Rolling Raffle Game, Prize Method, and Distribution Method

Abstract

For a premium wager, a raffle game is added to a lottery game play. All players of the base game (who purchased the add-on game or not) who achieve a pre-determined outcome receive a raffle game play which is entered into a raffle drawing at no additional cost. The raffle drawing is held, and the winning raffle outcome is identified. Winning raffle ticket recipients submit their tickets to the lottery authority for their prize. A determination is made if the add-on game was purchased with the base game play associated to the winning raffle ticket. If the add-on game was purchased with the base game play, the player receives the raffle prize.

1 . A method for implementing a raffle game, the method comprising:
 executing computer readable instructions on an electronic processing unit to receive and store data representing a plurality of purchased game entries purchased by respective players of the raffle game to generate a pool of entries;   adding at least one non-winning entry to the pool; and   picking randomly a picked entry out of the pool of entries to associate with a prize,   wherein if the picked entry is a purchased entry then the purchased entry is awarded the prize,   wherein if the picked entry is one of the at least one non-winning entry then the associated prize is not awarded and the prize is carried over to a subsequent raffle game.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a set of awards awarded in the raffle game is determined by a number of the game entries and carried over prizes carried over from prior raffle games. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a number of non-winning entries entered into the pool is random. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a number of non-winning entries entered into the pool is determined by the outcome of an unpredictable event. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a percentage of not awarded prizes is carried over for the subsequent raffle game. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a percentage of not awarded prizes is carried over to a pari-mutuel prize in the subsequent raffle game. 
     
     
         7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a set of awards by allocating a percentage of money generated from game entries sold in a game period into a prize pool;   allocating a percentage of the prize pool to a highest possible number of top prize units; and   allocating a remaining prize pool amount to a highest possible number of smaller prize units.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein a percentage of not awarded prizes is carried over from a previous drawing are included into the prize pool. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , further allocating a left over prize pool amount to a highest possible number of even smaller prize units. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus to implement a raffle game, the apparatus comprising:
 a processing unit configured to execute computer readable instructions which are programmed to receive and store data representing a plurality of purchased game entries purchased by respective players of the raffle game to generate a pool of entries;   wherein the game is configured such that at least one non-winning entry is added to the pool and a picked entry to be associated with a prize is randomly picked out of the pool, if the picked entry is a purchased entry then the purchased entry is awarded the prize, and if the picked entry is one of the at least one non-winning entry then the associated prize is not awarded and the prize is carried over to a subsequent raffle game.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is further configured such that the a set of awards awarded in the raffle game is determined by a number of the game entries and carried over prizes carried over from prior raffle games. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is further configured such that the number of non-winning entries entered into the pool is random. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is further configured such that the number of non-winning entries entered into the pool is determined by the outcome of an unpredictable event. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is further configured such that a percentage of not awarded prizes is carried over for the subsequent raffle game. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is further configured such that a percentage of not awarded prizes is carried over to a pari-mutuel prize in the subsequent raffle game. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to
 determine a set of awards by allocating a percentage of money generated from game entries sold in a game period into a prize pool;   allocate a percentage of the prize pool to a highest possible number of top prize units; and   allocate a remaining prize pool amount to a highest possible number of smaller prize units.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the processing unit is further configured such that a percentage of not awarded prizes is carried over from a previous drawing are included into the prize pool. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to further allocate a left over prize pool amount to a highest possible number of even smaller prize units.