Gaming ticket reader providing incentive to play an electronic game

Abstract

A system, device, and method for providing a player with incentive to play an electronic game. The player possesses a gaming ticket for a different game. The device reads a machine-readable identification code on the player's gaming ticket and determines whether the gaming ticket is a winning ticket. If so, an amount won or value received is displayed to the player on a video graphic display. The device may then invite the player to play the electronic game using the amount won or value received from the gaming ticket. The device may be implemented in an electronic game machine or as a stand-alone device.

1 . An electronic game, comprising:
 means for providing a player with incentive to play the electronic game, said player having a gaming ticket for another game; and   logic means for playing the electronic game.   
   
   
       2 . The electronic game according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for providing a player with incentive to play the electronic game includes:
 means for reading a machine-readable code on the player's gaming ticket;   means for determining from the code whether the gaming ticket is a winning ticket; and   means for informing the player whether the gaming ticket is a winning ticket;   wherein by causing the player to interact with the electronic game, the player is provided with incentive to play the electronic game.   
   
   
       3 . The electronic game according to  claim 2 , wherein the means for informing the player whether the gaming ticket is a winning ticket includes an audio speaker. 
   
   
       4 . The electronic game according to  claim 2 , wherein the means for informing the player whether the gaming ticket is a winning ticket includes a video graphic display. 
   
   
       5 . The electronic game according to  claim 2 , wherein the means for playing the electronic game does not influence whether the gaming ticket is determined to be a winning ticket. 
   
   
       6 . The electronic game according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for providing a player with incentive to play the electronic game includes:
 means for reading a machine-readable code on the player's gaming ticket;   means for determining from the code whether the gaming ticket is a winning ticket;   means responsive to a determination that the gaming ticket is a winning ticket for informing the player that the gaming ticket is a winning ticket; and   means for offering the player a choice of playing additional games of chance with the player's winnings or accepting the winnings;   wherein the player is provided with incentive to play the electronic game.   
   
   
       7 . The electronic game according to  claim 6 , wherein the means for offering the player a choice of playing additional games of chance includes means for enabling the player to use the winnings to purchase a gaming ticket having potentially greater winnings. 
   
   
       8 . A device associated with a gaming establishment for providing a player with incentive to enter the gaming establishment and interact with the device, said player having a gaming ticket for a game, said device comprising:
 means for reading a machine-readable code on the player's gaming ticket;   means for determining from the code whether the gaming ticket is a winning ticket; and   audio and/or visual means for informing the player whether the gaming ticket is a winning ticket.   
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the device further comprises:
 means responsive to a determination that the gaming ticket is a winning ticket for informing the player that the gaming ticket is a winning ticket; and   means for offering the player a choice of playing additional games of chance in the gaming establishment with the player's winnings or accepting the winnings.   
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the device does not influence whether the gaming ticket is determined to be a winning ticket. 
   
   
       11 . A computer-controlled method of providing a player with incentive to play games of chance in a gaming establishment, said player having a gaming ticket for a game, said method comprising:
 utilizing a device associated with the gaming establishment to read a machine-readable code on the player's gaming ticket;   determining from the code whether the gaming ticket is a winning ticket;   upon determining that the gaming ticket is a winning ticket, informing the player that the gaming ticket is a winning ticket; and   offering the player a choice of playing additional games of chance in the gaming establishment with the player's winnings or accepting the winnings.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of utilizing a device associated with the gaming establishment to read a machine-readable code on the player's gaming ticket includes utilizing logic implemented within an electronic game in the gaming establishment to read the machine-readable code. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of offering the player a choice of playing additional games of chance or accepting the winnings includes offering the player the choice of using the winnings to play the electronic game. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of informing the player includes displaying a winner indication on a video graphic display. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of informing the player includes playing an audio message through an audio speaker. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the step of utilizing a device associated with the gaming establishment to read a machine-readable code on the player's gaming ticket includes utilizing a stand-alone device within the gaming establishment machine. 
   
   
       17 . A computer-controlled method of informing a player whether a gaming ticket possessed by the player is a winning ticket, said method comprising:
 utilizing a device to read a machine-readable code on the player's gaming ticket;   determining from the code whether the gaming ticket is a winning ticket; and   upon determining that the gaming ticket is a winning ticket, informing the player that the gaming ticket is a winning ticket.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of informing the player that the gaming ticket is a winning ticket includes providing a visual indication that the gaming ticket is a winning ticket. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of informing the player that the gaming ticket is a winning ticket includes providing an audio indication that the gaming ticket is a winning ticket. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 determining an amount won or value awarded; and   informing the player of the amount won or value awarded.   
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising inviting the player to play an game of chance using the amount won or value awarded from the gaming ticket.