Gaming systems with lottery ticket prize component

Abstract

A system 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 gaming system for increasing a player's interest while playing a game, the gaming system comprising:
 at least one gaming machine having a display screen, wherein the display screen presents a base game;   a cash-out manager, wherein the cash-out manager detects a cash-out event on the gaming machine, wherein the cash-out manager presents an option on the display screen of the gaming machine to participate in an event separate from the base game in response to a cash-out event being detected, and wherein the cash-out manager presents the separate event to the player in response to the player's selection of the option; and   a cash-out dispenser system, wherein the cash-out dispenser system generates a cash-out event for any credits remaining on the gaming machine after funding the separate event, wherein the cash-out dispenser system is operatively associated with the gaming machine.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the separate event is a lottery ticket. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system presents the option to participate in the separate event in a pop-up window on the screen of the gaming machine. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system presents the option to participate in the separate event using audio output. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system receives the player's option selection through the use of buttons associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system receives the player's option selection through the use of a touchscreen associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system presents the separate event to the player including dispensing the separate event from a printer associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , further comprising 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 gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the system has a default lottery that enables issuing a ticket in response to a time-out by a player. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming system for increasing a player's interest while playing a game, the gaming system comprising:
 at least one gaming machine having a display screen, wherein the gaming machine enables the display screen to presents a base game; and   a cash-out manager, wherein the cash-out manager detects a cash-out event on the gaming machine, wherein the cash-out manager inquires if the player wants to purchase an event separate from the base game in response to the cash-out event being detected, and wherein the cash-out manager presents the separate event to the player in response to receiving instructions from the player selecting the separate event.   
   
   
       11 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the gaming system funds purchase of the separate event with credits accumulated on the gaming machine. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming system of  claim 11 , wherein the gaming system generates a cash-out event for any credits remaining on the gaming machine after funding the separate event. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the separate event is a lottery ticket. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the gaming system inquires if the player wants to purchase the separate event in a pop-up window on the screen of the gaming machine. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the gaming system inquires if the player wants to purchase the separate event using audio output. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the gaming system receives instructions from the player through the use of buttons associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the gaming system receives instructions from the player through the use of a touchscreen associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the gaming system dispenses the separate event from a printer associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming system of  claim 10 , further comprising 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 gaming system of  claim 10 , wherein the system has a default lottery that enables issuing a ticket in response to a time-out by a player. 
   
   
       21 . A gaming system for enabling players to purchase an event separate from a base game presented on a display screen of the gaming machine, the gaming system comprising:
 at least one gaming machine having a display screen, wherein the display screen presents a base game;   a cash-out manager, wherein the cash-out manager detects a cash-out event on the gaming machine, wherein the cash-out manager presents an option on the display screen of the gaming machine to participate in an event separate from the base game in response to a cash-out event being detected, and wherein the cash-out manager presents the separate event to the player in response to the player's selection of the option; and   a cash-out dispenser system, wherein the cash-out dispenser system generates a cash-out event for any credits remaining on the gaming machine after funding the separate event with credits accumulated on the gaming device.   
   
   
       22 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the separate event is a lottery ticket. 
   
   
       23 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the gaming system presents the option to participate in the separate event in a pop-up window on the screen of the gaming machine. 
   
   
       24 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the gaming system presents the option to participate in the separate event using audio output. 
   
   
       25 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the gaming system receives the player's option selection through the use of buttons associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       26 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the gaming system receives the player's option selection through the use of a touchscreen associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       27 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the gaming system presents the separate event to the player including dispensing the separate event from a printer associated with the gaming machine. 
   
   
       28 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , further comprising 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 gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein the system has a default lottery that enables issuing a ticket in response to a time-out by a player. 
   
   
       30 . A gaming system of providing lottery tickets as a bonus to players of electronic-wagering gaming machines, the gaming system comprising:
 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;   at least one server connected to the gaming machines via the network, wherein the server accrues wagered funds to a promotional lottery ticket prize pool based upon wagering from players of the gaming machines, wherein the server initiates a bonus award to one or more of the gaming machines in response to the pool reaching a predetermined value, and wherein the bonus award is an entry into a lottery.   
   
   
       31 . The gaming system of  claim 30 , wherein the entry into a lottery comprises issuing a lottery ticket or lottery ticket voucher from gaming machine printer. 
   
   
       32 . The gaming system of  claim 30 , wherein the lottery is run by state or government owned entity. 
   
   
       33 . The gaming system of  claim 30 , wherein a random number generator is used to determine the winning machine. 
   
   
       34 . The gaming system of  claim 30 , wherein the bonus award is only available at a subset of the group of gaming machines. 
   
   
       35 . The gaming system of  claim 30 , wherein the predetermined value of the pool that initiates the bonus award is determined by a random number generator. 
   
   
       36 . The gaming system 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 gaming system 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 gaming system 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 gaming system of  claim 30 , wherein a player chooses from which lottery a ticket will be issued. 
   
   
       40 . The gaming system 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 gaming system of  claim 30 , further comprising 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 gaming system of  claim 30 , wherein the system has a default lottery that enables issuing a ticket in response to a time-out by a player. 
   
   
       43 . A gaming system of providing lottery tickets as a bonus to players of electronic-wagering gaming machines, the gaming system comprising:
 one or more gaming machines connected via a network, wherein the gaming machines enable play of a base game; and   at least one server connected to the gaming machines via the network, wherein the server accrues wagered funds to a promotional lottery ticket prize pool based upon wagering from players of the gaming machines, wherein the server initiates a bonus award to one or more of the gaming machines, and wherein the bonus award is an entry into a lottery;   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.   
   
   
       44 . A gaming system having dual port printing for providing printed tickets to players of gaming machines, the gaming system comprising:
 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;   a printer, wherein the printer may be locally-controller and server-controlled;   at least one server connected to the gaming machines via the network, wherein the server accrues wagered funds to a prize pool based upon wagering from players of the gaming machines, wherein the server initiates a bonus award to a printer at one or more of the gaming machines;   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.   
   
   
       45 . A gaming system for providing an opportunity for players of gaming machines to win lottery tickets, the gaming system comprising:
 one or more gaming machines connected via a network, wherein the gaming machines enable play of a base game; and   at least one server connected to the gaming machines via the network, wherein the server accrues a portion of wagered funds from play on the gaming machines to a lottery ticket prize pool, wherein a winning event on a gaming machine initiates the award of at least one lottery ticket funded from the lottery ticket prize pool.   
   
   
       46 . A kiosk for offering an opportunity to make a purchase while cashing out a ticket from a gaming machine, the kiosk comprising:
 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;   a cash-out manager, wherein the cash-out manager detects a cash-out event on the kiosk, wherein the cash-out manager offers the user an opportunity to purchase a lottery ticket in response to a cash-out event being detected; and   a cash-out dispenser system, wherein the cash-out dispenser system generates a cash-out event for any credits remaining on the kiosk after funding the purchase, wherein the cash-out dispenser system is operatively associated with the kiosk.