Game Apparatus for Enhanced Play Including Web Site Play

Abstract

A game for a plurality of players includes a set of instant win tickets and a programmed computer system creating a web site associated with the tickets to be accessed by the player. The system provides additional game data elements arranged to cooperate with at least one game data element on the ticket such that the game played is dependent on both the data element on the ticket and the additional game data elements on the web site. This arrangement allows the ticket to be played as a probability ticket where the player can play the game using the game data on the ticket and by selecting one of a plurality of game data elements on the site where the selection is part of the determination as to whether the ticket is a winner.

1 . Apparatus for use in a game to be played by a plurality of players, the apparatus comprising:
 a set of game tickets;   each ticket of the set of game tickets comprising:
 a substrate having printed thereon, in one or more areas, game data covered by a covering which can be removed by a player to expose the game data; 
 the game data including a at least one game data element which the player uses to play the game; 
   and a programmed computer system;   the programed computer system comprising:
 a site associated with the tickets; 
 a first program component allowing communication with a player to enter the site from a remote terminal; 
 a second program component arranged to provide to the player at the terminal at least one additional game data element arranged to cooperate with said at least one game data element on the ticket such that the game played is dependent on both said at least one game data element on the ticket and said at least one additional game data element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate has printed thereon game information defining rules for playing the game using said at least one game data element which is exposed and one or more prizes to be won by winning tickets in accordance with the rules and wherein the prize won by the ticket in accordance with the rules is dependent on both said at least one game data element on the ticket and said at least one additional game data element. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate has printed thereon an identification number or code identifying the ticket and wherein the computer system includes a program component allowing entry by the player of the identification number or code identifying the ticket. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a program component for entering registration of personal details of a player entering the web site and for storing data identifying each player. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one game data element exposed on the ticket is arranged to determine without said at least one additional game data element a first result of the game which may include a first prize and wherein said at least one game data element exposed on the ticket is arranged to determine with said at least one additional game data element a second result of the game which may include a second prize. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the first result is the winning of a first prize and the second result is the winning of an additional prize which may be larger or smaller. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the first result is the winning of no prize and the second result is the winning of a prize. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the ticket includes a validation number and the programmed computer system is arranged to provide access to a data base containing the validation numbers of the set of tickets and the corresponding prizes and wherein the programmed computer control system is arranged to provide on a winning ticket, in association with the validation number, both the first and the second prize so that the player on redeeming the winning ticket receives the second prize regardless of whether or not the player has accessed the site. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the ticket includes a validation number and the programmed computer system is arranged to provide access to a data base containing the validation numbers of the set of tickets and the corresponding prizes and wherein the programmed computer control system is arranged to provide on a winning ticket, in association with the validation number, the second prize only when the player has accessed the site. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the programmed computer system is arranged such that said at least one additional game data element simulates a multi-player extension of the game. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the programmed computer control system is arranged such that said at least one additional game data element is used in an actual multi-player extension of the game. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one additional game data element is arranged such that said additional game data element is entered into a game format defined on the ticket to supplement the game data elements already provided on the ticket. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one additional game data element and said at least one game data element printed on the ticket are pre-determined so that the ticket forms an instant win ticket with a result which is predetermined. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one game data element printed on the ticket is pre-determined so that the ticket forms an instant win ticket with a result from said at least one game data element printed thereon which is predetermined and said at least one additional game data element defines a set of data elements from which the player can make a selection such that said at least one additional game data element forms with the game on the ticket a probability game in which the result is dependent on said selection. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the ticket includes a validation number and the programmed computer system is arranged to provide access to a data base containing the validation numbers of the tickets in association with the selection made on the site and so as to provide to the player a prize result dependent on said selection for payment of a prize. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for a probability game to be played by a plurality of players in which a result of the game for each player is not predetermined but is based on a probability, the apparatus comprising:
 a set of game tickets;   each ticket of the set of game tickets comprising:
 a substrate having printed thereon, in one or more areas, game data including a at least one game data element which the player uses to play the game; 
   and a programmed computer system;   the programed computer system comprising:
 a site associated with the tickets; 
 a first program component allowing communication with a player to enter the site from a remote terminal; 
 a second program component arranged to provide to the player entering the site a set of additional data elements from which the player is required to make a selection; 
   wherein the ticket with said game data thereon and with said selection from said additional game data elements from the web site forms a probability game in which a result of the game is at least partly dependent on said selection.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said at least one game data element printed on the ticket forms a pre-determined instant win game. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said at least one game data element is covered by a covering which is removable by a player to expose said at least one game data element. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the substrate has printed thereon game information defining rules for playing the game using said at least one game data element on the substrate and one or more prizes to be won by winning tickets in accordance with the rules. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the substrate has printed thereon an identification number or code identifying the ticket. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the set of additional data elements are printed on the ticket and wherein the programed computer system is arranged such that the selection of one of them must be entered into the site before the result of the selection is revealed. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the set of additional data elements are shown on the site and not on the ticket and the selection of one of them is entered on the web site. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the ticket includes a validation number and the programmed computer control system is arranged to provide access to a data base containing the validation numbers of the tickets in association with information defining the selection made so that a prize dependent on said selection is made available for redemption of the prize.