METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT A LOTTERY

Abstract

 The invention relates to methods for conducting lotteries. The technical result is that of maintaining and heightening the interest of the players in the process of the lottery itself.
A method for conducting a lottery, in which a lottery player is informed about the conditions of the lottery via a data input/output device in a lottery device, payment is made for participation in the lottery, the data fields of a lottery ticket are displayed on the data input/output device, the player enters numerical and/or graphical symbols into said fields, which are transmitted to a calculating device and processed, thus effecting the draw, the results of the draw are communicated and the winnings are paid out, wherein data identifying the lottery player or another individual or group of individuals to whom the winnings are to be paid can be entered and/or modified at any stage in the lottery.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to methods for conducting lotteries.

[0002] In one prior art method for conducting lotteries, for example, an electronic layout of a lottery ticket is developed for printing; an electronic database of registered and game numbers of lottery tickets is built; electronic databases of cash prize for each draw and the lottery as a whole are compiled; sets of random electrical signals matching a preset multitude of random numbers that is smaller than the multitude of numbers in the game set are generated; the registered number of a winning ticket is determined in accordance with the sequence of coincidence specified by the lottery conducting rules between these signals and signals matching the game data of the electronic database. According to the prior art method, an electronic database of an "instant win lottery" is compiled further on the principle of random distribution of the cash prize between the registered numbers of the lottery tickets; the registered and game data of a lottery ticket are used to identify the individual code; the respective signals are converted to an image on the lottery ticket and are protected against recognition by humans and machines; a random number of draws is chosen; the registered numbers of the tickets are registered according to the individual codes for participation in all the draws of a second game, except for the last draw; a database of all the registered numbers of tickets participating in the draw is compiled on an obligatory basis in the last draw of the second game, for which purpose signals corresponding to the registered numbers in the database of tickets sold are compared with the signals corresponding to the registered numbers in the database of the tickets that participated in the preceding draws, and if they coincide they are canceled; and a third (final) game is held for all the tickets sold to establish coincidence of the registered number of a lottery ticket with the sequence of numbers from zero to nine that are generated by a random law at a uniform distribution and length equal to the number of digits in the registered number of the ticket, and the procedure is repeated if no coincidence occurs (see: Specification of Russian Patent No. 2,234,133, G 07 C15/00, October 3, 2004).

[0003] In another prior art method for conducting a lottery, a symbol or a combination of symbols chosen by a player is formed; a symbol or a combination of symbols formed by the gambling machine is displayed; the symbols or combinations of symbols formed are compared; and the player's prize is determined on the basis of the comparison results. The player checks that the symbol or combination of symbols formed by the gambling machine remains unchanged by watching the condition of the symbol or combination of symbols formed by the gambling machine after the symbol or combination of symbols it formed has been fixed (see: Specification of Russian Patent No. 2,056,080, G 07 F 17/34, October 3, 1996).

[0004] Also known in the art is a method for conducting lotteries that uses a lottery playing machine provided with a data input-output device, a computer, and a printer (see: Specification of Russian Patent No. 2,137,196, G 07 C 15/00, October 9, 1999).

[0005] According to the prior art method, a gambling machine selects a symbol or a combination of symbols; and the player chooses a symbol or a combination of symbols and is then shown the symbol or combination of symbols selected by the gambling machine. In this case, the player is enabled to see that the symbols selected by the gambling machine are not altered until they are displayed. For this prior art method to be performed, the gambling machine is to comprise a unit for a symbol or a combination of symbols to be selected by the gambling machine, a unit for a symbol or a combination of symbols to be chosen by the player, and a comparison unit. These inventions enable the player to watch that the game is played at random and that the results are not manipulated. The technical result achieved consists in improved reliability and authenticity of monitoring.

[0006] A still further prior art method for conducting lotteries (see: Eurasian Patent No. 010440 published in Bulletin No. 4, 2008, August 29, 2008) (immediate prior art) uses a lottery playing machine provided with a data input-output device, a calculating device, and a device to receive payment for participation in the lottery, in which data are inputted through the data input-output device. A lottery participant is informed through the input-output device about the terms on which the lottery is held, whereupon the lottery participant selects the lottery terms and inputs data identifying himself/herself, or another person, or a group of persons to whom the prize will be paid, following which the screen of the data input-output device displays data fields to be filled in by the lottery participant, the input data are transferred to, and processed in, the calculating device, and the lottery participant is informed about the procedure to be followed to learn about the lottery results and, in the event of a win, to receive the prize. The prize is paid by cashless payment for the services selected by the lottery participant in favor of the person(s) whose identification data are inputted by the lottery participant, the prize being paid, at the lottery participant's option, in a lump sum or in installments that can be accumulated, and the lottery participant being enabled at any stage of the lottery to input the data identifying the person(s) in whose favor the prize is paid. The lottery participant selects services from the following list: payment for cellular network services, Internet services, cable television, housing and utility services, and payment of fees, fares, dues, fines, and penalties. A touch-sensitive screen is used as the data input-output device. An IBM-compatible personal computer is used as the calculating device. Data are transferred to the calculating device from external communications devices such as modems and antennas that enable the device for cashless payment of services to operate in the GLONAS, GPRS, GSM, and other data transfer standards. Data fields are displayed on the screen of the data input-output device in the form of tables. The lottery participant fills in the data fields by inserting numerical and/or graphic data. This lottery conducting method helps heighten lottery participants' gambling interest significantly.

