Method, apparatus and gaming set for use in a progressive game

Abstract

A pull-tab gaming set, a progressive pull-tab gaming system and a method of operating a progressive pull-tab game. The gaming set includes a plurality of pull-tab cards, each card having a front portion, a back portion and a selectively revealable gaming section. The gaming section contains indicia of a redemption value of the card which is unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed. There are at least three two classes of pull-tab cards in the gaming set in the form of winners having indicia of a fixed non-zero value, losers having indicia of a zero value and at least one jackpot card with indicia of an undetermined total value. The progressive pull-tab card game system includes a pull-tab dispensing unit, configured to dispense pull-tab cards, a jackpot display, and a control system operatively connected to the dispensing trait to monitor the quantity of pull-tab cards dispensed. The control system is configured to compute a jackpot value dependent on that quantity and operatively connected to the jackpot display to cause it to display the computed jackpot value as pull-tabs are dispensed. The method of operating a progressive pull-tab game includes the steps of providing a set of pull-tab cards which includes at least one jackpot card without a predetermined total value, setting a progressive jackpot to a predetermined value, displaying the progressive jackpot, dispensing one of the pull-tab cards to a player, selectively increasing the value of the progressive jackpot, repeating the steps of displaying, dispensing and selectively increasing until the jackpot card is dispensed and then awarding the progressive jackpot to the player that received the jackpot card.

I claim:  
     
       1. A pull-tab gaming set for use in a progressive game, the set comprising a plurality of pull-tab cards, each card having a front portion, a back portion and a selectively revealable gaming section which contains indicia of a redemption value of the card, the redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed and where the gaming set includes at least three classes of pull-tab cards in the form of winners having indicia of a fixed non-zero value, losers having indicia of a zero value and at least one jackpot card with indicia of , wherein each of said at least one jackpot cards is designated as a jackpot card by indicia on said jackpot card prior to the play of said progressive game, said indicia on said jackpot card having an undetermined total value. 
     
     
       2. The pull-tab gaming set of claim  1 , wherein the front portion of each pull-tab card further comprises a serrated region that is at least partially removable from the pull-tab card, and wherein at least part of the gaming section is located under the serrated region. 
     
     
       3. The pull tab cards  gaming set of claim  1 , wherein the front portion of each pull-tab card further comprises a peelable region, and wherein the gaming section is located beneath the peelable region. 
     
     
       4. The pull tab cards  gaming set of claim  1 , wherein the gaming section is covered by a scratch-off coating. 
     
     
       5. The pull-tab gaming set of claim  1 , wherein the class of winning cards is divided into at least two sub-classes, where each sub-class has a unique indicia and value. 
     
     
       6. The pull-tab gaming set of claim  5 , wherein each of the pull-tab cards further comprises a legend depicting a number of winning cards in each sub-class, the unique indicia associated therewith and the value of cards in such subclass. 
     
     
       7. The pull-tab gaming set of claim  6 , wherein each of the legend further depicts the indicia associated with the at least one jackpot card. 
     
     
       8. The pull tab cards  gaming set of claim  1 , wherein each of the pull-tab cards further comprises a game code. 
     
     
       9. The pull tab cards  gaming set of claim  1 , wherein each of the pull-tab cards further comprises a verification code. 
     
     
       10. The pull tab cards  gaming set of claim  9 , wherein the verification code is located within the gaming section. 
     
     
       11. The pull-tab gaming set of claim  1 , wherein the undetermined value of the at least one jackpot card includes a fixed value plus an additional value to be determined during play of the progressive game. 
     
     
       12. A progressive pull-tab card game system comprising: 
       a pull-tab dispensing unit, configured to dispense pull-tab cards;  
       a jackpot display; and  
       a control system operatively connected to the dispensing unit to monitor the quantity of pull-tab cards dispensed and configured to compute a jackpot value dependent on that quantity, the control system further being operatively connected to the jackpot display to cause it to display the computed jackpot value as pull-tab cards are dispensed.  
     
     
       13. The system of claim  12 , wherein the dispensing unit communicates with the control system and reports each sale of a pull-tab card to the computer. 
     
