System and method for applying lottery multipliers

Abstract

A system, method, and ticket for a lottery player to increase a payout received for winning a lottery game is disclosed. A request to purchase a set of play indicia (e.g. lottery numbers) and to associate the play indicia with a multiplier is received from a player. Data relating to the set of play indicia and data identifying the multiplier are stored in a memory where they are logically associated with each other. A purchase price is determined for the multiplier based upon various factors including the expected value of the multiplier as applied to a lottery ticket. The set of play indicia may be for a drawing-type lottery game and/or an instant-type lottery game and may be defined by characters and/or other representations. An embodiment of the present invention also includes a computer system having a memory for storing data related to the lottery game and having a processor in communication with the memory. The processor is operative to store data in the memory identifying a first set of play indicia, a second set of play indicia, and a multiplier. Further, the processor is operative to associate the first set of play indicia and second set of play indicia with the multiplier and calculate a purchase price for the multiplier. Further, the processor is operative to apply the multiplier to redemption values of one or more sets of play indicia associated with the multiplier according to various different algorithms to compute a payout amount to award a lottery player.

1 - 68 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       69 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a storage device; and    a processor in communication with the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and    the processor operative with the program to: 
 determine a price for eligibility for a multiplier option, 
 wherein a magnitude of a multiplier is determined at random;  
 
 receive a request to purchase a set of play indicia;  
 receive a request to purchase eligibility for the multiplier option;  
 associate the play indicia with the multiplier, 
 wherein the multiplier is not applied to the set of play indicia if a redemption value of the set of play indicia exceeds a certain value; and  
 
 price a lottery ticket based on the price for eligibility for the multiplier option and a price of the associated play indicia.  
   
   
   
       70 . The apparatus of  claim 69  wherein the processor being operative to receive a request to purchase eligibility for the multiplier option includes the processor being operative to offer for purchase eligibility for a multiplier option having a magnitude within a defined range of magnitudes.  
   
   
       71 . The apparatus of  claim 69  wherein the processor being operative to receive a request to purchase eligibility for the multiplier option includes the processor being operative to offer for purchase eligibility for a multiplier option having a magnitude that is at least one of an integer, a fraction, and a mixed number.  
   
   
       72 . The apparatus of  claim 69  wherein the processor being operative to receive a request to purchase eligibility for the multiplier option includes the processor being operative to offer for purchase eligibility for a multiplier option that may be at least one of a double multiplier, a triple multiplier, and a quadruple multiplier.  
   
   
       73 . The apparatus of  claim 69  wherein the processor being operative to associate the play indicia with the multiplier includes the processor being operative to store data related to the set of play indicia and the multiplier.  
   
   
       74 . The apparatus of  claim 73  wherein the processor being operative to store data includes the processor being operative to store the data in a registration database.  
   
   
       75 . The apparatus of  claim 73 , wherein the processor is further operative to transmit the data between a lottery server and at least one of a player terminal and a lottery terminal.  
   
   
       76 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the processor is further operative to cause an output of a prompt to a cashier to offer to sell a second multiplier option having a multiplier with a larger magnitude than the randomly selected magnitude.  
   
   
       77 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the processor is further operative to cause a display of (i) the price for eligibility for the multiplier option and (ii) a price for eligibility for at least one additional multiplier option having a multiplier with a different magnitude than the randomly selected magnitude.  
   
   
       78 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the processor is further operative to input data relating to the play indicia and the multiplier, wherein inputting the data is selected from at least one of scanning a code representative of the data, keying in the data, recognizing a voice command, and receiving the data from a terminal.  
   
   
       79 . The apparatus of  claim 69  wherein the processor being operative to determine a price for eligibility for the multiplier option includes the processor being operative to compute an expected value of the multiplier option.  
   
   
       80 . The apparatus of  claim 79  wherein the processor being operative to determine the price includes the processor being operative to determine the price based upon the expected value of the multiplier option.  
   
   
       81 . The apparatus of  claim 80 , wherein the processor being operative to compute includes the processor being operative to compute the expected value of the multiplier option based on at least the product of at least two of a probability of a set of play indicia being a winning set of play indicia, a value of a winning set of play indicia, and a sharing discount.  
   