[0007] The above-described methods are disadvantageous because they offer no opportunity for data being added and/or changes made as the lottery is run in respect of the person(s) in whose favor the prize will be paid, that is, no opportunity exists for a lottery participant to distribute the prize already received and/or coming in as the lotery runs, and/or a result of his/her participation in the lottery.

[0008] The claimed invention is intended to correct this deficiency.

[0009] The technical result achieved by performing the claimed invention is an improved procedure for conducting a lottery, and more specifically improvement in the performance of the lottery steps by providing an opportunity for data to be added and/or changes made in the data related to a person or a group of persons in whose favor the prize would be paid, and, as a result, a greater gambling interest among the lottery participants.

[0010] The objective of the invention is attained as follows:

[0011] In a method for conducting a lottery in which a lottery participant is informed, through a data input-output device of the lottery playing machine, about the terms on which the lottery is held, the lottery participant makes payment for his/her participation in the lottery, whereupon the data input-output device of the lottery playing machine displays the data fields of a lottery ticket, the lottery participant fills in the data fields of the lottery ticket with numerical and/or graphic symbols, the symbols that the lottery participant has inserted in the data fields of the lottery ticket are then transmitted to, and processed in, a calculating device for a lottery draw to take place, whereupon the lottery participant is notified of the results of the lottery draw played and the prize is paid to the lottery player if his/her participation in the lottery has been successful, in accordance with the claimed invention, the lottery participant can, at any stage of lottery conducting , add and/or change data identifying the lottery participant, or another person, or a group of persons to whom the prize will be paid.

[0012] Payment terminals, gambling machines, photo kiosks, and automatic car parking meters are suitable for use as lottery playing machines.

[0013] A touch-sensitive screen is used as a data input-output device.

[0014] An IBM PC compatible personal computer is used as a calculating device.

[0015] The data values that a lottery participant inserts in the data fields of a lottery ticket are transmitted to the calculating device from external communications devices such as modems and antennas enabling a lottery to be held through the GLONAS, GPRS, and GSM systems.

[0016] Performance of the claimed invention helps technically to improve the lottery conducting procedure by simplifying the sequence in which the method steps are performed to afford an opportunity at any stage of the lottery for adding and/or changing data on a person or a group of persons in whose favor the prize will be paid.

[0017] Obviously, this invention offers a new technical solution to maintain, among its other advantages, the lottery participants' interest toward the lottery for a considerable stretch of time and to stimulate the lottery participants' gambling interest in the lottery while they are playing.

[0018] These objects will clearly be achieved, and the technical result will be produced, essentially by giving a lottery participant as the lottery runs, that is, at every stage of the running lottery, an opportunity to add and change data on the persons (person) in whose favor the prize will be paid.

[0019] The invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings that do not, however, limit the range of possible embodiments thereof.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the lottery playing machine.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of messages displayed on the screen of the data input-output device.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are views of data fields in tabulated format.

[0020] In FIG. 1, 1 is the body of the lottery playing machine, 2 is a data input-output device, 3 is a shutter, and 4 is an antenna.

[0021] Following below is a description of an embodiment of the invention that does not in the least rule out all possible embodiments thereof.

[0022] A would-be lottery participant comes up to the lottery playing machine such as possibly a terminal to make instant payments for any services. At the moment, the data input-output device of the machine displays, for example, several lottery playing options (see: FIG. 2), and also the terms of payment for a service, for example, the Internet telephone, mobile communications, housing and utility services, and so on.

[0023] After informing himself/herself of the display data, the would-be lottery participant chooses to play the lottery by paying a minimum possible amount of, for example, 10 rubles, which is the minimum face value of a lottery ticket.

[0024] A lottery ticket of 10 rubles face value gives its purchaser, according to the lottery terms, a chance of winning 100 to 1,000 rubles.

[0025] Further, the lottery participant decides to take part in a preliminary lottery and tries to raise the face value of his/her lottery ticket, which gives him/her a chance to win a larger prize.