     
       14. The system of claim  12 , wherein the control system is configured to have a predetermined initial jackpot value before any pull-tab cards have been dispensed. 
     
     
       15. The system of claim  14 , wherein the predetermined initial jackpot value is greater than zero. 
     
     
       16. The system of claim  14 , wherein the control system is configured to compute the jackpot value by periodically incrementing it by a predetermined value every time a predetermined number of pull-tab cards is dispensed. 
     
     
       17. The system of claim  12 , wherein the dispensing unit further includes a plurality of pull-tab racks, a slot for dispensing pull-tab cards, and a mechanism for allowing a user to select a specific pull-tab rack. 
     
     
       18. The system of claim  12 , further including a pull-tab gaming set comprising a plurality of pull-tab cards, each card having a front portion, a back portion and a selectively revealable gaming section which contains indicia of a redemption value of the card, the redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed and where the gaming set includes at least three classes of pull-tab cards in the form of winners having indicia of a fixed non-zero value, losers having indicia of a zero value and at least one jackpot card with indicia of an undetermined total value. 
     
     
       19. The system of claim  12 , further including a plurality of pull-tab dispensing units, where the control system is operatively connected to each dispensing unit to monitor the quantity of pull-tab cards dispensed. 
     
     
       20. The system of claim  19 , wherein the control system computes the jackpot value dependent on the quantity of pull-tab cards dispensed from all of the dispensers. 
     
     
       21. A method of operating a progressive pull-tab game, comprising: 
       providing a set of pull-tab cards which includes at least one jackpot card without a predetermined , wherein said at least one jackpot card is designated as a jackpot card by indicia on the jackpot card prior to the play of the progressive pull- tab game, and further wherein said indicia on the jackpot card have an undetermined  total value;  
       setting a progressive jackpot to a predetermined value;  
       displaying the progressive jackpot;  
       dispensing one of the pull-tab cards to a player;  
       selectively increasing the value of the progressive jackpot;  
       repeating the steps of displaying, dispensing and selectively increasing until the jackpot card is dispensed; and then  
       awarding the progressive jackpot to the player that received the jackpot card.  
     
     
       22. The method of claim  21 , wherein the dispensing step is preceded by the step of allowing a player to select a particular pull-tab rack from a plurality of pull-tab racks within a pull-tab dispensing unit. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim  21 , wherein the dispensing step is preceded by the step of allowing a player to choose a particular pull-tab dispensing unit from a predetermined number of pull-tab dispensing units. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim  23 , further including the steps of distributing the set of pull-tab cards among the predetermined number of pull-tab dispensing units and operatively connecting predetermined number of pull-tab dispensing units to a single progressive jackpot. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim  21 , wherein the step of providing includes the step of selecting a set of pull-tab cards in which each card has a front portion, a back portion and a selectively revealable gaming section which contains indicia of a redemption value of the card, the redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed and where the gaming set includes at least three classes of pull-tab cards in the form of winners having indicia of a fixed non-zero value, losers having indicia of a zero value and the at least one jackpot card. 
     
     
       26. A pull- tab gaming set for use in a progressive game, the set comprising a plurality of pull - tab cards, each card having a selectively revealable gaming section that contains indicia of a redemption value of the cards, the redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed and where the gaming set includes pull - tab cards in the form of winners having indicia of a fixed non - zero value and at least one jackpot card, wherein each of said at least one jackpot cards is designated as a jackpot card by indicia on said jackpot card prior to the play of said progressive game, said indicia on said jackpot card having an undetermined total value.    
     
     
       27. The pull- tab gaming set of claim  26 , wherein the winning cards are divided into at least two sub - classes, where each sub - class has a unique indicia and value.    
     
     
       28. The pull- tab gaming set of claim  26 , wherein the undetermined total value of at least one jackpot card includes a fixed value plus an additional value to be determined during play of the progressive game.    
     
     
       29. The pull- tab gaming set of claim  26 , wherein the gaming set further includes pull - tab cards in the form of losers with indicia of zero value.    
     
     
       30. The pull- tab gaming set of claim  26 , wherein the gaming set includes at least two jackpot cards with indicia of undetermined total value.    
     
