Lottery style game

Abstract

A method and apparatus for playing a lottery style game. A player is offered electronic gaming tokens that provide a predetermined probability of winning monetary prizes and non-monetary prizes. The player then engages in an arcade style game which is adapted to allow the player to simultaneously play the lottery style game by incorporating the non-monetary prizes into the play of the arcade style game. The probability of winning money in the lottery style game, and the outcome of the arcade style game are independent of each other. The lottery style game and arcade style game may be played on a networked console in a gaming hall, on a personal computer or on any suitable hand held computing device.

1 . A method of playing an electronic lottery style game, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) offering a player at least one gaming token at a fixed price per token, each such token providing a predetermined probability of winning a monetary prize, and a predetermined probability of winning a non-monetary prize; and    (b) engaging the player in an arcade style game involving the application of physical or mental skill, the arcade style game adapted to allow the player to simultaneously play the lottery style game by incorporating the non-monetary prize into the play of the arcade style game;    whereby the probability of winning a monetary prize in the lottery style game and the outcome of success in the arcade style game are independent of each other.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the outcome of the lottery style game is partially revealed to the player upon the player achieving certain milestones in the arcade style game.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the player is offered additional gaming tokens upon the player achieving certain milestones in the arcade style game.  
   
   
       4 . The method of claims  2  or  3  wherein the milestones comprise incremental cumulative amounts of points scored by the player in the arcade style game.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a fixed number of the gaming tokens are secretly pre-assigned a monetary prize or a non-monetary prize, or both.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the non-monetary prizes are in the form of bonuses that enhance the player's performance in the arcade style game.  
   
   
       7 . The method  claim 1  wherein the gaming tokens comprise electronic scratch-and-win lottery cards or electronic pull-tab lottery cards.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the outcome of at least one electronic scratch-and-win lottery card or electronic pull-tab lottery card is revealed to the player upon the player achieving certain milestones in the arcade style game.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the further step of providing a display to the player of a summary of the outcome of the lottery style game at the termination of the arcade style game.  
   
   
       10 . A method of playing an electronic lottery style game, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) offering a player at least one electronic scratch-and-win lottery card or electronic pull-tab lottery card at a fixed price per card, each such card providing a predetermined probability of winning a monetary prize, and a predetermined probability of winning a non-monetary prize;    (b) engaging the player in an arcade style game involving the application of physical or mental skill, the arcade style game adapted to allow the player to simultaneously play the lottery style game by incorporating the non-monetary prizes into the play of the arcade style game;    (c) partially revealing the outcome of the lottery style game as the player reaches certain milestones in the arcade style game; and    (d) displaying a summary of the outcome of the lottery style game at the termination of the arcade style game;    whereby the probability of winning a monetary prize in the lottery style game and the outcome of success in the arcade style game are independent of each other.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the player is offered additional electronic scratch-and-win lottery cards or electronic pull-tab lottery cards upon the player achieving certain milestones in the arcade style game.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein a fixed number of the electronic scratch-and-win lottery cards or electronic pull-tab lottery cards are secretly pre-assigned a monetary prize or a non-monetary prize, or both.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the non-monetary prizes are in the form of bonuses that will enhance the player's performance in the arcade style game.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for playing an electronic lottery style game comprising: 
 (a) a gaming token containing data indicating whether the token has been assigned a monetary prize or a non-monetary prize, such data being unrecognizable to the player such that the player does not know whether they have acquired a winning gaming token prior to playing an arcade style game;    (b) a processor for receiving and analyzing the data contained in the gaming token and the processor simultaneously generating an arcade style game involving the application of physical or mental skill, the arcade style game being adapted to allow the player to simultaneously play the lottery style game by incorporating the non-monetary prizes into the play of the arcade style game;    (c) input means for the player to play the arcade style game; and    (d) a display for displaying the arcade style game and the lottery style game;    whereby the probability of winning a monetary prize in the lottery style game and the outcome of success in the arcade style game are independent of each other.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the non-monetary rewards are in the form of bonuses that will enhance the player's performance in the arcade style game.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the gaming tokens comprise electronic scratch-and-win lottery cards or electronic pull-tab lottery cards.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the display, processor and input means comprises a computing device.