Lottery system and method of running a lottery system

Abstract

A lottery system or game and method of running a lottery system are disclosed. The lottery system combines merchandise prizes with cash to provide a “turnkey” lottery system for a lottery operator wherein cash prizes are paid by the lottery operator and merchandise prizes are distributed by the merchandise supplier or manufacturer. The lottery operator has reduced costs because the merchandise supplier pays a sponsorship allowance, and the merchandise supplier receives an advertising benefit. The merchandise prizes may include sporting goods, and the prize may be a single item to a full system, such as a round of golf with golf clubs and golf balls.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for running a lottery system comprising: 
 providing lottery tickets wherein the tickets may have hidden indicia entitling the purchaser to prizes including cash, merchandise, and combinations thereof;    selling the lottery tickets to purchasers;    redeeming tickets having winning indicia for cash, merchandise, and combinations thereof when the winning ticket is properly presented to a lottery official or merchandise supplier or both.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lottery ticket is an instant winner lottery ticket.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the lottery ticket is a scratch ticket.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the lottery ticket is a ticket wherein symbols are revealed by a method other than scratching.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the merchandise prizes are sporting goods items.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the merchandise prizes are golf equipment, golf related items, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the golf equipment includes golf clubs, golf balls, golf bags, golf umbrellas, golf apparel, rounds of golf at select golf courses and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the merchandise is basketball equipment, football equipment, volley ball equipment, soccer equipment or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the merchandise is distributed to the lottery winner without involvement of the lottery system operator.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the merchandise supplier pays a sponsorship allowance to the lottery system operator.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lottery ticket has a printed advertisement of the merchandise supplier.  
     
     
         12 . A lottery system, wherein lottery tickets having hidden indicia entitling the purchaser to prizes including cash, merchandise, and combinations thereof are provided, and tickets having winning indicia are redeemed for cash, merchandise, and combinations thereof when the winning ticket is properly presented to a lottery official, whereby the merchandise is distributed to the winner by the merchandise supplier.  
     
     
         13 . The lottery system of  claim 12 , wherein the lottery ticket is an instant winner lottery ticket.  
     
     
         14 . The lottery system of  claim 12 , wherein the merchandise prizes are sporting goods items.  
     
     
         15 . The lottery system of  claim 14 , wherein the sporting goods items are golf equipment.  
     
     
         16 . The lottery system of  claim 15 , wherein the golf equipment includes golf clubs, golf balls, golf bags, golf umbrellas, golf apparel, rounds of golf at select golf courses and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The lottery system of  claim 14 , wherein the sporting goods items are basketball equipment, football equipment, volley ball equipment, soccer equipment or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The lottery system of  claim 12 , wherein the merchandise is distributed to the lottery winner without involvement of the lottery game operator.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the merchandise supplier pays a sponsorship allowance to the lottery game operator.  
     
     
         20 . The lottery system of  claim 12 , wherein the lottery ticket has a printed advertisement of the merchandise supplier.