Method and apparatus that control risk and uncertainty in a raffle

Abstract

A process is provided. The process generates a predetermined number of unique sub-combinations of a set of game numbers, each of the sub-combinations having the same quantity of numbers. Further, the process prints a set of probabilities-based raffle tickets for a probabilities-based raffle game such that each of the probabilities-based raffle tickets in the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets distinctly corresponds to one of the unique sub-combinations of the set of game numbers. In addition, the process indicates a maximum prize that a single player having a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a full match wins. The process also indicates a secondary prize that each of a plurality of players having a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a partial match wins. Each partial match is distinct and has a same quantity of numbers matched.

1 . A method comprising:
 generating a predetermined number of unique sub-combinations of a set of game numbers, each of the sub-combinations having the same quantity of numbers;   printing a set of probabilities-based raffle tickets for a probabilities-based raffle game such that each of the probabilities-based raffle tickets in the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets distinctly corresponds to one of the unique sub-combinations of the set of game numbers;   indicating a maximum prize that a single player having a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a full match wins;   indicating a secondary prize that each of a plurality of players having a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a partial match wins, each partial match being distinct and having a same quantity of numbers matched;   providing at least a subset of the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets to a plurality of players in the probabilities-based raffle game;   randomly selecting a single subset of the set of game numbers that has the same quantity of numbers as each of the sub-combinations;   providing the maximum prize to a single player if the single player has a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a full match between the unique sub-combination corresponding to the probabilities-based raffle ticket and the single subset of the set of game numbers that is selected; and   providing the secondary prize to each of a plurality of players if the plurality of players each has a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a partial match between the unique sub-combination corresponding to the probabilities-based raffle ticket and the single subset of the set of game numbers that is selected.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising establishing, prior to the providing the at least the subset of the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets to the plurality of players in the probabilities-based raffle game, a predetermined percentage of tickets sales to be paid in prizes won for the probabilities-based raffle game. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising increasing the secondary prize by an additional amount if the total percentage of actual ticket sales subtracted from the predetermined percentage of ticket sales results in a remainder, the additional amount being less than or equal to the remainder. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the increasing the secondary prize by the additional amount is effectuated prior to the randomly selecting the single subset of the set of game numbers that has the same quantity of numbers as each of the sub-combinations. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the increasing the secondary prize by the additional amount is effectuated after the randomly selecting the single subset of the set of game numbers that has the same quantity of numbers as each of the sub-combinations. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein non-payment of the maximum prize is a criterion for the increasing the secondary prize by the percentage of ticket sales. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the maximum prize is a variable prize. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the maximum prize has a minimum value. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the maximum prize is a fixed prize. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary prize is a variable prize. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the secondary prize has a minimum value. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary prize is a fixed prize. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing the at least the subset of the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets to the plurality of players in the probabilities-based raffle game is effectuated through ticket sales at a predetermined ticket price. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing, prior to the randomly selecting the single subset of the set of game numbers, a plurality of instant prize distributions. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising randomly selecting, prior to the randomly selecting the single subset of the set of game numbers, a previous subset of the set of game numbers in an early bird drawing to determine an early bird prize winner. 
   
