Game ticket with a related web site

Abstract

Lottery ticket games are enhanced by providing a web site related to the lottery game and by causing a purchaser or potential purchaser of a lottery ticket to take an image of a bar code related to the lottery game using a camera module of a personal communication device such as a cell phone for communication with the web site. Thus the bar code is analyzed to determine the web site and further data from the web site is communicated to the cell phone. The data may relate to the winning or losing status of the particular ticket, may include data for additional games or may be of a promotional nature. The data can also be provided on other material and may act as an incentive to the retailer rather than the purchaser.

1 . A method for playing a game comprising;
 providing a series of tickets for a game to be purchased and played by individual purchasers of the tickets;   establishing a site related to the game;   providing on each of the tickets an associated bar code which contains data identifying the game and the site related thereto;   receiving from a purchaser or potential purchaser of a ticket an image of a bar code related to the game taken by a camera module of a personal communication device;   analyzing the image of the bar code to determine the site associated with the game;   and enabling communication between the personal communication device and the site in order to communicate further data from the site to be transmitted to the personal communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein bar codes relating to the game are also provided on other materials related to the game and the image received can be from a ticket or from the other materials. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the bar code contains data identifying the specific ticket. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  including providing for the lottery tickets a data base of ticket validation information and wherein the data communicated from the site relates to a winning or losing status from the data base of the ticket in the game. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3  including providing for the tickets a data base of ticket validation information and wherein the data communicated from the site relates to a prize amount of the ticket in the game. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the data communicated from the site relates to a second chance game to be played by the purchaser. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein, in the event that the data communicated from the web site relates to a losing status of the ticket in the game, the data communicated from the site includes entry of the ticket with the losing status into the second chance game. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the data communicated from the site relates to a multiplier feature by which a prize won on the ticket is increased. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the data communicated from the site relates to an option of the purchaser to register for a second prize based on a sweepstake. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the data communicated provides extra play symbols for use in the game on the ticket. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the data communicated from the site relates to a cross-promotion with another product. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the data communicated from the web site relates to an option to purchase another ticket. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the data communicated from the site relates to an option to purchase a partner product. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the data communicated from the web site relates to a coupon. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the data communicated from the site is arranged to provide an added entertainment value to the player. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the data communicated from the site relates to information concerning prize tickets still remaining in the series of lottery tickets. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the data communicated from the site relates to locations that still have those tickets. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the data communicated from the site relates to a retailer promotion. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the site is a web site and the data is communicated through the internet. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the data is communicated through electronic communications using email or text messaging.