   
       82 . The apparatus of  claim 79  wherein the processor being operative to determine the price includes the processor being operative to determine the price based upon at least one of: a markup value, a magnitude of the multiplier, a number of other multipliers sold, an anticipated number of other multiplier that will be sold, an average magnitude of other multipliers sold, a total magnitude of other multipliers sold, a set of other multipliers sold, a number of lottery players, a number of play indicia sets being sold, a number of other play indicia sets sold, an anticipated number of other play indicia sets that will be sold, a total number of play indicia sets sold, a number of unique play indicia sets sold, an anticipated number of additional play indicia sets that will be sold, an anticipated number of times a particular set of play indicia set will be sold, the probabilities of each of the possible quantities sold of each of the possible set of play indicia that are sold, a number of play indicia sets associated with the multiplier, a number of winning play indicia sets to which the multiplier can be applied, a probability of winning a lottery, a size of a lottery jackpot, a lottery payout table, a set of lottery payout amounts, a type of lottery, a set of rules of a lottery, conditions defined to effect the magnitude of the multiplier, and external predefined conditions.  
   
   
       83 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the play indicia are for a drawing-type lottery game.  
   
   
       84 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the play indicia are for an instant-type lottery game.  
   
   
       85 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the multiplier can be applied to redemption values of any of the sets of play indicia associated with the multiplier.  
   
   
       86 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the multiplier can be applied to a redemption value of any one of the sets of play indicia associated with the multiplier.  
   
   
       87 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the multiplier can be applied to a redemption value of at least one set of play indicia specified by the player and associated with the multiplier.  
   
   
       88 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the multiplier can be applied to a redemption value of at least one set of play indicia associated with the multiplier and specified by a lottery provider.  
   
   
       89 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the multiplier can only be applied to a redemption value of a play indicia recorded on lottery tickets from a predefined group of instant-type lottery tickets.  
   
   
       90 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the multiplier is applied to a redemption value of a set of play indicia based upon the outcome of a predefined event.  
   
   
       91 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the magnitude of the multiplier varies based on at least one of a location from which the play indicia is purchased, a value of the play indicia, a type of lottery game, an outcome of an event, an initial magnitude of the multiplier, and a specified time frame.  
   
   
       92 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the play indicia are recorded on a lottery ticket.  
   
   
       93 . The apparatus of  claim 92 , wherein the lottery ticket is in the form of at least one of paper, cardboard, plastic, magnetic, optical, and electronic medium.  
   
   
       94 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the processor is further operative to: 
 receive a request to purchase at least one additional set of play indicia; and    associate the additional sets of play indicia with the multiplier.    
   
   
       95 . The apparatus of  claim 94 , wherein the processor is operative to record a first set of the play indicia on a first lottery ticket, record a second set of the play indicia on a second lottery ticket, and record an indicia of the multiplier on a third lottery ticket.  
   
   
       96 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the processor is operative to record at least one set of play indicia and an indicia of the multiplier on a lottery ticket.  
   
   
       97 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein the processor is further operative to record the play indicia on a first lottery ticket and record an indicia of the multiplier on a second lottery ticket.  
   
   
       98 . The apparatus of  claim 97 , wherein the processor is further operative to: 
 identify the first lottery ticket with a ticket identifier; and    record the ticket identifier on the second lottery ticket.    
   
   
       99 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a storage device; and    a processor in communication with the storage device,    the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and    the processor operative with the program to: 
 determine a price for eligibility for a multiplier option, 
 wherein a magnitude of a multiplier will be determined at random;  
 
 receive a request to purchase eligibility for the multiplier option and an associated set of play indicia, 
 wherein the multiplier is not to be applied to the set of play indicia if a redemption value of the set of play indicia exceeds a certain value; and  
 
 determine a price for a lottery ticket associated with the multiplier and the associated set of play indicia.  
   
   
   
       100 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a storage device; and    a processor in communication with the storage device,    the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and    the processor operative with the program to: 
 receive a request to purchase a plurality of sets of play indicia and eligibility for a multiplier option, wherein a magnitude of a multiplier is won;  
 associate the plurality of sets of play indicia with the multiplier option, 
 wherein the multiplier is not to be applied to the sets of play indicia if a redemption value of the set of play indicia exceeds a certain value; and  
 
 determine a price for the multiplier option based upon at least the multiplier option including a multiplier with a randomly selected magnitude and a quantity of the plurality of sets of play indicia associated with the multiplier option.  
   
   
   
       101 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a storage device; and    a processor in communication with the storage device,    the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and    the processor operative with the program to: 
 determine an expected value of a multiplier option wherein the multiplier option includes a multiplier having a magnitude that will be determined at random in conjunction with a lottery drawing; and  
 receive a request to purchase the multiplier option at a price based on the expected value, wherein the multiplier includes an undetermined magnitude at the time of the request and can be applied to a redemption value of at least one set of play indicia, 
 wherein the multiplier is not to be applied to the at least one set of play indicia if the redemption value of the set of play indicia exceeds a certain value.  
 
