Method and apparatus for a progressive prize structure in an instant game

Abstract

A multi-priced instant lottery game with a first price point and a second price point is provided such that (i) the first price point corresponds to a first known potential fixed prize and a first known potential percentage of a progressive prize and (ii) the second price point corresponds to a second known potential fixed prize and a second known potential percentage of the progressive prize. The second price point is greater than the first price point. The second known potential fixed prize being greater than the first known potential fixed prize. The second known potential percentage of the progressive prize is greater than the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize. Further, a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket is generated. In addition, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia is printed with a lottery ticket printer.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing a multi-priced instant lottery game with a first price point and a second price point such that (i) the first price point corresponds to a first known potential fixed prize and a first known potential percentage of a progressive prize and (ii) the second price point corresponds to a second known potential fixed prize and a second known potential percentage of the progressive prize, the second price point being greater than the first price point, the second known potential fixed prize being greater than the first known potential fixed prize, the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize being greater than the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize;   generating a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket;   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia;   providing the instant lottery game ticket to the player at a first time such that the player instantly determines if the set indicia is a winning set of indicia, the progressive prize having a first time accumulated value at the first time;   determining, at a second time that is subsequent to the first time, a second time accumulated value of the progressive prize and a quantity of winning instant lottery tickets, the second time accumulated value of the progressive prize being greater than the first time accumulated value of the prize;   providing the first known potential fixed prize and the first known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point and no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point;   providing a portion of the first known potential fixed prize and a portion of the first known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point;   providing the second known potential fixed prize and the second known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point and no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point; and   providing a portion of the second known potential fixed prize and a portion of the second known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize equals one hundred percent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein first known potential percentage of the progressive prize equals a percentage that results from the first known fixed prize divided by the second known fixed prize. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia are numbers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia are symbols. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first time is a morning time. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first time is an afternoon time. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first time is an evening time. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second time is a last evening time in a day. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sale of the instant lottery ticket is tracked by a central server. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instant lottery ticket is sold through a lottery ticket terminal. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instant lottery ticket is sold from a book of instant lottery tickets without a bar code on each of the instant lottery tickets in the book. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instant lottery ticket is sold from a book of instant lottery tickets with a bar code on each of the instant lottery tickets in the book. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instant lottery ticket is scratch card game. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instant lottery ticket is a pull tabs game. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing a single-priced instant lottery game with a price point such that the price point corresponds to a known potential fixed prize and a known potential percentage of a progressive prize;   generating a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket;   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia;   providing the instant lottery game ticket to the player at a first time such that the player instantly determines if the set indicia is a winning set of indicia, the progressive prize having a first time accumulated value at the first time;   determining, at a second time that is subsequent to the first time, a second time accumulated value of the progressive prize and a quantity of winning instant lottery tickets, the second time accumulated value of the progressive prize being greater than the first time accumulated value of the prize;   providing the known potential fixed prize and the first known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point; and   providing a portion of the known potential fixed prize and a portion of the known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia are numbers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia are symbols. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first time is a morning time. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first time is an afternoon time. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first time is an evening time. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second time is a last evening time in a day. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sale of the instant lottery ticket is tracked by a central server. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instant lottery ticket is sold through a lottery ticket terminal. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instant lottery ticket is sold from a book of instant lottery tickets without a bar code on each of the instant lottery tickets in the book. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instant lottery ticket is sold from a book of instant lottery tickets with a bar code on each of the instant lottery tickets in the book. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instant lottery ticket is scratch card game. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instant lottery ticket is a pull tabs game. 
     