[0026] The lottery participant starts playing in the preliminary lottery. The data input-output device displays, for example, on its touch-sensitive screen the data fields of the lottery ticket to be filled in by the lottery participant.

[0027] The lottery participant begins filling in the data fields of the lottery ticket.

[0028] The data fields of the lottery ticket may be filled in with values the lottery participant received by participating in the preliminary lottery, allowing him/her to increase or reduce the face value of the lottery ticket that affects the amount of a likely prize to be won by participation in the lottery.

[0029] The lottery ticket is filled in by the lottery participant taking part in, for example, a logic game, or a lottery that is displayed on the screen on the lottery playing machine, such as a payment terminal, an automated teller machine, and so on.

[0030] The lottery participant is asked to guess a game combination offered by the computer, for example, which of the three barrels displayed on the screen contains honey, hit a randomly selected target from cannon by first selecting a matching shell, etc.

[0031] At the moment when the lottery participant presses, for example, a definite area of the touch-sensitive screen, a numerical value and/or graphic image selected by the computer at random or in a specified pattern is inserted in a data field of the lottery ticket. In this way, all the data fields of the lottery ticket are filled in.

[0032] The lottery participant may be assumed to raise, by taking part in the preliminary lottery, the face value (status) of the lottery ticket to 100 rubles.

[0033] Under the terms of the lottery, the higher status gives him/her a chance to win a prize of a higher order, for example, within the range of 10,000 to 100,000 rubles.

[0034] Following this, the lottery participant joins in the main lottery that is played at the new (changed) face value of the tickets.

[0035] The lottery participant inputs, through the data input-output device, into the lottery playing machine any data (numerals or graphic symbols, images, and so on) needed for participation in the main lottery for transfer thereof, for example, to a calculating device (a computer, for example, an IBM PC compatible computer) housed in the body of the lottery playing machine, to be processed by said calculating device.

[0036] The lottery participant can add, at any stage of the lottery (preliminary or main) through the data input-output device of the lottery playing machine, data identifying himself/herself, or another person, or a group of persons, in whose favor the prize will be paid. Providing this possibility is the idea of the claimed invention because the lottery participant cannot know from the start, that is, before he/she knows the amount of the prize won, how the lottery participant will use the lottery prize received.

[0037] For example, the lottery participant paid the fees for participation in the lottery, before filling in the data fields of the lottery ticket and before the lottery draw takes place, inserted, through the data input-output device, his/her own data as those of the person in whose favor the prize will be paid.

[0038] After the data have been processed in the calculating device, or simultaneously with data processing, the participant is informed how the prize can be received. This information may be communicated on the display of the data input-output device or, for example, by a message, such as an SMS message, of an appropriate content sent automatically to the participant's cellular telephone.

[0039] As soon as the lottery participant learns that his/her win is significantly larger than the amount that the lottery participant expected to win at the start, he/she may be motivated by moral or ethical considerations to transfer the prize in favor of another person.

[0040] Accordingly, the lottery participant decides to make changes in the data identifying the person in whose favor the prize will be paid.

[0041] In this example, the prize will be paid by making cashless payment for housing and utility services in favor of, for a example, a charity or a children's boarding school selected by the lottery participant by touching specified areas of the data input-output device after the lottery has been held.

[0042] In this way, improvement is achieved in a method for conducting a lottery by improving the sequence of steps of the method for conducting a lottery by providing an opportunity for adding and/or changing, at any stage of the running lottery, data on a person or a group of persons in whose favor the prize will be paid and, as a result, heightening the lottery participants' interest in continuing to participate in it.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a lottery in which a lottery participant is informed through a data input-output device of a lottery playing machine about the terms of the lottery; the lottery participant pays a fee for participation in the lottery, whereupon the data input-output device of the lottery playing machine displays the data fields of a lottery ticket; the lottery participant fills in the data fields of the lottery ticket with numerical and/or graphic symbols; the values inserted by the lottery participant in the data fields of the lottery ticket are then transferred to, and processed in, a calculating device for a lottery draw to take place, whereupon the lottery participant is informed about the results of the lottery draw just held, and a prize is paid to the lottery participant in the event of his/her win in the lottery, wherein the lottery participant may add and/or change data identifying the lottery participant, or another person, or a group of persons to whom the prize will be paid, at any stage of the lottery held.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein payment terminals, automated teller machines, gambling machines, photo kiosks, and automatic car parking meters are used as the machine for conducting the lottery.

3. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 and 2, wherein a touch-sensitive screen is used as the data input-output device.

4. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein an IBM PC compatible computer is used as the calculating device.

5. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the data on the values that the lottery participant inserts in the data fields of a lottery ticket are transferred to the calculating device by external communications facilities such as modems and antennas allowing the lottery to be held through the GLONAS, GPRS, and GSM systems.

Drawing