   
   
   
       102 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a storage device; and    a processor in communication with the storage device,    the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and    the processor operative with the program to: 
 determine a price for eligibility for a multiplier option, wherein a magnitude of a multiplier is to be determined at random;  
 receive a request to purchase play indicia;  
 receive a request to purchase eligibility for the multiplier option;  
 associate the play indicia with the multiplier option;  
 price a lottery ticket based on the price of the multiplier option and a price of the associated play indicia;  
 execute a lottery drawing;  
 determine, randomly, the magnitude of the multiplier;  
 determine a prize based on the result of the lottery drawing, the magnitude of the multiplier, and the play indicia, 
 wherein the multiplier is not applied in the determination of the prize if an initial value of the prize exceeds a predetermined value; and  
 
 associate the prize with the play indicia.  
   
   
   
       103 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for directing a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising: 
 determining a price for eligibility for a multiplier option, 
 wherein a magnitude of a multiplier is determined at random;  
   receiving a request to purchase a set of play indicia;    receiving a request to purchase eligibility for the multiplier option;    associating the play indicia with the multiplier, wherein the multiplier is not to be applied to the set of play indicia if a redemption value of the set of play indicia exceeds a certain value; and    pricing a lottery ticket based on the price for eligibility for the multiplier option and a price of the associated play indicia.    
   
   
       104 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103  wherein receiving a request to purchase eligibility for the multiplier option includes offering for purchase eligibility for a multiplier option having a magnitude within a defined range of magnitudes.  
   
   
       105 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103  wherein receiving a request to purchase eligibility for the multiplier option includes offering for purchase eligibility for a multiplier option having a magnitude that is at least one of an integer, a fraction, and a mixed number.  
   
   
       106 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103  wherein receiving a request to purchase eligibility for the multiplier option includes offering for purchase eligibility for a multiplier option that may be at least one of a double multiplier, a triple multiplier, and a quadruple multiplier.  
   
   
       107 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103  wherein associating the play indicia with the multiplier includes storing data related to the set of play indicia and the multiplier.  
   
   
       108 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 107  wherein storing data includes storing the data in a registration database.  
   
   
       109 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 107 , further comprising transmitting the data between a lottery server and at least one of a player terminal and a lottery terminal.  
   
   
       110 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , further comprising causing an output of a prompt to a cashier to offer to sell a second multiplier option having a multiplier with a larger magnitude than the randomly selected magnitude.  
   
   
       111 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , further comprising causing a display of (i) the price for eligibility for the multiplier option and (ii) a price for eligibility for at least one additional multiplier option having a multiplier with a different magnitude than the randomly selected magnitude.  
   
   
       112 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , further comprising inputting data relating to the play indicia and the multiplier, wherein inputting the data is selected from at least one of scanning a code representative of the data, keying in the data, recognizing a voice command, and receiving the data from a terminal.  
   
   
       113 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103  wherein the processor being operative to determine a price for eligibility for the multiplier option includes the processor being operative to compute an expected value of the multiplier option.  
   
   
       114 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 113  wherein determining the price includes determining the price based upon the expected value of the multiplier option.  
   
   
       115 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 114 , wherein computing includes computing the expected value of the multiplier option based on at least the product of at least two of a probability of a set of play indicia being a winning set of play indicia, a value of a winning set of play indicia, and a sharing discount.  
   
   
       116 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 113  wherein determining the price includes determining the price based upon at least one of: a markup value, a magnitude of the multiplier, a number of other multipliers sold, an anticipated number of other multiplier that will be sold, an average magnitude of other multipliers sold, a total magnitude of other multipliers sold, a set of other multipliers sold, a number of lottery players, a number of play indicia sets being sold, a number of other play indicia sets sold, an anticipated number of other play indicia sets that will be sold, a total number of play indicia sets sold, a number of unique play indicia sets sold, an anticipated number of additional play indicia sets that will be sold, an anticipated number of times a particular set of play indicia set will be sold, the probabilities of each of the possible quantities sold of each of the possible set of play indicia that are sold, a number of play indicia sets associated with the multiplier, a number of winning play indicia sets to which the multiplier can be applied, a probability of winning a lottery, a size of a lottery jackpot, a lottery payout table, a set of lottery payout amounts, a type of lottery, a set of rules of a lottery, conditions defined to effect the magnitude of the multiplier, and external predefined conditions.  
   
