Method and apparatus for gaming based upon a paper ticket

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for gaming based upon an instant-win ticket. The method and apparatus are for use with tickets of the type having a durable substrate carrying a predetermined hidden indicator indicating a prize amount, such as scratch-off lottery tickets. The apparatus includes an electronically controlled payment acceptor to automatically accept fungible payments, such as currency or tokens, from a user. An electronically controlled display, such as a slot-machine style set of rotating cylinders, is adapted to display continuously changing information to the user during game play. A controller is connected to the display and to the payment acceptor. The controller is adapted to control operation of the display and distribution of fungible prizes to a gamer, all in response to a prize amount read from the instant-win ticket. The apparatus includes a ticket-reader connected to the controller. The ticket reader is adapted to read the instant-win ticket and determine the prize amount indicated by the hidden indicator. The apparatus may be used to simulate a slot machine, with prizes determined by a paper ticket.

1 . An apparatus for gaming based upon an instant-win ticket, the instant-win ticket comprising a durable substrate carrying a predetermined hidden indicator indicating a prize amount, the apparatus comprising: 
 an electronically controlled payment acceptor adapted to automatically accept fungible payments from a gamer;    an electronically controlled display adapted to display continuously changing information to the gamer;    a controller connected to the display and to the payment acceptor, the controller adapted to control information displayed on the display and distribution of fungible prizes to a gamer, all in response to a prize amount read from the instant-win ticket; and    a ticket-reader connected to the controller, the ticket reader adapted to read the instant-win ticket and determine the prize amount indicated by the hidden indicator.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a ticket dispenser adapted to dispense the instant-win ticket to the ticket reader in operative response to a deposit of payment units in the payment acceptor.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the fungible payments comprise instant-win tickets, and the ticket reader is adapted to receive the instant-win tickets from the payment acceptor.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the fungible prizes are selected from electronic payments, tokens, redeemable vouchers, coins, or bills of currency.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a prize dispenser adapted to dispense the fungible prizes from a secure prize holder adjacent to the display, in operative response to the controller.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the secure prize holder is a currency bin.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the display comprises a plurality of cylinders imprinted with various symbols.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller is adapted to control rotation of the plurality of cylinders to simulate operation of a Las-Vegas style slot machine.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ticket reader is adapted to read the instant-win ticket by removing an opaque film from the durable substrate to reveal the hidden indicator.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tone generator adapted to generate a variety of tones as directed by the controller.  
     
     
         11 . A method for paying a prize based on a hidden indicator recorded on a gaming ticket, the method comprising the steps of: 
 accepting payment from a user;    reading a gaming ticket having a hidden indicator to determine a prize amount indicated by the hidden indicator;    determining a game result based on the prize amount, the game result comprising a combination of symbols;    simulating a display of a slot machine of a type that randomly selects a combination of symbols from a plurality of symbol combinations, and pays a predetermined prize indicated by the selected combination of symbols, wherein the game result is a winning combination;    displaying the game result; and    paying the prize amount.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising marking the gaming ticket to indicate that the prize amount has already been determined.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the simulating step comprises spinning cylinders of a simulated Las Vegas style slot machine.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the simulating step further comprises initiating the spinning step in response to a lever pulled by the user.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the paying step comprises releasing a plurality of coins into a hopper.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reading step further comprises removing an opaque film covering the hidden indicator from the gaming ticket.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reading step further comprises optically sensing the hidden indicator.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising selecting the gaming ticket from a plurality of different types of gaming tickets presented as choices to the user.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reading step further comprises reading a plurality of gaming tickets, and calculating a cumulative sum prize amount by summing prize amounts indicated by each gaming ticket.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the determining step further comprises determining the game result based on the cumulative sum prize amount.