     
       31. A progressive pull- tab card game system comprising:    
         a pull - tab dispenser, adapted to dispense pull - tab cards;    
       
         a jackpot display; and  
       
         a control system operatively connected to the dispenser to monitor the dispensing of pull - tab cards and configured to compute a jackpot value dependent on the dispensing of pull - tab cards, the control system further being operatively connected to the jackpot display to cause it to display the computed jackpot value as pull - tab cards are dispensed.    
     
     
       32. The system of claim  31 , wherein the control system is configured to compute the jackpot value by periodically incrementing a selectable initial value by a predetermined value every time a predetermined number of pull- tab cards is dispensed.    
     
     
       33. The system of claim  31 , wherein the dispenser further includes a plurality of pull- tab racks, a slot for dispensing pull - tab cards and a mechanism for allowing a user to select a specific pull - tab rack.    
     
     
       34. The system of claim  31 , further including a pull- tab gaming set comprising a plurality of pull - tab cards, each card having a selectively revealable gaming section which contains indicia of a redemption value of the card, the redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed and where the gaming set includes pull - tab cards in the form of winners having indicia of a fixed non - zero value and at least one jackpot card with indicia of an undetermined total value.    
     
     
       35. The system of claim  31 , further including a plurality of pull- tab dispensing units, where the control system is operatively connected to each dispensing unit to monitor the quantity of pull - tabs dispensed.    
     
     
       36. The system of claim  35 , wherein the control system computes the jackpot value dependent on the quantity of pull- tabs dispensed from all of the dispensers.    
     
     
       37. A method of operating a progressive pull- tab game, comprising:    
         providing a set of pull - tab cards which includes at least one jackpot card, wherein each of said at least one jackpot cards id designated as a jackpot card by indicia on said jackpot card prior to the play of said progressive pull - tab game, said indicia on said jackpot card having an undetermined total value;    
       
         setting a progressive jackpot to a predetermined value;  
       
       
         displaying the progressive jackpot;  
       
         selling one of the pull - tab cards to a player;    
       
         selectively increasing the value of the progressive jackpot;  
       
       
         repeating the steps of displaying, selling and selectively increasing until the jackpot card is dispensed; and then  
       
       
         awarding the progressive jackpot to the player that received the jackpot card.  
       
     
     
       38. The method of claim  37 , wherein the selling step is preceded by the step of allowing a player to select a particular pull- tab rack from a plurality of pull - tab racks within a pull - tab dispensing unit.    
     
     
       39. The method of claim  37 , wherein the selling step is preceded by the step of allowing a player to choose a particular pull- tab dispensing unit from a predetermined number of pull - tab dispensing units.    
     
     
       40. The method of claim  39 , further including the steps of distributing the set of pull- tab cards among the plural pull - tab dispensing units and operatively connecting plural pull - tab dispensing units to a single progressive jackpot.    
     
     
       41. The method of claim  37 , wherein the step of providing includes the step of selecting a set of pull- tab cards in which each card has a selectively revealable gaming section which contains indicia of a redemption value of the card, the redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed and where the gaming set includes pull - tab cards in the form of winners having indicia of a fixed non - zero value and the at least one jackpot card.    
     
     
       42. The method of claim  37 , wherein the step of selectively increasing is repeated every time a pull- tab card is sold in the step of selling.    
     
     
       43. The method of claim  37 , wherein the step of displaying is repeated every time a pull- tab card is sold.    
     
     
       44. A method of conducting a pull- tab game comprising:    
         providing a set of pull - tab cards including at least one jackpot card mixed in with a multiplicity of non - jackpot cards with predetermined values, wherein each of said at least one jackpot cards is designated as a jackpot card by indicia on said jackpot card prior to the play of said pull - tab game, said indicia on said jackpot card having an undetermined total value;    
         distributing the pull - tab cards from the set of pull - tab cards sequentially to multiple players in a fashion so that the players do not known when the at least one jackpot card will be distributed; and    
       
         when the jackpot card is distributed, awarding a jackpot to the player to whom the jackpot card was distributed, where the value of the jackpot awarded is dependent on when, in the sequence of distributing the cards, the jackpot card is distributed.  
       