   
       117 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , wherein the play indicia are for a drawing-type lottery game.  
   
   
       118 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , wherein the play indicia are for an instant-type lottery game.  
   
   
       119 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , wherein the multiplier can be applied to redemption values of any of the sets of play indicia associated with the multiplier.  
   
   
       120 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , wherein the multiplier can be applied to a redemption value of any one of the sets of play indicia associated with the multiplier.  
   
   
       121 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , wherein the multiplier can be applied to a redemption value of at least one set of play indicia specified by the player and associated with the multiplier.  
   
   
       122 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , wherein the multiplier can be applied to a redemption value of at least one set of play indicia associated with the multiplier and specified by a lottery provider.  
   
   
       123 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , wherein the multiplier can only be applied to a redemption value of a play indicia recorded on lottery tickets from a predefined group of instant-type lottery tickets.  
   
   
       124 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , wherein the multiplier is applied, to a redemption value of a set of play indicia based upon the outcome of a predefined event.  
   
   
       125 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , wherein the magnitude of the multiplier varies based on at least one of a location from which the play indicia is purchased, a value of the play indicia, a type of lottery game, an outcome of an event, an initial magnitude of the multiplier, and a specified time frame.  
   
   
       126 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , wherein the play indicia are recorded on a lottery ticket.  
   
   
       127 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 126 , wherein the lottery ticket is in the form of at least one of paper, cardboard, plastic, magnetic, optical, and electronic medium.  
   
   
       128 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , further comprising: 
 receiving a request to purchase at least one additional set of play indicia; and    associating the additional sets of play indicia with the multiplier.    
   
   
       129 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 128 , wherein a first set of the play indicia is recorded on a first lottery ticket, a second set of the play indicia is recorded on a second lottery ticket, and an indicia of the multiplier is recorded on a third lottery ticket.  
   
   
       130 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , wherein at least one set of play indicia and an indicia of the multiplier is recorded on a lottery ticket.  
   
   
       131 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 103 , wherein the play indicia is recorded on a first lottery ticket and an indicia of the multiplier is recorded on a second lottery ticket.  
   
   
       132 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 131 , further comprising: 
 identifying the first lottery ticket with a ticket identifier; and    recording the ticket identifier on the second lottery ticket.    
   
   
       133 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for directing a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising: 
 determining a price for eligibility for a multiplier option, 
 wherein a magnitude of a multiplier will be determined at random;  
   receiving a request to purchase eligibility for the multiplier option and an associated set of play indicia, 
 wherein the multiplier is not to be applied to the set of play indicia if a redemption value of the set of play indicia exceeds a certain value; and  
   determining a price for a lottery ticket associated with the multiplier and the associated set of play indicia.    
   
   
       134 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for directing a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising: 
 receiving a request to purchase a plurality of sets of play indicia and eligibility for a multiplier option, wherein a magnitude of a multiplier is determined at random;    associating the plurality of sets of play indicia with the multiplier option, 
 wherein the multiplier is not to be applied to the sets of play indicia if a redemption value of the sets of play indicia exceeds a certain value; and  
   determining a price for the multiplier option based upon at least the multiplier option including a multiplier with a randomly selected magnitude and a quantity of the plurality of sets of play indicia associated with the multiplier option.    
   
   
       135 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for directing a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising: 
 determining an expected value of a multiplier option wherein the multiplier option includes a multiplier having a magnitude that will be determined at random in conjunction with a lottery drawing; and    receiving a request to purchase the multiplier option at a price based on the expected value, wherein the multiplier includes an undetermined magnitude at the time of the request and can be applied to a redemption value of at least one set of play indicia, 
 wherein the multiplier is not to be applied to the at least one set of play indicia if the redemption value of the at least one set of play indicia exceeds a certain value.  
   
   
   
       136 . A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for directing a computing device to perform a method, the method comprising: 
 determining a price for eligibility for a multiplier option, wherein a magnitude of a multiplier is to be determined at random;    receiving a request to purchase play indicia;    receiving a request to purchase eligibility for the multiplier option;    associating the play indicia with the multiplier option;    pricing a lottery ticket based on the price of the multiplier option and a price of the associated play indicia;    executing a lottery drawing;    determining, randomly, the magnitude of the multiplier;    determining a prize based on the result of the lottery drawing, the magnitude of the multiplier, and the play indicia, 
 wherein the multiplier is not applied to the determination of the prize if an initial value of the prize exceeds a certain value; and  
   associating the prize with the play indicia.