Gaming methods with lottery ticket prize component

Abstract

A method of increasing player interest in gaming machines is disclosed by the use of lottery tickets as prizes. Lottery ticket purchasing pools are funded from either coin-in (wagers), coin-out (winnings), or in networked gaming systems from player tracking funding (promotional funding). The lottery ticket funding pools build value to a predetermined level, and then individual game machine printers are issued instructions to print lottery tickets (or vouchers redeemable for lottery tickets) to players. This enables an alternative to traditional progressives while providing similar player interest and excitement while using fewer casino resources than traditional progressives.

1 . A method for increasing a player's interest while playing a gaming machine, the method comprising:
 providing play of a base game displayed on a screen of the gaming machine;   detecting a cash-out event on the gaming machine;   presenting an option on a screen of the gaming machine to participate in an event separate from the base game in response to the cash-out event being detected;   providing the separate event to the player in response to the player's option selection; and   generating a cash-out event for any credits remaining on the gaming machine after funding the separate event.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the separate event is a lottery ticket. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein presenting the option to participate in the separate event in a pop-up window on the screen of the gaming machine. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein presenting the option to participate in the separate event using audio output. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the player's option selection through the use of buttons associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the player's option selection through the use of a touchscreen associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the separate event to the player includes dispensing the separate event from a printer associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing an additional display that is separate and distinct from the game display, wherein a lottery ticket may be selected by a player on the additional display and stored in a player account or printed out by a printer. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a default lottery that enables issuing a ticket in response to a time-out by a player. 
   
   
       10 . A method for increasing a player's interest while playing a gaming machine, the method comprising:
 allowing play of a base game displayed on a screen of the gaming machine;   detecting a cash-out event on the gaming machine;   inquiring if the player wants to purchase an event separate from the base game in response to the cash-out event being detected;   receiving instructions from the player in response to the inquiry to purchase the separate event; and   providing the separate event to the player in response to the player's instruction.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising funding the purchase of the separate event with credits accumulated on the gaming machine. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising generating a cash-out event for any credits remaining on the gaming machine after funding the separate event. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the separate event is a lottery ticket. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein inquiring if the player wants to purchase the separate event in a pop-up window on the screen of the gaming machine. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein inquiring if the player wants to purchase the separate event using audio output. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein receiving instructions from the player through the use of buttons associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein receiving instructions from the player through the use of a touchscreen associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein providing the separate event to the player includes dispensing the separate event from a printer associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing an additional display that is separate and distinct from the game display, wherein a lottery ticket may be selected by a player on the additional display and stored in a player account or printed out by a printer. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing a default lottery that enables issuing a ticket in response to a time-out by a player. 
   
   
       21 . A method for allowing players to purchase an event separate from a base game displayed on a screen of the gaming machine, the method comprising:
 detecting a cash-out event on the gaming machine;   presenting an option on a screen of the gaming machine to purchase the separate event in response to the cash-out event being detected;   providing the separate event to the player in response to the player's option selection;   funding the separate event with credits accumulated on the gaming device; and   generating a cash-out event for any credits remaining on the gaming machine after funding the separate event.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the separate event is a lottery ticket. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein presenting the option to purchase the separate event in a pop-up window on the screen of the gaming machine. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein presenting the option to purchase the separate event using audio output. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising receiving the player's option selection through the use of buttons associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising receiving the player's option selection through the use of a touchscreen associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein providing the separate event to the player includes dispensing the separate event from a printer associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising providing an additional display that is separate and distinct from the game display, wherein a lottery ticket may be selected by a player on the additional display and stored in a player account or printed out by a printer. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising providing a default lottery that enables issuing a ticket in response to a time-out by a player. 
   
   
       30 . A method of providing lottery tickets as a bonus to players of electronic-wagering gaming machines, said method comprising:
 accruing wagered funds to a promotional lottery ticket prize pool based upon wagering from player in a group of gaming machines;   providing play of a base game displayed on a screen of the gaming machine; and   initiating a bonus award to one or more gaming devices once the pool reaches a predetermined value, wherein the bonus award is an entry into a lottery.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the entry into a lottery comprises issuing a lottery ticket or lottery ticket voucher from gaming machine printer. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the lottery is run by state or government owned entity. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a random number generator is used to determine the winning machine. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the bonus award is only available at a subset of the group of gaming machines. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the predetermined value of the pool that initiates the bonus award is determined by a random number generator. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the predetermined value of the pool that initiates the bonus award equates to a specific number of lottery tickets that are awarded to the player. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a networked gaming system includes a data communications network operatively coupled to a plurality of game devices and a player tracking server, each of the plurality of game devices including a printer adapted for printing a lottery ticket. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a lottery manager maintains one or more lottery pools and determines the issuances of lottery tickets by way of the printers. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a player chooses from which lottery a ticket will be issued. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein an IP-based, server-controlled printer is associated with a gaming machine identifier in a server, enabling system-based printing to an IP-based, server-controlled printer in a gaming machine. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising providing an additional display that is separate and distinct from the game display, wherein a lottery ticket may be selected by a player on the additional display and stored in a player account or printed out by a printer. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising providing a default lottery that enables issuing a ticket in response to a time-out by a player. 
   
   
       43 . A method for providing dual port printing to provide printed tickets to players of gaming machines, the method comprising:
 providing one or more gaming machines connected via a network, wherein the gaming machines enable play of a base game displayed on a display screen of each gaming machine;   providing a printer that may be locally-controlled and server-controlled;   accruing wagered funds to a prize pool based upon wagering from players of the gaming machines, wherein the prize pool is managed by a server connected to the gaming machines via the network, wherein the server initiates a bonus award to a printer at one or more of the gaming machines;   receiving input from a locally controlled input device connected to the printer, wherein the input device communicates with the game, and wherein the game communicates with the printer; and   printing a ticket in response to receiving local-originating input or server-originating input.   
   
   
       44 . A method for providing an opportunity for players of gaming machines to win lottery tickets, the method comprising:
 providing one or more gaming machines connected via a network, wherein the gaming machines enable play of a base game; and   accruing wagered funds to a prize pool based upon wagering from players of the gaming machines, wherein the prize pool is managed by a server connected to the gaming machines via the network, and wherein a winning event on a gaming machine initiates the award of at least one lottery ticket funded from the lottery ticket prize pool.   
   
   
       45 . A method for offering an opportunity to make a purchase while cashing out a ticket from a gaming machine at a kiosk, the method comprising:
 providing at least one display screen, wherein the display screen presents information to a user in response to a user inserting cash or a voucher at a kiosk;   detecting a cash-out event on the kiosk using a cash-out manager;   offering the user an opportunity to purchase a lottery ticket in response to a cash-out event being detected; and   generating a cash-out event for any credits remaining on the kiosk after funding the purchase using a cash-out dispenser system, wherein the cash-out dispenser system is operatively associated with the kiosk.