game with a first price point and a second price point such that (i) the first price point corresponds to a first known potential fixed prize and a first known potential percentage of a progressive prize and (ii) the second price point corresponds to a second known potential fixed prize and a second known potential percentage of the progressive prize, the second price point being greater than the first price point, the second known potential fixed prize being greater than the first known potential fixed prize, the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize being greater than the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize;
• provide a portion of ticket sales for the multi-priced lottery game to a prize management fund;
• provide an amount of the prize management fund to a coverage allocation for the second known potential fixed prize, the coverage allocation providing funding coverage for the second known potential fixed prize;
• provide an amount of the prize management fund to a progressive prize allocation for the progressive prize, the progressive prize allocation providing funding coverage for the progressive prize, the progressive prize allocation being distinct from the coverage allocation;
• provide an additional amount of the prize management fund to the progressive prize allocation for the progressive prize to accelerate growth of the progressive prize if a coverage threshold for the coverage allocation for the second known potential constant fixed prize has been surpassed;
• randomly generate, with a random generation apparatus, a winning set of indicia subsequent to determination of the first known potential constant fixed prize and the second known potential constant fixed prize;
• provide the first known potential fixed prize and the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize to a player if the player purchased a lottery ticket at the first price point with indicia that at least partially match the winning set of indicia;
• provide the second known potential fixed prize and the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize to a player if the player purchased a lottery ticket at the second price point with indicia that at least partially match the winning set of indicia;
• and
• reset the progressive prize to a predetermined reset value after a player wins a fixed prize irrespective of price point.

A computer program product comprising a computer useable storage device having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

• provide a multi-priced lottery game with a first price point and a second price point such that (i) the first price point corresponds to a first pari-mutuel prize and a first known potential percentage of a progressive prize and (ii) the second price point corresponds to a second pari-mutuel prize and a second known potential percentage of the progressive prize, the second price point being greater than the first price point, the second pari-mutuel prize being greater than the first pari-mutuel prize, the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize being greater than the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize;
• provide a portion of ticket sales for the multi-priced lottery game to a prize management fund;
• provide an amount of the prize management fund to a coverage allocation for the second pari-mutuel prize, the coverage allocation providing funding coverage for the second pari-mutuel prize;
• provide an amount of the prize management fund to a progressive prize allocation for the progressive prize, the progressive prize allocation providing funding coverage for the progressive prize, the progressive prize allocation being distinct from the coverage allocation;
• provide an additional amount of the prize management fund to the progressive prize allocation for the progressive prize to accelerate growth of the progressive prize if a coverage threshold for the coverage allocation for the second pari-mutuel prize has been surpassed;
• randomly generate, with a random generation apparatus, a winning set of indicia;
• provide the first pari-mutuel prize and the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize to a player if the player purchased a lottery ticket at the first price point with indicia that at least partially match the winning set of indicia;
• provide the second pari-mutuel prize and the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize to a player if the player purchased a lottery ticket at the second price point with indicia that at least partially match the winning set of indicia;
• and
• reset the progressive prize to a predetermined reset value after a player wins a pari-mutuel prize irrespective of price point.

A system comprising:

• an establishment module that establishes a multi-priced lottery game with a first price point and a second price point such that (i) the first price point corresponds to a first known potential fixed prize and a first known potential percentage of a progressive prize and (ii) the second price point corresponds to a second known potential fixed prize and a second known potential percentage of the progressive prize, the second price point being greater than the first price point, the second known potential fixed prize being greater than the first known potential fixed prize, the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize being greater than the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize;
• an allocation module, which is operated by a processor, that (i) provides a portion of ticket sales for the multi-priced lottery game to a prize management fund, (ii) provides an amount of the prize management fund to a coverage allocation for the second known potential fixed prize, (iii) provides an amount of the prize management fund to a progressive prize allocation for the progressive prize, and (iv) provides an additional amount of the prize management fund to the progressive prize allocation for the progressive prize to accelerate growth of the progressive prize if a coverage threshold for the coverage allocation for the second known potential constant fixed prize has been surpassed, the coverage allocation providing funding coverage for the second known potential constant fixed prize, the progressive prize allocation providing funding coverage for the progressive prize, the progressive prize allocation being distinct from the coverage allocation;
• a random generation apparatus that randomly generates a winning set of indicia;
• a first distribution module that provides the first known potential fixed prize and the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize to a player if the player purchased a lottery ticket at the first price point with indicia that at least partially match the winning set of indicia;
• a second distribution module that provides the second known potential fixed prize and the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize to a player if the player purchased a lottery ticket at the second price point with indicia that at least partially match the winning set of indicia;
• and
• a reset module that resets the progressive prize to a predetermined reset value after a player wins a fixed prize irrespective of price point.

A system comprising:

• an establishment module that establishes a multi-priced lottery game with a first price point and a second price point such that (i) the first price point corresponds to a first pari-mutuel prize and a first known potential percentage of a progressive prize and (ii) the second price point corresponds to a second pari-mutuel prize and a second known potential percentage of the progressive prize, the second price point being greater than the first price point, the second pari-mutuel prize being greater than the first pari-mutuel prize, the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize being greater than the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize;
• an allocation module, which is operated by a processor, that (i) provides a portion of ticket sales for the multi-priced lottery game to a prize management fund, (ii) provides an amount of the prize management fund to a coverage allocation for the second pari-mutuel prize, and (iii) provides an amount of the prize management fund to a progressive prize allocation for the progressive prize, and (iv) provides an additional amount of the prize management fund to the progressive prize allocation for the progressive prize to accelerate growth of the progressive prize if a coverage threshold for the coverage allocation for the second pari-mutuel prize has been surpassed, the coverage allocation providing funding coverage for the second pari-mutuel prize, the progressive prize allocation providing funding coverage for the progressive prize, the progressive prize allocation being distinct from the coverage allocation;
• a random generation apparatus that randomly generates a winning set of indicia;
• a first distribution module that provides the first pari-mutuel prize and the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize to a player if the player purchased a lottery ticket at the first price point with indicia that at least partially match the winning set of indicia;
• a second distribution module that provides the second pari-mutuel prize and the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize to a player if the player purchased a lottery ticket at the second price point with indicia that at least partially match the winning set of indicia;
• and
• a reset module that resets the progressive prize to a predetermined reset value after a player wins a pari-mutuel prize irrespective of price point.