On-line combined optional instant and future draw game of chance and method of playing same

Abstract

A combined future lottery and optional instant game uses a central computer connected on-line with multiple game terminals. The player chooses: 1) a first set of at least one game piece, typically numbers, at one of the game terminals and 2) whether or not to play an instant game. The central computer receives the selections, and stores them. If an optional instant game is selected, the central computer acquires a random second set of at least one number and transmits it to the game terminal. A ticket, whether printed at the terminal or displayed, includes the first and second sets of number(s) and an indication of whether the optional game was selected for play. Matching of one or more numbers in the first and second sets results in a win in any of a variety of numbers games and lotto games. The first selected set of numbers is also used in a future lottery such as a weekly draw lottery. A spacing between the first and second number sets appearing on the ticket, and bracketing of displayed winning amounts on a ticket, deter retailer fraud.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A combination future lottery game and instant game played on a network by a plurality of participants, comprising 
 a central computer and an associated random number generator,    at least one remote terminal operatively connected by the network to said central computer to receive and record for the future draw game a first set of game numbers selected by each participant,    said central computer issuing a ticket to each participant at said terminal, said ticket displaying: 1) said first set of numbers selected by the participant, and, 2) a second set of numbers generated by said random number generator,    said instant game being played by the participant matching at least one number in said first set to said second set, and    said future lottery game being played by matching at least one number of said first set with at least one number produced by an event occurring subsequent to said ticket displaying.    
     
     
         2 . The combination game of  claim 1  wherein said instant game is optional, said central computer and said at least one terminal also operate to receive and record an election by each participant whether to play the instant game, and wherein said game ticket display includes, at least when there is an election to play said optional instant game, said second set of numbers.  
     
     
         3 . The combination game of claims  1  or  2  wherein said communicating is on-line, and said display is a ticket printed by said terminal.  
     
     
         4 . The combination game of claims  1  or  2  wherein said second set is a group of numbers and said matching is one of said second set of numbers with said numbers in said first set.  
     
     
         5 . The combination game of claims  1  or  2  wherein said second set is an array of numbers adapted for play of an instant on-line game through said matching with at least one number in said first set.  
     
     
         6 . The combination game of  claim 2  wherein said display further comprises a visual indication of said second selection.  
     
     
         7 . The combination game of claims  1  or  2  wherein said display further comprises a visual indication of at least one prize associated with each said instant matching.  
     
     
         8 . The combination game of claims  1  or  2  further comprising the issuance of a trailer for said lottery game with said first set displayed thereon, where said ticket is a printed ticket with winning matches in said instant lottery game that is processed to collect an associated prize prior to said lottery game.  
     
     
         9 . A method for a plurality of participants to play a combination lottery and instant game at a plurality of terminals remote from a central processor, comprising, 
 A. a first selecting by each participant at a terminal of a first set of numbers to be played,    B. transmitting over a network said first selectings from the terminal to the central processor where they are stored,    C. randomly generating a second set of numbers at said central processor for the instant game,    D. transmitting said first and second selectings to said terminal,    E. issuing a ticket at said terminal that displays said first selected set of numbers and said second set of random numbers,    F. matching at least one number in said first set to the numbers in said second set to win the instant game, and    G. matching at least one number in said first set to a third set of numbers produced by a subsequent lottery event.    
     
     
         10 . The method of playing a combination game according to  claim 9  further comprising the step of: 
 a second yes/no selecting by each participant at said terminal whether to play an instant game using said first set of numbers, said second selecting being transmitted over a network from the terminal to the central processor where they are stored,  
 and wherein said ticket issuing step further includes the display of said second selection.  
 
     
     
         11 . A ticket for a future lottery that also provides an optional instant play by a participant, 
 a first display of a first set of numbers selected by the participant, and    a second display of a second set of numbers randomly generated and displayed after said first set selection by the participant.    
     
     
         12 . The ticket of  claim 11  wherein said ticket further displays an indication of whether the participant has elected to participate in the instant game.  
     
     
         13 . The ticket of claims  11  or  12  wherein said second set constitutes an instant numbers game.  
     
     
         14 . The ticket of claims  11  or  12  wherein said second set constitutes a lotto game.  
     
     
         15 . The ticket of claims  11  or  12  wherein said ticket is printed at a terminal, and wherein said first and second displays are printed on the same side of said ticket, further comprising a spacing between said first and second set of numbers such that as said ticket emerges from the printer, said first set of numbers is visible while said second set of numbers is not visible.  
     
     
         16 . The ticket of  claim 11  or  12  wherein said ticket further comprises at least one visual indication of a prize associated with at least one number of said second set of numbers printed thereon and devices printed thereon that bracket said visual prize indication closely in order to control a fraudulent alteration of the visual prize indication.  
     
     
         17 . The system for a plurality of remote participants to play a future draw game and an instant game on a network, comprising 
 a central computer and an associated random number generator,    at least one remote terminal operatively connected by the network to said central computer to receive and record for the future draw game a first set of game numbers selected by each participant,    said central computer issuing a ticket to each participant at said terminal,    said ticket displaying: 1) said first set of numbers selected by the participant, and, 2) a second set of numbers generated by said random number generator,    said instant game being played by the participant matching at least one number in said first set to at least one number in said second set, and    said future lottery draw game being played by matching at least one the number of said first set with at least one of those drawn in a draw subsequent to said ticket displaying.    
     
     
         18 . The game system of  claim 15  wherein said instant game is optional, said central computer and said at least one terminal also operate to receive and record an election by each participant whether to play the instant game, and wherein said game ticket display includes, at least when there is an election to play said optional instant game, said second set of numbers.  
     
     
         19 . The game system of claims  15  and  16  wherein said communicating is online, and said display is a ticket printed by said terminal.  
     
     
         20 . The game system of  claim 18  wherein said option is also displayed on said ticket.  
     
     
         21 . The game system of  claim 20  wherein said ticket also includes at least one indication of a prize associated with at least one winning number of said second set of numbers.  
     
     
         22 . The game system of  claim 21  wherein said ticket further includes a display of symbols that bracket said visual prize indication closely in order to control against a fraudulent alteration of the prize.  
     
     
         23 . The game system of  claim 17  wherein said ticket is printed by said remote terminal and includes a spacing between said first and second set of numbers that extends in the direction of movement of the ticket from said remote terminal in connection with said issuing, said spacing and the positions of said first and second number sets on said ticket being such that said first number set is visible while said second number set is not visible.  
     
     
         24 . A process for controlling retailer fraud in connection with the sale and payout of on-line lottery tickets printed at and issued from a remote terminal at a retail outlet, comprising the steps of: 
 issuing the ticket from the remote terminal along a first axis of said ticket,    printing a first set of numbers on a portion of the ticket that first issues from said terminal and is visible upon so issuing,    printing a second set of numbers on a portion of the ticket that issues from the remote terminal after said first set, and    spacing said first and second sets by a distance on said ticket that extends along said first axis and is sufficiently long that said first number set is visible while said second number set is not visible.    
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 24  further comprising the steps of printing an indication of at least one prize on said ticket and also printing a device that brackets said prize indication closely to prevent an alteration of the prize by insertions following said printing of said second set of numbers.