Method and apparatus for providing advertising

Abstract

A method and system for providing a game of chance agent and/or a game of chance operator an opportunity for increased revenue, includes the following steps: placing a bet slip a game agent's retail location and offering the bets slip to a prospective player at no charge. The bet slip includes an area for the prospective player to record bet information for a game of chance and a coupon or other promotional message on a consumer item or service.

1 . A method for supplying a game of chance agent with additional revenue, the method comprising: 
 placing a bet slip at a game agent's retail location, the bet slip comprising an area for a prospective player to record bet information for a game of chance and a coupon for a discount on a consumer item or service; and    offering the bet slip to the prospective player at no charge.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing the redemption of the coupon at the game agent's retail location.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the allowing step further comprises allowing the redemption of the coupon without requiring the prospective player to purchase a game of chance ticket.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising offering for sale a consumer item or service that corresponds to the coupon on the bet slip.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing a bet slip step further comprises placing the bet slip adjacent a lottery terminal.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing a bet slip further comprises placing the bet slip adjacent the consumer item that corresponds to the coupon.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coupon includes an indication of source that corresponds to the bet slip.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bet slip comprises a plurality of coupons, each coupon offering a discount on a consumer item or service, wherein a sum of the discounts offered by the coupons on the bet slip is at least as great as a minimum bet required to play the game of chance.  
   
   
       9 . A system for supplying a lottery game agent with additional revenue, the system comprising: 
 a retail location;    a lottery bet slip comprising an area for a lottery player to record bet information for a lottery game and a promotional message for a consumer item or service, the lottery bet slip being offered to a prospective lottery player at no charge;    a lottery terminal disposed at the retail location, the lottery terminal configured to allow for the entry of the bet information recorded on the lottery bet slip; and    consumer items or services offered for sale at the retail location.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the lottery bet slip further comprises a plurality of coupons.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of coupons comprises a first coupon offering a discount on a product from a first provider and a second coupon offering a discount on a product from a second provider.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of coupons provides a discount on a consumer item or service, a sum of the discounts provided by the coupons being a percentage of a minimum bet for the lottery game.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the coupon offers a discount for consumer items or services that are not associated with an operator of the lottery game.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the bet information comprises numbers that are to be drawn in the lottery game and the type of bet that is to be placed by the prospective lottery player.  
   
   
       15 . A method of operating a lottery comprising: 
 having printed a plurality of bet slips for a lottery game, each bet slip comprising an area upon which bet information is recorded by a prospective lottery player prior to the prospective lottery player paying any money to place a bet and a coupon for a discount on a product or service;    having distributed the plurality of bet slips to a plurality of retail locations, the retail locations being where bets are placed for the lottery game, the retail locations also being where or adjacent where products or services are offered for sale that correspond to at least one of the coupons;    receiving bets for the lottery game in response to the bet information recorded on at least one of the bet slips; and    drawing lottery numbers for the lottery game.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the bet information comprises numbers that are to be drawn and a type of bet for the numbers.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein having distributed step comprises having distributed the plurality of bet slips according to the coupon on the bet slip.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising printing lottery tickets in response to the bet information received in the receiving bets step.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein having printed further comprises each bet slip comprising a plurality of coupons, a sum of discounts provided by the coupons being at least 50% of a minimum bet for the lottery game.