     
     
       45. The method of claim  44 , further including the steps of setting a progressive jackpot to a predetermined initial value and selectively increasing the value of the progressive jackpot upon the distributing of pull- tab cards prior to awarding the jackpot.    
     
     
       46. A gaming set for use in a progressive game, the set comprising a plurality of play, each play having a selectively revealable gaming section that contains indicia of a redemption value, the redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed, and where the redemption value is a fixed non-zero value, a zero value or a jackpot value, wherein at least one play is designated as a jackpot play by indicia on said play prior to playing said progressive game, said indicia on said jackpot play having an undetermined jackpot value, and wherein at least part of the jackpot value is to be determined during play of the progressive game.  
     
     
       47. A method of operating a progressive game, comprising: 
         providing a gaming set that includes a predetermined number of plays, each play having a selectively revealable gaming section that contains indicia of a redemption value, the redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed, and where each redemption value is a fixed non - zero value, a zero value, or a jackpot value, and where at least one play has a redemption value that is the jackpot value, wherein the jackpot value is designated as the jackpot value by indicia on said play prior to playing said progressive game, said indicia on said jackpot value having an undetermined total value;    
       
         setting a progressive jackpot to a predetermined value;  
       
       
         displaying the progressive jackpot;  
       
       
         selling a play to a player;  
       
       
         selectively increasing the value of the progressive jackpot;  
       
       
         repeating the steps of displaying, selling and selectively increasing until the play having a redemption value that is the jackpot value is sold; and then  
       
       
         awarding the progressive jackpot to the player that received the play having the redemption value that is the jackpot value.  
       
     
     
       48. The method of claim  47 , where the steps of providing and selling are accomplished by multiple machines linked together.  
     
     
       49. A gaming set for use in a progressive game, the set comprising a plurality of plays, each play having a selectively revealable gaming section that contains indicia of a redemption value of the play, the redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed, and where the gaming set includes plays in the form of winners having indicia of a fixed non- zero value and at least one jackpot play with indicia on an undetermined total value, wherein the at least one jackpot play is designated as a jackpot play by indicia on said jackpot play prior to playing said progressive game.    
     
     
       50. A method of conducting a progressive game, comprising: 
         providing a set of plays including at least one jackpot play of undetermined value mixed in with a multiplicity of non - jackpot plays with predetermined values, wherein each of said at least one jackpot play is designated as a jackpot play by indicia on said jackpot play prior to playing said progressive game;    
       
         distributing the plays from the set of plays sequentially to multiple players in a fashion so that the players do not know when the at least one jackpot play will be distributed; and  
       
       
         when the jackpot play is distributed, awarding a jackpot to the player to whom the jackpot play was distributed, where the value of the jackpot awarded is dependent on when, in the sequence of distributing the plays, the jackpot play is distributed.  
       
     
     
       51. A method of conducting a progressive game, comprising: 
         providing a gaming set that includes a predetermined number of revealable gaming sections, each revealable gaming section containing indicia of a redemption value, the redemption value being unascertainable until the gaming section is revealed, and each redemption value being one of a fixed non - zero value, a zero value, or a jackpot value, wherein the jackpot value is designated as the jackpot value by indicia on said revealable gaming section prior to playing said progressive game, said indicia on said revealable gaming section having an undetermined total value;    
       
         presenting to a player a revealable gaming section;  
       
       
         revealing the indicia associated with the presented revealable gaming section;  
       
         determining whether the redemption value associated with the revealed indicia is a fixed non - zero value, a zero value, or a jackpot value;    
         if the redemption value is a fixed non - zero value, then awarding the fixed non - zero value, selectively increasing the jackpot value, and repeating the steps of presenting, revealing, determining, awarding and selectively increasing, until indicia is revealed of a redemption value that is a jackpot value;    
       
         if the redemption value is a zero value, then awarding a zero value, selectively increasing the jackpot value, and repeating the steps of presenting, revealing, determining, awarding and selectively increasing, until indicia is revealed of a redemption value that is a jackpot value; and  
       
       
         if the redemption value is a jackpot value, then awarding the jackpot value.