     
         29 . A method comprising:
 providing a multi-priced instant lottery game with a first price point and a second price point such that (i) the first price point corresponds to a first known potential fixed prize and a first known potential percentage of a progressive prize and (ii) the second price point corresponds to a second known potential fixed prize and a second known potential percentage of the progressive prize, the second price point being greater than the first price point, the second known potential fixed prize being greater than the first known potential fixed prize, the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize being greater than the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize;   generating a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket;   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia;   providing the instant lottery game ticket to the player such that the player instantly determines if the set indicia is a winning set of indicia, the progressive prize having a first time accumulated value at the first time;   receiving, at a first time, a claim of a player win;   determining, at a second time that is subsequent to the first time, a second time accumulated value of the progressive prize and a quantity of winning instant lottery tickets, the second time accumulated value of the progressive prize being greater than the first time accumulated value of the prize;   providing the first known potential fixed prize and the first known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point and no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point;   providing a portion of the first known potential fixed prize and a portion of the first known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point;   providing the second known potential fixed prize and the second known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point and no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point; and   providing a portion of the second known potential fixed prize and a portion of the second known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point.   
     
     
         30 . A method comprising:
 providing a single-priced instant lottery game with a price point such that the price point corresponds to a known potential fixed prize and a known potential percentage of a progressive prize;   generating a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket;   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia;   providing the instant lottery game ticket to the player at a first time such that the player instantly determines if the set indicia is a winning set of indicia, the progressive prize having a first time accumulated value at the first time;   receiving, at a first time, a claim of a player win;   determining, at a second time that is subsequent to the first time, a second time accumulated value of the progressive prize and a quantity of winning instant lottery tickets, the second time accumulated value of the progressive prize being greater than the first time accumulated value of the prize;   providing the known potential fixed prize and the first known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point; and   providing a portion of the known potential fixed prize and a portion of the known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point.   
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 providing a multi-priced instant lottery game with a first price point and a second price point such that (i) the first price point corresponds to a first known potential fixed prize and a first known potential percentage of a progressive prize and (ii) the second price point corresponds to a second known potential fixed prize and a second known potential percentage of the progressive prize, the second price point being greater than the first price point, the second known potential fixed prize being greater than the first known potential fixed prize, the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize being greater than the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize;   generating a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket;   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia;   providing the instant lottery game ticket to the player at a current time such that the player instantly determines if the set indicia is a winning set of indicia, the progressive prize having a current time accumulated value at the first time;   determining a previous time accumulated value of the progressive prize and a quantity of winning instant lottery tickets, the previous time accumulated value of the progressive prize being less than the first time accumulated value of the progressive prize;   providing the first known potential fixed prize and the first known potential percentage of the previous time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point and no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point;   providing a portion of the first known potential fixed prize and a portion of the first known potential percentage of the previous time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point;   providing the second known potential fixed prize and the second known potential percentage of the previous time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point and no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point; and   providing a portion of the previous known potential fixed prize and a portion of the second known potential percentage of the previous time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point.   
     
     
         32 . A method comprising:
 providing a single-priced instant lottery game with a price point such that the price point corresponds to a known potential fixed prize and a known potential percentage of a progressive prize;   generating a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket;   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia;   providing the instant lottery game ticket to the player at a current time such that the player instantly determines if the set indicia is a winning set of indicia, the progressive prize having a current time accumulated value at the first time;   determining a previous time accumulated value of the progressive prize and a quantity of winning instant lottery tickets, the previous time accumulated value of the progressive prize being less than the first time accumulated value of the prize;   providing the known potential fixed prize and the known potential percentage of the previous time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point; and   providing a portion of the known potential fixed prize and a portion of the known potential percentage of the previous time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point.   
     
     
         33 . A method comprising:
 providing a multi-priced instant lottery game with a first price point and a second price point such that (i) the first price point corresponds to a first known potential percentage of a progressive prize and (ii) the second price point corresponds to a second known potential percentage of the progressive prize, the second price point being greater than the first price point, the second known potential fixed prize being greater than the first known potential fixed prize, the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize being greater than the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize;   generating a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket;   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia;   providing the instant lottery game ticket to the player at a first time such that the player instantly determines if the set indicia is a winning set of indicia, the progressive prize having a first time accumulated value at the first time;   determining, at a second time that is subsequent to the first time, a second time accumulated value of the progressive prize and a quantity of winning instant lottery tickets, the second time accumulated value of the progressive prize being greater than the first time accumulated value of the prize;   providing the first known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point and no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point;   providing a portion of the first known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point;   providing the second known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point and no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point; and   providing a portion of the second known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point.   
     
