Method and apparatus to enhance lottery participation

Abstract

A method and apparatus designed to enhance player participation in lotteries includes a redesigned incentive-based lottery play slip with features designed to increase the chances of all players winning at least some prize, thus providing a real incentive to play and increasing revenue from play slip sales. The inventive play slip preferably comprises a permanent card, reusable for an extended period of time, easily marked and accurately read by optical mark readers and then easily cleaned for the next use, and ultimately recyclable. Alternatively, a traditional disposable play slip may be used still incorporating the inventive features of this invention. The inventive play slip bears one or more of am imprinted serial number ( 12 ) which belongs only to the purchaser of the card; a large space for advertising (IS); one or more extra playing fields over and above the standard number of fields and a series number ( 14 ).

1 . An improved lottery play slip, the play slip having a plurality of playing fields for selection of lottery numbers to be played, said improved lottery play slip comprising:
 a serial number imprinted on the play slip used to give away a set number of prizes per drawing.   
   
   
       2 . The improved lottery play slip of  claim 1  further including an imprinted series character representing a group of play slips, and used to benefit a set number of play slip owners in the form of a bonus associated with the lesser prizes of the game. 
   
   
       3 . The improved lottery play slip of  claim 1  further including an additional playing field over and above the standard number of fields, used to play a free game. 
   
   
       4 . The improved lottery play slip of  claim 1  further including an advertisement/sponsor space to offset costs and render a fee for the right of a sponsor to advertise on the play slips. 
   
   
       5 . A method to enhance player participation in a lottery, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing an incentive-based lottery play slip with features designed to increase the chances of all players winning at least some prize;   providing an imprinted serial number on the play slip which belongs only to the purchaser of the card; and   awarding a set number of prizes per drawing based on the serial number.   
   
   
       6 . The method to enhance player participation in a lottery of  claim 5  further including the step of:
 providing a space for advertising on the play slip to offset costs and render a fee for the right of a sponsor to advertise on the play slips.   
   
   
       7 . The method to enhance player participation in a lottery of  claim 5  further including the step of:
 providing one or more extra playing panels or fields over and above the standard number of fields for a free game.   
   
   
       8 . The method to enhance player participation in a lottery of  claim 5  further including the step of:
 providing a series character on the play slip representing a group of play slips, and providing bonus associated with the lesser prizes of the game.