   
       16 . A method comprising:
 generating a predetermined number of unique sub-combinations of a set of game numbers, each of the sub-combinations having the same quantity of numbers;   printing a set of probabilities-based raffle tickets for a probabilities-based raffle game such that each of the probabilities-based raffle tickets in the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets distinctly corresponds to one of the unique sub-combinations of the set of game numbers;   indicating a maximum prize that is won by a player having a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a full match;   indicating a secondary prize that is won by a player having a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a partial match;   providing at least a subset of the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets to a plurality of players in the probabilities-based raffle game;   randomly selecting a single subset of the set of game numbers that has the same quantity of numbers as each of the sub-combinations;   providing the maximum prize to a player if the player has a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a full match between the unique sub-combination corresponding to the probabilities-based raffle ticket and the single subset of the set of game numbers that is selected; and   providing the secondary prize to a player if the player has a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a partial match between the unique sub-combination corresponding to the probabilities-based raffle ticket and the single subset of the set of game numbers that is selected.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising establishing, prior to the providing the at least the subset of the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets to the plurality of players in the probabilities-based raffle game, a predetermined percentage of tickets sales to be paid in prizes won for the probabilities-based raffle game. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising increasing the secondary prize by an additional amount if the total percentage of actual ticket sales subtracted from the predetermined percentage of ticket sales results in a remainder, the additional amount being less than or equal to the remainder. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the increasing the secondary prize by the additional amount is effectuated prior to the randomly selecting the single subset of the set of game numbers that has the same quantity of numbers as each of the sub-combinations. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the increasing the secondary prize by the additional amount is effectuated after the randomly selecting the single subset of the set of game numbers that has the same quantity of numbers as each of the sub-combinations. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein non-payment of the maximum prize is a criterion for the increasing the secondary prize by the percentage of ticket sales. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the maximum prize is a variable prize. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the maximum prize has a minimum value. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the maximum prize is a fixed prize. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the secondary prize is a variable prize. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the secondary prize has a minimum value. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the secondary prize is a fixed prize. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the providing the at least the subset of the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets to the player in the probabilities-based raffle game is effectuated through ticket sales at a predetermined ticket price. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing, prior to the randomly selecting the single subset of the set of game numbers, a plurality of instant prize distributions. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising randomly selecting, prior to the randomly selecting the single subset of the set of game numbers, a previous subset of the set of game numbers in an early bird drawing to determine an early bird prize winner. 
   
   
       31 . A system comprising:
 a sub-combination generation module that generates a predetermined number of unique sub-combinations of a set of game numbers, each of the sub-combinations having the same quantity of numbers;   a printer that prints a set of probabilities-based raffle tickets for a probabilities-based raffle game such that each of the probabilities-based raffle tickets in the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets distinctly corresponds to one of the unique sub-combinations of the set of game numbers;   a display module that indicates a maximum prize that a single player having a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a full match wins and a secondary prize that each of a plurality of players having a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a partial match wins, each partial match being distinct and having a same quantity of numbers matched;   a ticket distribution module that provides at least a subset of the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets to a plurality of players in the probabilities-based raffle game;   a random selection module that randomly selects a single subset of the set of game numbers that has the same quantity of numbers as each of the sub-combinations;   a maximum prize distribution module that provides the maximum prize to a single player if the single player has a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a full match between the unique sub-combination corresponding to the probabilities-based raffle ticket and the single subset of the set of game numbers that is selected; and   a secondary prize distribution module that provides the secondary prize to each of a plurality of players if the plurality of players each has a probabilities-based raffle ticket with a partial match between the unique sub-combination corresponding to the probabilities-based raffle ticket and the single subset of the set of game numbers that is selected.   
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising an establishment module that establishes, prior to the providing the at least the subset of the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets to the plurality of players in the probabilities-based raffle game, a predetermined percentage of tickets sales to be paid in prizes won for the probabilities-based raffle game. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a secondary prize addition module that increases the secondary prize by an additional amount if the total percentage of actual ticket sales subtracted from the predetermined percentage of ticket sales results in a remainder, the additional amount being less than or equal to the remainder. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the increasing the secondary prize by the additional amount is effectuated prior to the randomly selecting the single subset of the set of game numbers that has the same quantity of numbers as each of the sub-combinations. 
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the increasing the secondary prize by the additional amount is effectuated after the randomly selecting the single subset of the set of game numbers that has the same quantity of numbers as each of the sub-combinations. 
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein non-payment of the maximum prize is a criterion for the increasing the secondary prize by the percentage of ticket sales. 
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the maximum prize is a variable prize. 
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the maximum prize has a minimum value. 
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the maximum prize is a fixed prize. 
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the secondary prize is a variable prize. 
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the secondary prize has a minimum value. 
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the secondary prize is a fixed prize. 
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the providing the at least the subset of the set of probabilities-based raffle tickets to the plurality of players in the probabilities-based raffle game is effectuated through ticket sales at a predetermined ticket price. 
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising providing, prior to the randomly selecting the single subset of the set of game numbers, a plurality of instant prize distributions. 
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 31 , further comprising randomly selecting, prior to the randomly selecting the single subset of the set of game numbers, a previous subset of the set of game numbers in an early bird drawing to determine an early bird prize winner.