     
         34 . A method comprising:
 providing a single-priced instant lottery game with a price point such that the first price point corresponds to a known potential percentage of a progressive prize;   generating a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket;   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia;   providing the instant lottery game ticket to the player at a first time such that the player instantly determines if the set indicia is a winning set of indicia, the progressive prize having a first time accumulated value at the first time;   determining, at a second time that is subsequent to the first time, a second time accumulated value of the progressive prize and a quantity of winning instant lottery tickets, the second time accumulated value of the progressive prize being greater than the first time accumulated value of the prize;   providing the known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point; and   providing a portion of the known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point.   
     
     
         35 . A method comprising:
 providing a multi-priced instant lottery game with a first price point and a second price point such that (i) the first price point corresponds to a first known potential percentage of a progressive prize and (ii) the second price point corresponds to a second known potential percentage of the progressive prize, the second price point being greater than the first price point, the second known potential fixed prize being greater than the first known potential fixed prize, the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize being greater than the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize;   generating a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket;   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia;   providing the instant lottery game ticket to the player such that the player instantly determines if the set indicia is a winning set of indicia, the progressive prize having a first time accumulated value at the first time;   receiving, at a first time, a claim of a player win;   determining, at a second time that is subsequent to the first time, a second time accumulated value of the progressive prize and a quantity of winning instant lottery tickets, the second time accumulated value of the progressive prize being greater than the first time accumulated value of the prize;   providing the first known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point and no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point;   providing a portion of the first known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point;   providing the second known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point and no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point; and   providing a portion of the second known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point.   
     
     
         36 . A method comprising:
 providing a single-priced instant lottery game with a price point such that the price point corresponds to a known potential percentage of a progressive prize;   generating a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket;   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia;   providing the instant lottery game ticket to the player at a first time such that the player instantly determines if the set indicia is a winning set of indicia, the progressive prize having a first time accumulated value at the first time;   receiving, at a first time, a claim of a player win;   determining, at a second time that is subsequent to the first time, a second time accumulated value of the progressive prize and a quantity of winning instant lottery tickets, the second time accumulated value of the progressive prize being greater than the first time accumulated value of the prize;   providing the first known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point; and   providing a portion of the known potential percentage of the second time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point.   
     
     
         37 . A method comprising:
 providing a multi-priced instant lottery game with a first price point and a second price point such that (i) the first price point corresponds to a first known potential percentage of a progressive prize and (ii) the second price point corresponds to a second known potential percentage of the progressive prize, the second price point being greater than the first price point, the second known potential percentage of the progressive prize being greater than the first known potential percentage of the progressive prize;   generating a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket;   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia;   providing the instant lottery game ticket to the player at a current time such that the player instantly determines if the set indicia is a winning set of indicia, the progressive prize having a current time accumulated value at the first time;   determining a previous time accumulated value of the progressive prize and a quantity of winning instant lottery tickets, the previous time accumulated value of the progressive prize being less than the first time accumulated value of the progressive prize;   providing the first known potential percentage of the previous time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point and no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point;   providing a portion of the first known potential percentage of the previous time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point;   providing the second known potential percentage of the previous time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the first price point and no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point; and   providing a portion of the second known potential percentage of the previous time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the second price point.   
     
     
         38 . A method comprising:
 providing a single-priced instant lottery game with a price point such that the price point corresponds to a known potential percentage of a progressive prize;   generating a set of indicia associated with an instant lottery game ticket;   printing, with a lottery ticket printer, the instant lottery game ticket with the set of indicia;   providing the instant lottery game ticket to the player at a current time such that the player instantly determines if the set indicia is a winning set of indicia, the progressive prize having a current time accumulated value at the first time;   determining a previous time accumulated value of the progressive prize and a quantity of winning instant lottery tickets, the previous time accumulated value of the progressive prize being less than the first time accumulated value of the prize;   providing the known potential percentage of the previous time accumulated progressive prize to a single player that purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point if no other player purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point; and   providing a portion of the known potential percentage of the previous time accumulated progressive prize to each of multiple players that each purchased a winning instant lottery game ticket at the price point.