Lottery ticket game

Abstract

A lottery ticket game is defined by a plurality of ticket substrates including winning and losing tickets, each having a first game area containing a plurality of first game numbers with scratch-off coating and a second game area defining a matrix of game locations set out in rows and columns in the form of a monthly calendar containing a set of dates in the month printed onto a layer of a scratch-off coating removable by the player. The player scratches off the coating on those dates in accordance with the numbers in the first area. Underneath each of the scratched dates is either a neutral symbol in the form of events on a calendar or a prize winning symbol indicating a prize.

1 . A set of winning and losing lottery tickets comprising: 
 a plurality of ticket substrates, each having: 
 a first game area on the substrate;  
 a plurality of first game symbols printed in the first game area;  
 the first game symbols being covered by a scratch-off coating which can be removed by the player to expose the first game symbols;  
 a second game area on the substrate;  
   the second game area defining a matrix of game locations set out in rows and columns; 
 the substrate having printed thereon a set of second game symbols each arranged in a respective one of a plurality of the game locations of the second game area;  
 the set of second game symbols being covered by a layer of a scratch-off coating removable by the player;  
 the scratch-off coating having printed thereon a set of third game symbols each arranged in a respective one of a plurality of the game locations of the second game area;  
 some of the third game symbols being the same as the first game symbols such that, when the player exposes the first game symbols, this provides an indication to the player of those of the third game symbols which identify game locations of the matrix to be scratched to expose the second game symbols;  
   on a winning ticket, a number equal to or greater than a predetermined number of the second game symbols define a prize winning symbol;    and on a losing ticket, less than a predetermined number of the second game symbols or no second game symbols define a prize winning symbol;    substantially all of the second game symbols exposed which are not prize winning symbols comprising one or more words which are neutral to the game.    
   
   
       2 . The set of tickets according to  claim 1  wherein substantially all of the second game symbols exposed which are not prize winning symbols comprise one or more words, which words are independent of the words of other of the second game symbols exposed which are not prize winning symbols.  
   
   
       3 . The set of tickets according to  claim 1  wherein each of the substrates has printed thereon game graphics defining a theme for the set of tickets and wherein substantially all of the second game symbols exposed which are not prize winning symbols comprise one or more words which are associated with the theme.  
   
   
       4 . The set of tickets according to  claim 1  wherein each of the second game symbols exposed which is not a prize winning symbol comprises one or more words, where all of the parts of the word or words forming the symbol are exposed by scratching the respective third game symbol.  
   
   
       5 . The set of tickets according to  claim 1  wherein there are seven columns and five rows in the matrix and wherein the columns are headed with the days of the week, and wherein the third game symbols are numbers representing the days of the month and wherein the first game symbols are selected ones of those numbers.  
   
   
       6 . The set of tickets according to  claim 5  wherein each of the substrates has printed thereon game graphics defining a calendar theme for the set of tickets and wherein substantially all of the second game symbols exposed which are not prize winning symbols comprise one or more words which are related to events on a calendar.