Network of skill-based electronic game machines that dispense tickets from a plurality of player-selectable deals

Abstract

Tickets are vended from a network of electronic game machines that play a game and that are in communication with a central server. Each ticket is associated with a deal of tickets for the game that includes at least some predetermined winning tickets. Each electronic game machine is adapted to simultaneously play a plurality of different deals and includes a deal selection indicator. Deal information and the current status information for each of the different deals is displayed immediately prior to or concurrently with a patron paying for a ticket. The information includes the total number of tickets and total number of tickets that have been played or remain to be played, the number of tickets having winning symbol or number combinations and number of tickets having winning symbol or number combinations that have been played or remain to be played, and the total winnings and amount of the total winnings that have been won or amount of the total winnings that remain to be won. The patron selects at the electronic game machine which of the plurality of deals to play using the deal selection indicator. The results of the next ticket in the selected deal is provided to the electronic game machine upon payment for a ticket, and the patron is informed of the results. The current status information is updated in real time immediately after each game play.

1 . A method of vending tickets from a network of electronic game machines that play a game in communication with a central server, each ticket being associated with a deal of tickets that includes at least some predetermined winning tickets, each electronic game machine adapted to simultaneously play a plurality of different deals and including a deal selection indicator, the method comprising:
 (a) providing an electronic memory at the central server that includes:
 (i) a plurality of different deals of tickets for the game; 
 (ii) for each of the different deals:
 (A) total number of tickets, 
 (B) number of tickets having winning symbol or number combinations, and 
 (C) total winnings; and 
 
 (iii) current status information for each of the different deals including:
 (A) total number of tickets that have been played or remain to be played, 
 (B) number of tickets having winning symbol or number combinations that have been played or remain to be played, and 
 (C) amount of the total winnings that have been won or amount of the total winnings that remains to be won, 
 
   (b) displaying deal information and the current status information for each of the different deals immediately prior to or concurrently with a patron paying for a ticket, including:
 (i) total number of tickets and total number of tickets that have been played or remain to be played, 
 (ii) number of tickets having winning symbol or number combinations and number of tickets having winning symbol or number combinations that have been played or remain to be played, and 
 (iii) total winnings and amount of the total winnings that have been won or amount of the total winnings that remain to be won; 
   (c) the patron selecting at an electronic game machine which of the plurality of deals to play using the deal selection indicator;   (d) providing results of the next ticket in the selected deal to the electronic game machine upon payment for a ticket, and informing the patron of the results; and   (e) updating the current status information in real time immediately after each game play.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (b) occurs on a display screen of the game machine. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the different deals represents at least one of (i) a different bet level, and (ii) a different number of pay lines. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tickets are lottery tickets. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the tickets are pull-tab tickets. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each ticket is preprinted with game content. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the electronic memory at the central server further includes for each of the different deals:
 (D) winning symbol or number combinations and their respective winning amounts, and step (b) further comprises displaying the winning symbol or number combinations and their respective winning amounts on a game flare display screen. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (a)(ii) further comprises (D) total jackpots, step (a)(iii) further comprises (D) total jackpots won or total jackpots that remain to be won, and step (b) further comprises displaying (iv) total jackpot and total jackpots won or total jackpots that remain to be won. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the game includes multiple bet levels and there are multiple deals per bet level. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the game includes only one bet level and there are multiple deals for the one bet level. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein step (d) further comprises the electronic game machines retrieving the next ticket in the selected deal from the central server. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (f) initially dividing the different deals of tickets into a plurality of deal subsets; and 
 (g) distributing the plurality of deal subsets to each of the electronic game machines for storage therein, 
 wherein step (d) further comprises retrieving the next ticket in the selected deal from the respective deal subset stored in the electronic game machine. 
 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for vending tickets associated with a game, each ticket being associated with a deal of tickets that includes at least some predetermined winning tickets, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a central server including an electronic memory that stores:
 (i) a plurality of different deals of tickets; 
 (ii) for each of the different deals:
 (A) total number of tickets, 
 (B) number of tickets having winning symbol or number combinations, and 
 (C) total winnings; and 
 
 (iii) current status information for each of the different deals including:
 (A) total number of tickets that have been played or remain to be played, 
 (B) number of tickets having winning symbol or number combinations that have been played or remain to be played, and 
 (C) amount of the total winnings that have been won or amount of the total winnings that remains to be won; 
 
   (b) at least one display screen that displays deal information and the current status information for each of the different deals immediately prior to or concurrently with a patron paying for a ticket, including:
 (i) total number of tickets and total number of tickets that have been played or remain to be played, 
 (ii) number of tickets having winning symbol or number combinations and number of tickets having winning symbol or number combinations that have been played or remain to be played, and 
 (iii) total winnings and amount of the total winnings that have been won or amount of the total winnings that remain to be won; 
   (c) a network of electronic game machines in communication with the central server, each electronic game machine adapted to simultaneously play a plurality of the different deals associated with the game, and including:
 (i) a deal selection indicator adapted to allow the patron to select at the electronic game machine which of the plurality of deals to play, and 
 (ii) a game display screen that provides results of the next ticket in the selected deal to the electronic game machine upon payment for a ticket for informing the patron of the results, wherein the current status information is updated in real time immediately after each game play. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the at least one display screen is the game display screen of the electronic game machine. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein each of the different deals represents at least one of (i) a different bet level, and (ii) a different number of pay lines. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the tickets are lottery tickets. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the tickets are pull-tab tickets. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein each ticket is preprinted with game content. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the electronic memory at the central server further includes for each of the different deals:
 (D) winning symbol or number combinations and their respective winning amounts, and the at least one display screen further displays the winning symbol or number combinations and their respective winning amounts on a game flare display screen. 
 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the electronic memory further stores for each of the different deals (D) total jackpots, and current information for each of the different deals regarding (D) total jackpots won or total jackpots that remain to be won, and the at least one display screen further displays (iv) total jackpots and total jackpots won or total jackpots that remain to be won. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the game includes multiple bet levels and there are multiple deals per bet level. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the game includes only one bet level and there are multiple deals for the one level. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the electronic game machines are configured to retrieve the results of the next ticket in the selected deal from the central server. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the central server is configured to initially divide the different deals of tickets into a plurality of deal subsets, and distribute the plurality of deal subsets to each of the electronic game machines for storage therein, and wherein the electronic game machines are configured to retrieve the next ticket in the selected deal from the respective deal subset stored therein.